2046 3 Window Engine

The "3" window "baby hudson"  2046 is circa '50 & '51. Is the rubber stamp in silver or white?   Strange that its both heat stamped and rubber stamped. The proper tender for that year was 2046W with "staple-end" trucks with  small block letters "Lionel Lines". Wasnt made in '52 cause of the Korean war.  It came  in '53  with plastic trailing trucks, side rods were cadmium plated instead of nickle. The tender trucks were changed to "bar-end" trucks and the letter style was changed, more elongated also.   Sets in '50/51 were 1473WS..1475WS  Others were all made in '53.  Im sure there are others who will add alot more this.   

bob

Bob; It is stamped in white. Rubber stamped on one side, heat stamped on the other side. I was told at a local train show that it was odd. The tender is marked 2046W with Pennsylvania rubber stamped on both sides. I'm pretty sure this should be "Lionel Lines". I bought the engine at a local hobby shop because I liked the look. One year later I'm obsessed with building around it as a set. I narrowed it down to 5 possible sets and now possibly 2 possible sets. Then of course you have all the possible variations in add ons. It can drive you crazy. But in a good way. Bought the 1953 Lionel catalog, all three 1953 sets were marketed with the 4 window. So I believe your correct, 1950-1951 period. Thank you for the information. Every bit helps.

EdA:  There have been instances when people have taken a "4" window 2046 and made it a "3" window.  Be ez enuff to do.  What gives it away is the trailing trucks are plastic and the side rods were cadmium plated instead of nickle, also a different drawbar in '53. Yes the proper tender should say "lionel Lines"  in small block letters with staple-end trucks.   Regardless still a nice PW loco.  have fun with it.

bob

Bob; Thanks for the information. You assume way to much of me, although old I'm rather new to this hobby. Trailing Truck; OK i figured that out, its not plastic.  Side Rods; ok i now know what a side rod is but couldn't tell you the difference between nickle or cadmium.Drawbar, I think its where a car connects? maybe.  I now know that the tender is a 2046W Pennsylvania with Bar End trucks. So Im guessing a 1950-51 engine with a Tender from an older set. Thanks for the info. EdA                                                                                                                

The 1950 Lionel catalog has set# 1473WS and 1475WS with the four window not three window engine.

Yes I see that. But the web site lists three variations;

     Var A: 1950 Rubber stamped in silver. Three Window

     Var B: 1951 Heat stamped in white. Three Window

     Var C: 1953 Heat stamped in white. Four window

The 1950 catalog also identifies the 2046 as being sold separate, 2046LTS.

So maybe this 2046 engine was never part of a set.

No variations of one side rubber stamped one side heat stamped.

Confusing,  Just have to build all 5 sets.

Thanks EdA