The Lionel Jersey Central Fairbanks-Morse Trainmaster No. 2341 would only be available in 1956. The body was BLUE plastic that was painted ORANGE with WHITE heat-stamped lettering "JERSEY CENTRAL LINES." There is a difference in the spacing between "JERSEY" and "CENTRAL" on each side. In some cases the "J" in "JERSEY" is heavily cut into the plastic by the heat stamp. So much so that it is visible to the naked eye. These differences distinguish an original production from one that is forged. The fakes use silk screen lettering and not the heat-stamp that was used on the original.
This diesel was equipped with Magnetraction, interior lights at both ends, dual vertical worm drive motors, horn, three position directional unit that is adjustable from the bottom, and operating disc couplers at both ends. Note the flanges on the wheels on the inner axles are missing. This is so that this engine could negotiate the tight radius of Lionel’s O Gauge track. This engine will not operate on O27 Gauge track.
Like all of the other Fairbanks Morse diesels collectors should look for cracks around the screw holes on the body ends. There are two variations:
Variation A: Has a high gloss ORANGE painted body. Collectors should be aware that a high gloss finish using paste wax has sometimes been applied to the B Variation to achieve this rarer version.
Variation B: Has a DULL ORANGE painted body.
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