Well, I'll have to go with what I know. Of the postwar engines I own, here are my five favorites:
1. 2046 - Mine pulls very well, and looks good on tighter radius track
2. 2025 - Pulls well and looks good.
3. 2020 - pulls so-so, but looks and sounds different than the rest of my steamers
4. 624 - pulls very well, and the blue paint makes it stand out a bit .
5. 2055 - pulls good, and looks good; the ATSF influence makes it look pretty unique.
To add value to the equation, all but the 2055 were less than $100 each. I bought the 2055 in a set with 3 cars (including 3656 w/ corral) and a 1033 transformer for $200. Best of all,they all came preweathered, with scratches, chips, and dust
J White
RockIsland52 wrote: Berk......Among the plethora of smaller postwar Hudsons, the 2046 has the Berk boiler as does the 2056 and the 646. If you look in www.postwarlionel.com you can get a very good side view of each, 2046 versus 2055. Personally, I prefer the 2046's additional side detail. I selected the 773 in my "Top" list because it is slightly larger, scale, and I like the details. I'm just not fortunate to own one, yet.Wish this thread was named: "Top 5 postwar engines and why?" It would really vault the knowledge of us rank amateurs who havn't seen or run some of these great choices up close and personal.Great thread that has wheels.Jack
Berk......Among the plethora of smaller postwar Hudsons, the 2046 has the Berk boiler as does the 2056 and the 646. If you look in www.postwarlionel.com you can get a very good side view of each, 2046 versus 2055. Personally, I prefer the 2046's additional side detail. I selected the 773 in my "Top" list because it is slightly larger, scale, and I like the details. I'm just not fortunate to own one, yet.
Wish this thread was named: "Top 5 postwar engines and why?" It would really vault the knowledge of us rank amateurs who havn't seen or run some of these great choices up close and personal.
Great thread that has wheels.
Jack
Yeah, I'm definitly an amatuer, the only engines I have on that list was the 1666 and the 2055. I only ran the 2046 once. It cought my eye because I thought it was a Berkshire. I had a Williams 6-8-6 Turbine that was NICE!!!!! But not the original Lionel version.
Give me steam locomotives or give me DEATH!
Berkshire Junction, bringing fourth the cry of the Iron Horse since 1900.
RockIsland52 wrote: Lenny the Lion wrote: 1. 773 Hudson, I'll bet no one thought of that one!2. Twin motor f3's3. Blue and yellow Virginian4. 671 turbines5. NW2 switchers, the blue 624 C&O being my favorite.Lenny.......Which one?Jack
Lenny the Lion wrote: 1. 773 Hudson, I'll bet no one thought of that one!2. Twin motor f3's3. Blue and yellow Virginian4. 671 turbines5. NW2 switchers, the blue 624 C&O being my favorite.
1. 773 Hudson, I'll bet no one thought of that one!
2. Twin motor f3's
3. Blue and yellow Virginian
4. 671 turbines
5. NW2 switchers, the blue 624 C&O being my favorite.
Lenny.......Which one?
Santa Fe 2343
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
RockIsland52 wrote: Berk.....regarding #5, I told you to list my 2046 Hudson, not a 2055! Jack
Berk.....regarding #5, I told you to list my 2046 Hudson, not a 2055!
Whoops!! Sorry. I listed my 2055 Hudson. I have run a 2046 Hudson at a shop before and I did love it though because it looked like the Berkshire. It had the 12 wheel Pennsy style whistling streamlined tender too that I just love.
John.....guess I didn't get extra points for including an explanation of my votes, nor was the explanation persuasive with anyone else. Bribery next.
Wow! This is really turning into a great thread. I looked over the posts and so far heres where we stand...
1. 773 Hudson - seems like most people love this engine but a lot dont feel its features are not worth the price tag... still #1
2. The FM trainmasters - When you think postwar power you think of these.
3. 2343 santa fe F3s - Seems the santa fe and the 2343, 2344, 2345 class of lionel F3s are both most popular and reach a median with these engines.
4. 671 / 2020 turbines - The older turbines look to be a lot more popular than those with magnetraction.
5. 726 berkshire and the GG1 are in a tie for 5th. Seems the pro magnetraction (736) fans have stolen some votes from the berkshire party.
Here is my list of my top 5 favorite postwar steamers. Or my current wish list if you will. Maybe Santy Clause would bring me some?
1.726 Berkshire
2.671/681/682 Turbine
3.736 Berkshire
4.1666 Prairie
5.2055 Hudson
J. Daddy wrote: RockIsland52 wrote: RockIsland52 wrote: This thread is killing me. Just when I thought I was finally settling down from the recent F3 and Berk threads, you guys start. Drool.JackI have started to respond to this thread and then stopped several times because some of my choices for the Top 5 cannot be supported by generally accepted fact or function. My choices tend to shamelessly fall back into personal preference and bias, whether I have that engine or not. Favorite versus best........hmmmmmm. What a dilemma.Sir James said it best, this is a loaded question, but I am addicted to the thread. If nothing else, the thread has helped me learn. Especially when the posters explain their choices and they post pictures.I even tried to construct a "If price and rarity was no object" approach. Failed there too. JackHey Jack,Do you have any pictures of those F3's? Sounds like I should add them to my list!
RockIsland52 wrote: RockIsland52 wrote: This thread is killing me. Just when I thought I was finally settling down from the recent F3 and Berk threads, you guys start. Drool.JackI have started to respond to this thread and then stopped several times because some of my choices for the Top 5 cannot be supported by generally accepted fact or function. My choices tend to shamelessly fall back into personal preference and bias, whether I have that engine or not. Favorite versus best........hmmmmmm. What a dilemma.Sir James said it best, this is a loaded question, but I am addicted to the thread. If nothing else, the thread has helped me learn. Especially when the posters explain their choices and they post pictures.I even tried to construct a "If price and rarity was no object" approach. Failed there too. Jack
RockIsland52 wrote: This thread is killing me. Just when I thought I was finally settling down from the recent F3 and Berk threads, you guys start. Drool.Jack
This thread is killing me. Just when I thought I was finally settling down from the recent F3 and Berk threads, you guys start. Drool.
I have started to respond to this thread and then stopped several times because some of my choices for the Top 5 cannot be supported by generally accepted fact or function. My choices tend to shamelessly fall back into personal preference and bias, whether I have that engine or not. Favorite versus best........hmmmmmm. What a dilemma.
Sir James said it best, this is a loaded question, but I am addicted to the thread. If nothing else, the thread has helped me learn. Especially when the posters explain their choices and they post pictures.
I even tried to construct a "If price and rarity was no object" approach. Failed there too.
Hey Jack,
Do you have any pictures of those F3's? Sounds like I should add them to my list!
J Daddy.....I'm an F3 wannabe.
OK, you've got me, so I'll stick my toe into this cauldron with just 2 picks, not 5. I am taking the "price and rarity is no object or part of the consideration" approach.
1.) F3: If I could only select 1 diesel.......2245 Texas Special AB.
OK, it isn't dual-motored. Got that out of the way. But, I like the 2245 Texas Special F3s because of the stunning paint scheme, B unit, and the conversion possibilities to a dual-motored engine set.
Geedub's TS shell restoration thread http://cs.trains.com/forums/1505856/ShowPost.aspx got me going on the TS (again), including his link to his pictures. A must see for everyone.
Other posters/threads like ogauge regarding the addition of a motor and power truck to a TS dummy B unit. Or adding a second powered A unit. These threads and posts got me thinking even more. Ideal outcome....Powered A Powered B Powered A. Don't know if a trasformer could get it moving, but the possibilities. WOW!
Very Close Alternate: 2343 SF F3 AA Warbonnets, what's not to love? It's got it all....the most F3 detail, dual motors, magnetraction. One of the most famous and storied in real life. The GM connection. There's a link with this one to my childhood, wanted one ever since. Add in a B unit and power it while you are at it.
This is not to say I don't like any of the other F3s, these are just my preferences.
2.) Steamer: If I could select only one steamer.....the 773 scale Hudson. I just love what it looks like....detail, the size, and what it does. From the detail on the boiler to the open cowcatcher, plus arguably the nicest tender Lionel ever built (2426W). Funny I don't read much from posters about its pulling power. No matter.
Very close alternate: 726 Berk from 1947-1949 because of the 2-8-4 set up, the sharp Baldwin drivers, and the smoke unit (versus bulb). It just oozes "powerful." Even though it didn't have magnetraction. Cindy Crawford has a mole, but that's ok too.
I have to stop there because I am hyperventilating and agonizing and about to change my mind. Will fill out my Top 5 Postwar Engines list later while you guys continue to play with my mind.
Deputy wrote:2020671671RR681682Hmmmm...looks like a pattern is forming.
yep they are a beaut! Don't forget the late scale version released - the almighty S-2.
Virginian Railroad
PostwarMan07 wrote: A recent thread on 726 vs 736 got me wondering what really are the best postwar engines. When you average detail, pulling power, and value as well what comes out number 1, 2.....?Seems like 773 would be number 1 but I hear a lot of great things about the FM trainmasters as well.
A recent thread on 726 vs 736 got me wondering what really are the best postwar engines. When you average detail, pulling power, and value as well what comes out number 1, 2.....?
Seems like 773 would be number 1 but I hear a lot of great things about the FM trainmasters as well.
Hmm...
1) 773 of course!
2) the anniversary 1950 UP ALCO A-A pass set
3) the NYC A-B-A set 1952?
4) the GG-1 any will due with the Irvington cars of course!
5) Viginian FM Trainmaster in blue and gold - very nice
A close 5th is the 1656 Lionel switcher with ringing bell - very cool but it this a post war loco?
and the 2343 sante fe War bonnets A-B-A....
Of course I don't own any of the above except the 773, 1656 and a GG-1 so maybe thats why I like the ones I don't own yet?
Hi!
This is a pretty subjective topic - as many of these are - and I struggled with the criteria that I would use to give my humble opinion. I settled on this....... "Which 5 Lionel Locos would I like to have - assuming I could only have 5".
In no particular order......
- The 773 Hudson, a massive steam loco that looks so real.
- The early Santa Fe F3 units, with the caveat that it is an ABA lashup.
- The Pennsylvania GG1, which was very unusual (as a model), and extremely powerful.
- The Lackawanna (or other road) Trainmaster, which was also extremely massive & powerful.
- I couldn't make up my mind on this, as its a toss-up between the bell ringer 0-4-0 steamer or the Santa Fe NW switcher. Each was unique and just a whole lot of fun to move cars around the layout.
As I wrote this, I thought "Wouldn't it be a blast on Christmas morning find one of the above locos "new in the box" sitting under your tree with your name on it?"
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Here are my top 5...not the top 5.
Trying to update my avatar since 2020
MartyE and Kodi the Husky Dog! ( 3/31/90-9/28/04 ) www.MartyE.com My O Gauge Web Page and Home of Kodiak Junction!
I'll vote for the 2025's & 2338's, as good pullers, rock solid and dependable.
sir james I wrote:Phish, i'm a three railer but a train nut so i have a little Flyer to look at. How many different Hudsons were there. Were they like the "Blue" changed in different years?
The 300 and the 302 had changed over the years with different combinations of cast and plastic loco bodies. I think they all had sheetmetal tenders though. There was also different cast loco body styles in that the earlier ones were made up of three pieces and the later cast being one piece. The side gear changed also to a simpler set-up.
Jim
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
3railguy wrote: EIS2 wrote: I have always wondered why some folks pick the 726 over the 736. I thought the 736 was a 726 with magnetraction. Is there some other significant difference that would make the 726 better then the 736?Earl726's come with nickle rim bladwin drivers and cataloged with the big tender like used with the 773. That is the main attraction I think. The Lionel berk resembles a NYC berk more than a Pennsy berk so putting a Pennsy tender behind it like with the 736 is not something a true NYC fan likes to do.
EIS2 wrote: I have always wondered why some folks pick the 726 over the 736. I thought the 736 was a 726 with magnetraction. Is there some other significant difference that would make the 726 better then the 736?Earl
I have always wondered why some folks pick the 726 over the 736. I thought the 736 was a 726 with magnetraction. Is there some other significant difference that would make the 726 better then the 736?
Earl
726's come with nickle rim bladwin drivers and cataloged with the big tender like used with the 773. That is the main attraction I think. The Lionel berk resembles a NYC berk more than a Pennsy berk so putting a Pennsy tender behind it like with the 736 is not something a true NYC fan likes to do.
I thought it was very loosely based on a Boston and Albany Berkshire?
sir james I wrote:The Royal Blue is my favorite by far, I have one just for the shelf, but what about the Hudson?
Which one, I love 'em all!
Well, I don't know much about the Diesels, or postwar steam but here is my list of guesses for the steamers.
1.773 Hudson
2.746 J-class
3.726 Berkshire
4.671/681/2020 Turbine
5.736 Berkshire
6.646 Hudson
7.2055 Hudson
8.675 Pacific
9.2026 Prairie
10.1666 Prairie
6.
As you may imagine I will offer a different slant on this, AMERICAN FLYER!!!!!
1. 300 AC A tank of an engine. Easy to work on reliable, cast version looks best
2. 350 Royal Blue. What can I say, a classic!
3. 290 Strong puller, great smoker very reliable
4. 283 Reliable strong puller will run all day with out a hitch
5. 21088 Franklin - colorful, fun and suprisingly trouble free
DJSpanky wrote:Ya know, this thread is worthless without pictures!
OK, here's one of the postwar 773:
and the WP 2345:
Robert
http://www.robertstrains.com/
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