just curious, I have an
8633 4-4-2 Steam Engine that came with the Seaboard Freight set from 1994.

I know most of the Diesels are copies of real engines but I can't identify the Steam engines. Were Lionel steam engines just generalizations and not a copy of a real engine ?

The founder Joshua Lionel Cowen took great pride in his steam locos. I have read that they were always his favorites. Lots of details were always molded in. Many of them have resemblances to New York Central equipment, especially. But for the most part, especially with the 4-4-2 and 2-4-2, they're pretty generic. Just my .02. That's a nice running engine you have there though, right?