Just got a Lionel 18000 B-6 from 1989...question, on the boiler front is a number 653,I checked all the pre war switchers none had that number,anybody got an idea?It's visible on the cover of the 1989 toy fair catalog...thanks....Joe
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You are right, all prewar B-6 engines are in the 200 series. Maybe the 653 was a number of a real PRR B-6?
Good Guess Chuck the B6sb class was in that number series.....I checked "PENNSY POWER" sure enough....thanks for the insight.....Joe
I don't have the answer. Sorry, couldn't resist when you asked for an expert.....LOL
The cab number is correct for the B6 which is what the Lionel engine is. You will have to ask Lionel why they put a B6sa number on the same engine.
Pete
It doesn't have anything to do with a real B6 number.
In the late 1980's, Lionel started an internal project numbering system, separate from catalog product numbers, for products in development. Once a project became a product, then the traditional 6- number was assigned.
653 was the B6's project number, before it became the 6-18000 product. The product manager thought it would be neat to include the original number on the item itself.
This dual numbering system lasted for a few years into the early 1990's.
TRW
