Was just given this little guy and was wondering about it. Also, how to take it apart.
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What I can tell you: the disassembly process is similar to that of the 229, and that was covered in the 2011 December issue of CTT. It was made somewhere around 1940-41. It's not technically a scout engine, but rather an 027 engine whose she'll was borrowed for many of the scout designs.
What I can't tell you: everything else.
One of the first things I notice from Cheryl's pics, it has "fat wheels" which won't like conventional frog-type switches. The wheel gears are a larger diameter than the wheel treads. That limits where you can run it. It needs older switches like the Lionel 1024's or similar Marx switches, or no switches.
I haven't worked on one but I suspect it's straightforward if you take out the screws that are clearly visible. Maybe take the rods off first, they need some straightening anyway.
If I recall correctly, a 1684 is basically the same as a 1654. Here is a link to the Olsen's pages on the 1654:
Thanks for the input guys 
. Greenburg 2007, as that's the one we have at the store, says it was from '41-42.
The 1654 pages do look like this one which will help immensely. It would appear the motor block is canted in the shell, and if it's because of the shell, she's a shelf queen. Otherwise there may be a new addition to the Christmas Stable. And... there are no switches on that circle of track, hehehe 
Well, I got this apart,and, it turns out that the die cast frame all the innards mount to had a severe case of zinc pest and had cracked and warped into a "C" shape. As I took it apart it just kept crumbling. I now have the motor, reverse unit and wheel with nothing to mount them to. I think a whole new wheel block may be needed. Poor little guy, now it's just a shell 
I might be able to fabricate a new frame if so desired... Shoot me an email.
Cheryl, Is the motor okay, but the body of the loco suffers from zinc pest? That motor is what was referred to as the Die Cast Motor, and is a single reduction gear motor. It was used on quite a few locos from Prewar. Dating is from 1940-41, and was used on the 1662; 1663; 1664 (1940 version); 1684 & the 1688 (1940 version). It is actually the same motor that Lionel adapted when it made the 1654 loco in Postwar.
A little clarification on what has the zinc pest????? The body or the motor?
TeleDoc posted:Cheryl, Is the motor okay, but the body of the loco suffers from zinc pest? That motor is what was referred to as the Die Cast Motor, and is a single reduction gear motor. It was used on quite a few locos from Prewar. Dating is from 1940-41, and was used on the 1662; 1663; 1664 (1940 version); 1684 & the 1688 (1940 version). It is actually the same motor that Lionel adapted when it made the 1654 loco in Postwar.
A little clarification on what has the zinc pest????? The body or the motor?
It was the frame... The body is perfectly fine from what I am hearing.
Charly posted:Well, I got this apart,and, it turns out that the die cast frame all the innards mount to had a severe case of zinc pest and had cracked and warped into a "C" shape. As I took it apart it just kept crumbling. I now have the motor, reverse unit and wheel with nothing to mount them to. I think a whole new wheel block may be needed. Poor little guy, now it's just a shell
That's unfortunate. I wouldn't put a lot of work into it myself; save it for parts or static display.
The shell is fine, the motor works, the wheels are good, don't know about the reverse unit. What crumbled is the diecast piece that all that mounts to. And... I agree, it's not worth it to put much money into it. It was given to me as a project to get running but it was too far gone for that. I have no attachment to it, or investment in it at this point. Will just hang onto it for now, maybe it will become a scrap detail for out behind the roundhouse .
Can anyone tell me about this set? No number on engine. Tender is 1689t. Cars 1679,1680,and 1682. Thanks
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Vinny26, The loco is a 259E. Both the 258 & 259 loco shells look similar, the “L” emblem on the cab side tells you, it is the 259. The cars you show, are listed as components of three Sets, dating 1939-1941. The Set numbers were #7000, 7001, & 7002, and listed as Promotional Sets, (Not cataloged).
