Lionel Switcher ?

[tatans]

As a child (300 years ago) I remember Lionel made a ladder-back switcher, this must have been in the early 1950's, I believe it was also on the cover of one of their catalogues, Did they make more than one kind of these switchers and how many years did they make them? Any information gratefully accepted.

[Anonymous]

Hey,

I believe you are thinking of the 622 Santa Fe NW2 switcher. It was first cataloged in 1949, with a bell ringing mecanisim that drove lots of people insane. It had an 0-27 counter part, the 6220, the same as the 622, just a different number. They had experimental Magne-Traction, though it was not announced it the 1949 catalog.

They were carried over to 1950, when Magne-Traction was introduced to all engines, and greatly advertised. The engine numbers (all except the 622 and 6220) changed. See Classic Toy Trains and Postwar Lionel Reference Books for more.

They were discontinued in 1951, but in 1952, It was back. The Number was Changed to 623. Besides the Santa Fe, there was a Blue and Yellow 624 Chesapeake and Ohio Switcher. They were not in any sets, and were in the line until 1954, when they were last cataloged.

In 1954, Lionel intoduced the 0-27 6250 Seaboard Orange and Blue Diesel. It was offered for seperate sale, and in a set, It was continued into 1955, when it was last cataloged.

In 1955, Lionel introduced a greatly cheapened NW2. Instead of the High Quality, Greatly detailed 622, 6220, 623, 624, and 6250, they had cheapened machanisms, and lost of details were eliminated. They were good, but not as good as the ones before them.

Basically the NW2's made after 1955 followed, as the TM "Lionel The Movie 3" DVD said "Followed a Riches to Rags Path".

Or, you could mean the 0-4-0 steam switcher. It was first cataloged in 1946, as the 1665. Discontinued until 1948, it was reintoduced as the 1656. Both I believe had bell ringers in the tender, like the 622 diesel switcher. It was last cataloged in 1949.

It was reintoduced as the 1615 with Magne Traction in the 1955 catalog. Minus the bell ringer, it was basically the same as it's pre magnetraction brothers. It was carried over to 1956, and after that, it was changed to 1652 or something like that. It had a dummy front coupler instead of an operating one like its Predessors.

Hope I helped,
steel rails

P:S: The NW2's can be found easily, and are only moderately priced between $150 to $300. Mint Items, and the Bell Ringers with the ringers intact go fore more than that.

The 0-4-0 Steam Switchers are easy to find and are cheap like the NW2's, but the 1665 is the one that goes in the $400 or more Range, along with Mint 0-4-0's.

[railfanespee4449]

If you mean the 0-4-0, Linoel has a version in the catalog right now! It's about $150 and got a good review in CTT
I might get one!

[Anonymous]

Yup,

Last year the 0-4-0 was cataloged in Santa Fe and Chesapeake and Ohio Road names. This year I beleive it is in US Army, Rio Grande, and Reading Lines.

The ones made last year can still be found in the stores and on ebay. Lionel also to my knowledge made a New York Central 0-4-0 in the 1665 number. I havent seen any around. But, you might be able to track one down on ebay or some other train stores that keep alot of backstock.

The review of the New 0-4-0 was great, and I would like to get a Santa Fe one, and in the reveiw it was compared to the 1997 New York Central. The new one is priced at $150 or so, but the 1997 version was priced in the $200's.

So, if you want a new one, I recommend the newer ones, not the 1997 one, but thats up to you.

Hope This Helped.
steel rails