Lionel 629 Vintage O Burlington Powered GE 44-Ton Diesel Switcher

Here is a Lionel Burlington GE 44-Ton Switcher. This switcher features die-cast trucks, metal wheels, headlights. A little history about the 44-tonners by Lionel (information gathered from Greenberg’s guide). Lionel offered three cataloged and one uncataloged O-27 gauge models of this General Electric center-cab diesel in 1956. GE developed what became known as the diminutive 44-tonner in response to a labor agreement in 1937 that mandated the presence of a fireman on any locomotive weighing at least 90,000 pounds. The 44-tonner fell just below that threshold.

Approximately 350 of these switchers were produced between 1940 and 1956 and sold to railroads throughout the United States.

Somewhat ironically, Lionel’s nos. 626 Baltimore & Ohio (uncataloged), 627 Lehigh Valley, 628 Northern Pacific, and 629 Burlington made their debut in 1956, which was the final year that General Electric manufactured its 44-tonner.

These four mid-sized engines joined two other models of GE locomotives – the no. 520 80-ton boxcab electric and the no. 2350 EP-5 – also introduced by Lionel in 1956.

The Lionel 44-tonner is a parts-bin creation, sharing many components with the early and later versions of Lionel’s NW2 switchers. It’s grossly oversized – in reality, the 44-tonner should be dimensionally closer to the no. 50 gang car or the no. 41 Army switcher and its kin. It has a sheet-metal frame, single vertical motor, and Magne-Traction on one axle.

The mechanical reverse unit barely fits into the cab of the locomotive, and its lever pokes downward through the frame. All models except the no. 625 use operating couplers at both ends, and all but the no. 627 have an operating headlight. None has an operating horn.

Lionel boasted in its consumer catalog that the 44-tonners were equipped with Magne-Traction plus “the same unique ‘steeple cab’ as the GE prototype” with “complete and accurate” body details.

Lionel carried over the all-red Lehigh Valley and black-and-yellow Northern Pacific into 1957. Perhaps they represented unsold inventory. The unpainted blue Baltimore & Ohio was now shown with them in the consumer catalog as separate-sale-only items.

This item has been graded per TCA standards C-5: Good based on visual appearance. There are light nicks and scratches on this item. The paint has faded. The overall appearance of this item may be improved with a gentle and thorough cleaning. The original box is not included. Overall condition is Good.

Condition: Good (C-5)
Operational Status: Functional
Original Box: No

Manufacturer: Lionel
Model Number: 629
Years Manufactured: 1956 – 1956
Road Name: Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CBQ)

Scale/Era: O Postwar
Model Type: Diesel Loco

The Trainz SKU for this item is 5766312.

Trainz Product Id: 11401307