Greetings all, I managed to find a mint 1615 switcher still in it original master carton and paper but the tender that came with it has got me puzzled. The tender is a 2203 slope back tender with a bell, electromagnetic coupler and is made of stamped metal. The unit has two wire tethers coming out the front. I am stumped as to what Lionel loco this unit attaches to. I know that Lionel had an electronic set, which maybe this might go to but I can not find any info on this tender. Any suggestions or help?
Welcome Mark!
You really got me puzzled on this one as Greenberg’s price guide only lists it as the Cannonball Express set(modern) or as an 0-4-0 postwar steam engine with a 1615T tender. Are your numbers correct?
Lee F.
http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=1615
Wires may have been a substitution for the electrical drawbar connection between this loco and the tender. This was required to complete the circuit and was problematic on these units. The springs on the drawbar would weaken and the contact would become sporadic. Someone may have engineered this “solution” to deal with the problem.
Your postwar 1615 is listed as having a 1615T tender. A 2203 tender (with wires) is listed as comming with a 1662 PREWAR switcher. The 1615T shows no wires. So, it seems you have a mismatch…pre and post war. Joe
Thanks all for the quick response and assist. I figure it is a prewar tender,just wanted to connect it with a prewar loco, I am in the search for the 1615T tender now. [:)]