My childhood train was an X-4-X steam engine. The larger engines in the back of the Lionel catalogs were just dream engines to me. I now have most of the big engines from the back of the Lionel catalogs, but when I go to a train show with operating layouts, I am always drawn to the small;er layouts and smaller engines, because that is what I have always had.
What would you consider being a very good operating X-4-X engine?
Earl
My Lionel 1941 2-4-2 Columbia (model 229).
Not only did it run on today’s 60 cycle electricity, but it also ran on 25 cycle until the latter 1940s.
Dick
There are not many 0-4-0s but Lionels little docksider is a nice engine if you want small. It is an 0-6-0 has smoke and whistle.
My favorite small steam engine is the 2-6-4 2035 produced by Lionel in ’50 & ’51. It is classified as a K-4 Pacific type steam engine. However, the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Class K-4 Pacific steam engine had a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement whereas the 2035 has a 2-6-4 wheel arrangement. It really should have been classified as an Adriatic Type locomotive. In any event, in addition to being a great looking steam engine, it’s also an excellent runner on O-27 track easily handling s-curves and back-to-back turn-outs.
Universal-motor locomotives will generally run on 25 hertz, except for the whistle.
After MPC took over in 1970, they didn’t bring back the 2029 but repurposed the boiler casting into a fairly well proportioned and really good running die cast 4-4-2 in the 8142/8102/8204/8304/8305/8800 with smoke and S-O-S, some with whistles.
I have several of these, and they are real workhorses and can run for hours with a medium load without breaking a sweat. The drawback is that they are double-wound motors with 2 position reverse uniits, but there appears to be plenty of room for a 3 position reverse(conversion - using one of the two field windings) in the same spot as for a 2037 E-unit.
My favorite 0-4-0 Lionel is Percy from their Thomas line! I’ve always been partial to short wheel-based engines…
any of the 0-4-0 switchers are great, I have the 1615.1662,1656 and all run fantastic. And they can be found cheap.
Wow. That thing looks like a real blockbuster!
Great, now I gotta get one of them too! It just never ends…
And the X-4-X wheel arrangement is to die for!
I also have a 2035 and it is a real gem of a runner.
Earl
My favorite 0-4-0 is my Lionel 1615 Steam Switcher WOB & Slope back Tender 1615T from 1956 or 57. [Y]
My 1615 I’ve had ever since I can remember is a good runner.
Durable, too. I remember coupling it to the back of my 210 Alco, turning the throttle full up, then uncoupling the tender coupler. The result was a head on crash at the back side of the loop. I was probably 10 or 11 at the time. Suprisingly, the Alco only has a cracked pilot. Likely that the front couplers on both locomotives took the brunt of the collision.
I’m also impressed with the recent 4-4-2 offerings. Even with the single traction tire, mine will happily pull 8 or 9 of the ACP stock cars along with a caboose. Smoke output under this load is pretty good as well.
