Those clear lights represented class lights. Since switch engines typically did not leave the yard, they didn't use class lights. The MP15 was considered the first switch engine that could be used on the main outside of the yard.
Yeah the classification lamps are kinda out of place. I have seen pictures of switchers like the nw2s with classification lights but I believe there weren’t many.
The NW2 switcher is one of my favorite engines that Lionel produced, so really loved this video. I have the 623, 624, and 6250. They are small and powerful for their size because of the magne-traction. They run through my 022 switches flawlessly and O-27 cars look great behind them. My 624 C&O has a wobble too. lol. You and I are primarily conventional runners (for now), but I want to recommend a Lionel switcher worth checking out. It's the blue tooth Lionchief plus NW2 they made a few years back. It's a highly detailed version of this classic Lionel model. Just apply 18 volts of power to the track and the hand held controller will do the rest. No mods, no fancy upgrades are needed. It allows us dinosaurs to keep our conventional setup, while still reaping the benefits of modern tech. Your Williams switcher had some nice crawler speed shots in your video, but that Lionchief will blow that away with its speed control. The only problem with buying one of these engines is that they don't make them anymore and are so hard to find. I wish they would reissue them again with new road names. I would love to get one in the Seaboard scheme. I'll send you an instagram video on the lionchief to show you more.
I’ve been thinking of adding a lionchief to the collection so that I can enjoy some of the benefits of newer equipment without any changes to the layout or power system. The NW2 is just such a classic Lionel piece. I had to have the 623, it’s just one of those engines that says postwar classic to me.
All great looking models but the postwar 622/623 series just feel right, good quality and easy to work on, the 600 just shows how they made the models cheaper, nice video with some tinkering, hope the long covid has gone
I agree, the postwar 623 is just made well with quality materials, these cheaper versions just don’t measure up. Unfortunately the long Covid is still hanging on, but I’m getting a little better every day. Thanks.
Like your 600, mine was equally loosy-goosy 😂 She's a fine runner now that everything is re-staked. I enjoyed this video, I'll have to find myself some more switchers.
Thanks Tom. I’ve found it very interesting to take various generations of an engine and see how they compare. For instance, I absolutely love my postwar 681 turbine, but the MPC 6200 just performs so much better!
Enjoyable and informative video, Dave. I enjoy listening and watching as you go about repairing your locomotives. I hope you'll be feeling better soon. Bill B.
Dave, seems not too long ago you were freezing in the train house! Nice engines, especially the 623. I have a 6220, with the bell and it still works. Check the Williams engine's gears frequently. I have an Alco PA that had a gear pop off.
That’s the joy of New Jersey - frigid winter and suffocating summer, the best of both worlds 🙄 Good to know about the gears, I’ll check them out and add that to the maintenance schedule 👍
Another great video Dave...thanks. I have a yellow US Navy NW2 switcher engine from the early 90's. The front lights are red but not individually lit, therefore not too bright. They are big...but I enjoy them. The more lights the better.
Thanks. Yeah the red lights broke off the front of my 8770. I think I would like them much better if they were painted. I may give that a try. Time will tell!
Fun video again Dave, and some good stuff you've got there! I checked the Williams by Bachmann 2012 catalog I've kept for reference and your Jersey Central NW2's in there, suggested retail (which I never saw any Williams engine go for at the time) was $299.95. The "long-long-short-long" horn sequence is typical of a Williams diesel from that time. Those lamps on either side of the headlight were called "classification lamps" and as a rule switchers didn't have them. MAYBE if a switcher was going for a run on the main line it MIGHT have classification lamps hung on it depending on what it was doing, but around the yard, no. I suspect Lionel put the lamps on just to make it look cool and Williams followed suit. Claasification lamps aren't used anymore, most railroads removed them from the diesels that still had them and plated over the gaps. A Jersey Central NW2's a good one to have if you're a Jersey guy, most go into collections and never see the light of day for years. I've never seen one! I'm not a big diesel fan but I grabbed a Williams JC GP9 I saw at a show just because they don't make 'em anymore! And at $145 it was a deal!
Thanks Wayne! 2012, wow so it’s one of my newest engines! I paid about $50 for it so I think I got a good deal! It came from a collection with a lot of jersey central pieces. This one just spoke to me. Makes sense about the classification lamps. I guess with them add, they could claim an additional feature. “Now with more lights!” Probably a marketing guy recommended adding them. Haha.
@@dagryffynhobby Oh YEAH you got a good deal on that NW2! For $50 I wouldn't pass it up either! It would get a good home along with my other JC engines. For what it's worth it wasn't too long after 2012 that Bachmann gutted the Wiliiams product line, it's just a pale shadow of what it was. What a shame.
On your red NW2 600 the black piece is a bearing housing number 600-109. How much does the armature move up and down? I have a post war Alco 200 A with a very similar truck and it shows a ball bearing inside the bearing housing, you may need at least 1. Mine required 2 to keep the armature tight to the brush plate without interference.
I would like to see more santafe locomotives products that are made at affordable prices Lionel is hung up on union pacific passenger trains and freight trains I haven't seen much of pacific or santafe I'm particularly fond of santafe
In line with my earlier comment on classification lights, switchers rarely would have them because they were swirchers. Thus not in scheduled freight servuce. If they would be in such service I am certain there would have been brackets to hang markers with white (clear), green (G), or red (R) indications. My own view: leave them alone!
Interesting! Thanks! It’s the kind of thing I think about changing but never do. My one engine has lights that are broken off, so one day I will fix that up and maybe fill the holes.
Switchers generally didn't need marker lamps because they didn't lead TRAINS. Here's a real AT&SF NW2 without markers. www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/need-nw2-pics-please.30189/ And here's a UP NW2 WITH markers. www.rr-fallenflags.org/up/up1002.jpg
Those clear lights represented class lights. Since switch engines typically did not leave the yard, they didn't use class lights. The MP15 was considered the first switch engine that could be used on the main outside of the yard.
Yeah the classification lamps are kinda out of place. I have seen pictures of switchers like the nw2s with classification lights but I believe there weren’t many.
Such smooth operation. I could watch them run for hours. You're amassing quite a collection. Great stuff!
Thanks! I’m looking forward to running the jersey central on a newer transformer, it should go nice and slow and steady then.
The NW2 switcher is one of my favorite engines that Lionel produced, so really loved this video. I have the 623, 624, and 6250. They are small and powerful for their size because of the magne-traction. They run through my 022 switches flawlessly and O-27 cars look great behind them. My 624 C&O has a wobble too. lol. You and I are primarily conventional runners (for now), but I want to recommend a Lionel switcher worth checking out. It's the blue tooth Lionchief plus NW2 they made a few years back. It's a highly detailed version of this classic Lionel model. Just apply 18 volts of power to the track and the hand held controller will do the rest. No mods, no fancy upgrades are needed. It allows us dinosaurs to keep our conventional setup, while still reaping the benefits of modern tech. Your Williams switcher had some nice crawler speed shots in your video, but that Lionchief will blow that away with its speed control. The only problem with buying one of these engines is that they don't make them anymore and are so hard to find. I wish they would reissue them again with new road names. I would love to get one in the Seaboard scheme. I'll send you an instagram video on the lionchief to show you more.
I’ve been thinking of adding a lionchief to the collection so that I can enjoy some of the benefits of newer equipment without any changes to the layout or power system.
The NW2 is just such a classic Lionel piece. I had to have the 623, it’s just one of those engines that says postwar classic to me.
Om trying to find out when menards might go into full protection on their santafe f locomotives
All great looking models but the postwar 622/623 series just feel right, good quality and easy to work on, the 600 just shows how they made the models cheaper, nice video with some tinkering, hope the long covid has gone
I agree, the postwar 623 is just made well with quality materials, these cheaper versions just don’t measure up.
Unfortunately the long Covid is still hanging on, but I’m getting a little better every day. Thanks.
Always liked these engines. Only one I currently have is the 624 C&O. Would like to get a 622 Santa Fe at some point to go with my 2353 F3s.
Definitely get a 622/6220 or 623 - fantastic engines and they look great.
I love the video a specially your uncle 's 8770 I have one. My father worked at EMD AND RETIRED FROM THE COMPANY Jionet Illinois.
Thanks! It’s a good one. That’s cool that your father worked for EMD.
Like your 600, mine was equally loosy-goosy 😂 She's a fine runner now that everything is re-staked. I enjoyed this video, I'll have to find myself some more switchers.
Haha, yeah those motors! I really need to re-stake this one and make sure the ball bearing is in there
It was seeing your NW2's on display, Dave. The models cover quite a number eras of production. Thanks for putting in action.
Thanks Tom. I’ve found it very interesting to take various generations of an engine and see how they compare. For instance, I absolutely love my postwar 681 turbine, but the MPC 6200 just performs so much better!
Enjoyable and informative video, Dave. I enjoy listening and watching as you go about repairing your locomotives. I hope you'll be feeling better soon. Bill B.
Thanks Bill! I’m feeling a little better every day.
@@dagryffynhobbyGood, Dave.
Dave, seems not too long ago you were freezing in the train house!
Nice engines, especially the 623. I have a 6220, with the bell and it still works. Check the Williams engine's gears frequently. I have an Alco PA that had a gear pop off.
That’s the joy of New Jersey - frigid winter and suffocating summer, the best of both worlds 🙄
Good to know about the gears, I’ll check them out and add that to the maintenance schedule 👍
@@dagryffynhobby I'm in southern Connecticut, same weather patterns.
Another great video Dave...thanks.
I have a yellow US Navy NW2 switcher engine from the early 90's. The front lights are red but not individually lit, therefore not too bright. They are big...but I enjoy them. The more lights the better.
Thanks. Yeah the red lights broke off the front of my 8770. I think I would like them much better if they were painted. I may give that a try. Time will tell!
Another Oscar worthy performance Dave! Neat engine as well.
Thank you! All my years in Hollywood are finally paying off! 😂
@@dagryffynhobby At least you know that if this whole toy train thing doesn't work out you can fall back on a career of making movies.
Another tidbit: the 1949-50 version of the NW2 was the first Lionel engine with magna traction
I did not know that! That’s cool 👍
Dave to color your lights try using sharpies, it is what I use on some of my ho diesels.👍👌😎
Great idea! I’ll give it a try. 👍
Awesome video Dave! Nice locomotive!
Thanks! It runs really nice and will probably run even better once I get my lazy butt to clean the track!
Fun video again Dave, and some good stuff you've got there!
I checked the Williams by Bachmann 2012 catalog I've kept for reference and your Jersey Central NW2's in there, suggested retail (which I never saw any Williams engine go for at the time) was $299.95. The "long-long-short-long" horn sequence is typical of a Williams diesel from that time.
Those lamps on either side of the headlight were called "classification lamps" and as a rule switchers didn't have them. MAYBE if a switcher was going for a run on the main line it MIGHT have classification lamps hung on it depending on what it was doing, but around the yard, no. I suspect Lionel put the lamps on just to make it look cool and Williams followed suit. Claasification lamps aren't used anymore, most railroads removed them from the diesels that still had them and plated over the gaps.
A Jersey Central NW2's a good one to have if you're a Jersey guy, most go into collections and never see the light of day for years. I've never seen one! I'm not a big diesel fan but I grabbed a Williams JC GP9 I saw at a show just because they don't make 'em anymore! And at $145 it was a deal!
Thanks Wayne! 2012, wow so it’s one of my newest engines! I paid about $50 for it so I think I got a good deal!
It came from a collection with a lot of jersey central pieces. This one just spoke to me.
Makes sense about the classification lamps. I guess with them add, they could claim an additional feature. “Now with more lights!” Probably a marketing guy recommended adding them. Haha.
@@dagryffynhobby Oh YEAH you got a good deal on that NW2! For $50 I wouldn't pass it up either! It would get a good home along with my other JC engines.
For what it's worth it wasn't too long after 2012 that Bachmann gutted the Wiliiams product line, it's just a pale shadow of what it was. What a shame.
You have a lot of nice trains . Have you ever thought of putting display cases on your walls ?
Thank you! I would love some shelves, probably not over the layout, but on the other side of the room. I need them, badly. Hopefully soon. Hopefully.
On the 600, restake the through tabs of the motor sides.
Will need to make tool to hammer stake tabs behind wheels.
R
Yup. Haven’t felt up to the task. One of these days I’ll tackle that one.
On your red NW2 600 the black piece is a bearing housing number 600-109. How much does the armature move up and down? I have a post war Alco 200 A with a very similar truck and it shows a ball bearing inside the bearing housing, you may need at least 1. Mine required 2 to keep the armature tight to the brush plate without interference.
The armature moves a lot when the plate isn’t shimmed. I need to buy some ball bearings, I think I have a few engines that need them.
Dave, What is that black underlayment your using under your track. It seems to dampen the noise quite a bit.
It’s Track Bed by Woodland scenics. It’s very easy to work with.
Well I hope this reaches in time but I would 3D print yourself some lighted number boards to sleeve and fit right over top of them
That’s a cool idea!
@@dagryffynhobby ruclips.net/user/shortsi9AEHIFxpIM?si=Kgb3YTySPo1aorUR
ruclips.net/user/shortsi9AEHIFxpIM?si=Kgb3YTySPo1aorUR
How is the Menards track working out and what switches are you using? Thanks for another great vid.
The Menards track is fine considering the price. I’m not using any switches, but any 0-31 sized switch should work fine
I would like to see more santafe locomotives products that are made at affordable prices Lionel is hung up on union pacific passenger trains and freight trains I haven't seen much of pacific or santafe I'm particularly fond of santafe
That’s a good point. I don’t know about Lionel, but Menards just released a new version of their Santa Fe f unit
In line with my earlier comment on classification lights, switchers rarely would have them because they were swirchers. Thus not in scheduled freight servuce. If they would be in such service I am certain there would have been brackets to hang markers with white (clear), green (G), or red (R) indications. My own view: leave them alone!
Interesting! Thanks! It’s the kind of thing I think about changing but never do. My one engine has lights that are broken off, so one day I will fix that up and maybe fill the holes.
Switchers generally didn't need marker lamps because they didn't lead TRAINS. Here's a real AT&SF NW2 without markers. www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/need-nw2-pics-please.30189/ And here's a UP NW2 WITH markers. www.rr-fallenflags.org/up/up1002.jpg
Great examples, thanks John. I think I prefer the look without marker lights.
@@dagryffynhobby Eastern roads tended not to have the marker lamps.