Boiler changes to Lionel 2029

[srcrager]

I have a question about changes to the boiler casting on the Lionel 2026 family that doesn't appear to be noted in any of the sources I have read.

The early 2026 (48,49) has railings and a silver whistle on top.  The later (1950's) 2026, 2036, 2037 family do not have the railings and the whistle but have an added extrusion on the left side where there is an extra clearance relief on the inside of the shell for the brush holders.  On a 2029 and 637, which are supposed to have the same casting according to the sources, there is an added feature on the upper left side (from the cab) between the e-unit lever and the first dome forward of the cab.  Does anyone know when this happened and which engines it affected?  I am assuming sometime in the late 50's or early 60's as this is the vintage of these engines.

 

[Swiss-Colorado-Lines]

srcrager

I have a question about changes to the boiler casting on the Lionel 2026 family that doesn't appear to be noted in any of the sources I have read.

The early 2026 (48,49) has railings and a silver whistle on top.  The later (1950's) 2026, 2036, 2037 family do not have the railings and the whistle but have an added extrusion on the left side where there is an extra clearance relief on the inside of the shell for the brush holders.  On a 2029 and 637, which are supposed to have the same casting according to the sources, there is an added feature on the upper left side (from the cab) between the e-unit lever and the first dome forward of the cab.  Does anyone know when this happened and which engines it affected?  I am assuming sometime in the late 50's or early 60's as this is the vintage of these engines.

 

 

I have the 2037, it has this bulge on the top left of the boiler. I always considered this to be a representation of a steam locomotive's " Turbo Generator", which is used to provide electricity for the headlight, marker lights and cab lights. I have the early 2026, which is a completely different shell. Do not have the late 2026. Never noticed it doesn't have the Turbo. Thanks for pointing this out!

Not sure which models are effected.

Paul

[srcrager]

Maybe the change happened when the 2037 came out.  The sources keep saying that the castings are the same after 1950 but I think that when the 2037 came out in 1953 they added the little generator (I agree with your guess) and the ones that followed shared the new casting.

I have had at least one of the 2037's that did not have the generator but it is easily possible that there was some shell swapping with a later 2026.