@rplst8 posted:Understood. @VJandP said they were acting like "stabilizers"... I'm wondering if Lionel spring loaded them to help keep the front engine centered or whatever. If not, oh well. I was just taking the OP noticing them performing an additional function?
That’s correct. As far as the prototype goes, these are steam pipes. But on Lionel’s other big articulated engines that I’ve seen, I’ve never seen “arms” anchoring the front end. If they are acting like “stabilizers”, Lionel did a great job multi-purposing this piece as a prototypical steam pipe that doubles as a functioning stabilizer on the scale model.
