Lionel turbines.

[Postwar Paul]

The spirit of '46

[Postwar Paul]

Ol smokey 

[Firelock76]

lionelsoni

I used to have a 671 and a 681, but I had to give one away, because that was unprototypical.

 

I know what you mean bro, I agonized over that un-prototypical "681" on the side! 

At least the tender was marked "Pennsylvania" instead of "Lionel Lines!"

[Penny Trains]

lionelsoni

I used to have a 671 and a 681, but I had to give one away, because that was unprototypical.

 

[Michael6268]

lionelsoni

I used to have a 671 and a 681, but I had to give one away, because that was unprototypical.

 

 

Hahaha!  How true! 

[sir james I]

Stay away from the earliest ones and as long as you don't get someones "beater" you will have a nice engine.

[lionelsoni]

I used to have a 671 and a 681, but I had to give one away, because that was unprototypical.

[Firelock76]

Keep in mind which one is the best is going to depend on who you talk to.

I purchased a 681 a month or so ago and I love it, a good runner, puller, and smoker. Very formidable looking too.  It's got Magne-Traction but that doesn't matter to me since I run on nickle-silver tracks which Magne-Traction won't work on.  The price was right too, restored to top-notch running condition with a "Pennsylvania" streamined tender for $185.   I actually wasn't looking for a turbine but you couldn't beat the price.

I don't think I'd have been interested in the '46 smoke bulb model, just a little too primitive for me, for lack of a better word.   I'm a 50/50 operator-collector, if I buy it I intend to run it, I'm not looking for headaches.

You know what?  Buy the best you can afford, it's hard to go wrong that way.

[Postwar Paul]

Hello Michael,

 in a nutshell:

2020 was the O-27 model from '46 to '49

671 was the O gauge version '46 to '49

they were the same exact engine!

only the '46 versions had the smoke bulb ( Lionel's first effort to produce smoke), as well as the " atomic motor", and dual worm gearing

around about '48, the 671's got a streamlined tender

in '50, out came the 681 with magnitraction. 681 was produced '50, 51, and I believe '53 also.

'52 had the 671rr, which was like a 681 without magnitraction

last is a 682, which I believe is the same as a 681, but with the linkage on the side ( which can drive up the price)

Paul

also, if you google " Lionel 681", you will get some information sites that will break it all down as to the differences

[Michael6268]

Going to buy a Lionel turbine as soon as I decide on which one. Wondering everyone's feelings on what makes one stand out over the rest. I know that the 2020 came with an original smoke smoke bulb, the 681 has magnatraction, and the 682 has the linkage.  But assuming all were in the same condition and taking the magnatraction of the picture, is there one that is a better runner or has better mechanical workings inside?