The 2242 New Haven F3 AB unit of the late 1950s is another set of quality F3 diesels produced by Lionel. Painted in the famous New Haven McGinnis white, orange and black checkboard paint scheme, this diesel remains popular with both collectors and opertors.
The 2242 was always sold as an AB combination. Even with a single motor and Magnetraction, it is a powerful locomotive. The 2242 was available as a separate sale item as well as the lead locomotive of two freight sets: set 2507W in 1958 and set 2537W in 1959. It's interesting to note Lionel catalogued this diesel as a Super-O diesel -- the only time a single-motored F3 was catalogued as a Super-O diesel.