The 1964-66, which should have a 736W or 773W, instead was paired by a previous owner with a metal-whistle 2426W that I think came from a 726 Berkshire.
That was a popular substitution. Lots of operators paired their late 773's with 2426W tenders. I was lucky enough to pick up a mint 773W tender from someone who didn't want theirs. Years later I picked up a nice late 773 minus the tender :)
I have two 773 Hudsons. The 1950 has the correct 2426W with a plastic whistle. The 1964-66, which should have a 736W or 773W, instead was paired by a previous owner with a metal-whistle 2426W that I think came from a 726 Berkshire. Each 2426W has a cast-zinc body with a plastic insert only for the coal pile.
My 773's are good pullers. But they require higher track voltage than other postwar locomotives, which may have given some the poor-puller impression.
Bob Nelson
The prewar 224E came with both diecast metal and plastic tenders. The metal tender is #2224W. I don't recall the number of the plastic tender.
Dook--you sold off all plastic--I really havent inspected this closely yet, but isn't the body of the 2224w tender plastic? I thought the noticeable weight is due to a metal whistle assembly, rather than plastic whistle assembly. It is noticeably heavy and I have heard it observed that the 773 is a "lousy puller" and that may well be the reason; its hauling a lot weight before you put on a payload of (not so light) Lionel Madison cars.
Both types of these tenders are 'top shelf.' I've changed out the prewar couplers on a couple of 2224s myself. They track great and look handsome. Williams made some undecorated re-issues of this tender some years ago. I've been fortunate to grab a couple of these as well off eBay. Nothing quite like the brute heft and 6-wheel trucks of these babies. I've sold off all my plastic tenders and exclusively use the diecast beauties!
The 2426W tender is the nicest tender offered during the postwar period. It is smaller than the tender that came with the 700E (prewar).
I have answered my question and forgive me for my unfamiliarity with things many know off the top of their head! I had purchased the unit on ebay, and received it at work. When I opened the box at work, to assure it had arrived in good order, it looked sooo like a 2426w that I thought it might have been essentially the same product with a different number, so I posted my question. When I got home, and compared the 2224w with a 2426w, I found although the look identical, down to the grab rails and steps, the 2224w is about 1/2" shorter than the 2426w, possibly because the 2426w was sold with the 773, an approximately scale length piece; The do look very similar, and clearly the 2224w I bought has been altered. But no big deal to me; it will look fine for my purposes.
The 2224 was offered with the 224 loco issued 1941, and definitely Prewar. If the frame has the number stamped on the bottom, the frame would be correct, and the body would be correct. If it has 6 wheel postwar trucks (from your description) and working couplers (postwar type) then it was altered so it would work on a postwar layout, and be compatible to a newer Steamer. Is the drawbar postwar to mate with a postwar loco. As long as you are satisfied with the look, not a problem.
To the best of my knowledge, the 2224W tender was prewar only.
Was the 2224W tender offered post war with that number? I just bought one on ebay, but the 6 wheel trucks ala 2625 madison cars look postwar, and I believe it to be altered. It looks very similar to a 2426w that was used with 773's and 726's. Not real concerned because all I wanted was a robust looking tender, but I am curious. My 25-30 year old Greenberg guide to postwar items does not list it at all. Any comments?
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