Let's see your Alco S-2 switchers. All manufacturers welcome!

Lionel S4 Chessie System Switcher Engine

This is a Lionel S-2 (ex-Western Pacific) wearing the Weirton Steel Company colors of 1940's-1960's.  Number 208 was purchased by Weirton Steel in 1946.  The re-painting and stack modifications are by Tommy Gilbert's Hobby Shop in Gettysburg, PA.

George

A shot of my NYC S-2 Legacy switcher.Great Little Alco!!

That custom job came out great George. Here's some old photos of my first attempt at PC9850 with one of Lionel's older TMCC units:

That's my grandfather in the photo and the reason I modeled this locomotive. A quick history on the project:

Penn Central 9850 was originally New Haven 0600. The New Haven's version of the Alco S-2 was very unique in several features such as different front grill styles, smokestack style, horn placement, and other miscellaneous unique hardware affixed to the long hood. I tried to replicate as many as these as I could but eventually grew frustrated with the complicated and damaging disassembly process, the custom parts' fragility, and my own amateur skill set with parts fabrication. Another downside was I could not use the smoke unit with my custom brass smokestack. It got far too hot causing the paint to run, and fluid seeped out all along the base. When I found out the New Haven also ordered their Alco S-2s with unique lower-profile cab roofs, it was the last straw. I determined unless an O-gauge manufacturer models this NH-specific feature, a 100% accurate recreation of the locomotive is simply not possible to achieve. So, I reverted to the good ole' "Keep It Simple Stupid" strategy. I had wanted to do PC9850 again with a newer Legacy model already, so I picked one out that had the chassis already painted just like a Penn Central Alco S-2. This eliminated the nightmare of disassembling these little locos for painting. The Southern model fit the bill except for the zebra-stripes printed on the pilots, which are easily removed with alcohol and a Q-tip leaving the original black underneath. The shell will be painted to match and the only custom accents I'll add are the sinclair antenna on the roof and removing the handrails from the top of the hood (PC S-2s didn't have those). Other than that it will be a fully-functioning Lionel Legacy model. I will post pictures of it once it's completed in the next two weeks 

Nick,

I think your attempt at modeling PC9850 looks great!  You have a lot of guts for trying it.  I love the job Tommy did on mine, but I know he had a heck of time with it once he dissassembled it.  I can't wait to see your Legacy version.  And to have that photo with your grandfather - that's a priceless memory.

Only one I got...  An Overland S Scale S2 from 1987:

Rusty

I bought the NYC S-2 with Legacy at York. Runs fantastic! I also like the fuel level dialog and the refueling sounds. Now if Lionel would do an S-2 in the Fonda Johnston & Gloversville paint. a very colorful unit.

i HAVE SOME CN & GTW MTH S-2's shown below.

K-Line S2 from the mid-90's.

I am hoping to get one of these a some point. I absolutely love ALCo's . I will be looking for a B&O and a Reading unit. (Or maybe a something in black with Delaware & Hudson on it  .

I'll keep watching to see what people post!

Henry J

Here's a couple Marx S-2's and three K-line's.

    ED

I am trying to post a photo of mine as it simulates a fire in the engine compartment . Do any of you who have this Lionel engine find that the sound volume is low?/

Ed on your elevated track what size dowles did you use? How are they attached , glue or dcrews? Thanks

Here are two Lionel Legacy S-2 that I recently purchased, these engines are a lot of fun.

Also, this is my first attempt at adding pictures, so lets see if this works

They are actually large paint sticks given out free at Home depot.They are held by screws into the sides of the track going down below the layout.

   Ed

Here is a Union RR S-2 that I painted a while back.

Dave