The Lionel Adriatic Type 2-6-4-Locomotive No. 2036 initiated a new boiler design by Lionel in 1950. This boiler casting would be used througout the Post War Period until 1969. This locomotive is painted BLACK with a SILVER rubber-stamped cab number, does not have hand rails and shares the same boiler with the No. 2016, 2018, 2026 (1951), 2029, 2037, 2037-500 and 637. Equipped with drive and connecting rods only, this engine has Magnetraction and a three position directional unit whose control lever protrudes through the top of the boiler right in front of the cab, sheet-metal trailing truck, headlight with lens and spoked driving wheels. It did not have a smoke unit, and is usually found with a No. 6466W early coal tender that is lacking the deck hand rails and came with bar-end trucks with one magnetic coupler. There are no variations.

This locomotive was designed to work on 027 Gauge track, but it will work equally well on the wider radius of O Gauge track.