Have I been running my 520 backwards all these years? The latest CTT has a great article on the shell of this little beast - including a Lionel ad that shows it run with the ‘turning’ truck in the rear. I’ve always run it with this truck in the front. What do you think is ‘correct’ insofar as Lionel intended?
Generally speaking, locomotives equipped with pantographs are operated with the functioning pantograph in the rear.
On a two-pantograph locomotive like the GG1, for example, the rear-most pantograph would nornally be raised and used as the collector, depending on which way the locomotive was running.
On a single-pantograph locomotive, like the 520, one could assume that the pantograph would nornally be toward the rear of the locomotive, and that whatever wheel configuration exists in that mode would be the “normal” one. I believe the prototype photo shows the locomotive being operated in that way (pantograph in the rear).
That said, these ARE boxcabs, and they are purposefully designed to operate in either direction without having to be turned.
Find out how the railroad that it is from ran it rather than how Lionel intended for it to be run. Get some info from the 1930’s or 40’s.
In bad weather like snow both pantographs would be raised.
Off subject but the Pennsylvania Railroad ran thier GP-9’s with the cab in the rear compared to other railroads that ran with the cab forward like Reading Lines.
Lee F.
Doug,
This sort of operation is inexcusable. Twenty lashes with a wet noodle!
Jim
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This is very interesting; I don’t think there was an exact prototype for this particular unit. I will have my tiny boxcab operators in for refresher training. For what it’s worth, the unit runs better ‘backward’ especially with the 027 curves on my layout with the pony truck in front - especially when pulling something - when I swapped it to run the ‘right’ way, it wants to derail or rather pull the turn-able truck off the rail on the curves. [:)] I like noodles.
Doug,
Glad you liked the article. The people at CTT did a nice job of editing it and laying out the pictures. As far as operating it, I would use the two wheel truck to couple to the cars, but it may run better the other way. Thanks again for the compliment.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
The rationale for running with the rear pantograph was so that a pantograph crash would not destroy both pantographs, leaving the locomotive stranded. This reasoning obviously does not apply to a locomotive with only one pantograph, which might as well have its single pantograph front, rear, or middle.
There are modern high-speed trains whose pantographs are designed aerodynamically for only one direction of travel.
There IS a prototype for the original postwar Lionel 520. That prototype is Chilean Exploration Company locomotive #520, and the Lionel unit is a close approximation of that locomotive, aside from the truck arrangement, which Lionel would have had a hard time reproducing in a (very) inexpensive model designed to operate on O27 curves. A photo of the prototype, published in the Greenberg Postwar Guide and elsewhere, shows the unit operating with the pantograph up in back (and the engineer at the window in front).
The newer K-Lion version has a number of improvements incorporated, and in Pennsy and NH livery is NOT representative of any particular prototype. It is close to some boxcabs used on U.S.lines, but Lionel does not associate it with any particular prototype.
Makes no difference to me! I’ll be buying several in whatever liveries they produce, this year or beyond.
This is a toy train locomotive being offered with improvements over the Lionel original while still maintaining a very reasonable price point. Can’t really ask for much more than that!
Boy, that’s just great. Have to look for photos of that Chilean unit. I too am looking forward to the non-prototypical K-Line Pennsy and NH units.
Doug
That’s a good question that I’d been thinking of asking myself. My 520 is packed away, but doesn’t it have one fixed and one operating coupler as well, to add to the confusion? Can’t remember which one is at which end. Seems like you’d want the operating one to the rear, but OTOH numerous Lionel motorized units have had fixed couplers at the ‘train’ end.
The answer to your question can be found in the 1956 Lionel Customer catalog. The text for the 520 mentions the leading truck guiding the locomotive into curves. If you look at the illustration, you’ll note that the truck with operating coupler is to the front, while the pantograph is at the rear, or opposite ends. As manufactured the pantograph and operating coupler are on the same end. I’ve run my 520 either way without problem on MTH O-31 RealTrax.
Welcome, MojavenSF. Thanks for the information. So the actual production model is different from the illustration. Well, plenty of precedent for that. Means we’re ‘right’ either way.
Operationally Lionel indented the end with the truck and operating coupler to be the front of this locomotive, as stated in the catalog text. Then somewhere along the line there was a snafu and the pantograph ended up on the wrong end, assuming the catalog shows the intended configuration. I picked up a 1542 Starter Set less boxes in VG+ condition at the last train show I attended for $64 and another $7 for a replacement pantograph. This is a very underrated locomotive.
No kidding! Mine runs great, it’s quite peppy–think I may just have to dig it out again and give it some exercise…
From the picture in the new Klionel Klatalog…the front has the lead truck and headlights, while the rear has the panties
How cool, So the new ones look like I guess the 520 was meant to look. 
Versus this photo - still quite the looker!
Whoops, this was before I added the aftermarket pantograph to the front. There’s a slot to the rear too but the reverse latch is there.