Lionel U33c

Scale Wheels

Scale wheels for this locomotive are available directly from Lionel. To order them, you must call (586) 949-4100, select option 2 ("S & O"), and select the "Parts & Warranty" (formerly known as customer service) option. The product number is "LNL6408142625" (this is only for the first run, 2012, of this locomotive). Their sales department will not recognize that part number, because they are only available via their Parts & Warranty department.

Note that the gear ratio changed for the second run on the U33c (people complained that the first run ran too fast), and so the above-mentioned scale wheelset will not work.

Disassembly

Since Lionel's system is not compatible with layouts that use standard DC or DCC, to use this locomotive in that scenario, the modeler has no choice but to remove all of the electronics (maybe recoup some of the costs by selling these parts?) and replace it with direct wiring (DC) or installation of a NMRA standards-compliant DCC decoder. Bill Lane, on his web site, shows what he did to do that. The interesting thing is that the motor actually sits in the fuel tank!