Where is the smoke unit switch?

[Theulli1]

Hello!

I have a 2-6-2 Prairie Union Pacific HO scale.  I believe this is analog and not DCC...how do I turn off the smoke unit?  I have read that I should be able to open the smoke box and see switches but I certainly can't find any way to pop open that part of the train w/o destroying it.

Thanks in advance!

[Len]

If this is the basic DC train set 2-6-2, there is no switch. The smoke stops when it runs out of fluid, and that's it. If you don't want to use smoke, the entire unit isn't all that hard to remove.

Len

[Theulli1]

Thank you!  I've been told that the unit can overheat if there's no liquid in there and potentially damage the engine itself.  If I don't plan on running it w/ smoke do I need to take the whole unit out?

[jward]

Thank you!  I've been told that the unit can overheat if there's no liquid in there and potentially damage the engine itself.  If I don't plan on running it w/ smoke do I need to take the whole unit out?

I usually do that when I convert them to DCC. The cavity the smoke unit fit into is a good place for a Z scale decoder. Until I convert them, I just let the smoke unit be. I've never had one get hot enough to melt anything.

[trainman203]

Nearly all serious Model Railroaders agree that the smoke produced by smoke units is not realistic at all because you cannot scale the physics of real smoke down to HO scale.  Plus, over time, the microscopic particles carried by the smoke itself will coat everything in the room with a greasy film.

If the purpose of this train is to periodically entertain a child, none of this matters.  But if you're going to run a lot over a long period of time, this should be considered.