Hello:
Based on your experience, which Postwar Steam Engine would you consider the best and which the least favorite that you have run?
Based on your research, which would you consider being your next Postwar Steam Engine purchase?
As always, many thanks.
Of the PW steam I roster, the 2035 is the champ, hands down. Magna-traction makes this a great puller, and it doesn't trip up on turnouts. I'll give an honorable mention to my 2026 (2-6-4 version), which is smooth running at lower speeds.
I did a video on Classic Postwar Steamers on youtube, earlier this year.
On the lookout now for a 671 or 681, but no hurry. With my PW collection, patience (and from time-to-time, generosity) has been the rule to keeping costs down.
traindaddy1Based on your experience, which Postwar Steam Engine would you consider the best and which the least favorite that you have run?
That's tough to say, I've got a number of post-wars in the collection and none of them are "dogs" or "shelf queens," all are solid performers.
But if I had to pick a "best" I'd say the 736 Berkshire, but it's not the leader by much. My 2056, 2065's, 2035, 2018, 681 and 224 are all solid performers. If any of them lose points it's strictly due to non-prototypical appearance, not performance.
Out of all my Lionel postwar, it's hard to pick "best". I think for overall pulling power, and minimal motor noise, my 2321 trainmaster beats out the competition. Dual motors and magnetraction on all driven axles... mine had battery damage, so for now there's no working horn.I've fallen in love with my 2332... it runs smooth as silk, and the motor is nearly silent. But due to only having one of the 6-wheel trucks powered, it struggles a bit with traction. I love my 646, it looks good and it can handle a 6-8 car train no problem- I think the most postwar cars I've gotten it to pull is in the 10-14 range. My 2353s are fantastic- the powered unit has dual motors and magnetraction on all axles, making it a very capable puller. The horizontal motors and worm drive make these (as well as the 2333 and 2343) units quite noisy, but that's part of the appeal for a lot of folks!
When it comes to least favorite... the 1060 (0-4-0 version) that I canibalized for parts may have been my least favorite. It was light weight, with a plastic motor, plastic shell, and no traction tire or magnetraction. My other postwar plastic motor locomotives, while largely not star performers, are hardly useless. The most basic, a 1061, has a traction tire. The 6110 may look a little weird, but can pull as well as any moderate sized O or O27 loco. The 233, despite being largely made of plastic, is possibly the best of the bunch- magnetraction on both drive axles, synchronized smoke, and a whistle tender. It can pull a respectable train, but you shouldn't work it too hard or you might burn out the motor. Afaik, the magnetraction was mainly there so that it could pull trains up the graduated trestle sets.
There's relatively few postwar Lionel locomotives I've had the pleasure of playing with, which I've found I strongly dislike. But when it comes down to "which locomotives do you run all the time?" versus "which locomotives do you only pull off the shelf once in a while?", I'd say that pretty much anything mid-range or upper-range in the postwar product line will serve you well. Magnetraction is always a plus!-Ellie
El Fixes Things I think for overall pulling power, and minimal motor noise, my 2321 trainmaster beats out the competition.
You know, I thought about listing my Train Master but it's the 1986 "Statue of Liberty" Centennial version and not in the post-war era so I left it out.
But wow! It sure does pull! And under the skin it's the same as the post-war Train Master.
I only have 2 nowadays: my 2035 and a 246. You do the math . But I did have a 2026 and a 2018 and I loved them equally. I'm going to count my 8031 CN geep from 1973 because all the important elements came from the Irvington plant.
Same me, different spelling!
To all: Thanks for your replies. I'll keep reading.
traindaddy1Based on your research, which would you consider being your next Postwar Steam Engine purchase?
I should have answered this part sooner. Maybe another 2056, a VERY underrated engine in my opinion. It doesn't have Magne-Traction but it's a beast that'll pull anything you tie to it's tail. Maybe another 736 if I can "steal" it but on the other hand prices are dropping so a "steal" may come my way before I know it.
Not a post-war, but I LOVE the pre-war 226e! Talk about another beast! Prices seem to be dropping on those as well so maybe someday...
A personal story. I was lucky enough to handle a 226e several years ago and call me crazy but I'd swear I could FEEL the power of American industry in 1940, and just from holding that toy! Massive, heavy, solid it just seemed to embody the power that was going to crush Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in a few years time.
It's been said the best historic artifacts are the ones that can pull you back into their own era, even if only for a brief time. Trust me, it's true!
Best 736 Berkshire
Least 1120 Columbia
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
That is a tough question since a lot depends on how you use them.
I'll preface my answer with my layout description. All 027 gauge track, Inside loops are 027 curves, outside is 042 and 054 curves.
So my most favorite is the 2035. (I bought 3 of them I like them so much.) Great pullers, about 15 cars, smokes great, heavy, and takes all the curves with no derailing. Its is not fussy. You want to run and watch a train, switch loops, move cars to accessories, put it on the track.
The 2025 is also a great one with the baldwin disc wheels and aluminum smoke stack, a good looker.
I like smoke, so recently been running my 746, beautiful smoke rings, and lots of them, Nice growl too.
I have a 1950 736 and its nice but doesn't do anything better than some others. The 2046 is a great puller. Well balanced in all attributes, (I have 2).
As far as Lionel, I dont have a bad one, the 637 is my worst. I never bought the low end scouts.
Bought a Marx 1666 for fun, smokes great but a real toy.
Next PW engine will probably be where I can get the best deal to repair. I really have all that I want from that catagory.
I forgot my least favorite.
It's the 221 "Mini-Dreyfuss" Hudson. I bought one because it was so cool-looking but unfortunately it was a poor puller. It couldn't handle four modern (K-line) streamline passenger cars at all. Maybe it could handle three or four post-war lightweight tinplate cars but I didn't have any to try. The side and main rods were a bit on the fragile side as well. So I sold it at one of the club shows not long after I picked up a used MTH Dreyfuss Hudson.
Best: I like hefty die cast steamers. The 681 is my hands down favorite! Love the 2035 and 2025 engines, smooth and reliable.
No least favorite, as I have tinkered with low performers to bring them up to the acceptable range.
Next purchase: the next great deal I come across, whatever that will be....
Paul
Hands down from my prewar and postwar running experience the 224 is a great puller despite it not having magtraction but my 726rr berkshire, 624 Chesapeake and Ohio and 2245 are my personal favorites. My least favorite would be the 1951 -53 2026
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