Author: Terry

The 2020 is an o27 version of the 671 steam turbine. The only difference between a 671 and a 2020 is the number on the side. Lionel only sold the 027 turbines in sets, while the 0 gauge locos were available separately.

The 2020 always came with the derivative of the 2666T plastic tender. The tender number depending on the year could be 2466W, 2020W or 6020W. The turbine always had a whistle tender.

The earliest versions of the 2020 had double worm gear drive and smoke bulbs. Later 2020 locos had single worm gear drive and heater element smoke units.

The 2020 smoke bulb assembly is shown below:

Collectors prefer the earlier smoke bulb versions of both the 2020 and the 671, but the later versions run better. The 027 turbine did not receive Magnetraction and was discontinued in 1949.

This is a very common loco and is readily availible today. The later turbines with smoke heaters are great runners and every operator should have one.

I once ran a 671 Turbine in a Christmas display It ran around an oval for 10 to 12 hours a day for 39 days. I had to go over and put new brushes in it every few days, but otherwise it was fine. The loco went over 1300 actual miles!

The 202 Union Pacific Alco unit was made by Lionel in 1957. Only A units were made, and the unit does not have a coupler on the front.

There are three variations of the Lionel 202 diesel. Two painted versions: one over a black mold, the other on a blue mold, and also a harder to find unpainted orange plastic Alco.

The unpainted version of the 202 brings a small premium. The painted versions are both equally ignored by collectors.

Lionel made the 2018 steamer from 1956 to 1959. It’s the same as the Lionel 2037, but doesn’t have Magnetraction. The 2018 came with or without a whistle tender.

The 2018 has a metal boiler, smoke and 3-position e-unit.

Lionel made a few rare blue 2018 locomotives as samples for a boys train. The boys train wasn’t produced because the girls train didn’t sell very well.

The 175 rocket launcher is the largest of the space and military items Lionel made in the late 1950s.

These are quite common, but the railings around the top of the superstructure and around the rocket launching platform are usually broken. Replacement railings and rockets are available.

The rocket launcher was designed to be used with the Lionel 6175 flatcar with rocket, but the car was not included with the launcher. When the launcher was included in sets, the car was also a part of the set.

The operator could lift a rocket from the 6175 flat car and then position it on the firing platform. The countdown controller would count down, and then fire the rocket into the ceiling.

After a few firings, the rocket would break. Usually the break is in the white portion.

Reproduction rockets are made of better quality plastic and hold up longer.

This is the second to last version of the 0-4-0 steam switcher Lionel introduced in 1939 as the 1662.

The 1615 has a plastic tender and magnetic couplers. The 1625 replaced this for 1958 only and is the same except for a dummy coupler on the front.

These switchers don’t run very well because they lose current in 022 switches. The earlier 1656 and 1665 and the prewar switchers have pickups in the tenders and go through switches at slow speeds much better.

Many Lionel 1615 switchers are found with the marker lights broken off. replacements are available and aren’t that hard to install.

The Lionel 148 dwarf signal was made from 1957 to 1960. The signal has manual operation and uses a special 148-100 control switch.

When the 148-100 is in one position, the signal light is green and current is on to the block section.In the other position the dwarf signal shows red, and track current is off.

These didn’t sell well, and are somewhat hard to find today. Especially in nice condition like the boxedone shown above.

Copies of Lionel 148 dwarf signal were made in the late 1970s by a man in Nevada of cast metal. The Lionel postwar dwarf signals are made of plastic.

Both Lionel and MTH currently offer similar dwarf signals. This has caused a large drop in the value of postwar examples.

Lionel introduced the 140 automatic banjo signal in 1954. The 140 was cataloged through 1966. These were also sold by MPC, and cannot be differentiated without the box.

The signal uses a vibro motor to make the sign go back and forth. The vibro motor requires a thrust washer with nipples on it to work correctly. Any parts supplier will have it.

This is a common accessory, that looks good on any Lionel postwar layout.

Lionel currently makes the banjo signal in brown rather than black, and MTH makes them in black.

Lionel reintroduced the 30 water tower in 1953 as the 138 water tower. The 138 is the same as the 30, except the 138 has a plastic base.

The 138 water tower first came with a gray roof. Later versions came with an orange roof as shown here.

When a 90C controller is pushed the spout lowers.

Lionel has made similar water towers in the modern era. MTH also makes a copy of the 138.

This is a simple building with a battery operated horn inside it. Lionel made the 114 news stand with horn from 1957 to 1959. There are no variations. The station shown here should have white plastic windows in it.

This was also sold with a whistle as Lionel 118, and the building itself was used on the Lionel 415 diesel fueling station.

Lionel has also made the 114 newsstand in the modern area in different colors.