My first; a #2025 Pennsy style K4 (followed by everything else).
3 way tie--the '47 736 Berkshire, '47 675 Pacific and '47 2020 Turbine. They're a year older than me and they'll likely be around and kicking buns a lot longer than me or a lot of the other folks on the forum. Honorable mention to the '50 2344 screen top NYC's as well as the '52 2032 Erie Alcos.
A nice big one I have is the 646, same shell as a 726-736, 4-6-4 wheel arrangement, E unit back by the cab and a screw through the top holding the motor. It has a cousin, the 2056. Good runners but never hear about. them. The 22056 was made in 52, the 646 in 54-58.
Arnold D. Cribari posted:For those of you who love the 2065, here's mine:
I believe this is the best engine to get a young child started in the hobby: It's very rugged and reliable. It's smoke unit and whistle in tender give it good play value. Its weight makes it a good puller, and if it still has some Magnetraction, it's a very good puller. And this engine and tender in good condition is quite economical.
I blame this locomotive (along with the 1954 Green Ball Express set it came with) for getting me involved in this hobby. My dad received this set in 1954 when he was a year old. He dug it out and set it up on a 4x8 sheet of plywood when I was 2 or 3 in the late 1980s. It started a life long interest in 3 rail O gauge trains. The 2065 was a model of the Santa Fe 3460 class Hudson. I have a MTH Premier Santa Fe 3460 class Hudson on my layout because of this locomotive. So I would say the 2065 is one of my favorite Postwar locomotives.
The only Postwar locomotive I own is an ABBA set of 2343 F3s. The A units are Postwar with Lionel CC replacement shells. One B unit is a late 90's Railsounds 2.5 unit, the other an early 90's B unit. They all look great together and pull the "El Capitan" on my layout. I would say that the 2343 F3 is also one of my favorite Postwar locomotives.
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Favorite postwar engine probably when i take off the shelf and run it on the layout. If i had to choose only 1 which would be quite difficult it would be the 1 year only version made in 1946 the 726 for it runs smooth pulls well has unique smoke bulb that looks like a real flickering flame with layout lights turned low albeit white smoke flickering out its stack.
1946 726 Berkshire. The detail was great and that mechanism...wow
BlueComet400 posted:Arnold D. Cribari posted:I also agree with Rich and Bill that the 736 is another great PW engine. It's a must have. When priced reasonably at a train show, I find it to be irresistible.
So is the 773 with the beautiful tender that goes with it and the gorgeous maroon Irvington PW passenger cars. I'm sure they can be found at York today, but will likely cost a pretty penny (my guess is about $1,500 in very good condition without boxes or paperwork). John's above video of them has me dreaming about them!
Arnold
Finding the PW Irvington cars intact (no broken steps) is getting harder and harder, it seems. As delicate as they are, I still like to run them when I feel like running postwar. I recently learned that my set is not the correct set for the 1950 773; according to a postwar-expert friend of mine, the cars released in 1950 had silhouettes in the windows. Mine do not, indicating they are older. Someday I'd like to find these cars, but I'm in no rush.
If you decide to pull the trigger in getting the correct Irvingtons and just learned of the silhouettes, make sure you’re familiar with the placing of the lettering. Silhouettes can be bought and placed in any pre 1950 Irvington. The more important difference for 1950 Irvingtons is the placing of the lettering. Before 1950, the placement of “Lionel Lines” above the windows is offset to the left but the car name is centered on the bottom. In 1950, they centered the “Lionel Lines” above the windows, but the name of the car on the bottom is offset slightly to the right. Postwar Madisons with both sets of lettering centered have been repainted.
Why are people so interested in repeating history? Getting the "correct" passenger car details to go with a loco that probably was manufactured by Lionel long before attention to specific details in passenger service was even seriously considered is hardly worth crowing too loudly about. If it isn't actually about whichever degree of scale appeals to having fun and is only about "getting it right", then I'm calling Aspberger's Syndrome, and I would put "lol", but the kind of guys I'm aiming my jest at wouldn't get it!
Lou1985 posted:Arnold D. Cribari posted:For those of you who love the 2065, here's mine:
I believe this is the best engine to get a young child started in the hobby: It's very rugged and reliable. It's smoke unit and whistle in tender give it good play value. Its weight makes it a good puller, and if it still has some Magnetraction, it's a very good puller. And this engine and tender in good condition is quite economical.
I blame this locomotive (along with the 1954 Green Ball Express set it came with) for getting me involved in this hobby. My dad received this set in 1954 when he was a year old. He dug it out and set it up on a 4x8 sheet of plywood when I was 2 or 3 in the late 1980s. It started a life long interest in 3 rail O gauge trains. The 2065 was a model of the Santa Fe 3460 class Hudson. I have a MTH Premier Santa Fe 3460 class Hudson on my layout because of this locomotive. So I would say the 2065 is one of my favorite Postwar locomotives.
The only Postwar locomotive I own is an ABBA set of 2343 F3s. The A units are Postwar with Lionel CC replacement shells. One B unit is a late 90's Railsounds 2.5 unit, the other an early 90's B unit. They all look great together and pull the "El Capitan" on my layout. I would say that the 2343 F3 is also one of my favorite Postwar locomotives.
here's mine, yippee skippee
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2065 Hudson, came with the 57 set. Loved that engine, it pulled like a champ and was really good looking.
624 C&O Switcher!
There is an antique store in the area where a dealer has a nice 2065 for sale. I don't need another but it keeps calling. I need help. Is there a support group ??
there is no help for you Jim....you know what you have to do...and be sure to post pics....
I was looking for a 2065, but couldn't find my price, so I grabbed a cheap 2055 and swapped boiler fronts.
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Jim
Perhaps you can see Joe Mcdoakes' psychiatrist.
Bill
jim pastorius posted:There is an antique store in the area where a dealer has a nice 2065 for sale. I don't need another but it keeps calling. I need help. Is there a support group ??
Jim, sounds like you are a baby Hudson lover.
Steamer posted:there is no help for you Jim....you know what you have to do...and be sure to post pics....
I was looking for a 2065, but couldn't find my price, so I grabbed a cheap 2055 and swapped boiler fronts.
I may be wrong, but I always thought the 2065 was exactly the same as the 2055 except for the number. Anybody know whether that's true? If not, what is the difference?
I have both the 2055 and 2065. 2055 is on left and 2065 is on right:
2055:
2065:
As you can see, both have much exterior wear and tear from 60 plus years of use, but they have always run great.
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2383 Sante Fe - my first train ... an xmas present from my grandfather
During my childhood I only got to run it during Christmas around the tree as we did not have a permanent layout.
I am more of a #665 fan myself speaking of atsf hudsons...
Like all lionel postwar, they all smell so good...
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In 1957, I believe: That gorgeous, streamlined N&W steamer - The Lionel #746 J-Class Powhatan Arrow.
That was THE Lionel engine that I always hoped to own one day.
Super O Bob posted:I am more of a #665 fan myself speaking of atsf hudsons...
Like all lionel postwar, they all smell so good...
Me too. Its bigger, more muscular and has more detail than the 2065, which is my very first locomotive that I also love.
Dennis GS-4 N & W No. 611 posted:In 1957, I believe: That gorgeous, streamlined N&W steamer - The Lionel #746 J-Class Powhatan Arrow.
That was THE Lionel engine that I always hoped to own one day.
If you still don't have it, Dennis, I hope you can get it soon. The 746 is another great engine, and I have also never had it.
Thanks Arnold. Glad to see that you also appreciate this beautiful locomotive.
I never did purchase a #746 J-Class, but do have the MPC #8100 N&W #611 that came out in 1981. As it turns out, my "Train Buddy" son and I were later able to take a lengthy, all day steam trip behind the real #611when he was 11 years old. Both of us still remember that trip to this day.
Since I had literally dreamed about owning the Lionel Postwar Powhatan Arrow steamer as a boy, actually riding behind a J-Class steamer with my own son was special.
Arnold D. Cribari posted:Super O Bob posted:I am more of a #665 fan myself speaking of atsf hudsons...
Like all lionel postwar, they all smell so good...
Me too. Its bigger, more muscular and has more detail than the 2065, which is my very first locomotive that I also love.
If i recall correctly the 665 is just identical to 2065...
I thought the three digit cab number was for o gauge sets and 4 dig was o27? If i remember correctly... but they sure smell great!
Strange, I don't have a 665 but have the 646, both are listed together in the price guide as 4-6-4s starting in 1954 and the 2056 is the same except no whistle.In the guide the 646 ha a higher value in "goood" condition. Really like them all so not nit picking.
Super O Bob posted:Arnold D. Cribari posted:Super O Bob posted:I am more of a #665 fan myself speaking of atsf hudsons...
Like all lionel postwar, they all smell so good...
Me too. Its bigger, more muscular and has more detail than the 2065, which is my very first locomotive that I also love.
If i recall correctly the 665 is just identical to 2065...
I thought the three digit cab number was for o gauge sets and 4 dig was o27? If i remember correctly... but they sure smell great!
665 and 2065 are the exact same engine. Bob is correct, 665 was introduced later in O gauge premium outfits, hence the three digit cab no. later on, as train sales began to dwindle, Lionel simply renumbered existing tooling to save money, but still offer an impressive (for the time) line up.
This is a reply to Super O Bob (love your track) about the 665 and 2065.
The differences are subtle. In the photo below, the 665 is on the bottom and the 2065 is on the top:
The 665 is a little wider and longer than the 2065.
Another difference is the detail is a little nicer on the 665. The silver wire railings (don't know the correct name) extend down from along the top of the engine down to the bottom of the pilot on the 665 on the right side, and those railings are only along the top of the engine on the left side, in the photo below:
They are both rugged, reliable, affordable, good pullers, negotiate sharp 031 curves and 022 switches beautifully, and are ideal starter engines. They have sure stood the test of time.
Here are more photos:
2065:
665:
Arnold
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Arnold D. Cribari posted:This is a reply to Super O Bob (love your track) about the 665 and 2065.
The differences are subtle. In the photo below, the 665 is on the bottom and the 2065 is on the top:
The 665 is a little wider and longer than the 2065.
Another difference is the detail is a little nicer on the 665. The silver wire railings (don't know the correct name) extend down from along the top of the engine down to the bottom of the pilot on the 665 on the right side, and those railings are only along the top of the engine on the left side, in the photo below:
They are both rugged, reliable, affordable, good pullers, negotiate sharp 031 curves and 022 switches beautifully, and are ideal starter engines. They have sure stood the test of time.
Here are more photos:
2065:
665:
Arnold
hey Arnold, you are comparing a 2065 and a 646 buddy.....two totally different boiler castings....look at your cab numbers buddy!...……………………….Pat
Pat, I stand corrected. You are absolutely right.
Arnold D. Cribari posted:Pat, I stand corrected. You are absolutely right.
hope you know I wasn't tryin to pick on you, heck with my old eyes, Id probably compare an F3 to a 2065, and swear they were the same!..
I'm glad you corrected me, Pat. I'm not familiar with the 665 steamer, but from reading prior replies on this thread, my guess is that it is the same as the 2065 except for the cab number.
no problem Arnold, 2065 and 665 ran in production alongside one another, 2065 being used in O27 outfits, cheaper cars, cheaper sets. 665 was touted as an O gauge loco used in premium outfits with premium cars, (operating cars & better detailed caboose) these were made1954-1956....665 saw a brief return in 1966 with a nice 736W tender...…………………………...Pat
It was always my understanding the difference between the 2055 and the 2065 was the feed water heater smoke box front. The 2055 doesn't have it, the 2065 does.
Andre
laming posted:It was always my understanding the difference between the 2055 and the 2065 was the feed water heater smoke box front. The 2055 doesn't have it, the 2065 does.
Andre
correct
My 665 is my #2. It is smoother out of the hole, but just can't quiet equal the 2037 once they are both rolling.
Yea, pat is right the 665 is the ATSF hudson. Smaller than the larger boiler hudsons...
The Southern 2356 and 671. It's the ones dad has.
So I got the next best thing...
PWC Series Southern F3s
and Century Club 671
This is a great site for comparing engine numbers and variations. Click into the numerical index towards the bottom and each has links to the related numbers. They have other sections for rolling stock, accessories, transformers, etc.
http://www.tandem-associates.c...ionellocomotives.htm
Riddle me this:
So, I've been watching eBay for some of the steam engines I've always thought nice. (Berks, and all versions of the Hudsons. NOT interested in any 773.)
Now why is it, that when I've tried to sell off my really nice PW stuff, I have to post it a rock bottom prices and then dicker even lower to move it... and now all the items I could be interested in are going for prices WAY above what I was able to sell off for???
Thought PW prices were way down? I'm not seeing lower prices.
Andre
Hey adriatic... that 2037 you mentioned... i always wanted one. My friends had that engine... i liked the trailing truck with different diameter wheels.
Adding it to my York list in April. I realized i still loved the postwar so much that i decided to add to my military and space collection with a like new #51 this past York. I have all the PWC stuff but still not the same feeling and SMELL as old postwar...
