Bell-ringer truck in an anniversary Alco

[lionelsoni]

Last night, while I was working on my 2023 set, I noticed that the rear trucks of the two units were not the same. The truck of the trailing unit turned out to be built on the casting for the bell truck of a 622. The condition of the screw holes indicated that it had never had a bell installed; so I imagine that it was built that way by Lionel. It fits fine, although it might not do for the rear truck of the other unit, since the floor where the E-unit would be mounted is higher than on the proper 2023 truck. The proper long 1950 dummy coupler is riveted to the casting and doesn't show any signs of tampering.

I know that Lionel was inclined to use up obsolete parts when they could. Is this 2023 instance a known variation?

[lionelsoni]

Last night, while I was working on my 2023 set, I noticed that the rear trucks of the two units were not the same. The truck of the trailing unit turned out to be built on the casting for the bell truck of a 622. The condition of the screw holes indicated that it had never had a bell installed; so I imagine that it was built that way by Lionel. It fits fine, although it might not do for the rear truck of the other unit, since the floor where the E-unit would be mounted is higher than on the proper 2023 truck. The proper long 1950 dummy coupler is riveted to the casting and doesn't show any signs of tampering.

I know that Lionel was inclined to use up obsolete parts when they could. Is this 2023 instance a known variation?