My wife recently purchased a 1688e shell. I’m having some problems figuring out which motor would go with it? The slot for the e-unit is between the pop-off valves and the sand dome. All my reference materials show the slot either behind the pop-off valves (2-6-2?),or about 2 inches behind the smoke stack (2-4-2?). The engine also has a hole going through the walkways about an inch forward of the front of the cab window. Can’t tell if that is original, or if these holes were drilled at a later date. The shell is the gun metal grey version.
I really have no idea what this thing is. Doyle’s Standard Catalog of Lionel Trains 1900-1942 has very little info. on this engine. I would be grateful for any help.
You’re in luck! I have a spare motor for that same exact shell. I also have the Headlight Socket, Light Bulb, Marker Lights,& Rear Trailing Truck. The Holes are very much correct. Nothing wrong with your Shell. E-mail me at: kwoodworth816@hotmail.com. The E-unit is rebuilt & the Motor has New Pick-up Shoes & runs like a top. You will not have to do any work on it. I’ll let you have the motor complete for $45.00 (E-units alone are $35.00 by themselves) Let me know what you want to do. Take Care.
Hi, I believe the 1688 is 2-4-2 and the 1668 is 2-6-2. 1668 uses the same motor as 224 I think. the 1688uses same motor as some others. I have the book I’ll look it up if you like. hope this helps.
The 1668s use the same six-wheel drive motor as a 1666 with Slider Pick-Up Shoes. The 224 Motor has a Roller Pick-Up Assembly & has Baldwin Disc Wheels. They are not the same motor. Take Care.
Brian- The 1688E Shell you have is from 1938 as that is the last year Lionel used “1688E” Plates on the sides of their Torpedoes. Starting in 1939 Lionel used “1688” Number Plates & Dropped the “E” as that was used to designate that Lionel Engines had E-Units & Lionel figured most of the buying public knew that their Engines had Reverse Units in them which was the reason for the Number Plate Change. Take Care.
Thanks to 1688torpedo, I’ve gone from shell to running engine in under 2 weeks. Sent me every part that was needed to complete the engine, including a very nicely restored motor. At the same time the shell was aquired, I bought 3 junk tenders. I modified one of these with postwar trucks, as I don’t own any prewar cars at the moment. The engine shell and the tender shell are unrestored, and I don’t plan on repainting them.
Took a couple pictures of the engine while it was still on the layout. Alas, it’s going to spend most of it’s time on an American Girl doll display shelf. Or so my Wife thinks…
