Lionel GP 38

[tcwright973]

Hi everyone,

I'm into HO and spend most of my time over in that forum, but I just received a Lionel Southern Train Set I obtained on E-Bay to give to my great nephew as a gift. Naturally, I had to take the engine out of the box and inspect it. Really nice. However, there is a piece just sitting on the top of the engine very loosly. It is a third fan. Was this third fan a modification on later engines? I was wondering because the picture on the sets box doesn't show a third fan. I'm probably going to apply some silicon to hold it on as it enhances the overall appearance, but I'm curious about it.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

[Chris F]

I'm guessing you got Lionel's Southern Diesel Freight, #31938:
http://www.lionel.com/Products/Catalogs/Catalog.cfm?CatalogID=4&PageID=245

It's a little hard to see the third fan; here's a better picture of a DM&IR model:
http://www.lionel.com/Products/Catalogs/Catalog.cfm?CatalogID=4&PageID=340

The third fan is for the dynamic brake "blister", which is an add-on part. Apparently it wasn't "added-on" well enough! I don't know why it wasn't shown on the picture on the set box; the Lehigh Valley GP-38 from the previous year had one, too.

Model Railroader's Cyclopedia for Diesel Locomotives shows a number of prototype units with this dynamic brake/fan combination.

[tcwright973]

Thanks Chris,
That is the same set I purchased in your first picture. Your picture shows the "dynamic brake" while the box the set came in doesn't. Earlier this evening, I saw an ad for a GP 38 in HO scale that comes with or without the dynamic brake depending on the road name. I'm going to glue this one on as it just makes for a better looking locomotive.

I appreciate your taking the time to help me with this.

Tom