Re-discovering 2046

It was the 1950's all over again, listening to the whistle. I set up the camera so I could get a run-by while being at the transformer for whistle control.

I left 2046 at the museum, since I'll be there all week. it will run some more, and I'll gather up some post war cars to run a period consist.

Bill, that was my favorite engine back when I still did conventional. Great runner and great puller too. No trouble with 50 MPC cars. I loved them so much, I have at least three of them. Unfortunately, I think I ran them to death at enterTRAINment.

Great engine. I have the 2056 (without magnetraction) and it's one of my favorites.

Nice video Bob! Nice engine too. Are you using smoke pills on that or liquid?

You do know, that it's not legal, to run postwar steam locos, without a caboose, on the end of the train.

I recently bought a 2056 from a forum member, after servicing it and the whistle tender, it has become one of my favorite locos, and I have a fair amount of them. Nothing is mint condition, but performance speaks louder than boxes and paperwork to me. Nice video!

If it's not my favorite engine, the 2046 has to be my second favorite. It's just the right size for my little layout and looks great pulling a string of 6464 boxcars. Mine pulls very good and smokes great too.

J White

A great engine to be sure.......I own their close cousins, 646 & 2056. They are fine runners.

Peter

Just like an Energizer battery, that 2046 will still be running when all of your command control electronics have died.  Take good care of her.

I have 3 of them sitting on the shelf.  I do not remember them smoking as good as yours.  What are you using in it to get that much smoke?

Karl

I have a nice 2046 plus the cousins-646 and 2056. All good running engines.

looks great! my 2046 never smokes that good, but I'll get a new unit and try it.

I don't have one, but I have a close cousin that is my favorite, an 685. Same mech, but different body.

The 2056 was my first postwar train at Christmas a year or two ago, and I have promptly started to rid myself of all command control! The small Hudsons are by far my favorite postwar steamers, mostly because I can afford them and they are all great runners. I currently have examples of all the different bodies, 2056, 2055, and a 665. All of them run fantastic, pull well, and look good doing it! Lionel really had a true winner with the Hudson motor block. Easy to work on and reliable. Can't say enough about all the postwar Hudsons! Easily one of the most underrated series of locos in the postwar period. Keep runnin those Hudsons!

Zach

I liked my late 90s TMCC small Hudson so much, that I had AlexM rework the electronics:

Peter

The 2046 is also my favorite Post War steamer. In the nineties Charles Ro made replacement shell along with a diecast 2426 tender to fit the 2046. Sort of a baby 1990 700E. Cab number 5340.

Pete

a man cannot have too many hudsons

Wonder if it's still possible to find it...

Bill,

Nice videos ,thanks, but I really enjoyed the whistle!

Brad

It was the first "new" engine I purchased when I rekindled my relationship with my post war trains. Purchased it at the only remaining train store within 25 - 30 miles of my home. They sold it to me with a Deluxe 2671W 6-wheel tender, yes the wrong tender. Anyway, she ran great and smoked up a storm but her body had seen better days, so I stripped it down to the bare metal, primed it and finished her off with a couple of light coats of Krylon Satin Black out of a rattle can. IMHO the closest match in off the shelf paint, then I re-stamped the cab. Oh yeah, to give her a different look I left the separately applied aluminum smoke stake unpainted just like the early 675 (which I also have). Although not original she is one of my favorite post war engines. Probably because of the work I put into it.

Mike

You can't go wrong with a 2046.  In my not-very-humble opinion, they are the most underrated of the postwar steamers.

Why are you suprised ? Its a steamer they are pretty powerful.It could pull a fair size train.

My favourite, I own more 2046s than any other loco.

I see lots of you share my enthusiasm.  OK, answers to questions:  Smoke. I have done nothing to the original smoke unit. It is the pellet-type, but, I no longer use pellets. I use LIONEL Premium Smoke Fluid. I figured the heater just melted the pellets to liquid and then vaporized the liquid. So, am I just bypassing a step? It has always been a good smoker.

Whistle motor was cleaned and lubed some time ago, but I too was surprised at how good it sounded.  Probably had not been blown in at least 5 years.

Now, in fair full disclosure: today was not so good. I could not get it to move, although I could hear the e-unit cycle. I wonder if a wire came loose or the brushes are too worn. I brought it home and will open it up tonight and see what I can find.

Like Peter, I too have a TMCC small Hudson (C&O #305) that Alex has worked his magic with. You can see it in action over on this past week's "Weekend at the Movies."

Thanks for all the comments. will report on findings.

Yes, I know, I will burn in Hades for ever for not having a Tuscan caboose on the rear. Mea culpa, but as I said, all I had with me were newer cars.

my 2046 and 2055

I love reading posts like this. Like Bob I really like TMCC and Legacy, but the loco with the most time around the tree this year my old 2018! 

I have a soft spot for that engine. It was in the used 1950 set my parents bought for me in the early 60s. I still have it, and it still runs like a clock. 

I have a layout full of 1950s (a few 40s too) steamers and all are in good running order. The bigger ones-the 6s, as I call the 646, 2046 and 2056 plus the  2055s and 2065s , I call the 6s  with the turbines thrown in are all great runners and fun to run with a nice consist.  Hard to pick a favorite but my first 8310 was the first Lionel I bought to replace my scout engine. That lasted 8 years.  not bad.

I can honestly say I don't have a bad running Pre or Postwar Lionel. Dad's 1684 does like warp speed, so I have to keep an eye on it. Even his 6110, after Dean Brausser did his thing, is a pretty good runner. But the mainstays, 224E,225E,1666,675,671,2046 all run like a fine watch.

El Classico posted:

Wonder if it's still possible to find it...

I don't think I understand. Find a 2046 engine & tender? If so .... yes, many available on eBay and from shops that sell post war Lionel.

I have one that has been in the family since ∼1951 .... and that's what always goes around the tree.

Repair report: I think it was the brushes. They were less than 1/4 " long.  I had several types of new ones, probably left over from some 1980's purchase, and with some experimentation I think I have the correct ones. Ran OK downstairs light. Let's see how it does with a load at the museum tomorrow.

Peter,  I think you need to tighten the screw that holds the right eccentric onto the driver.  The eccentric is not turning with the driver.

I think maybe el classico was referring to the repro shell for the engine. Try Da Bay or Chas. Ro !!

I can't quite put my finger on it, but always liked the look of the 2055-2065 a bit more than the 2046-56 .  Both styles are great pullers and bullet proof even on uneven track and a mess of o27 lionel and marx switches.  

Very Nice!

I had two of these. Sold one to a friend years ago as part of a set (I can't remember the set number). It was the better looking of the two and the Magna-Traction was great!  He uses it every year at Christmas time. 

I kept the lesser of the two. Like EZMIKE, it has the 2671W tender. The whistle could use some work and when the pickup wires were re-soldered, the shell was damaged along the side edges. While the magna-traction is not as good, it still pulls very nicely!  And, she will see some Christmas time duty!

I will try to post some pictures this evening.

I think that the reason the other style looks better to you is its a bit smoother and more streamlined, like the Ives steamers.

Tuesday at College Park Aviation Museum. The new brushes did the trick. Here's 2046 on the first run of the morning, with a good consist. Yes, there is a tuscan red caboose carrying the markers.  The track inspector was still at work on the outer loop.

Later in the afternoon, the crack streamliner Super Chief had a problem with one of its three diesel units. Could 2046 come to the rescue and handle the long streamliner, with two "dummy" diesels?

Great video!  Your posts will undoubtedly raise the demand, and the prices, for the 2046.

BANDOB posted:

 Could 2046 come to the rescue and handle the long streamliner, with two "dummy" diesels?

 

I love it!!! Old standby!!