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Grandson and I stopped by the local shop today and I found the above mentioned unit among their used items for sale.  It had no road numbers on the cab or elsewhere and was painted like this.
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Not meaning to be critical but it was very cheaply made with non-operational couplers, single motor and the non-powered trucks had very rudimentary pickups etc.  I'm not sure but the lights on each end did not look functional, but I may be wrong about that.  Normally I wouldn't have any interest in the item but I grew up in Eastern Oklahoma where the Midland Valley, KO&G operated and thought it would make a nice addition if not for the very low-end appearance.

Can anyone add any information about this switcher, like the Lionel item #, ability to upgrade trucks, couplers etc. if the engine can be upgraded a bit it would be worth having as it is a reminder of mis-spent youth but as it is I really don't care for the lack of detail and entry level parts.

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Originally Posted by 41woodie:

Grandson and I stopped by the local shop today and I found the above mentioned unit among their used items for sale.  It had no road numbers on the cab or elsewhere and was painted like this.
10

Not meaning to be critical but it was very cheaply made with non-operational couplers, single motor and the non-powered trucks had very rudimentary pickups etc.

 

Looking at your photo, it is a 2-Rail SCALE model, and looks pretty well detailed to me, plus it has, what appear to be, Kadee O SCALE couplers. Also, since it is 2-Rail, there would be no 3rd rail pick-ups. Concerning the "non-powered trucks", is the switch a dummy?

 

  I'm not sure but the lights on each end did not look functional, but I may be wrong about that.  Normally I wouldn't have any interest in the item but I grew up in Eastern Oklahoma where the Midland Valley, KO&G operated and thought it would make a nice addition if not for the very low-end appearance.

Can anyone add any information about this switcher, like the Lionel item #, ability to upgrade trucks, couplers etc. if the engine can be upgraded a bit it would be worth having as it is a reminder of mis-spent youth but as it is I really don't care for the lack of detail and entry level parts.

 

How do you know it is a Lionel product? Since it is 2-Rail Scale, it could be an older Atlas, or Walthers. Pretty hard to tell from that one photo. 

 

I do not think Lionel made that model engine in that paint scheme. It may be a repaint in which case it is much harder to say how good the "guts" of the model are without popping it open and looking at it. That body style has been made by Lionel since the 1950's through today and as a repaint it could be anything. Does that answer your question.

Silver Lake, thanks for your thoughts, I had googled the thing to death and could not find any evidence of Lionel having made an NW-2 in that road scheme.  I've only been at this for about 7-8 months and lack the knowledge to recognize what I'm seeing.  

The non-functional couplers at each end doesn't seem like something Lionel would do and your idea about it having been cobbled together sounds like a real possibility.

 

I think I'll drop back by the shop and see if I can take a couple of iPhone shots of it (with the owners permission).  I'll post them when I do and perhaps gain a little knowledge from you guys. Again, Thanks for your help

Hi Woodie:

 

I have lived in eastern OK for the past 24 years. I can fully understand your appreciation for the Midland Valley.  I pass by their old rail yard/shops location in Fort Smith every time I head a train south of town. The MV was an interesting line.

 

As for what you found:

 

I highly suspect it was a custom painted Lionel NW engine of some sort. If you want to replicate an MV switcher, I would suggest starting with a better platform than a Lionel NW from the "cheaper eras". You may want to consider the Atlas 3 rail EMD SW switcher.  You would not be disappointed in the quality found in the Atlas SW switcher.

 

Best of luck.

 

 

Last edited by laming

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