Production:  1956 & 1957

History
Lionel's 628 Northern Pacific diesel switcher is a model of General Electric's Center Cab Switcher. Produced in the 1950s, GE's Center Cab Switcher was the largest locomotive requiring only a single operator. With a nickname of 44-tonner, it was one ton shy of the limit for diesels to be operated by a single operator. Although Lionel's model is significantly longer in proportion when compared to the actual locomotive, it remains a nice representation of its real-life counterpart.

Features
Standard features of the 628 Northern Pacific center cab switcher include: black unpainted shell with yellow lettering and a single yellow stripe on the base of the cab, single-axle Magnetraction, die-cast trucks, metal end-railings, three-position E-unit, dual operating couplers plus an ornamental horn and bell. The 628 does not contain a functional horn but does have an illuminated headlight at one end.

Additional Detail, Photos & Box Information
The length of the 628 is approximately 12 1/2" long (coupler to coupler).

Only Known Variation - All 628's are unpainted black with yellow lettering.