What would you suggest as a good choice for a post war Lionel O-27 steamer with smoke?
Look for a 675 or 2025-they’re the exact same engine, although the 675 is officially an O steamer and the 2025 an O27.
These are very smooth running engines based on the K4 Pacific. You should be able to get a nice one for around $100.
A 2037 without even thinking. Take a look at the link that is my 2037 before it gets going. Not bad for sitting still.
2037 SMOKE
I bought 1120 scout engines for my little one(s) now 3, and am rethinking it…I will let them play with the 1120 now, and I am rebuilding a 2025 for each of my girls. Very durable engines with smoke.
The 2025’s have nickel rimmed Baldwin disk wheels, so no magnatraction, and the 2035 has the sintered iron spoke wheels, and it does have magnatraction. For play value and ease of use I find the magnatraction better.
Kurt
As mentioned the 2037 is always a good choice and is scaled well for 027 operation.
Any of the Prairie Type 027 steamers have good smoke units, 2018, 2036, 2029 and the like.
These all use the smoke pellets, which to me always worked better than the locos made in the PW era that used fluid (like the General, and the J).
Ken
I would strongly suggest a 2025. Try to get one from the mid to late forties, with the die-cast trailing truck. The wheel configuration is a 2-6-2. The later ones have a plastic/metal trailing truck, have a configuration of 2-6-4, and don’t seem to run as smooth. The earlier ones smoke great, run amazingly smooth, and are very easy to come by. One in very good cond. could be had for around $100 or less.
I also like the 2046. Looks great, smokes a lot, and pulls better than the 2025 because of magnetraction. Might pay a little more. My 2025 runs smoother than the 2046, but the 2046 pulls better, is a little bigger, and easier to take apart/put togther for servicing.
I guess i should have asked these questions first…
-
How much do you want to spend?
-
How many cars do you want to pull?
-
Does size matter? This goes with the “how much do you want to spend question” as the bigger O27 steamers like the 2020 Turbine may run you more money. As a smaller, more common Hudson or K4 will be less.
-
By the way, I would stay away form most 2-4-2’s. Most of thses engines are called Scout’s and are unreliable, hard to service, and don’t run real well. There are a couple exceptions to this, however. And most of these don’t smoke, anyway.
Hope this helps! Let us know what you decide.
I think sean s. covered it very well. I too prefer the 1940s 675/2025 for their quiet and smooth performance. Unless you want a 25 car train they will pull most anything you can keep on the track.
I like my 2035.
Let’s not forget the 2055 and 2065s. Same engine except the 2065 has a different boiler front. Smooth runners, magnetraction, smoke and whistle. These were the ATSF style hudsons.
All the postwar engines were good except the ones with plastic case motors.
2037-- “the little engine that could”
I have yet to get my 2037 to smoke, but that may be my fault…[banghead][swg]
My recently acquired/rebuilt 2026 does pretty good and my PLASTIC C&O & PLASTIC CNJ smoke lights out!!! Don’t ask me why, they just perform smoke well (don’t pull much ,though) [2c]
Just a little correction to an above post, the 2036 does not smoke. It was the 1950 “revamped” version of the 2026 with Magnatraction but no smoke. Still can’t figure out why Lionel would have added Magnatraction to the 2026 and taken away the smoke to make the 2036?
Otherwise, except for any of the Scout locos, take your pick of any of the PW O27 steamers. Some were nicer to look at, 2025, 2035, 2065, others impressive, 2020, 2046.
Mike
Go for a turbine. Cant beat the girth, and worm drive. The 2020/671 or 681(magnetraction). The 675/2025 are also nice engines. [2c]
I love my bias, a 2046 4-6-4 Hudson. There’s a ton of them out there reasonably priced in decent condition and can haul a lot. Especially functional at Christmas with the drive sounds, smoke, and howling whistle to drive the dogs and wife nuts.
Does the 2037 use the pill or fluid?
If nothing has been replaced on the 2037, it was originally set up to use pills. In the 1950’s I had a 2026, still have it as a matter of fact, and when I ran out of “SP” smoke pellets, I tried 3 in 1 oil. It worked like a charm!!!
Mel Hazen; Jax, FL
Either or.
Built for pellets, works well with fluids.
Rob
Beautiful locomotives, Rock. I have a pair of the non-magnatraction 2056 versions. Smooth, strong, and good looking Hudsons.
Jim