Engine Identification - Lionel #2026

Your loco never had an ornamental whistle on the boiler, nor wire handrails.  I don't believe that the TA reference was meant to comprehensively list all of the changes from the '47-'49 version.

In my opinion, by 1950 Lionel was looking for ways to streamline production and save money.  That year they introduced the "Adriatic" 2036, which was based on the 2026, but had details such as air pumps added to the boiler casting.  The wire handrails were dropped in favor of ones that were cast in.

Like all models introduced in 1950, the 2036 had Magne-Traction which precluded the use of stainless steel rims.  In fact, the 2036 looked just like your 2026, except that the motor frame had silver-colored sides made out of non-magnetic aluminum.  War broke out in Korea later that year, and the limited magnetic material was reserved for hot-selling diesels.  So the 2036 was renumbered 2026 and lost its magne-traction.  The motor sides switched back to black steel.  Why they reused the "2026" number instead of something unique like 2126, 2076, etc., we'll never know.  Except for the number, the superstructure is the same.

As long as your loco was properly lubricated and the bearings aren't worn to an oval shape, it should be a decent runner.  An inexpensive tune-up that's easy to do is new brushes, brush springs, and brush plate.  Also, make sure the smoke lever has enough travel, and doesn't jam when the crosshead (piston slide) comes all the way forward.  If you want the smoothest possible operation, remove the smoke unit altogether.  Hope this helps!

Great info, thanks very much Ted!!

There were 2 versions of the 2026 as you mentioned.   Why the early and later were both named 2026, I don't know.   Not something normally done.  The early version had the smoke unit and the flapper unit mounted in the motor.   Later the flapper was mounted to the boiler.  The early version had extra linkage, hand rails and the ornamental vertical whistle and the steel rims.   2-6-2 configuration usually.    The center wheel has a tall stud for the extra linkage and the threads on the linkage bolts may be different. 

I learned all this looking for a motor with an integral smoke unit for my 3D tank engine.  The early 2026 was it. 

If you're interested in doing some minor restoration work, I did one of these a few years ago and the members of the Forum were exceedingly helpful.

This thread .....  New Lionel 2026 Restoration | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

@VHubbard posted:

There were 2 versions of the 2026 as you mentioned.   Why the early and later were both named 2026, I don't know.   Not something normally done.  The early version had the smoke unit and the flapper unit mounted in the motor.   Later the flapper was mounted to the boiler.  The early version had extra linkage, hand rails and the ornamental vertical whistle and the steel rims.   2-6-2 configuration usually.    The center wheel has a tall stud for the extra linkage and the threads on the linkage bolts may be different.

I learned all this looking for a motor with an integral smoke unit for my 3D tank engine.  The early 2026 was it.

Thank you VHubbard!

@Richie C. posted:

If you're interested in doing some minor restoration work, I did one of these a few years ago and the members of the Forum were exceedingly helpful.

This thread .....  New Lionel 2026 Restoration | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

Thank you Richie C!