Size of Lionel's 1946 Smoke Pellets?

[Anonymous]

hello,

As a follow-up to my "1666 smoke generating unit" question, does anyone know the size of the first generation Lionel ammonium nitrate smoke pellets produced in 1946 only? Were they the size of an aspirin, a BB, a grain of rice, etc???

I've only ever seen in person the second generation smoke pellets made of wax which were made from about 1947 through 1957 and are approximately the size of a baby aspirin.

This question has to do with my first series 1946 1666 locomotive that has a very small hole in the bottom of the smoke stack (too small for the second generation pellets) and it originally smoked (although the unit has since been removed).

I am trying to figure out what type of smoke generating unit the engine originally had out of interest, but also to make it easier in the decision to retrofit it for another type.

thanks,

-Jeff
Chagrin Falls, OH

[Anonymous]

I've got two bottles of pellets. The oldest has one pellet left. Pellet is 5/16" by 9/32". It is fat and has rounded faces.

The other bottle which has and entirely modern look is full. Those pellets are 5/16" by 1/4". Those also are fat and have rounded faces.

The older bottle is not prewar or during war, but it was with the Lionels in the late 1940's.

The older bottle is brown, has a metal screw top, a paper label (white for top 3/4's and blue for the bottom 1/4. White part says in large red letters SP, and to the right in red also but in smaller words reading top to bottom: LIONEL SMOKE PELLETS. White printing (small) within the blue says THE LIONEL CORPORATION (top line) and New York 10, N.Y.

The newer bottle is clear glass, square, has black plastic top, and is silk screened in black (all words and numbers) with EXACTLY the same message and wording as the older (gum)label.

[Algonquin]

Hi Jeff,

The Post War Trains Library describes the years each bottle was produced if it helps. The address is: http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=sp

Regards,

Tim Pignatari