Pw 2056 question

Looks like a 2037.

2037 motor frame is differnt in the back section.

Its not a 2037.

It also is not as shipped from the factory.

Looks like someone put the engine together from odd parts.

Apparently another "mongrel" which has had some parts swapped. I'm not an expert on all these parts but it does looks like the Hudson boiler with two pilot wheels instead of four. It's kind of an interesting and unique variation. From the bottom view I'm supposing it does not have Magne-traction? I expect someone else will have more info.

Definately a 736 boiler and the correct rear truck. still searching......

Looks like the motor could be from a 2025 or 2035, early 50's.

It is difficult to specifically identify your engine since it has been stripped of all numbering.  However, it may, and I emphasize may, be a very unusual piece or as has been suggested, it is just a "mongrel", modified over the years.  It is not a 2037 or an itteration of any of the "Pacifics" such as 2025, 2035, etc.  The boiler casting is similar to the one used on the pre-war  226, the Post War 646, 2046-2056 and the 726-736 Berkshire.  No Post War engine, using that boiler casting or a modified version of it  was, to my knowledge,manufactured with the 2-6-4 wheel arrangement, although one was shown, numbered 2046, in the 1950 Advance Catalog.  When the consumer version of that catalog came out, numbers 2046 and 646, the so-callled "Baby Hudsons" were pictured as 6-4-6s, the proto-type Hudson wheel arrangement.  Your engine may be a 226 or 2226, pre-war models,which were 2-6-4s, although the ones that I have seen, had a small number plate on the cab and not the Post war style of rubber stamped numbers.  The location of the E-Unit lever may be the critical component to identifying your engine and, if possible, try to compare it along side a 226, 646 and 2046-2056(1952 only). Incidentally, several years ago, OGR or CTT, I can't recall which, had a well researched article on the subject of the boiler casting used for these various locomotives. You didn't mention the tender that came with it.  Certainly not a very good indicator as to year of production, but it could be a clue.  If the tender, at the very least, has a knuckle coupler, chances are that it is a custom piece and not one of factory production.  In any event, your engine probably is a good runner.  Enjoy it!

Also looks like the correct boiler front plate and pilot. No magne-traction.

according to the post war library the 646, 2046 and 2056 all shared the 736 boiler but were using the Sante Fe Hudson 4-6-4 wheel arrangement. The shell is a 736 and the pilot and boiler front plate match the 2056's if seen as does the rear wheels. The Tender is 2046W, whistel needs work and one step is partialy broken off but all in all the train runs well and smokes like crazy. The boiler was marked 2056 in silver before I stripped and painted it. Most of the paint was gone and the handrails were missing.

I have encountered this a couple of times, someone has switched out the motor, mounting the e-unit is pretty easy, the part you are going to have to do is drill a 7/64 hole, off center due to the gears, and tap it for 6:32.  Then you can mount the correct 4 wheel truck in the front.  Should take you 20 minutes, a drill press is very helpful here because you want the hole directly on the bottom.  You can be off a couple of degrees because all the parts have alot of give in them...Nice paint job..

Marty

Thanks Marty, I am thinking that is what I'll do. Have a drill press and taps just need to order the new front truck.

Nope. The e-unit slot on a postwar Berk would be located around the center of the boiler behind the sand dome. That's a Hudson shell.

Here's a 2046, same shell as a 2056/646. Note the e-unit slot toward the rear as on your casting, and also the solid turned bell, and lack of a whistle. Click on the photos for a better view.

Here's a 736. Note the more detailed swinging bell, whistle, different boiler front, and E-unit slot more to the middle just barely visible between the domes.

Jim

id leave it and run it as is....give it a number whatever one you feel....kinda has a nice pacific look to it

ASQ Tec, check out www.postwarlionel.com/index.html and look under 2056. Looks the same to me and they say it is in the history section.

OK I see it but that means they moved the slot in the mold when they went to the 646,2046 and 2056 and lionels web site has a goof. I like the engine a lot so ...... something to ponder.

2020 next.

Nice 736 Jim, looks new.

Thanks, always liked the Berks.

There are lots of mistakes on that website, for example, in their 2056 history section. The 2046/2056/646 isn't based on a Santa Fe Hudson as they say, but on the NYC Hudson. The 2055 is supposedly based on a SF type.

Jim

Rats, I really liked that site.

It's not a bad reference for photos and basic identifications. It's only some of the background info that is lacking, and many of those errors are really just typos.

Jim

Thanks Jim. Sorry ASQ Tec, guess I shouldn't beleive all that I read.

Jim, unfortunately, even if they're just typos, anyone looking for correct information is going to be misled by the errors.

Martin

You simply have a 2056 with an incorrect lead truck. Pick up a correct 4 wheel lead truck and install it and re-number to 2056 as it was before you restored it.

gandy

Hi ,that looks like a 2056 with an 2035 magnatraction motor, just change the front truck and you will have a 2056 with magnatraction      

 Brian Whitten

         Buxton Station