appropriate period locomotive?

Any of the 027 Hudson type locos will do. 

Excellent.  Thanks for the quick turn around!

You might consider the K-Line 027 4-6-2 Pacific based on Marx Tooling.  I have both the Marx and the K-Line versions that I picked up at various auctions and they can be found for a very good price and scale out well with the postwar Lionel 027 streamliners.  Also the postwar Alco FAs would be a good choice as well.  Williams offered an updated version them in the "Classics" catalogs not to be confused with the scale version they also offer.

Will investigate these, as well.  Thank you.

Peter, just a thought for you to bear in mind. Postwar and MPC era locomotives with open frame AC motors require more current to run than do more modern types of locomotives with DC can motors, such as the Williams or K-Line locomotives, or any newer Lionel locomotives - that may be reissues of postwar types - but have DC can motors instead.

What this means is a locomotive with DC can motors may mean you will want to change out the light bulbs in your passenger cars to a lower voltage bulb like to a 6-8 volt instead. Otherwise your passenger cars will be illuminated fairly dimly unless you a running the train fast at a higher voltage.

With the open frame AC motor in the locomotives of that period, the postwar cars came with higher voltage bulbs, like a 12, 14 or 18 volt bulb. So nothing wrong with the more modern issues of smaller 027 engines (that would look good with your passenger cars) that have DC can motors, but since those engines draw less current to run, you may need to adjust the type of bulbs in your passenger cars... depending on your taste on how brightly (or dimly) you'd like your passenger cars to be illuminated at.

I personally have a variety of engine types, and therefore have the same style Lionel passenger cars, but some with 12 volt bulbs (for running with Postwar/MPC engines) and others with 6 volt bulbs for running with my K-Line Alco FA's that come with DC can motors.

Just something to consider so you don't encounter any future frustration.

GG1 4877 posted:

You might consider the K-Line 027 4-6-2 Pacific based on Marx Tooling.  I have both the Marx and the K-Line versions that I picked up at various auctions and they can be found for a very good price and scale out well with the postwar Lionel 027 streamliners.  Also the postwar Alco FAs would be a good choice as well.  Williams offered an updated version them in the "Classics" catalogs not to be confused with the scale version they also offer.

A friend brought his K-Line /Marx steamer and 10 of the matching Streamliners over. Looks spectacular running! No "folding edges" around corners and s curves, just flows!!  Your cars would look great behind any of these or the small postwar Hudson variety as our relaxing "Maui Man" suggests.

Terrific!  I have a santa fe Alco FA now, but the Kline looks more in line what I'm seeking.

Thanks to all who've replied -- I have a game plan, now!

(Not that I'm discouraging more suggestions...)

Yes, K-Line did a nice job re-furbishing the MARX tooling for this 4-6-2 Pacific being referenced here. The motor is a bigger DC can motor and the engine runs very smoothly and has good pulling capabilities.

But be forewarned, K-Line used a Seuthe smoke unit in these. It is not a reliable unit at all and very likely on a used unit, will not work. It is also not a "puffer" type of unit as in most comparable Lionel steam engines.

Also on the whistling tender, K-Line designed it so you will need the K-Line whistle activation box. The whistle in the K-Line tender will not sound off with using a Lionel transformer: At least most I've tried. You may want to consider putting a Lionel whistling tender behind it, if you are using a Lionel transformer or cannot find the K-Line whistle activation box.

Don't get me wrong: I like the engine. Looks good on 027 track and with the passenger cars you have. BUT it does have some quirks.

scale rail posted:

Any of the 027 Hudson type locos will do. 

O-o-o, 2055 - my first loco, Xmas 1955. Still have it.

As conventional AC, E-unit locos go, these run very well, especially in that "worn in but not worn out" sweet spot. They'll even run slowly, by the standards of the time - and are a good-looking "model" of the ATSF 3460-class 4-6-4's. Well-done tender tooling, also.

When I got into O Gauge a little over a year ago-  my first locomotive was a 2055 bought at a train show.  It runs like it was new (almost).  It is one of my favorites.