SWEET!   what engine is pulling the train - 2037?

Thanks, Christopher.  The engine is a 1952 2026 which was part of the Lionel train set my Dad bought me for Christmas.  I still have the engine, and with some repairs and cleaning over the years, she still sees action today.

Here is my 2026 in action today.  Only the white Baby Ruth boxcar is also from the original set.

That's a cool little layout!!  Nice track plan - lots of options in a small space.   What size is it & what did you use for the grass?

That really is a neat track plan.  And man, those postwar engines keep rolling.  I've got an early 2026, and a 2046 and 675.  And they are my most reliable engines.

Thanks again, Christopher and Locopops.  The entire board is 72" by 40" and all curves are Lionel's 27 inch diameter.  The grass, gravel etc. is just about all Woodland Scenics and is permanent.  Most of the the trees and most of the buildings, towers, people etc. are not fastened to the board so that I have liberty to rearrange things when desired.            

OK, let me take the nostalgia a few years further back.  Christmas, 1948: 2026 pulling 2 Dome Sunoco Tank Car (6465), NYC Boxcar (6454) and SP Caboose (6357) with yours truly at the controls.  All are still running well on my layout.

I WAS 25 OR 26 WHEN DAD GOT THIS FOR ME I WAS SURPISED THINK IGOT IT 1976 OR 1977

Here's a nostalgic photo for you...

now that is pretty cool!

Very nice, Coaldust!  My own first locomotive was a 2026, in 1951.  And interestingly, my second one was the #41 US Army switcher that followed in 1957.  Both are in perfect condition, and still running happily.

And I also see a pair of Marx manual switches.  My father bought a pair of those in 1952, for our Christmas layout.  Two Lionel remote switches came next, a year later.

Just to round out the coincidences, that seems to be a couple of Marx papier-mache tunnels on opposite sides of the loop.  I just bought one of those for my own layout at a train show last fall.

I hope you've gotten as much pleasure out of your vintage equipment as I have over the years.  Thanks for the photo.

Your photos take me back to the good old days, by cracky! Especially Marty E. Why, I remember when you had to get Flickr or Photobucket to post photos. And when somebody mentioned l****p, the Webmaster blew a gasket.

Good times, good times .  .  .

This photo would be a lot more nostalgic if it showed a shower of sparks and smoke coming out of the plug in the wall socket.

Earl

I always like posts like these.  I'm a kid from the 1990's myself, but I do have memories of my first Lionel set.  Got it when I was about 3 years old from my dad (a NYC Flyer 4-4-2 set).  It's survived for the last 14 years and looks good (I did have to repaint it after a touch up mistake... oops).  I also have my grandpa's Lionel stuff from 1953-54 now.  Those trains are the reason I got my set.  I wasn't allowed to play with the old ones, because they were well... old.  My dad brought home a brand new set for me after work one day and I think that is one of the reasons I have the train addiction .  I've got some pictures from that day somewhere.  Not sure my dad would want me posting his picture on the internet though, so I won't post them.  Still fun to look at every now and then.

That made me laugh...

It seems like just a few short days ago, too!

Christmas 1951 (I think), 3 months before my 4th birthday.  Can you believe that Santa gave me a ZW?