The Lionel Minneapolis & St. Louis FA No. 216 was available in 1963 as an uncataloged engine. It has a GRAY body that was painted RED with a WHITE stripe. It came with a light, but did not have a horn. A three position directional unit whose control lever was adjustable from the top of the body controled the direction of this diesel. A single vertical worm drive Type IIIA motor powers two axles. The lettering was heat-stamped on these units and the sheet metal chassis is known to come with both an operating and solid non-operating coupler on the front. There are no variations.

All of the Lionel Alco FA units are designed to work on the tighter radius of O27 gauge track, but they will run equally well on O gauge track.