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From the Archives of Dave's Trains, Inc.
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646 Steam Engine (1954 - 1958)

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About This Steam Engine

The 646 Steam Engine was introduced by Lionel in 1954 and was sold for five years (through 1958). This item consisted of two separate pieces: a large steamer with a "4-6-4" wheel arrangement and a 2046W streamlined-style, whistling coal tender. The engine was decorated with an ornamental bell, wire handrails, and spoked drivers with a complete set of drive wheel hardware. The engine was produced with a three-window cab and a four-window cab. In addition, the earlier version came with a die-cast trailing truck while the later version came with a sheet-metal trailing truck with plastic side frames. Further variations were created as the "646" cab number came in three different ways: silver rubber-stamped and white (either rubber-stamped or heat-stamped). The 8-wheel tender has a plastic body that was decorated with "LIONEL LINES" in white letters.

Photos of the 646 Steamer & 2046W Tender
Photo of a 646 Steam Engine
ABOVE: The Engine. BELOW: A whistling streamlined Tender.
Photo of a 2046W Tender

Additional Details

The 646 engine came with Magnetraction, smoke and an operating headlight. It is classified as a hybrid-type locomotive as it has a Hudson wheel arrangement yet its boiler is similar to a Berkshire. The 646 is considered to be an "O-Gauge" engine as Lionel sold these items with "O-Gauge" track. Its sister engine -- the 2046 steamer -- was sold with "027" track.

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This page is an information document only; nothing on this web page is being offered for sale. This page and all of the other pages from Our Archives were developed to assist you in understanding differences in variations of engines, rolling stock, cabooses, passenger cars, and accessories sold by Lionel in the postwar era. We have used pictures from our old files and personal collection to construct this area of our website to show the characteristics of collectible variations. If you are interested in buying something, please go to one of our inventory listings to see what we currently have for sale.

This web page was last updated on September 9, 2005. If you have suggestions for improving this page or if you see any errors, please contact us.

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