Which O gauge Steamers for 2800 series cars? transition cars?

here is a display i created a few years ago...

the bottom shelf shows a 226E pulling 600/2600 series freights.  the next shelf up shows a 763E pulling 800/2800 series freights.  go up one more and you'll see a 260E pulling some 710/712 series coaches.

offhand i'd say the 260E (or the very similar and later 263E or 255E versions) would be a good size & style match for 800/2800 series cars.

cheers...gary

John Z,

The 263E is the size you are looking to acquire, I have both the Original Lionel Conventional Work Train and the MTH  Reproduction  263E P2.  The 2800/800 rolling stock came with the original Lionel 263E Work Train and I have added the MTH reproduction cars also.   Further it all runs great on FasTrack with Command Control Switches.  

PCRR/Dave

263E Work Train sits on 1st level with 2800/800 series rolling stock.  Upper level the 259E Work Train with 2600 series rolling stock.  The mid sized 249 with custom added TMCC equivalent, sits on the right siding with 2600 rolling stock, it can also pull the 2800 series cars also.

If you want to go bigger, the 2800 series cars also appeared in the catalog with the 763E Hudson. 

Thank you all for your swift replies.  Where is the breakdown when the box coupler type cars and older latch coupler type cars are at too much of a coupler height difference to work together?  My understanding was that the 2000 series cars and the older cars didn't work together because of coupler height difference but perhaps I'm wrong.

I had the coupler height problem with my MTH set of 600 passenger cars,  Not sure if its series difference 800/2800 or a time difference 1939/1940

.

There are low and high coupler lines (with some exceptions of course).  The difference is roughly 1/4" between the two as seen in the post above. In fact, that photo shows a rule-of-thumb for understand what goes with what... on the left the truck frame is slotted, those are predominantly low coupler. On the right, the truck has embossed springs and triangle holes, those are all high coupler. There are locos that have both heights of coupler during their production run such as  the 225E(2235W low / 2245W high), the 226E (2226WX low / 2226W high), the 238E (2225W low / 2265W high) of the 265E (2225W low / 2265W high) etc. As always, study before buying.

An exception is the late 800/2800 cars. The have the slotted trucks, but, their frames were modified the make them ride at the same height as the triangle hole trucks and their coupler tangs have a notable upturn near the coupler box.

Its not really a chronological problem, they had high and low for years. High coupler were generally premium offerings... Low couplers were generally value oriented, small locos  and cars in the line.  This philosophy changed in later years. Nearing the end of prewar, Lionel was working toward one height for all in the offering.

BTW, the 2000 designator just means electrically operated couplers, the ride height between 800 and 2800 cars is identical, same for 600 and 2600.

Rob, thank you very much!! This is the clearest explanation I have seen to date of the coupler height differences. This will be a big help going forward.

Rob, my thanks to you, also. I echo JHZ's response, "This is the clearest explanation I have seen to date of the coupler height differences.".

swede

a 263 heads up my set 277W c1936-37

Is the 2224t high or low?

Your 2224T is low... What you have there is a late loco ca. 1941 (no dome hatches) and an earlier tender ca 1938 (die cast) or later tender ca. 1941 (plastic)... looks like the die cast version to me, and the coupler box is the earlier Type 1 (with 2 ribs).

There was a high coupler tender in 1939/1940 time period also called 2224T or 2224W.

Rob English posted:

Your 2224T is low... What you have there is a late loco ca. 1941 (no dome hatches) and an earlier tender ca 1938 (die cast) or later tender ca. 1941 (plastic)... looks like the die cast version to me, and the coupler box is the earlier Type 1 (with 2 ribs).

There was a high coupler tender in 1939/1940 time period also called 2224T or 2224W.

Rob, 

that is what I thought based on your earlier description.  I passed on this today.  It was marked at $150, which seemed fair to me.  If I wasn’t really looking for something shinier it would have come Home.  

I have to say again your description of the high and low indicators are a huge help!!

You are welcome!  These are among the best running spur gear motors lionel made. And tough too.

Rob English posted:

You are welcome!  These are among the best running spur gear motors lionel made. And tough too.

Okay, now you're making feel bad that I didn't bring it home!!

Oh, sorry mate!  Don't worry... the 224E/2224W is plentiful, you should be able to acquire a nice, correct one easily. By tough, I meant durable!

JHZ,

   The 2600 Rolling stock will work well with the 224E/2224W they all have the low couplers and I agree with Rob the 224E/2224W is a Lionel high quality set and well worth the money expenditure.

Look around for one in nice shape for reasonable money and bring her home!  Probably should invest in another one myself, one of my nephew's has our families original, still runs well too.

PCRR/Dave