I own a Lionel postwar 616 NW2. But...it has the newer sheet metal frame with the sheet metal frame skirt and a two pin lamp. Strangely, it comes with 2 axle magna-traction, three position e-unit and a horn. It seems to be some sort of hybrid between the older magna-traction style and the traction tire version. Anyone have any info on this? Was Lionel possibly using up inventory? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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This was 1961/62 production and sounds correct as you described and may or may not have operating couplers.
Keep the front axles lubricated especially if they do not have bushings and ride on the sheet metal frame.
Good looking loco.
Lionel dropped operating couplers on 027 engines in 1958. Switchers, some GP-7's and a 0-4-0 steam engine all lost their operating couplers as Lionel cheapened their production.
franktrain posted:This was 1961/62 production and sounds correct as you described and may or may not have operating couplers.
Keep the front axles lubricated especially if they do not have bushings and ride on the sheet metal frame.
Good looking loco.
Thank you for the info. Just wondering why mention of this oddity not mentioned in any Lionel reference books.
Tandem Associates shows your engine with a plastic fuel tank and better quality frame. Postwarlionel.com also shows a plastic fuel tank / better frame.
The horn, magnetraction and three position e-unit are listed features on Tandem.
They also say it may or may not have operating couplers.
IMHO, the big question is that frame.
I am going to look in my reference books.
More information: The eighth edition of the Greenburg Guide to Lionel Trains lists two variations on the 616, both with older frames and plastic fuel tanks.
The 617 also has two variations, one with the older frame and plastic fuel tank, and one with the late frame, which is what the loco pictured above has.
So, it is possible that somewhere along the line a 616 shell was placed on a 617 chassis.
Could have happened in the factory, or in the field.
I'd keep it.
C W Burfle posted:Tandem Associates shows your engine with a plastic fuel tank and better quality frame. Postwarlionel.com also shows a plastic fuel tank / better frame.
The horn, magnetraction and three position e-unit are listed features on Tandem.
They also say it may or may not have operating couplers.
IMHO, the big question is that frame.
I am going to look in my reference books.
I agree the frame is the question. It appears this was not a modification but a factory original. I have researched this extensively myself and cannot find any information with regard to this unusual piece.
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