Whats your favorite Lionel Prewar Locomotive and why?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
There can only be one, the good olde 700EW.
Runner up, the B6 switcher from 1939 (the scale one).
Well, it could be my Lionel 252, with matching passenger cars. The one that belonged to my father.
Or it could be the #1700 streamliner, that belonged to my mother.
Or it might be the 259E that I bought at a train show last month.
I'll have to get back to you on that one.
Overall, I prefer the 262E, though there were many different great engines in that era
Michael,
That's a easy one to answer. Number one: Lionel's #33 from 1916-18. It was one of the first 3-rail (BTW Std Gauge). Lionel's #318 from 1920's. It is just a cute little electric profile engine that has some bling.
Must add the 1920's O-Gauge Tinplate
238e It just looks like a bullet train ready to go.
Way too many to list between O gauge and Standard. Usually the one I am running(if it is working OK).
My favorite pre-war engine is an Electric. The Lionel 42. I believe modeled after a New York Central S-2. It is very big, powerful and pulls both passenger and freight.
My favorite Locomotive is the American Flyer Piper.
Both are Standard gauge.
the favorite one I have would be this one..
and a 226E is the one I don't.
Attachments
Images (1)
It would be this guy, the 763 that I run a couple times a year to keep it limber. Its pulling a custom tender for the SP&S RR.
Bill T.
My personal favorite is not surprisingly the classic 700E scale Hudson, especially with the Rail Chief set. The NYC Hudsons are still some of my most favorite engines, and it's a part of Lionel's history. It's been a dear favorite since youth, especially since I watched part 9 of I Love Toy Trains.
(Not an original, but really close.)
Though coming in second would be the Baby Blue Comet, since, being a New Jersey guy, I've always loved the Blue Comet and have since had a great appreciation for the beauty of tinplate trains.
Attachments
Images (1)
For me, that is a really tough question, because I am primarily a Postwar enthusiast. I guess its not surprising that I am fond of the various prewar die cast steamers. So I guess it would be one of them. To me, the question would be: If you could only keep one prewar locomotive, which would it be?
I am leaning towards the 238E.
If it came down to keeping only one, it would be my Lionel Standard gauge #318 which we had in 1937. I was 3 yrs old. In O gauge it would be the cast iron Ives from 1915 that my wife bought for me one Xmas. Unmatched sentimental value trumps magnetraction !! But I have my M-1000, the 752, and others that are gems.
I have a 224E and a 249E that still work good, the 249E may need some cosmetic work but still is in great shape electrically. The 224E I replaced the E unit in it and runs great now. These were my dad's trains and I am keeping them.
Lee Fritz
which one?? 701, 227, 228, 330, 331, 332, 333, 201, 203?? Lionel used the heck out of that design, and the 227 tooling in particular. I researched the 7 variations of the prewar B6 and actually wrote an article on the comparison with differences and similarities. Love the history of this stuff!
And favorite prewar loco in O gauge, the 4U
For me,it is the often overlooked and underrated:
#226E and it's matching metal tender.No magne-traction,but that thing can pull the HOUSE down!!!!
The #616 Flying Yankee comes in at second place.
700E
Being a man of frugal means (read: cheap), here are my favorites:
The #203 0-6-0 switcher - finally found one I could afford this past spring.
The #1666E in gunmetal which just keeps on running like an old Timex.
The Lionel Jr. Streamliner - looks perfect under the tree.
Now, if you ask what I'd want, well...
33 years ago at a show I saw a gunmetal #763 with the scale tender w/tinplate 6-wheel trucks. Back then, I didn't even bother to look at the price, and I couldn't afford it today - but I'd love to see it again.
