The Lionel Alaska Railroad NW-2 Switcher No. 614 headed up the Alaska Railroad Set No. 1611 in 1959 and was available for one additional year as a separate sale item. Those units that were sold separately have a rubber stamped "X" printed on the box end as is illustrated above.

This engine used a painted BLUE NW-2 body with YELLOW heat-stamped lettering and railroad herald mounted on a sheet metal chassis that has solid non-operating couples. Only the rear cab end coupler was self-centering.

It came with a YELLOW dynamic brake unit on top of this body. A two position directional unit whose control lever was adjustable from the top powers a Type IIG motor with one axle Magnetraction. It came with a front headlight, but there is no horn either ornamental or otherwise. Used Instruction Sheet No. 614-6 dated 8-59.

The NW-2 switcher body mold was modified by creating a slot on the top of the diesel for the 2-position directional control lever. This lever is evident in the top view pictured below. All subsequent issues of these switchers would have this modification visible even if it was later filled in on these subsequent versions.

There are two variations:

Variation A: Body does not have a YELLOW painted out line around the "BUILT BY / LIONEL" on the sides near the front of the diesel.

Variation B: Body has the YELLOW painted out line around the "BUILT BY / LIONEL" on the sides near the front of the diesel. See the close-up picture to the right. This is a difficult variation to find.

Lionel issued this diesel for use on O27 Gauge track, but it will operate equally well on the larger radius curves of O Gauge track.