Am I crazy or is that a silhouette of George Washington on the feed water heater??

rgrossOGR Forum Member

Hi I recently purchased a beautiful George Washington F-19 Pacific. The seller told me there was a black stain on the feed water heater and I noticed it as well. Before I tried touching it up I looked online and saw the same Lionel model with the same marking. Then I saw an old fuzzy C&O newsreel that showed the same engine with the same mark! I looked at it more closely with a magnifying glass and I'll be darned if it doesn't resemble a profile of George Washington similar to that on a nickel. Is it possible that I am correct or will I soon be finding potato chips that look like hollywood stars!!!

If anyone knows for sure I would appreciate hearing from you as I am now reluctant to "touch it up" if it is meant to be there.

Rick

12/31/135:50 PM

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rgrossOGR Forum Member

I just found this on the chessieshop.com website!

The f-19 is probably, along with the look-alike F-17, the locomotive most often asociated with the C&O's flagship train, The George Washington, of the 1930s. Decorated with a "cameo" silhouette portrait of Washington on its smoke box or feed water heater and a train name on its tender sides, these locomotive were part of the mystique of the train. As can be seen in the photos in the album, the F-19s carried a variety of decorations on their feedwater heater as well, including eagles and stars, during this period.

12/31/136:01 PM

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kanawhaOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

It is a cameo of George Washington. It's supposed to be silver I believe, not black as on the Lionel model. Also, Lionel forgot to put a number board on the center of the smokebox. See picture below.