Tell us your experiences with operating postwar Lionel Alco FA locos?

Thanks for the insights, guys.  I did find some information about motor issues with that one, but not too many specifics--so I'll need to investigate further.

Had to search for both "orbiter" (correct spelling) and "orbitor" (Lionel spelling).

Ace,

The 1107 is exactly the set that I got for Christmas! Mine had only the Airex boxcar, the gondola and the caboose. There was no tank car, and I remember the box in your photo. I still have the boxcar, gondola and caboose.

My 1055 did have the fuel tank, so perhaps yours was removed prior to your getting it.

Thanks for posting the photos -- brings back good memories!

Fred

I just won on eBay 1975 Lionel Alco ABA 3 piece set Southern Pacific Daylight. Fundimensions wanted to try a premium Alco and these have die cast trucks and a 3 position e unit. It does have plastic gears and with one motor it pulls its ABA combo and some Williams "Madison" type Daylight cars alright but I have to go kind of fast to go up my 3% grade.

It was new, never run, I paid $120 opening bid so there were no other bids + $18 shipping and since buyer and seller were both in Calif. I had to pay $12 Calif. tax they will squander. Total $150.

Ace,

Thank you very much for the info. I managed to score the box at a train show years ago. But the tank car was throwing me off.

Thanks again!

That's what I wrote back in January of '13.  Since then, I've found the outstanding 2032 AA pair I was looking for.  And I can only second what others have already said: the early cast-frame Alcos are head and shoulders above the stamped ones that came after.  Only in general outline can the two be compared.

I’ve always thought that the Erie ALCO AAs were such great looking trains. Nothing like finding originals in very good condition, but always wished that Lionel had done remakes of these as part of their Conventional Classics line.

You can probably get an NOS set of the 11734 Erie ABA Alcos (1993) for less than a conventional classics would cost.

The explosion diagrams for this engine is under stock # 8109.

The engine has a mechanical e-unit, and diecast frames on the "A" units. I think the "B" unit frame is plastic.

It was the only cast frame Alco that had a "B" unit.

I think there is a horn in the dummy,

Hi Ace!

I love my post war Lionel Alcos!

I bought most of them last year:

1) UP 2023s

2) Erie's

3) Texas Special

I also have my Dads 212/213 Sante Fe's.

Thanks for the tip, CW. Wasn’t even aware of these.

Will have to keep an eye out online and at York in October.

I have the Yellow U.P. 2023 AA freight set, and the 2032 Erie AAs. Along with the cast frame NW-2 switchers are my favorite Post War engines. They just seem to run, well, "happy," if that makes any sense to you.

A lot of post war runs great, don't get me wrong, but the cast frames, just so smooth. Maybe the cast frames add to the resonance as they run. Maybe mine are well broken in, and are in their "sweet spot." They look good on sharp curves, with the smaller cars, whole different philosophy to the uber-scale way of thinking.  

i have the 1957 MP #205 and shes a puller! i have had 22+ cars behind it and she just goes! its a ver smooth running engine, single motor magnetraction unit. i saw someplace in this post

 

 The best amoung the 200 series as far as operation are: 204 and 208 Santa Fe (Blue and Yellow freight colors),  205 Missouri Pacific, 209 New Haven, 210 Texas Special, 216 Burlington, 217 and 226 Boston and Maine, 218 and 220 Santa Fe (Passenger colors).

i cant speak for the other engines posted here, but #205 is a keeper in my book! i did have to get the front truck replaced on mine, previous owner had so badly screwed up the pick up electrical there was no saving it. other wise trouble free, runs on any 3 rail track (designed for O27). these alco's provide tons of fun for very few dollars

The paint scheme on the modern units is different, if that's important to you.  But the B-unit looks like it'd match right up with the postwar locomotives.

Thanks, Balshis.  I looked at couple of the A-B-As online earlier and did notice the difference. And, yes, I’ll probably stick with the postwar AA version as that’s really what I’m looking for.

Thanks for confirming my suspicion.

A couple of very minor points on the 1055 Texas Special:

The weight that is riveted to the back of the shell isn't lead.

I think it is made of sintered iron, just like postwar freight car wheels.

I suspect that Lionel used the flywheel casting from the 415 diesel fueling station.

I don't think I've ever seen an Alco (including the 1055) that had the fuel tank riveted in place. They used a screw.

Another online reference for Lionel is the "Lionel Trains Library".

Here is their page on the 1055 Texas Special

You could very well be correct regarding the material used for the weight and how the fuel tank is attached.   I haven't seen or taken apart my uncle's 1055 for a number of years since I returned the set to him so I was going by hazy memory.

Thank You Mr Burfle, I find all of those details interesting. I had wondered if those round steel weights were used in something else.

It appears that the round steel weights could also be attached to the center of the frame, if the unit did not have a horn taking up the space. One weight will fit snugly between a couple metal tabs.

I have 4 powered FA units with no Magne-Traction and I added weight to some of them to improve their pulling power.

I've read that some of the Texas Special FA units did not have the fuel tank because Lionel made them as cheaply as possible for certain sets.

quote:

I've read that some of the Texas Special FA units did not have the fuel tank because Lionel made them as cheaply as possible for certain sets.

I don't know fuel tank variations on the 1055 Texas Specials, the 1065 Union Pacific FA did not have a fuel tank.

Earlier in this thread, someone asked about the Alco from the PWC Orbitor set. I found a thread, be certain to read all the posts, the information is spread across several entries:

Obitor Alco Tweak

I picked up the Orbitor Set about six weeks ago. Great set and lots of fun. No major issues although the Pullmor is much better after a good break in period. In reverse, it still runs a bit sluggish but overall a great part of the CC offerings.

1055 always had a fuel tank. Lionel starting dropping the fuel tank on the cheapest Alco's in 1962 with the 222 Rio Grande. the others I know of that didn't have a tank originally are the 221 USMC and Santa Fe, and 1066 UP engines. As far as the 1065, I think the first year in 1961 they did have a tank, then later dropped.

The folks who are on board with the Williams copy of the early PW Alcos are right on.

These are excellent copies of the originals in terms of looks, and run even better. I have the UP 2023 single motor set, and she still manages to pull a respectable size train.  The two motor versions are even more potent.  The only changes I've made, and these are really nit-picky, are.....a repro UP nose decal over the factory shield/wing set, and coupler modifications to get the units a bit closer together.  I will be getting more of these remarkable locomotives in the near future. 

One issue I had with my FA units, most of them sat about 1/16" higher in front. Has anyone else noticed that on Postwar Lionel FA's? This was on my 212, 1055, 2024 and 2041 units, apparently sloppy work by Lionel. I went to some trouble to modify the front trucks to get the locos to ride more level. Some of my layout track is near chest level and the uneven heights were noticeable to me.

This photo shows before modification: powered and trailer unit both a bit high on the front trucks.