Lionel 665 4-6-4 Steam

[Anonymous]

I have a Lionel 665 4-6-4 Steam that I belive was made in the early '50s. I received this from my uncle about 10 years ago and it is a great runner, it is in great shape also. It came with a 2046w tender that also works well. I can not find much information on this engine except on the few ebay auctions. I also have noticed that in the auctions they usually sell wiht a 2026w tender and now that 2046 tender. I assume my uncle has replaced the orgional that came with the set but he doesn't know for sure since he hasn't used it since he was a child. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this engine or can direct me to where I can find more information about it.

[Big_Boy_4005]

A Greenberg Price Guide will have all of that kind of information. You will need to look at a post war full sized book, not the pocket guide. Many engines came with different tenders, thee 665 was one of those. A 2046w is one of the correct tenders, and is the more common. It was packaged that way in 3 different sets.

[Chris F]

Elliott's right about the Greenberg's Guide, but the new volume covering motive power and rolling stock does not indicate when a particular tender was included. In addition to the 2046W tender, the 665 also came with a 6026W square tender or a 736W tender.

What you would need is the Greenberg's Guide to Postwar sets. However, this volume is not listed on this site, and Amazon indicates the book is out-of-print. Amazon has a used one for the outrageous (IMO) price of $92; maybe you can find one elsewhere. Or maybe Kalmbach might decide to reprint this volume (hint, hint).

My TM books CD (which isn't available anymore, either!) indicates the 6026W tender was used in two sets cataloged from 1954 to 1955, while the 2046W was used in 6 sets cataloged from 1956 to 1959. The 736W was offered only in 1966.

If you have any rolling stock with the 665, we might be able to identify the specific set.

[Anonymous]

I do have some rolling stock but it is all packed away in my parents basement. Maybe I will go over there next week and go through it to see what I have. I have been wanting to pull everything out and catalog everything I have.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thanks Chris, actually I was looking in a book of catalogued sets published in 1980. According to that there were 9 different sets containing the 665. Of the 9 only 4 gave the specific number of the tender. The others were unknown at the time.

Chris is right about using the cars to identify the set, since all of the sets contained at least one unique car. A few of those cars are worth way more than the engine itself.

Jim, all we need is the numbers off the cars when you dig them out. Just post to this topic again when you are ready. You may have to dig a little to find it, or go into your profile, and there will be a link right to it.

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The [}:)] Doctor Is In !!! Jim, here is some info, hope it helps. The #665 was made between 1954-1959, 4-6-4. pill-type smoke unit, three position reverse ,Magne-traction, feedwater heater in front, plastic side frame on trailing trucks, shares Santa Fe Hudson boiler casting with 685,2055 and 2065, with either rubber stamped or heat-stamped cab numbers. There are three variations: A: 6026W tender with whistle, bar-end trucks, magnetic tab couplers. B:2046W tender. C: 1966 , Heat -stamped cab #, 736W tender lettered "PENNSYLVANIA", AAR trucks , disc coupler, two roller pickups.
Purchased new in 1977. R.Hutchinson,P.Ambrose, R.Niedhammer Collections
This info is from the Greenberg 's guide to Lionel Trains 1945- 1969 10th Anniversary Ed. 1987 If there is any updates to this info, I do not have it yet. As to prices: This comes from the 2004 Greenberg price guide: If the tenders are 2046W/6026W/736W
tenders 54-59 &66 prices are $105 in good, $200 in exc condition. If you need more Info, just ask! Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble, Yet Strangly [}:)] Doctor !!!

[Anonymous]

Thank you guys for your help. I will post what cars I have when I get a chance to dig them out. Unfortunally as I remenber most of the cars I was given with the 665 were in pretty bad shape. I am actually suprised that the engine is in such good shap seeing what the other cars are like. I do belive this set came with super-o track because he gave me some of it with the set.