From what I’m reading, other Lionel 44 tonners of this era had a working headlight. Can someone steer me to the part# and source for said light so’s I can retrofit my new acquisition with one?
Thanks!
Mitch
Mitch;
The K-Line reprint of the Lionel Service Manual shows no part diagrams for the 44 tonners but refers the reader back to the 600 series locomotives.
The part I think you would need is 611-13 - Front Platform and socket. Hope this helps.
Mel Hazen; Jax, FL
Mitch, the 627 LV centercab switcher was a stripped down version and did NOT come with a headlight. Most the other postwar centercabs only had one light, on one end of the loco. It would be just as easy to just wire in your own lights with parts from Radio Shack or with 12 volt mini-CHRISTmas lights and bases. You could also use the T-1-3/4 E5 bulb and base and make actual healights, just use a 12 or 18 volt bulb.
You might also consider putting in an LED. Richmond Controls sells “golden white” LEDs that do a good job of simulating incandescent lamps. A 5-millimeter-diameter LED is just a little larger than the typical Lionel light pipe, but can easily be turned, filed, or sanded down to fit the headlight hole. The advantages are virtually infinite lifespan–so no socket needed–and much less variation in brightness and no variation in color with voltage.
Bob, How would you wire the LEDs for these units? While I don’t have the 44 ton engine, I do have several Postwar and modern switchers that would benefit from lights. I think I would put a light in the cab as well.
Dennis
The simplest arrangement is the LED, a small diode (1N4148, for example), and a ballast resistor (about 500 ohms, 1 watt), all in series, connected across the track voltage. I would also put a 100 microfarad electrolytic capacitor across the LED, to make the turn-on or -off less abrupt.
If you have more than one LED in the circuit or want directional lighting, there are various ways to do that, either with universal motors or permanent-magnet motors.
You interest me strangely. Pray do tell more! 
Specifically, how would I go about doing this in the 44 tonner?
Mitch
You can connect the circuit I described between the field terminal (probably with a green wire to the e-unit) and one of the brush terminals (yellow or blue wires).