226E Conversion to PostWar

[EIS2]

I have a 226E that I would like to be able to pull a postwar tender so that I can use my postwar rolling stock.  I want it to be completely reversible so that I can still pull the original prewar tender.  The prewar engine has the pin that the tender drawbar drops over.  I need to either have the engine modified for a latch type coupling to the tender or have the postwar tender drawbar modified to drop on the engine's coupling pin.  I want the modification to look good.   I could replace the prewar coupler with a postwar coupler on the tender, but that looks like a difficult task.  Do you have any suggestions or pictures of a conversion?

Thanks in advance...

Earl

[Jumijo]

Earl, Wouldn't the best solution be to fabricate a new draw bar for your locomotive that has a hole drilled to accomodate the pin? All you would need to do is bend a thin strip of steel or aluminum in a vice, and drill out the pin hole. Then you could pull post war tenders, or remove the drawbar and pull the prewar tender. You could blacken the new draw bar with a little gun blueing.

Jim 

[DMUinCT]

I just looked at my 2226W (226E prewar) tender and my 1946 Berkshire 2426W tender.

They are the same except for the trucks. The Post War even has the unused hole for the Pre-War drawbar. 

1. Obtain a Berkshire Die-Cast tender (expensive) and add the Pre-Was drawbar, all parts dealers stok them. 

2. Obtain a pair of Post-War six wheel trucks. Remove the tender top, 4 screws. un-solder the wires to the 2 pickup rollers. Change the trucks, they are held on by a "U" shaped snap washers. Re-Assemble.

3. Take any large Post-War tender, remove the top (4 screws). Remove "U" washer holding front truck on. Remove drawbar from front truck and replace with a "home made" drawbar to fit 226E cab pin.  On a 2671W tender (Turbine Tender) this would be a flat strip of metal 3/8 to a 1/2 inch wide by 5 3/8 inches long. Drill a hole in each end, one for the truck pin and the other to fit the cab pin. Starting at the cab end, measure 2 inches and bend down, measure 1/2 inch and bend back horizontal, go 1 inch and bend up, after going up 3/8 of an inch bend back to the horizontal. You should now have a custom drawbar 4 1/2 inches long.

[Anonymous]

Earl: there is an adapter that latches on a prewar coupler to a post war coupler. I dont remember the lionel part number off hand. I use these to run postwar rolling stock to prewar engines.They work great.I bought them from k-val hobbies in buffalo n.y. they were pretty cheap,and you don't have to modify or alter any tenders....tony        found the part number it's TT-100 coupler adapter or TT-162.the K-line lionel service manual has a nice picture of it.

[BDT in Minnesota]

Earl,, Here  is yet anouther way to pull postwar cars with a prewar loco... rather than modify the loco or tender, modify the car in back of the tender....A boxcar with a pre war coupler on one end, and a post war coupler on the other end would be a "transition" car.......this car could be used with any prewar loco that you may have , and, it addition,, could be used to enable a postwar loco use pull prewar cars........

I have a bunch of old Marx cars, and am also going to make a Marx "transition" car so that my Lionel locos can pull the Marx cars....

Just anouther option    BDT