Does anyone know why there's a large wheel with a long point in the center sticking up on the front top of Lionel's NW2 engines hood? I've never seen a picture of an actual NW2 with anything similar, and NW2 models in other gauges don't seem to have them.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
It's a radio antenna!
Jon
Attachments
@Magicland posted:I've never seen a picture of an actual NW2 with anything similar...
http://chuckzeiler.rrpicturear...ture.aspx?id=1451908
@Magicland posted:...and NW2 models in other gauges don't seem to have them.
Reason #4329 why it's "O gauge or no gauge."
TRW
Williams NW2's have them too. that antenna, and the clear class lights leave town directly after opening the box at this railroad........
A little more info courtesy of Bob Nelson and Bob Keller:
Response from Bob Nelson:
The Lionel models that had them seem to be the Santa Fe 617, 622, 6220, and 623, the Chesapeake and Ohio 624, and the Seaboard 6250. The only prototype example that I could find in Marre's Diesel Locomotives: the First 50 Years was a Burlington SW1200.
Response from Bob Keller:
Bob, there is a CB&Q BLW VO-1000 with the wheel antenna on p. 301, so it might have been a Burlington-specific add-on.
C Marley, I like the looks of the antenna, even if it’s not prototypical. I paint the marker lights flat black, leaving the lenses clear. I’m happy with their appearance, too.
John
I thought it was brake wheel as a kid.
And rooftop "handrails" on hoods & caboose roofs are mostly antenna too
Hey John, thats the best part, we are all free to do whatever we want to enjoy our railroads and modify things (or dont) how we see fit! enjoy your trains!
@PaperTRW posted:http://chuckzeiler.rrpicturear...ture.aspx?id=1451908
Reason #4329 why it's "O gauge or no gauge."
TRW
@GeoPeg posted:A little more info courtesy of Bob Nelson and Bob Keller:
Response from Bob Nelson:
The Lionel models that had them seem to be the Santa Fe 617, 622, 6220, and 623, the Chesapeake and Ohio 624, and the Seaboard 6250. The only prototype example that I could find in Marre's Diesel Locomotives: the First 50 Years was a Burlington SW1200.
Response from Bob Keller:
Bob, there is a CB&Q BLW VO-1000 with the wheel antenna on p. 301, so it might have been a Burlington-specific add-on.
Apparently, Santa Fe used the wagon wheel antenna on some F-units.
http://sfrhms.org/files/funits/alb12.htm
It on the rear of the lead F in the photo.
The antennas can barely be seen on the A-units in the following photo:
http://sfrhms.org/files/funits/alb07.htm
Rusty
That antenna first appeared on the 622 in 1949. At that time, it was thought that train radio would be the in thing and of course Lionel wanted an up to date look.
By the time I first worked in the industry in 1959 there were few railroad radios, most of them in yards. There were numerous technical difficulties, in transmission and in durability.
The last Lionel engines with the antennas were the 623 and 624 in 1952-54. Probably stopped making them to reduce cost.
They break very easily. In collections that I've bought, I've seen a good number of broken antennas. Fortunately my parts supplier still has them - part 622-10, "radio wheel".
@mlaughlinnyc posted:That antenna first appeared on the 622 in 1949. At that time, it was thought that train radio would be the in thing and of course Lionel wanted an up to date look.
By the time I first worked in the industry in 1959 there were few railroad radios, most of them in yards. There were numerous technical difficulties, in transmission and in durability.
The last Lionel engines with the antennas were the 623 and 624 in 1952-54. Probably stopped making them to reduce cost.
They break very easily. In collections that I've bought, I've seen a good number of broken antennas. Fortunately my parts supplier still has them - part 622-10, "radio wheel".
Apparently they're back at it. LIONEL 6-18921 has one. Or I should say "had". Repainted the unit for the PRR, and was wondering what it was and if I should put it back. Even recent Lionchief plus models (6-85060) have one.
Attachments
The Williams and Lionel LC NW2 is a reproduction of the toy train Lionel first made in 1949. If you want a scale model of an NW2 without the uncommon but prototypical radio antenna, Marty Feldman bug eye class lights, and correctly dimensioned hood and cab Lionel makes those also, in fact quite a few variations.
Pete