My Alco is a Lionel Sante Fe War Chief #158 F-1. I think (not sure) it was made in the early 2000 era. It originally came in a set with a B unit, and the set was called the El Capitan set.
The length of this Alco is a full 12 inches, not counting the front and back couplers, which bring it to 13.5 inches. Maybe this is the normal size for road engines made by Lionel, but I was really shocked by the size, since I thought the Switcher engines were the largest and my NW-2 is only 10.5 inches, not counting the couplers.
I am thinking of going to all diesels, since I am finding that almost all of the steam locos I try on my layout create lots of noise and problems when crossing my track series of an 022 switch, followed by a diagonal crossing, followed by another 022 switch, followed by a 90 degree crossing. Diesels have no problems going through this section, but steamers loudly clatter, sputter, lose power and labor getting through it. The delicacy of the front and back 2 or 4 wheel trucks on steamers is a total pain. They jump, they clatter, and they derail too easily.
I thought that buying a 4-6-4 Hudson would solve some of these problems, but as you may have read in my current post about the JLC Hudson, that is proving to be a bust.
Thanks for all suggestions.
Mannyrock
