Customizing Lionel Legacy Ten Wheeler

Lionel has a lot of tender lights but if you want the number to match you should order the headlight for this engine, then make a base to fit it on the deck or simply install a light in the rear of the water chamber. You could use a sliver of brass tubing to make a rim. I would think the sound board in the tender has a provision for rear light.

Pete

Not all steam locos had tender lights ("backup lights"), and the "marker lights", especially on older locos, were hung on the rear as needed (normally there were none or they were turned off). Not that it makes any difference to you, but I often unplug these marker lights (the ones on the front of the loco are "classification lights", not "markers", as an aside), as I don't care for the Christmas tree look of many O-gauge locos. 

If ya gotta, these lamps can be gotten from Lionel; look at their website under "Support" and "Replacement Parts". There will be some that you can adapt, I imagine. Easy ordering. (Maybe I should sell you some of mine for Big Bucks...)

If you have some to sell, I would consider on offer.  I do know not all had them, I was just wondering of anyone else had done this, so that I wasn't reblazing a trail.  The idea of using the headlight to get the correct number is a good one I didn't think of.  I know it's not for everyone, but I do personally like the lights.  I'll even turn the cab lights on after the locomotive is moving.

I believe the real SP 2353 was an oil burner w/ a backup light. So you could always get another tender altogether with a light socket already in it. Then just swap the electronics.

TrainingDave posted:

I believe the real SP 2353 was an oil burner w/ a backup light. So you could always get another tender altogether with a light socket already in it. Then just swap the electronics.

Dave is correct. The real 2353 was a class T-31 and did have a square tender similar to Lionel's. Most all SP engines had tenders with reverse lights.  You could make a more convincing model by removing the coal and installing an oil deck and also adding number boards on either side of the stack. Precision Scale has number boards. An oil deck could be easily fabricated in styrene.

the prototype resides in the Pacific Southwest Railway museum.

http://www.rgusrail.com/capsrm.html#spt312353.html

While its now paired with a Vanderbilt tender, it can be found in Guy Dunscomb's "A Century of Southern Pacific Steam Locomotives" with a square tender.

Pete

I wish Lionel would have done the 10 wheelers justice. The tender Lionel used to make for the older 2-8-0 is very similar. Maybe you could order the parts and convert? This would make a great project.

The Lionel Northern Pacific ten wheeler was a crash and burn too.  When will they try?

 The Northern Pacific class S-4 was my favorite 10 wheeler...

Too bad the chopped up the front pilots to add the foot boards later in their career.

J Daddy posted:

I wish Lionel would have done the 10 wheelers justice. The tender Lionel used to make for the older 2-8-0 is very similar. Maybe you could order the parts and convert? This would make a great project.

They are making the 2-8-0 with this tender (I have one on order.), maybe I can try buying an extra tender.

Anywho, I'm not all into it being 100% correct, I just really like having the light to know when I'm in reverse.

Thanks.

Can't you tell by the way the model is moving?

Did Lionel do the Harriman locomotive, or just a generic ten- wheeler?

I do have a 2353 in my collection - it is as accurate as I could get it, complete with pilot on the tender.

Bob, Its a generic ten wheeler, not really SP. Sinclair, that engine did have a square tender back in the day. It was common to swap out tenders over the years. But the coal load has to go. These had Pyle lights front and back too. Not sure Lionel ever made this style of Pyle light. Precision Scale has them. As for extra tenders, if they sell them it will be priced nearly as high as the complete engine. You can find them here, though.

http://stevensonpreservationli...0&products_id=65

Pete

There is a picture in Dunscomb's book of 2353 with a tender much closer to the one Lionel used.

Pete