Steam Engine with 418 passenger cars suggestions

I did run a Gray or black 400e with them sometimes, looked pretty good for the size of it all. Ken

My choice would be a 390E with Orange trim.

It will look like it was made for those cars.

Hi,

   A 392E looks really nice, it's a little longer than my 1385E I just got and looks

great with those long cars.

Tin

I run my four-car apple green MTH 418 set with a "Lionel Classics" dark gray 2-400E.

Definitely a good fit for these large cars.  

Gary:

The 390E was originally designed to match the Blue Comet cars. The 418 series were originally designed to run behind a 402E or 408E electric, and were  the direct precursors to the larger state cars. A #9, though a nice engine, is a little small to pull these cars, as it was designed to haul the smaller "Stephan Girard" cars.

My dark gray 2-400E looks GREAT pulling the 418 series passenger cars, when it is not being hauled by my apple green MTH traditional 408E 

The 9 with the raised roof pulling these Orange cars with 4 wheel trucks is somewhat of a iconic Lionel set. Here it is in a photo on Tom Snyders layout.

The cars are the same size but carry different numbers than there 6 wheel truck counterpart.

In 1931-1932 catalogs Lionel offered Outfit #432E which consisted of a 400E with Apple Green 418, 419 and 490 cars.

Ron M

There is really no right or wrong on this. You can go back through old Lionel sets and see what came with what, but it really just needs to make you happy. I think that you would find that the engine was generally somewhat smaller than the cars on a real railroad, so the aesthetic balance you are looking for is personal taste.

Some collectors have the opinion that the 400E was generally too large for the blue comet cars, and the 390E was proportionally better. I like them both. It's all personal preference. I personally like the 9E with the 418's as pictured above, but I'm in the small population of those that really like 9E's.

If you a few steam engines, just try them with the cars. Maybe you'll find something that you would like with what you already have.

Well, the first cataloged (1930) "Blue Comet" was headed by a 390E, Outfit #396E. And in 1933, a 392E headed these same cars and was listed as Outfit #376E.

Ron M

I usually ran my orange #9 with the three "Lionel Classics" passenger cars that went with the repro #7 steam loco. They had orange roofs, but were a different shade than the orange finish on the #9.   These early cars were slightly smaller than the 418 cars, but to my eye at least, the #9 looked better with them!

Again, NO "right" or "wrong", just what you prefer!

I DO agree it is a matter of personal taste. I also agree that the 400E is too large for the Blue Comet cars, but I run my four car set with that engine anyway!

I tend to prefer the larger SG Lionel repro locos and cars, hence my great affinity for the Brute and the recently released Showroom cars! Bigger is better!

I do not think MTH or original Lionel ever made 418 cars in Orange. The cars in the photos are 428,429 and 430. MTH and original Lionel made these cars in Orange and a Green version. The cars run on 4 wheel 200 series trucks.

The 418 cars ride on 500 series wheels and 6 wheel trucks. This makes a big difference in the look of the cars.

I do not know if original Lionel ever matched a Orange stripe 390E with these cars in a set. They certainly should have. With the 200 series trucks on the cars the tender could have 200 series trucks installed to look even better.

I think I convinced myself to make up this set.

Edit. MTH lists the cars as 418. 3 times 1999,2004 and 2011. Lionel calls them 428.

Do you know the color of the 392 in that set by chance? That engine is my favorite Lionel SG steam engine. i have a gun metal one in front of blue comet cars and like it very much. Wish they had done one in blue comet colors though 

According to Dave McE's book, the loco was black with brass trim. It's a rare outfit and should come  with the master carton to be authentic.

Ron M

418 series - six wheel trucks

428 series - four wheel trucks

Ron M

Though both are nice, I prefer the six-wheel trucks on the 418 series. 

Thanks!

I Almost forgot that the Lionel's first run of the 418 series came with four wheel 10-series trucks.

Ron M

Even better Ives 6 wheel trucks on 418 cars.

That 392E in Blue Comet colors I believe had matching Steven Girard cars.