Hi all,
The other day I found an 'Apple Green or Light Green' 3242R with snowplow pilots. Was this engine only sold with matching 184-185 & 186 coaches as the 'New Yorker'? Or could it have also been found with freight cars or the large 187-188-189 cars?
In light green, it only came with matching 184-185-186 passenger cars and was only cataloged in 1927. The set was called "The New Yorker".
Does it have a manual reverse lever sticking out of a slot on top of one of the long hoods? If so you "found" a 3242, not a 3242R, and the plates are correct. A 3242R would have a motor with an "R" unit (3 position automatic reverse) and "3242R" plates. In 1927 you could get the set either way, with the automatic reverse being about a $4 surcharge to the price of the set.
There is nothing wrong with using your locomotive to pull freight cars, or whatever else your imagination can visualize.