Skip to main content

I just read an article about the Virginian E33 rectifiers.  The Lionel version did not sell well due to it's looks.  General Electric didn't put much effort into the aesthetics of the real locomotive because it was to be used for coal hauling in mountainous regions.  

You can say the same about Pennsy's E44s.  But I think they both had appeal.  Just as Geeps did.  If you look at some electric locomotives from around the world, and compare them to the E33, the E33 fairs most favorably in the looks category.  GE even put that curved roof over the cab.  So there was someone in the design department with alittle flair.  5a302d7e3dea42e377222a7d044f28242eda112d-m5_001300px-Virginian135maxresdefault

 

Attachments

Images (3)
  • 5a302d7e3dea42e377222a7d044f28242eda112d-m5_001
  • 300px-Virginian135
  • maxresdefault
Last edited by OGR CEO-PUBLISHER
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

johnstrains posted:

Yeah, they are butt ugly to some but I always thought the Lionel 2329 was one of the classic PW locos.

Came in a couple of cool sets in the 1958-59 time frame.

Yeah, I have the MPC version Virginian.  I like all electric locomotives, but the Lionel 2329 always looked great to me.  I don't get all this talk of how "ugly" it is.

aussteve posted:
George Lasley posted:

Here we go again. The Virginian never used blue. It was always black and yellow. Lionel got it wrong. Period!

George Lasley

Well that does it.   Now I'm gonna have to sell my blue and yellow Virginian engines, cabooses and boxcars.  I always thought they looked good.

You definitely should; absolutely NOTHING worse than "blue" Virginian locomotives!!!!!

The New Haven Railroad acquired the Virginian E33 electric motors in 1963 and, designated as EF-4, used them for freight operations between New Haven and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, New York. They were later used by Penn Central, went to Conrail in 1976, and were retired in 1981. The twelve locomotives were purchased by the New Haven, where they were known as "bricks," for $300,000. They had 3,300 horsepower, 98,500 pounds starting tractive effort and a maximum speed of 65 mph. My MTH Premier models are older PS1s.

MELGAR

MELGAR_NEW_HAVEN_303_1MELGAR_CONRAIL_4604_1

Attachments

Images (6)
  • MELGAR_NEW_HAVEN_303_1
  • MELGAR_NEW_HAVEN_303_2
  • MELGAR_NEW_HAVEN_303_3
  • MELGAR_CONRAIL_4604_1
  • MELGAR_CONRAIL_4604_2
  • MELGAR_CONRAIL_4604_3
Last edited by MELGAR

I'm with Dan; these locomotives are very appealing to me.  The boxy, utilitarian look with its hard edges resonate with my personality.  Ironically, the rounded cab roof is the only thing about the E33s that I am not quite so thrilled with.

I run one of the MTH PS3 scale versions as a helper unit on the coal drag.  They are big locomotives, well built with great detail.

I pulled the crappy MTH pantograph off and installed a brass Japanese scale model for use under wire.

 

Attachments

Images (4)
  • mceclip0
  • mceclip1
  • mceclip2
  • mceclip3
Last edited by Pantenary
Grampstrains posted:
George Lasley posted:

Here we go again. The Virginian never used blue. It was always black and yellow. Lionel got it wrong. Period!

George Lasley

You need to remember that back in the day, Lionel was selling "Toy Trains".  Blue and yellow was a more attractive color than black for sales.  Even in the 1970's, Fundemensions always noted that colorful cars sold the best.

So,,,,,,,now that its 2018, Lionel gets everything correct on the Legacy & Vision Line products? 

 

yankspride4 posted:

I myself have long been a fan of the Rectifier locos. The MTH Premier model is a great looking engine, but they continue to use the blind wheels on the inner wheelset. Until they use a flanged wheel, I just can't bring myself to buy one...tat goes for their E8 too (but that's for another thread).

Ron:

Agreed.  However, there are relatively easy ways around that issue, see this thread.  Nevertheless, I also understand the predictable objection to retrofitting a brand new locomotive.  Since it is a model I specifically want on my system, that doesn't bother me.  Regretfully, that is MTH making a locomotive more marketable at the expense of realism.  I do find that annoying, as I would prefer true 6-axle drive.  However, I would rather have 4-axle drive and do some retrofitting than to not have the model at all.  IMHO, I find the Lionel models rather distasteful and would not bother with rectifiers at all if that was my only option.

joe krasko posted:
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

In fact, a Geep makes a nice Rectifier-type locomotive... 

Mitch 

Mitch....looks good,I have a project geep,what did you use for the roof detail?can you email me...my info in profile....thanks..joe

The two rectifier domes are battery cases; the insulators are fabricated from shell buttons.  

Here's a set of step-by-step photos:

https://sta.sh/21is0gfenlx3

Mitch 

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:
joe krasko posted:
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

In fact, a Geep makes a nice Rectifier-type locomotive... 

Mitch 

Mitch....looks good,I have a project geep,what did you use for the roof detail?can you email me...my info in profile....thanks..joe

The two rectifier domes are battery cases; the insulators are fabricated from shell buttons.  

Here's a set of step-by-step photos:

https://sta.sh/21is0gfenlx3

Mitch 

I think Mitch would mount a pantograph and roof hardware to anything that moves if he could.  Can one imagine a single-stage mounted on a Volkswagen bus?  A rickshaw?  Or maybe even assorted livestock?  One never knows what the Marmel Works might churn out next.

Pantenary posted:

I think Mitch would mount a pantograph and roof hardware to anything that moves if he could. 

That IS sorta my modus operandi... ;-) 

Can one imagine a single-stage mounted on a Volkswagen bus?  A rickshaw?  Or maybe even assorted livestock?  One never knows what the Marmel Works might churn out next.

Well, here's a clew:

GEDC0742

Attachments

Images (1)
  • GEDC0742

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×