Lionel No. 58 Great Northern Snowplow

If you have an original production #58, look at the #41 Army Switcher pages in the Greenberg manual as it is similar in construction. It will show you the location of the single body mounting screw at the rear of the cab to get you started on your way to accessing the internals for servicing. The #58 has an additional companion screw on the opposite corner allowing for removal of the top.

If you have a modern production #58 6-18446, the construction is different and you should reference the user manual hosted by Lionel for the service instructions as shown on printed pages 5-7:

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/71-8446-250.pdf

Thank you for your reply.  The instruction sheet that came with the unit is dated 11/59.  Per the attached pic, you can see there are no mounting screws in the front of the unit.  There are, however, two screws located diagonally across from each other on opposite ends of the catwalk as viewed from the top of the 58.  One screw is partially visible in the attached pic.

Before I removed the two screws, I wanted to check to make sure this is the correct way to remove the shell.  I hope this helps better explain my question.  Thank you.  Urbie

Your picture shows an original production. The black flathead screw that goes through the green body from the top in your picture is one of two screws holding the main body to the frame. As I described earlier, the opposite corner diagonally has the second screw. I believe you identified these using your words as going through the catwalks.

Appreciate your prompt follow-up to my post.  Yes, both screws are located diagonally across from each other as viewed from the top of the unit.   You confirmed removing these two screws is the correct way to access the motor in order to perform routine maintenance.  Wanted to avoid damaging the rotating snowplow assembly of the 58 which is what prompted me to request guidance.  Thank you for your assistance.  Urbie

I received one of these from a friend, but it did not have the pilot wheels in front or the trailing wheels in back.  Basically a 0-4-0.  It would not run through a switch.  I discovered one of the purposes of those wheels is to insure ground when passing through switches.  I bought 2 on ebay and drilled them out to fit the snow blower.  Now the unit runs perfectly.

Be careful when disassembling. The 2 plastic tangs under the front railing that hold the blower housing are extremely fragile and will snap off if you look at them wrong. They have become very brittle over the years.

If it is truly never run and is in perfect shape with both the interior and exterior boxes, you may want to consider selling it instead of running it.  Value should be in the $700 to $1000 range.  You can always pick up another one in like new condition for less money.

I regret saying I had a Great Northern, the one I received is a 8459 Rio Grande unit and I run it a lot now that I fixed it.  The kids like it.