Most of the attention in Postwar Lionel always seems to go to the top of the line engines and train sets, but what about those inexpensive entry level ones that are a joy to own and operate. Here is my list of the top 5 Postwar Lionel 027 Engines. What is your list and why?
Missouri Pacific Alco 205. Dual axle magnatraction with headlight and dummy engine. Pulls well and with the dummy engine gives you a lot of engine for the price. Quite easy to keep repaired.
LV 627 44 Tonner. Single axle magnatraction but with operating couplers on both ends makes it a great switcher for the layout. No headdlight but it’s easy to add one or two (for both ends). Plain, Very boxy and grossly oversized but it’s so ugly that it’s cute. My favorite switcher. I added lead weight to mine and it pulls as well as dual axle magnatraction.
MKT 600 NW2. Plain but nice looking NW2 switcher. Single axle Magnatraction, operating couplers on both ends and no headlight.
Lionel Lines 520 80-ton Electric. Small very unusual electric boxcab locomotive that is fairly accurate to scale (for Lionel). Operating coupler on one end and nice small runner, it’s great for switching too. When people see it they always ask “What is that!”
Lionel Lines 2018 2-6-4 Steamer. Attractive cast metal steamer with headlight and smoke. It came with either a whistle or non-whistle streamlined tender with operating coupler. Valve gear is a little more complicated than the typical inexpensive steamer. Runs nice.
OK one more. Lionel Lines 2034 2-4-2 Steamer. One of the nicer entry level small steamers, it had a cast metal shell(instead of the typical plastic shell) and metal motor with headlight. It has roller center rail pickup instead of the typical drag shoes.
2031 ROCK ISLAND alco AA set, My first postwar diesel set and just awesome runners!!!
624 C&O switcher, same as above, great motor and smooth runner great puller!!
2025 steamer/2466W tender- great engine, same as a 675 and same motor as a 224/225/226E, just impeccably smooth, if only I could spell!
4)2020 Turbine with 2466W tender. nuff said, great smooth engine!
5)2365 C&O geep-did you realize these werer cataloged as both O and O-27? how cool is that?
special mention
2046 steamer 2046W tender Only mag steam engine on my list, they in general are to noisy and for me and not as smooth and quiet as the baldwin disc motors (its merely a personal preference!)
HMMMMMMMMMMM, Dennis…your #1, the 2031 Rock Island ALCo FA-1 AA, was my very first engine set when I was 5 with some 242X Streamliners. And your #6, the 2046 Hudson steamer with the Berk boiler and the 2046W tender my second when I was 6 with an assortment of freight cars. Have you been poking around in my storage closet? [:D]
Dave, the problem, if you can call it a problem, with the postwar Top 5 Postwar Engines thread was that there were no qualifiers.
As Sir James aptly posted early, a loaded question. Another posted that he was taking the “Rambler” approach. Others posted “because I’ve got one and love it.”
I noted that a Top 5 might include trains that were “firsts” that got many into the hobby after WWII when pricier alternatives might have kept them out of the hobby. Housing, let alone living space, was at a premium for the masses. Many of the younger guys just can’t relate to
Oooh, I run nothing but 027 engines and stock - I second the nomination for the 520 boxcab, but there are trolleys, 2-6-4s and all sorts of other lovely stuff I have to go look up their numbers
I was lucky enough to find a beauty last week. I would say in excellent cond. The 2245 Texas Special F3. I have the 2354 NYC F3s and just love them, and have been looking for my next postwar F3. The 2245 is single motored, but still runs and pulls very well. My model still has strong magnetraction. LOOKS GREAT on the layout. I would think that O27 runners, back in the 50’s, were very happy to be able to run F3s just like the O runners.
*Dave, a small disclaimer… I’m going to take some liberties on the time frame reference of the best 027 engines…*as a solid 027 operator, there are some fine locos that are not from the postwar period and some made by others than Lionel. I base my observations on first hand experience with operation, reliability and price.
My award for the best 027 locomotive EVER is the K-Line S-2. I actually rank it higher than a lot of more detailed, more advanced locomotives also. I have a fleet of them, and have never had any real service issues with them. They have proven themselves to be reliable runners, outstanding pullers, simple to maintain, easy repaint, and add additional details to. Bang from the buck, you can’t find a better running, versatile, good performing locomotive in my opinion.
Behind the K-Line S-2, I’d put the other K-Line locomotives: the Alco FA, the MP-15 and the RDC Budd Car.* All of these have similar internal components to the S-2. The Alco FA is far better looking than most modern MPC/Lionel versions. Later, when K-Line enhanced the Alco FA detail level, it became even better. The MP-15 as the very first modern 027 friendly diesel to be tooled up since the postwar era of Lionel. While it has a scale proportioned shell, the frame still says 027. With all the other K-Line locomotives of this type, it is affordable, reliable and a great value for the dollar.
*Now, while K-Line did reintroduce the RDC Budd car based upon the old MARX dies, Ready Made Toys has taken it to a new level. I’d vote the RMT Buddy next on my list and above the K-Line version. A wide variety of roadnames, with enhanced details and basically the same kind of unit as made by K-Line only with improvements. Unlike the BEEP, it has no trouble on 027 switches - which is the only thing that keeps me from including the BEEP on my list.
Next on my list would be the Williams GP-9. With a slightly smalle
2240 Wabash F3 A-B. I have a pair of 2343’s, but I fell in love with the 2240’s when I saw a pair running on a layout during a local christmas festival. They ran smoothly, and I was allowed to take them for a spin by one of the operators whois friends with my father.
2056 4-6-4 Hudson. I recently traded my 2055 in for this engine at my LHS a few weeks ago and I love it. Its much quieter than my 2055, due to its lack of Magne-traction and it runs great.
2023 Union Pacific Alco AAs. No real reason. I just like them.
601 Seabord NW2. As a southerner I feel obligated to include this engine.
1060 “Scout” style 2-4-2. This engine, owned by my aunt, introduced my to trains, along with a blue bronx zoo operating car, flatcar with autos, and a typical red caboose. I was called over every christmas when I was younger to help set up the train. I spent the day making numerous track configurations with all the track, and when the time came to leave I would put a loop around the tree.
The 1060 can be seen in the photo that serves as my avatar with my Erie Hudson, taken a few years ago at Christmas time.
