Post-War Tenders, A Confusing Subject

[steve1946]

Good morning,

 

I have been looking for a really clean, no cracks #243W tender.  In all of my searches the tender number has always been stamped on the tender sides toward the bottom and always under the "E" in Lionel.  However, I recently discovered a @ 243W with the number stamped between the first and second row of rivets near the bottom of each side.  When did Lionel begin stamping the 243W in this manner?  I want to match the tender up with a very nice early 1953 #2037 but I want to be correct.  Thanks for your help.

 

Steve

[TrainLarry]

Are you just looking for a #243 tender, or a tender to fit the time period or your locomotive (1953)? The reference I have on tenders matches the 243 tender with 1960-1961 production locomotives. Here is a listing on the #2037 locomotive. It does not list the 243 tender, but lists other tenders for early production locomotives. My reference has the 6066T for the earliest production locomotives.

Larry

[cwburfle]

The Tandem associates web site lists a 6026T as the correct tender for the 1953 version of the 2037. The 1953 Lionel catalog lists the 6066T.

[teledoc]

The other posts are correct that a 1953 issued 2037 could have come with a 6026W.  The 6026W or T were issued in 1953.  The 243W was issued in 1960-61, and the 233W was issued in 1961.  So if you are looking to make a 1953 combination, you should be looking for a 6026, either T or W, depending on whether you want a whistle tender.  The 1953 Set would have been 1511S, having the above stated combo.

[cwburfle]

The 1953 Lionel catalog lists set 1511S as having a 6066T tender. I don't see any other offering of the 2037 in 1953.