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I need a little help with a 1951-53 model 2026 steamer which I am in the process of restoring. I am beginning to wonder if I have parts from the earlier model mixed in. The picture I attached shows a view looking down at the upside down engine. You can see the puffer lever sitting in the grooves that are a part of the steam chest/cow catcher unit. But there is nothing to hold it in place when the engine is turned right side up. Shouldn't there be something on the boiler casting that would do that? Do I have a boiler casting from the earlier 2026? I bought the engine used so do not know its history. Any enlightenment is 2026 smoke pufferappreciated!

John T.

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  • 2026 smoke puffer
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I think I may have answered my own question. On page 148 of the Greenberg Lionel Repair Manual there is a diagram that shows 2 small tabs on the boiler casting that would hold the lever in place. I did not notice those tabs before. My boiler does not have these tabs so I think I have an early 2026 boiler with a later 2026 motor/smoke unit. greenberg book

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  • greenberg book

I think your getting yourself a little confused about the two different types of 2026 locomotives. On the left a late 2026, with smoke lever provision, and capture prongs on the steam chest/ pilot. On the right, an early 2026 with no smoke unit provisions....because early 2026 had the smoke lever as part of the motor. Your engine appears to be a late 2026, with an earlier steam chest/ pilot. Common practice to swap these around since it’s the first piece to be broken when they took a nose dive from a table top.....usually to a concrete basement floor.....Pat6B748632-BDA5-436D-8D67-0334B88296962EB2FDAB-3B9D-42DA-A4DA-112E21056A539C663341-6F87-4439-95A0-DBDC5920E91B

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  • 6B748632-BDA5-436D-8D67-0334B8829696
  • 2EB2FDAB-3B9D-42DA-A4DA-112E21056A53
  • 9C663341-6F87-4439-95A0-DBDC5920E91B

Another simple way to distinguish the two types is early has handrails, or if the handrails are missing, at least the holes will be there for the cotter keys. The later has no hand rails and no holes machined or drilled. The sample I showed on the right is a hacked up early 2026 that somebody wallered out a front mount e unit hole into it ....again, it’s easy to play musical motors, steam chests, etc. with a lot of these Prarie type steamers.....you definitely have the later motor, let’s see yours from top side....it’s easy to distinguish the two........Pat

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