Postwar Lionel - finding a new old favorite

My new to me 1959 Boston and Maine alco set.

franktrain

If I was running postwar for a significant amount of time I would run my 681...just not this fast the whole time...

I have many "favorites but, gradually, I am liking the "5"s more and more. I have 6, all smooth good runners. They are a 2025, two 2055s, and  2065s but my 726RR, 681, 646 pus a 622 are good, too.

My newest postwar favorite is the 2046.  I saw one online and thought, that's a nice looking engine.  Then I saw one in person and wow!  that's huge compared to my little 2026!  I've been keeping my eye out for a deal for a while now...

624 C&O Switcher. Runs like a top and watching it going around the layout makes it seem like 1959 or so all over again. 

i love to run my 1666, but my 675 runs best - it's a steel beast!

Of course my all-time favorite is my 1951 Lionel 2026, that I've had since it was new.  But on those occasions when I decide to run postwar equipment, it's usually my 2046 or 736, with a string of NYC 027 passenger cars.  If it's freight I want, I run the Lionel 2032 Erie AA pair from 1952, with a string of PW hopper cars.

The 610 pulled my first Lionel, which my dad bought when I was about 1.  Sold it when the starter wife and I parted, but always thought about it.  Last year, someone was talking about the plain jane switchers, so for grins I checked out the auction place, and I was amazed that they not only had 610's, but one was part of the complete set that I had as a boy. Bought it, cleaned it up, and it is still a great runner.

My favorite at the moment is a 2353 set I got that had been restored. I just got the B unit yesterday, it was all original but in almost new condition. That's an impressive looking set running around some track.

I love the 6361 Timber Transport car.....a great use of prior tooling and a car realistic enough to run in a scale consist.

Peter

6361s look great, as do a few other of the "repurposed" cars from the later postwar period, IE the 6362 truck cars. 

I've started collecting the little motorized units. Have about 1/3 of them so far.

I would have to say that I've got a tie between my 2343 Santa Fe F3 ABA set and my 2245   Texas Special F3 ABA (which I double motored). Love those dual horizontal "growlers". 

Roger

I almost chose my 2245s! Got a set for a great deal that had been restored by Welz, paint is flawless and they're just beautiful.

Andrew,

As I'm not a "purist", I added front grab irons, 5mm warm white LEDs behind the headlights, the second motor and illuminated the B dummy with chip LEDs. Also put in a silver pilot rather than the red as I like that color combo better (very striking). You're right.....that glossy paint job is gorgeous.

Roger

my latest Postwar favorite is my recently won 2055.

I'm somewhere between you and "purist" I think. I haven't gone with LEDs or anything, but I'm more concerned with the look and feel of the items rather than their absolute originality. Some people are against even restorations, but i can't understand that. 

Some great choices above.  The F-3s are really impressive, but I love listening to the mechanical bell of the 6220 or 622 as it travels around the layout.  Maybe not realistic to have them out on the mainline more than 45 feet from home.  In steam, I revert back to the 1950 773 or the 736 Berkshire.  They are just smooth as silk.  Having grown up with the mechanical e-units, to me a train just doesn't sound right if you can't make it buzz between forward and reverse.

Well, I look at it as........you buy it, it's YOURS. Change it up to your heart's content. Most of what I change,though, is easily reversible (if I choose to do so). I guess if something is high end collector quality and I was concerned about it's value, maybe I would have a different outlook. But all my engines are runners and I really like what I do to them.

Roger

No, I completely agree, I was just referring to what I do with my trains, that's all.

I modified my 2046 with a berk front, bell, whistle and it looks great. Also added lites to the tender. Also had Len Caparelli repaint a couple of 623's as a 600 and a 621. The MKT especially looks great with the gray frame and the red body.

I modified my 2046 with a berk front, bell, whistle and it looks great.

that's the way they should have been made, I've got those on the list to do to my 2046

It's always inspiring to discover another holdout in the impressive department.  Even the later versions of the NW2 worked surprisingly well considering the simplified construction.

Recently these 2353 pair of A's were a whole new experience in PW engineering for me.  Dual horizontal motor growl assures one that these F3's can do any job.

Bruce

How nice that your wife won it! Great switcher story - hope to see you post some photos in Switcher Saturday!

My favorite Post War loco is the 1948 Berkshire that my dad bought for Christmas,I still run it ocassionally.

Mikey

Hard to decide sometimes. Don't have too many to choose from but they are all 'favorites'. The 675 runs and looks great pulling the 2400 Green Passenger cars from the late 40's and the sound of the old metal postwar whistle is music to my ears. The 2343's are strong pullers and I love the postwar horn, which works well on this engine. They look great pulling the 50's Aluminum Passenger cars or Lionel's larger freight cars and the horizontal motors add their own distinct diesel sound effects. There's a 50's #736 that has languished in the box way too long and needs to be lubed, fed a smoke pill and put to work so it'll feel useful again. And finally, watching the old #50 Gang Car bounce back & forth between a pair of bumpers on Super O track always brings on a smile.  

I have newer engines with bells, whistles and horns plus talk & chatter and they work well, most of the time, but they just don't carry quite the nostalgic 'bang' the old timers offer. 

I guess my favorite is whatever is rolling down the hi-iron at the moment….I love'em all.