0-6-0 Lionel 656

No, there was never a Lionel post-war 0-6-0 steam switcher CATALOGED nor was there ever a Lionel post-war or pre-war locomotive numbered 656.  The number 656 was used on a pre-war O gauge cattle car made from 1935 though 1940 although Lionel occasionally reused a pre-war number on a completely different post-war item.

There was a #403 steam switcher shown in the 1946 catalog but this engine was never made.  In the image in the catalog (probably an artist's drawing and not a photograph) it is parked between two other steam locomotives so it’s not possible to determine if it was to have 4 drivers or 6 drivers and the text does not give that detail either. 

Now there was also a poster produced by Lionel for dealers sometime in the mid to late 1940’s which showed an 0-6-0 steam switcher.  I do not have a copy of this poster but I have seen examples of it.  As I recall there were two different versions of this poster and I believe the difference was that one showed an 0-6-0 and the other one showed an 0-4-0 in its place.  One version was also smaller.  Maybe someone else has a copy of the poster and can provide more details.  I don’t know if that poster has ever been discussed on this forum.   You might want to do a search of the Forum’s archives.  

HTH,

Bill

Ok that's they I figured they never made one. The only 060 Lionel ever made that I was able to find pictures of was the 300 series pre war locomotives. Thanks for the info. I'll look at the forum archives. Any idea on the exact date of that poster?

You're welcome and I'd say that poster came out in 1946 or 1947.

Thank you!

I'd love to see pics of your engine. I've been thinking of doing a six drivered switcher myself.

I'll try to send some photos when I get a chance. Basically picture a 1656 with 6 drivers and no Johnson bar.

Update on the posters:  I forgot that the posters were listed in the 1990 Greenberg Guide to Lionel Paper book by Osterhoff.  Both versions are listed on page 53 if you have that book.  No photos, just descriptions and both versions are listed as 1947.  Also they are not identified as DEALER posters as I had said earlier. 

If you don’t have the book the description for the first version says “16½” wide x 10½” high, wall poster, printed on one side in yellow, black, and red ink on white paper, shows 0-6-0 switcher numbered 8976 and 5 other locomotives.  Advertising copy reads LIONEL R.R. GUIDE”.  According to the text in the book, the 2^nd version listing differs in that it measures 20¾” wide x 15¾” high and shows an 0-4-0 switcher numbered “1662”.

Speculation on my part that possibly Lionel was planning an 0-6-0 for 1947 but because they did not make an 0-6-0 in 1947 (or in any other post-war year) that first version of the poster turned out to be incorrect and had to be replaced.  The number 8976 used on 0-6-0 in that version of the poster was the cab number on the pre-war scale 0-6-0 which I believe was cataloged as #227.  So they printed a slightly different poster which showed an 0-4-0 instead.  Ironically, they didn’t make an 0-4-0 in 1947, either!  Although there was an 0-4-0 in 1946 it was numbered 1665, not 1662.  The number 1662 is probably from the pre-war 0-4-0 #1662 as no post-war locomotive used that number.  After skipping a year, the 0-4-0 switcher returned in 1948 with the number 1656, which is the other one you have.

The first version of the poster suggests that Lionel was planning a post-war 0-6-0 and lends some credibility that yours could be a pre-production sample although it's also possible it is a modified 1656.

HTH,

Bill

Can you post a picture of the switcher? Maybe you have a 201 or a 203 that someone renumbered. 

Tom 

It's for sure not pre war, so it's not a 200 series engine.

I took the screw out.

thanks, I like the looks of it.

I do to. It's a really nice modification. Very well done.

That is where someone adapted a 6 wheel motor, and shoehorned it into a 1656 body.  Definitely a nice job, and the countersink screw hole is the telltale sign of the modification.  Makes for a nice 0-6-0 switcher, to say the least.

Looks like a 'homemader' to me. A 2035 mechanism squeezed into a 1656 shell where someone erased the 1.

Substantial engine, later 2035's had magnetraction, so it could be a real hauler. Very nice.

Jim

I have not looked to see if it has magnetraction, but it halled my Williams C&O Aluminum Passenger cars like a champ, better than other postwar engines I have ran.

It probably has Magnetration, as the motor plates are aluminum.

I've seen this modification done before, but with a nickel-rimmed early 2026 type motor. 

Nice locomotive.

Thanks, I really like it.

wft trains , Bill ,I just stumbled across these posts, Christmas of 46 Lionel did put out a few 403's with left over stock that had post war knuckle couplers and tenders with post war trucks , I have 1 and it is not a Madison Hardware update. There are a lot of folks say the same thing about a never was , until you see , or have one.

Mike