Prewar Lionel Steam Switchers

Tom,

It's gonna be good! Any thoughts of keeping it alive after your friend is finished? I'm happy when I see anyone enjoying prewar.(even though it's not tinplate)

God Bless,

"Pappy"

I've always been under the impression that the engine pictured and the re release were actually scale, Lionel's only other prewar attempt besides the 700E

There were also semi-scale prewar 0-6-0 types...the 201, 203, etc.  The shells from these went on to become PW 0-4-0's too numerous to mention and still in production

There's a re-release sitting on the shelf of my LHS calling my name but scale fidelity isn't a concern for me when running conventionally.  It's been there a while...maybe I should make an offer

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

 The 701 was actually the scale version with scale flanges on the drivers, scale trucks on the tender and scale couplers. The other prewar steam switchers had tinplate flanges,trucks and couplers. 

   Tom 

By the way, the engine in the picture is the #230.

Tom

It turns out that the Lionel B 6 switchers all have scale proportioned bodies but are not exactly scale models!  They are realistic looking but don't quite replicate any real engine in the B 6 switcher family.  So what? They are realistic enough for me and very attractive locomotives to boot.

Also, they are really hefty

Ed Boyle

Partner

Special Projects Editor

O Gauge Railroading magazine

Thanks guys.  I could have swore the one pictured was the 701.  Definitely more applied detail than my lowly 201.

Bruce

I believe the Pennsy prototype engines actually had an unequal spacing of the locomotive's axle's while Lionel chose to space them out evenly. 

Note to Pappy,

  Thanks for your kind thoughts. Yes, as long as I am alive and kicking (knock on wood) and can afford to renew the website every 2 years (not too hard, it is actually pretty affordable) I will keep it running. The poem was my own creation, giving a nod to my hometown (Yonkers, NY), my website creator-friend's hometown (Binghamton, NY) and steam switcher mechanic, Mr. Losee. I think I mention on the website that you can get 99.9% of them running with a good cleaning. The last one I bought on eBay looked like an explosion happened in the boiler with wires going every which way...he got that one running in one afternoon.

  Tom

I suppose the equal wheel spacing saved money by utilizing existing drive lines.  Wouldn't be the first or last time Lionel strayed.

  I happened to be putting the finishing details on this...errr... B6 yesterday.  

Bruce