Lionel Prewar 226E

[pjdog350]

I finally got a Lionel 226E. I had one in the 1980’s but sold it. I’ve done allot of stupid things in my life. I was able to get a super nice one that looks like new from Jim. I love it. It is my favorite Lionel locomotive. I’ve always preferred the 226E to all the other Lionel motive power. I like them better than the Hudson. That’s just me. Picture to follow later today.

[pjdog350]

226E picture

[starfire700]

Glad that you like it, thought that I mentioned larger 800 / 2800 series freights and 613 /2613 or larger series passenger cars are required for a 226E.

[pjdog350]

Yes Jim you did mention that. But as I remember when I had my last 226 in the 80’s I ran it with postwar cars? Been a while. I’m old and the brain cells don’t work as well as they use to.

[starfire700]

There is a conversion link made to connect prewar box couplers with postwar knuckles. It has been a while since I have seen one. It locks onto the prewar coupler spike and has a knob at the other end that a postwar knuckle will mate with. The only problem, besides finding one, is coupler height. I think the box coupler on the back of your 2226W tender may be too high to mate with the postwar knuckle. A better solution is to make one of your postwar cars a transition car, by mounting a high-step prewar box coupler/truck on one end. This transition car can allow you to run any postwar cars with your 226E / 2226W. I can send you the necessary truck/coupler if you want to try this. It is best that this transition car be one of your heavier cars such as a diecast flatcar, or some weight can be added inside a 6454 type boxcar. You can then pull long trains with your 226E. Let me know. J