Lionel Legacy GP-7 Shell Removal

Sometimes you have to jockey the shell a bit once it gets partially off.  Once you have lifted the shell off the frame, there is no more fasteners that are holding it down, it's just hanging up on something.  If you peek inside, sometimes a wire gets hooked and the shell sticks.

Volume is turned all the way up on the remote and engine (adjustment under the rear hatch)?

Yes, the volume is turned all the way up. And the shell is definitely hanging on the engineer figures. There's a little pin in front of each of their heads that falls into their lap areas when the shell is lifted, and they are what's preventing the cover from going any higher. Not sure if they need to be removed in some way. I'll try to add some photos later tonight.

That's one of the modular ones with extra lighting wires.  Those are fun to get apart, and even more fun putting back together!  It is packed under that shell. 

Here are some photos of the engine. I'm trying to show how the engineer figures are getting hung up on the cab lighting...the bulbs and housings are impeding the figures from being lifted any higher. Do these need to be removed somehow before you can release the entire shell? If so, how?

I remember mine being a combination of sliding it forward and tilting to one side (I think the right side) after getting it somewhat lifted in the back. One of my cab lights was broken from the get go; probably from putting the shell on at the factory which, as you will find, is even more difficult/frustrating than getting the shell off. Good luck and be patient.