Toy train operating and collecting

Is this engine O or O-27? The bottom of mine says O and it has trouble negotiating O-27 curves. But http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=2025 says it O-27 as do several other pundits.

Any tips on making it behave on O-27 track with 27" curves?

Those who own one of these, how do you like them and do you run on O27?

The 2025 is an O gauge locomotive that was sold with O27 track, giving it an O27 designation. The 675 was an O gauge loco sold with O track. Both are exactly the same except for the number on the cab.

Try placing a straight piece or even a 1/2 straightpiece between each curved section.

We have a 2025, and love it. It's from 1947, runs silky smooth and is a very good puller. 

Jim 

mine says O27 on the bottom, go figure. I agree great runner.

Scott

I have (2) 1947 2025's (silver stack w/ nickel rims) and I love them!  Great runners.  I run on 31" curves.

The K4 Pacific, is 14'-6" tall, and the 2025 and 675 scale out about 12-6".  They should run on 027.

Can you describe the trouble you are having?

Kurt

thankey wrote:

Is this engine O or O-27? The bottom of mine says O and it has trouble negotiating O-27 curves. But http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=2025 says it O-27 as do several other pundits. Any tips on making it behave on O-27 track with 27" curves? Those who own one of these, how do you like them and do you run on O27?

A friend of mine came over during the holidays with his 681 Turbine.  Running on O27 tubular track.  Same issue, derail of either the tender or the rear truck on the engine.  On closer examination, the corner of the cab on the engine was clipping the top edge of the tender.  The rear stem coupler on the engine is adjustable for hooking up that "coal car."  We lengthened it.   Problem solved.

Jack  

37fleetwood wrote:

mine says O27 on the bottom, go figure. I agree great runner. Scott

The 2025s do have O27 on the bottom. They are designated as O27 solely because of the track that they came with.

Jim 

Well, not quite Jim, as I have a '47 2025 that has "O" on the bottom. And I'm  100% sure that's it's original.

     I bet very early the plate just said "O". In the repair manual the pickup roller pictured for the 2025/675 just says "O". The 027 designation on the plate probably came on a later run.

Mike S

msacco wrote:

Well, not quite Jim, as I have a '47 2025 that has "O" on the bottom. And I'm  100% sure that's it's original.      I bet very early the plate just said "O". In the repair manual the pickup roller pictured for the 2025/675 just says "O". The 027 designation on the plate probably came on a later run.   Mike S

Well there you go!

Jim 

One thing to keep in mind;  there is more than one group of locomotives that contain the 675-2025 numbers.

The 675 and 2025 locomotives built from 1947 to 1949 had a 2-6-2 wheel arrangement...these locomotives also had nickel-rimmed drivers and did not have magnetraction....

These locomotives were replaced in 1950 and 1951 by the 2035 locomotive with a 2-6-4 wheel arrangement... the 2035 featured magnetraction, and did not have the nickel-rimmed drivers, but had a boiler shell with the belpaire firebox, simular in appearance and size to the earlier 675-2025.

In 1952, due to the Korean War effort, there was a shortage of magnetic material, which was needed by the military.

So, Lionel could not build the magnetraction equipped 2035....

As a compromise, Lionel built this newer 2-6-4 locomotive without magnetraction and numbered them 675 and 2025 for 1952 production.

sadly, 1952 was the last year these beautiful monsters were produced.

I bought two Lionel 2025's a few years ago and I am trying to find out the year they were made. I believe that they are both from 1948-1949 era. One has a 2466WX tender and a red and gold decal on boiler plate. Most of the 2025's that I have seen have the red and gold keystone decal on the front with the numbers 5690. However one of my engines has 6200 stamped on the keystone decal. Does anyone know about this model?

Early run 1947 (as per McComas and Tuohy). Nice find. Although I believe the white number should be the Lionel number 675 or 2025. Also the keystone shouldn't be a decal and the numbers should be heat stamped. Should also have a silver stack.  I would double check the keystone to see if it's original.

Mike .

Crabby44 wrote:

Most of the 2025's that I have seen have the red and gold keystone decal on the front with the numbers 5690. However one of my engines has 6200 stamped on the keystone decal. Does anyone know about this model?

The 681 6-8-6 S2 turbine came with a 6200 decal on the boilerfront.  The 2025/675's all had 5690 on the decals.  The Boilerfront assembly on the 681 dies not resemble the 2025.  The 681 has the top of the cowcatcher attached to the boilerfront, whereas the 2025 is just the boilerfront.

Is it possible that someone put the wrong number decal on your boilerfront?

Kurt

It both units have the short black smokestack so chances are neither of them are from 1947. The 6200 boiler plate was a probably a replacement that someone put on years ago. It seems to be worn and weathered like the rest of the engine but it still looks good. Thank you all for your help.