Lionel 2026

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I will soon be receiving a Lionel 2026 that I won on ebay. I’m very familiar with Marx locomotives but have never had a Lionel steamer. If there’s anything you folks think I need to know about them before I take it apart for cleaning I would appreciate hearing from you.

2

The Lionel 2026 is a fairly common engine, and fairly simple to service. There is no smoke unit, and it has magne-traction. The e-unit is the only equipment that should be different than a Marx engine. I just clean the e-unit with alcohol, and it will usually work. Aside from the Lionel e-unit, it is about the same as a Marx engine. Hope you keep us updated on your progress!!

3

While the service advice is sound from mpzpw3 is spot on, every 2026(both pre 1950 & post 1950 versions) I’ve seen or owned actually has smoke, & no Magnetraction.

Rob

4

ADCX, You are completely correct, and I’m completely wrong! I was thinking 2036, not 2026. Yet another mistake on my part. The smoke unit, if original, is a pill type, and the residue may have hardened. Scraping it out with a sharp object, and maybe heating it up with a candle and cleaning it should bring it back to original spec’s. Please post if you have any problems with the restoration, as many on this forum can help! Again, sorry about my mistake! It’s mistakes like what I made that make it hard to restore/ troubleshoot postwar loco’s.

5

There are a number of recent posts on cleaning PW engines, wheels and e-units. Look to the past few days postings, and you’ll find what your looking for.

Kurt

6

DON’T put a sharp object down the smoke stack…YOU will ruin the heating element.

7

I was asuming the smoke unit had allready been taken apart. Sorry for the confusion, again.

8

Thanks for your responses, especially about the smoke unit.

9

We have a 2026 at the Museum and it runs great.

We use smoke fluid, not the pills.

10

I got one last week, paid $30. I cleaned it up, lubed it and cleaned out the smoke chamber.

Smokes wicked good, runs like a champ.

Spanky, do you use smoke fluid int the regular/original smoke chamber? I have pils, been useing them, I do have smoke fluid, I didn’ think that would work.

11

Is that an origional heater element?

Kurt

12

Yes Kurt it is the origional heater element. I can only put 3 to 4 drops of fluid in it at a time and OFTEN! [:D]