Model Train Journal

These neat, perfectly preserved engines are still out there!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Post-War-1951- ... 4217254502

"Just taken out of storage. Newspaper wrapped in dated 2001. Have not been tested."

Half hour cleanup, max. Nice shots of the chassis there, seller!

(requisite snarky comment....stored in septic tank....)

Impressive "wave" effect on the roof line of the shell. 2x4 + steady low heat (110-120 degrees) and pressure for several years?

I thought it was one of those weird repowerings done to one companies loco by another to make an engine that won't fit fit.

Neat, isn't it? Not even scrap value there. No idea what' wrong inside or the frame.
Absolutely no underneath shots. The corrosion on the sideframes makes you wonder about rusted axles, corroded gears, water damage to armature and field, e-unit. Other than not tested, no idea if it's a powered or dummy.
Or was.
Other listings are coins, fishing reels, purses, ONE two dome Sunoco tank and some lockons.

Sees Lionel, thinks "money".

Some poor schmuck will fork over what he wants and figure out cost of just cosmetic repairs far exceeds value.

The roof bulges are there to identify "genuine Lionel" and not a counterfeit Lionel.

Let's look a some expert answers on what the bulge is for.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/lio ... o-question
Q: Why is it that the Union Pacific Alcos, whether they be the yellow or silver variety, have bulges in their roofs ?
A1: Could the bulges on the roof be fans?
A2: Heat would be my only guess.
A3: Mine are like that too. I believe it had something to do with the original molding of them.
A4: The original roofs were too thin, and subject to warping.
A5: It wasn't the heat that causes the bulge. Plastics in the late forties and early fifties were unstable.
A6: I'm pretty convinced it's the heat from the motor.
A7: The Williams F3 AA sets from the Golden Memory series are top notch.
A8: If the cabs are pooched out as indicated in the picture I think you can be assured that it is from the heat of the motor that is directly beneath that spot.
A9: I have the 2032 Erie Alcos. They have no bulge.

"If the cabs are pooched out as indicated in the picture I think you can be assured that it is from the heat of the motor that is directly beneath that spot."
Here is the picture.


The motor on mine is centered in the front truck, not between the portholes.


I am not assured.

ex-spurts have informed us for years that it's the motor. Not. Wasn't there a casting sprue or knob that was eliminated later that solved the issue? I can't remember, as ALCO FA's were nothing I was interested in ever owning.

The unit shown in the evil bait offering is so far past any minor bulging it ain't even funny.

As I said, replacing the Alco engine with an EMD engine.

ScaleCraft wrote:Wasn't there a casting sprue or knob that was eliminated later that solved the issue?

Mine has the casting sprue ( or what is left of it after breaking it off.) Ex-spurts say Lionel added a thick disk to the plastic at the mold injection point where the sprue is.

Where the Sprue is on mine, top of body, there has a dimple.


Where the Sprue is on mine, inside body, the circle is an area of thinner plastic. What is left of the Sprue is thicker.