Stepping into the “wayback” machine, Lionel’s 0-4-0 steam switcher is a model of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s B6-class 0-6-0. Just before World War II, Lionel made several variations of its B6 switcher, two of which – Nos. 1662 and 1663 – used 0-4-0 instead of 0-6-0 wheel arrangements. The model was in and out of the product line in the postwar and modern eras.
The model
CTT owns the No. 18054 incarnation from 1997, painted for the New York Central with cab No. 1665. For a cataloged price of $274.95 it came with a headlight, smoke unit, magnetic couplers, and castings that had seen better days.
Eight years later the little 0-4-0 is back in the catalog. For $115 less than its 1997 predecessor, you get cleaned-up tooling, along with a digital whistle, cab figures, and an illuminated (but non-directional) tender light. Not bad at all!
We compared our sample No. 28662 Chesapeake & Ohio 0-4-0 with the older 1997 locomotive. It was an education. Putting aside the rough use our model has seen (it was loaned to a club for a public display and made at least one trip off the layout and onto the floor), the casting of its boiler, cab, and steam chests looks unrefined compared to the surfaces of the 2005 locomotive.
The cleaned-up tooling makes for an attractive model with a smooth paint finish and strong rivet details. The pilot steps and the brace connecting them on the new version of the switcher are made of die-cast metal; the same feature on the old locomotive is sheet metal.
Tooling-fatigue marks present on the 1997 model have vanished from the smokebox, and the seams, rivets, and hinges all are crisp. The model has non-illuminated number boards. The marker jewels on the new locomotive are green (our 1997 version had red markers).
The compact boiler features cast-in boiler bands, seams, sand lines, a whistle, and other mechanical bits. The bell is a separate piece. The original cast-in handrails are still there, just behind the add-on wire handrails that run from the firebox forward, and then up and over the smokebox.
There are even a cast-in “Lionel” plate and a Pennsylvania oval with a “B6” on the fireman’s side of the smokebox.
The boiler backhead has cast-in gauges, levers, and switches, and as previously noted, there are two crewmen mounted in chairs.
The tender shell is plastic. There are wire handrails on its front corners and a nifty cast-in yet three-dimensional pair of brake appliances on the forward right side. The cast-in coal load looks nice, and you can trace rivet lines all around the car (no, I didn’t count them).
The tender also houses a digital whistle, and the car rides on metal wheels with die-cast metal sideframes. The frames are clean and smooth.
A tether connects the locomotive and the tender to provide power for the backup light and the whistle.
Both the headlight and backup light remain on continuously. The tender also has on/off switches for the whistle and reverse unit. The on/off for the smoke unit is beneath the running board on the engineer’s side of the locomotive.
Decoration of the locomotive is truly minimal and applied smoothly and cleanly on both the engine and tender. As I remarked previously, its black finish places this model in a different category from our 1997 model. It looks superb.
On the test track
This steamer is an entry-level locomotive. Its peers are Lionel’s own 0-6-0T, MTH’s 0-4-0T, and K-Line’s Plymouth diesel and Porter 0-4-0T steamer.
Our speed range was fairly broad, from 12.9 scale mph on the low end to 80.8 on the high end. Check out the on-line video, this baby really can move!
Drawbar pull for the steamer is a relatively healthy 11.5 ounces. The locomotive does not feature speed or command control. While it was very responsive to throttle changes, our sample steamer pretty consistently loped along at slower speeds. However, this wasn’t a show-stopper and likely will smooth out as the spur-gear mechanism and drive rods break in. Speaking of spur gears, some hobbyists may find the big black gear between the drivers on the engineer’s side distracting.
The locomotive’s smoke unit is not a massive fume ejector, but like its predecessors, it blows a metered flow of little smoke rings, thanks to its tall stack. When keying the whistle command, the results sound pretty neat. The high-pitched digital “toot” seems to fit this diminutive locomotive.
The locomotive has two pickup rollers about 3 inches apart. There are also traction tires on the two rear drive wheels. There are magnetic “thumb-tack” couplers on both ends, so you can uncouple rolling stock in a yard using remote uncoupling sections. While real B6 switchers wouldn’t be used on a main line, the front coupler on the model makes double-heading a breeze.
The new Lionel switcher was a nice surprise. Performance was well within the range of toy train fun, and the improved finish left me with the feeling that I had a well-crafted model rather than an entry-level steamer.
I know this is a little late but I recently purchased this switcher. It looks and runs great. I just wished they could have done something with the tether. If you don't configure it correctly the tender will actually get pushed up on off the track.
I truly love this new model much like my 1615 model, but only
much smoother casting, and it also offers much more than the older models.
Nice model, I agree with the tether, but it runs a lot smoother than you might expect a traditional loco to.
I purchased this loco when it came out and I also like it just as much as my 1615 original. Both are nice pieces, although I have to agree that the C&O model does have a much cleaner casting.
Cobrabob.
I was looking at the pw 1615 and 1656 but decided to purchase this modern version due to the smoke feature. Very pleased with this little switcher. Smokes nicely, the light on the tender lights up when you backup. With a railsound steam boxcar this makes for a great sounding and running train. Saw a you tube video of 2 of these switchers doubled up and am looking for another one to do the same. Great fun. Thanks for the fine article and video review.