Does anyone know where I can find a red side-mounted lantern for a Lionel 1688 engine?
Also, did the drive wheels ever have rubber treads on them?
Thank you.
Hi dude, you probably meant to post this in the Classic Toy Trains forum. This forum is for real trains of the “Classic Era”. [:)]
Moved to Classic Toy Trains by selector. Bumping, too.
Please help this person.
Thanks,
-Crandell
It’s called a red light 249E-1 .Olsen listing
Jeff at the Train Tender has it listed.
It is a prewar engine if you want a tire you may have to get one from a Scout. I am not sure it will be the same size.
I had 2 and don’t remember a traction tire on either but they would go like a bullet both of them
I have the same engine and it does not have traction tires. My engine’s wheels do have grooves on all 4 wheels , I don’t know if they were made this way, or if the engine has been run this much to wear the grooves into the wheels. But I do know traction tires did not come out in the pre war years. I am thinking more in the late 50’s or possibly the 60’s
Traction Tires:
All Pre-War locomotives, like the 1688, did NOT use Traction Tires. Lionel introduced “Magne-Traction” in 1950, American Flyer countered with traction tires called “Pull-Mor Power” in 1953. Lionel went to Traction Tires under MPC ownership in the 1970s.
Marker/Classification Lights (lantern):
Pre-War, one size fits all, well almost. The red lanterns were first used for the 238 locomotive, then the 249, 263, 1668, 1688, and the Scale and Sim-Scale Cabooses (painted). Can be had in Red or Yellow from any parts dealer, I bought a pair last fall at a train show, $2.00.
Sorry,
I may have mis-stated that I found a rubber ‘tire’ on my 1688. It is actually mounted on one of the drive wheels on my 8612, which, by the way, I cannot locate in any literature. It is simply a black rubber ring covering most of the flange on the left rear wheel. Does anyone know the vintage of the 8612 and whether or not it came with a rubber ‘tire’? Also, does it have smoke and/or whistle capabilities? It does have a reversing slide switch mounted on the chassis under the left side of the cab. It has a 4-4-2 undercarriage and I was told it is from the 224E family.
Lionel went to traction tires in 1962.
Rob
You are right, I never noticed that. A quick check of my 1966 Catalog shows the lowest priced locomotives (2-4-2 steam #237LTS & 239LTS plus Alco #211) had “Rail-Gripper Wheels”. The rest of the Lionel line had Magne-Traction. The #634 switcher does not list ether.
1962 ??? That is about the time Lionel bought American Flyer.
The 633 & 634 have single axle, one traction tire drive.
Lionel had nothing to do with Flyer until 1967.