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A stalwart in Lionel catalogs since 1946, PennsylvaniaÕs S2 Turbine was as much a celebrity as a one-off, ultimately failed, experimental locomotive could hope to be. The real Pennsylvania 6200 employed a 6900 HP Westinghouse turbine in place of reciprocating pistons. This greatly simplified valve gear and improved balance while providing more than ample power for the passenger trains it was designed to pull.
Unfortunately, as experiments often are, the locomotive had its flaws. High fuel and maintenance costs, along with a size that limited its range to the west end of the railroad, quickly curtailed the "Big Swoosh's" potential as improvements in competing diesels showed the writing on the wall. By the time Lionel added the first models to our catalog, 6200 was just two years old. At the time, the locomotive still represented the latest and potential future in steam power. What's more, that simplified valve gear must have looked great to the model design and production teams!
As Lionel and America returned to peaceful postwar business, the 671 and 2020 Turbines landed high on thousands of Christmas wish lists. It was the start of a golden era for our company and country, and a moment worth celebrating again on our 125th anniversary.
In addition to two prototypical variations and one based on Baldwin's own builderÕs photo, we've also added two fantasy PRR paint schemes, one inspired by the C&O's experimental turbine, and one from the Southern Pacific that never existedÑbut we just think it would have looked amazing if it had! So, no matter what gets you feeling nostalgic again, we've got the Turbine to stir your imagination.
- SKU LNL 2531510