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I’ve been shopping for a Lionel 2031 Rock Island FA AA set.  I’m watching several for sale on ebay.  I noticed that one set for sale has the horn/relay/battery bracket located in the dummy unit.  Also, the battery plate apparently has a dimple rather than a spring to hold the battery in place.  See photo. 

I have never seen this variation documented in any of the Lionel reference books that I own.  Has anyone seen this variation before?  I am aware that Lionel relocated horns in the later horizontal motor F3s from the powered to the dummy units.  Similarly, at some point, did Lionel relocate horns in 2023/2031/2032/2033 Alcos from the powered to the dummy units?

(I was unsure whether it would have been permissible for me to include a link to the ebay ad; consequently, I didn't insert the link.  I'm not trying to sell the locomotive.  I'm merely curious about the variation.)

2031 with horn in dummy

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  • 2031 with horn in dummy
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Looks to me like someone swapped things around sometime in this Alco's lifetime. I own 14 of these Alcos and looked at many more, and never saw anything like this. If you study the pictures, the motor truck that's in the dummy chassis doesn't sit centered in the frame. That's because the truck mount in the Dummy chassis is 3/32" farther forward than the mount in the Power frame.  Also the pivot hole in the Dummy mount is too small for the motor to fit, that means they had to drill it larger to mount the motor in the Dummy.  At the price their asking, it should be "Factory correct", with no modifications.

Hi Clete, Thanks for the answer.  After re-examining the photo and looking at my Alcos, I see exactly what you mean.  I agree.  Someone must have switched the motor truck from the powered frame to the dummy frame.  Furthermore, if the variation were legitimate, it would have been noted by now in at least one Lionel reference book.

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