Getting ready to move into a new house and it kind of got me thinking about trains again (have enough space now to do something under the christmas tree, and maybe a layout in the future). I have my old trusty Lionel 2036 that when I purchased it I was told I could add a smoke unit too. I’ve been looking around and I can’t find a heck of a lot of info on the 2036, looks to me to be one Lionel’s more basic classic steamers, but I can’t find out if smoke was an option on a 2036. I’ve seen some units on eBay but don’t know if they work in a 2036, and on top of that they don’t look complete (lacking the arm that drives the piston).
Am I crazy to prusue this, or should I just look for a nice 2026 or something similar with the smoke unit already installed?
The 2036 can not have a smoke unit installed, as the shell is missing a small lip that is required to hold the lever in place.
If you really want smoke, you could probably drop a Seuthe smoke unit down the stack, but you wouldn’t get a whole lot of smoke out of it. Seuthe units have no moving parts; only two wires that you need to connect to the hot and ground. You might need to drill out the smokestack, also.
The Korean war (2-6-4) 2026 lacks magnetraction and has blind center drivers that are larger than the flanged drivers, causing it to pitch slightly. The 2037 is a better choice, with smoke, magnetraction, and wheels all the same size.
All these locomotives with 2-wheel pilot trucks tend to oversteer on curves and derail to the inside of the curve if given a chance. This is due to a design error that placed the truck pivot too far forward.
Finally, the 2-6-4 wheel arrangement has no American prototype. Lionel incorrectly called it a “prairie”, which is actually a 2-6-2, like the earlier 2026. It is sometimes called an “Adriatic”, since some were made in America for export to that region.
The reason I mentioned the 2026 is that I ran an early one for a short while before I bougth the 2036 and really like the look (much more detailed then the 2036). If I could get that look magnetraction and smoke I would be a happy camper…
Hello Kopeck! A 2036 can have a regular smoke unit installed. All you have to do is find a pilot assembly from a 2037 with a notch in it for the smoke unit lever and you’re in business. Dr Tinker’s Toy Train Parts should have a 2037 Pilot Assembly handy or he can find one for you.Just go to his website and get his phone # and he’ll help you out. And he should have the other smoke unit parts for you to buy as well. Keep in mind that the 2036 was a economy engine without smoke or a whistle tender for that time. Lionel made many different variations of the 2026 series engines which included your 2036 which was made only in 1950. Good Luck.
I’ve found Dr.Tinker to be a reliable source of Parts and he is very knowledgable about Trains also. Jim- You are very lucky to live in Dr.Tinkers area. He also has old Trains that he sells to folks that visit him. So, if you are looking for a particular item. Check him out.
I have a 1950 lionel 1463W-1 set that came with the 2036 engine and whisle tender. I would leave it and buy a modern engine. The 2036 is a great running engine but I like the smoothness of the DC can motors over the old AC but you cant beat that AC motor sound and smell. I second the 2037