Postwar 681/2671 tender queston.

[msacco]

I need some expert postwar info here or someone who owns one of these. Wondering what color the Pennsylvania heatstamp is on a 681 turbine featuring the 12 wheel nicer tender.
I was at York and a I saw some with silver and some with white. Wondering which is correct. Is there a postwar expert out there that knows the specifics about this?

Mike S.

[Chris F]

I'm not an expert, but I do have a Greenberg's guide.[;)] 681's came with both silver rubber-stamped cab numbers and white heat-stamped cab numbers (no difference in value).

The 681 was offered in 1950-51 with the 2671W tender, and again in 1953 with the 2046WX tender. Lionel changed from silver to white cab numbers in 1953. A reasonable conclusion would be that a 681 with a 2671W tender should have silver rubber-stamped cab numbers.

[lionelsoni]

Mine has white numbers and a 12-wheel tender.

By the way, the tender's water scoop can be installed facing either way and was often put in backwards at the factory. The open side should face forward.

[msacco]

Sorry, I realized I phrased my question poorly. I'm looking to find out what color the Pennsylvania lettering in on a 2671 12 wheel tender. Anyone knOw?

Mike S.

[Frank53]

here's mine, white lettering:

[msacco]

Frank,
thanks for posting a pic. I saw a few at York with silver lettering on the tenders and didn't even know they came that way. I guess a variation or some mismatched sets.

Mike Sacco

[phillyreading]

Mike,
Greenberg's price guide lists the most common versions of Lionel that have been reported, and not every version that Lionel has sold.
I have a problem with Greenberg's guide on my dad's 249E & tender # 2225T, Greenberg's don't list the tender variation & I know it has to be an original because of my dad not having extra money to get other rolling stock or locomotives, it was a year or two before my dad finished high school. One of the other cars in the set is a rare find in a set is # 2653 hopper, usually sold as a separate unit or add on car for 1938.
Lee Fritz