Had a really nice afternoon earlier this week! One of my friends told me a while back that he had some Lionel trains from his dad and grandfather, dating back to the late '40s and early '50s. I offered, at his convenience, to tune them up, since he mentioned that they had been in storage for the last 30 years...he told me that he'd take me up on that offer. That was six years ago.
Fast forward to last week...he gave me a call and asked me if my offer was still in effect. He has a ten year old son that, in his words, was "nuts about all things trains". They had taken the trains out of storage and set up a "Carpet Central" layout...the trains were running, but not well. We arranged to get together last Tuesday...both to overhaul the trains and to run trains on my layout.
They arrived early Tuesday afternoon, and we adjourned to my layout (which is in one-half of a two car garage). The enthusiasm and wonder on the face of my friend and his son on seeing the layout for the first time was priceless! We spent about 90 minutes running trains and operating accessories...then we began the overhaul. We set up on my kitchen table, with one on either side, and a copy of Greenberg's repair guide in front, and began working through their engines...
Their 622 Santa Fe NW-2 switcher (with bell mechanism intact) got a complete overhaul (motor disassembly and cleaning (also found that the screw holding the motor to the truck had loosened, an easy fix for the backup problem it had); lubrication and greasing; e-unit checkup; bell mechanism cleanup; and a thorough frame and body cleanup). When we took it back out to the layout and tested it, it ran like an antelope, with lights burning bright and bell ringing clearly, my friends were amazed at the difference. (truthfully, I had "lucked out"...normally at least one thing goes wrong in a complete tear down and repair).
They also had a pair of 2333 late '40s NYC F3s...the ones with the wire screens and the horizontal motors...beautiful engines! We lubricated the motor trucks, hit the e-unit with a through dose of electronics cleaner, and (after much struggle) got the horn working (looked in my Dr. Tinker books to figure that one out). I was also able to replace the porthole windows in the units (surprised my friend...appparently they had been "windowless" in the early '70s). Ran like a champ (2 for 2).
We finished up by running my postwar "military train"...my young friend fired missiles, satellites and helicopters to his heart's content. They left around dinnertime...planning expansion to the Carpet Central as they left. A great afternoon for all concerned!
A Merry Christmas to all! John
