The Lionel Prairie Type 2-6-2-Locomotive No. 2026 was issued on two different occasions by Lionel. This accounts for the two major variations of this locomotive. We’ve listed all of these variations below. This engine has a boiler whose casting was derived from the No. 1666 and altered by adding a feed water heater box on the pilot and extending the sand dome. First issued in 1948 and 1949, this locomotive would be a Prairie Type with a 2-6-2 wheel arrangement. It came with sliding shoe center rail pickups, a smoke unit, and a three position directional unit whose control lever protrudes from the top of the boiler right in front of the cab. It was equipped with a eccentric crank driving rods and has steel rimmed driving wheels. The tender was the No. 6466WX that had handrails on the deck, staple-end trucks with one electronic coupler.The second major change was issued during the Korean War between 1951 and 1953. For this version Lionel would change the trailing truck into a four wheeled sheet metal version that would alter the type of locomotive to a 2-6-4 Adriatic. Other changes resulted in the removal of the eccentric crank and the steel rims on the driving wheels. It came with roller center rail pickups and either a No. 6466W, No. 6466T, or a No. 6066T tender that had bar-end trucks with one magnetic coupler. Neither of these major changes to this locomotive have Magnetraction. There are three variations.Variation A: 1948 and 1949 production as indicated above.Variation B: 1951 to 1953 production as indicated above with SILVER rubber-stamped number on the cab. 1951 and 1952 production.Variation C: Same as Variation B except with SILVER heat-stamped number on the cab. 1953 production. This locomotive was sold in 027 Gauge sets, but it will work equally well on the wider radius of O Gauge track. This could make a great addition to your collection railroad layout or gift for a friend
