The Lionel United States Marine Corps FA A Unit No. 212 would head up one of the Marine Corps sets issued in 1958 and 1959. The BLUE body was sometimes painted BLUE with WHITE stripes and lettering that were heat-stamped on these units. The front coupler pocket was filled in and the rear coupler was solid and non-operational. This engine used a Type IID motor, single axle Magnetraction, and was equipped with a two position directional unit whose control lever was adjustable from the top of the body. The engine was lighted, and had a sheet metal frame. There are no variations.

There is a rare dummy vesion No. 212T that was issued uncatalogued in Set No. X646 in 1958 and 1959. This diesel came in a corregated box numbered "212T," it was also numbered "212" on the sides, and has both front and rear non-operating couplers. Verification of authenticity is by the fact that the box must be included.

This engine was issued in sets that included O27 track, but it will run equally well on O gauge track.