Topics

1

General Discussion / Show me a video of your old Lionel toy train layout

« on: May 06, 2023, 05:10:16 AM »

I play O gauge toy trains every morning. Use to be a hobby but today it's therapy to face these times of stress. I'd like to see your layout. Please post a video for all us old trains lovers. Manufacturers make no difference.

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General Discussion / Restoring some old prewar Lionel big O gauge

« on: May 05, 2023, 04:37:57 AM »

I have gotten interested in prewar Lionel because Jim sold me one of his Lionel 226E's. However, I don't have the cars that go with it. I've been finding them and 99% are very rough. Plus, missing parts. Here is a video of some of the work I've been doing.

3

General Discussion / My second Lionel 226E and cars

« on: April 24, 2023, 05:28:44 AM »

I just completed repairing/restoring a Lionel prewar 226E. Jim sent me some cars for it that needed attention. Here is a video of how far I've gotten with this project. Prewar Lionel are allot of fun. Parts are getting hard to find but most are available.

4

General Discussion / Terry’s unboxing video

« on: April 19, 2023, 05:35:38 AM »

Hello Terry. Just saw your unboxing video. Great job on the video and great buy on the auction you won. I wish I knew more about prewar Lionel. Jim has me hooked on prewar 226E’s. I now have two and they are super runner’s. I really enjoy them.

I thought I got a great buy when I won a 226E for a little over two bucks. It needed a steam chest. Once I got the 226E is was a real mess. Not well described. Had more problems than I thought or I would have never bid on it. My 200 dollar 226E ended up costing me $ 514.27. For that much I could have bought one with boxes. I went into all this to say the seller did a very bad job packing the 226E. The package was protected very well around the outside but the engine & tender were right beside one another. Just a piece of cardboard separated them. USPS played football with the package. When I got it the tender shell was cracked very badly.

Anyway -  liked your video on youtube with the auction you won.

Jack

5

General Discussion / Different Lionel 603 prewar passenger cars

« on: February 10, 2023, 05:13:46 AM »

I've been looking for some prewar Lionel 603 passenger cars with lights to add to my 248 orange & yellow consists. Bought these cheap. was going to repaint them. My friend Jim said don't!!!!

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General Discussion / need another way to couple a Lionel prewar 226E

« on: December 22, 2022, 10:42:59 AM »

Does anyone have a coupler that will mate a prewar box coupler with a postwar knuckle coupler?

I want to pull postwar freight cars with my new 226E which has a very high box coupler?

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General Discussion / Lionel Prewar 226E

« on: December 21, 2022, 10:45:32 AM »

I finally got a Lionel 226E. I had one in the 1980’s but sold it. I’ve done allot of stupid things in my life. I was able to get a super nice one that looks like new from Jim. I love it. It is my favorite Lionel locomotive. I’ve always preferred the 226E to all the other Lionel motive power. I like them better than the Hudson. That’s just me. Picture to follow later today.

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General Discussion / Prewar 248 box cab.

« on: December 16, 2022, 12:20:30 AM »

I bought another prewar locomotive. A prewar 248. Got it from Jim. He has great stuff. The packing he does is so good there is almost noway it could get damaged in shipping. He is so good at it.

I got the 248 yesterday. One wheel is kaput. Both idler gears are kaput. I knew one wheel was bad. So I had already ordered a wheel set for Bill Harrison at S&W parts supply. Bill has everything. My wheel puller is very poor and I really struggle getting the old wheels off. Was not sure I could get it done. Had to modify the puller a smidgen. However, I did get them off. I saw a much better wheel puller on EBay so I ordered it.

I’m currently taking the 248 apart. Taking pictures as I go s I can get it back together. I’m really impressed with the quality that these old Lionel motors have.

I got another locomotive because I only have the 259E (Which is great) in prewar and I’m enjoying the repairs on prewar. Plus they are great Christmas tree trains. Also enjoying the rolling stock repairs. One locomotive didn’t seem to fill the bill.

9

General Discussion / Did a train under the Christmas tree this year.

« on: November 22, 2022, 03:42:09 PM »

Show what train you have under your Christmas tree This year.

10

General Discussion / Postwar Erie ALCO’s

« on: September 20, 2021, 04:40:25 AM »

I’ve got some Erie postwar 2032 ALCO’s in the mail to me. These are great little runners. Without steel tube track they have allot of trouble pulling as you get allot of wheel slip. The first ALCO’s I’ve ever had where 2033 UP’s. In order to get them to perform as I wanted I had to get another power unit so I could have two powered trucks working. It turned out great. I was thinking of maybe doing another set of ALCO’s and came across a basket case of Erie parts. I searched the internet for another power unit (I forgot, my track is MTH) so I could pull a 10 to 14 car consist. I think I have all to parts coming to make a double power unit set. This time I’ll use one e-unit to control both powered engines. That way they will always be working together? Saw a video on you tube of a guy that did that and it also worked out well.

11

General Discussion / Got an Lionel postwar Erie 2032 on EBay

« on: September 13, 2021, 12:00:28 PM »

I got a Lionel postwar Alco 2033on ebay but it has allot of trouble pulling. The motor has the power but my track on my layout is MTH. MTH track does not work well with Magna-traction. So anything more than 6 or 8 cars the Alco just does wheel spin. I cleaned the wheels & track but it has trouble. So I'll just add another power unit and run it backwards. I'll have two motors working. I bought another power unit (2032) on EBay which arrived today. Much to my surprise when I open the box the battery is still in there from who knows when. I tried to get the battery out intact to see if it was an Everyready 1952 battery. But I had to beat the battery out. Now it's a wire wheel job. I’ll see what happens. It's what I love to do and makes the restoration projects worth bring old Lionel back to life!

12

General Discussion / Not much going on!

« on: July 26, 2021, 07:59:30 AM »

Not a whole lot of action here lately?

13

General Discussion / Home made turntable

« on: July 15, 2021, 05:09:19 AM »

Just saw a guy - milehirail - that made his own turntable. It’s very impressive. I’d like to make that my next project. He used a set of 4 wheel trucks at each end. Then made a table for it with a dc motor and belt that connects to the shaft at the center of the table. If he would detail it would be the best table ever. I don’t believe he’s done with it yet as he is still working on the big layout. H e has a mess of articulated MTH engines and he made the table large enough for them to fit. You guys need to see this. I love his turntable.

Look him up on you tube under - milehirail - The title of the video is - O gauge double headed MTH challenger & big boy  You will like his ability to create this! I want one.

I know it's not prewar or before 1970 but the turntable is nicely done. With detailing it could be super? I'm impressed with it.

14

General Discussion / Next O Gauge train project

« on: June 20, 2021, 04:42:23 AM »

A few weeks ago I got a bunch of Lionel MPC flat cars from Terry. I want to make a Army train with mostly WWII Sherman tanks. I seen these available from MTH and Menards but I've not found any lately? I bought 5 Sherman 1/48 thanks from Horizon Hobby. Got two others from Japan. I already have one. So the project is now getting started. My even add a couple half tracks.

I'm going to try to use chain to hold the tanks to the cars? I think I'm the only one on the forum that does not have an army train. Jim has dozens!

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General Discussion / Modern O Gauge trains with computers

« on: June 19, 2021, 04:57:57 AM »

I live in Florida. In the summer it’s very hot. My trains live in the garage which is not air conditioned. Plus the attic has no insulation over the garage. Needless to say it gets real hot. The Lionel prewar and postwar don’t seem to care but I worry about the electronics in the modern  O gauge engines I have. To put my mind at ease I bring the MTH and Lionel modern engines in the house.

Am I the only person that worries about this. I’ve been in computers sense the late 1960’s and heat was always a problem. Even the desk tops computers didn’t like heat?