I have always wondered why Lionel, with all their otherwise attention to detail, never put door closer springs on their top of the line state and Blue Comet passenger cars. A small but frustrating omission!
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And yet, they DID include them on the lower priced larger of their 300 series standard gauge passenger cars! Go figure.
Those swinging doors are a PITA, unless you implement a creative solution!
It is something that has always been a pet peeve of mine. It does not seem logical as a cost cutting measure on those already super detailed cars.
Your take on the issue? THANKS! :-)
FYI: When the repro Lionel Classics or MTH Tinplate Traditions state and BC passenger cars were shipped, they had a one half inch styrofoam wedge in each vestible keeping the doors from swinging. By pulling this wedge closer to the top of the vestibule above the door windows, and where it could not be seen, it would still keep the doors shut. Thus my "creative" solution to Lionel's oversight! :-)
NOTE: Being subclinically OCD, I just cannot abide by swinging doors! LOL!
You should be thankful it's not like the MTH springed doors that once pushed open would not close properly due to alignment problems. Ran into that issue with their last batch of smooth sided passenger cars and E8's. The E8's were the worst. I had to find some clever means of using everything from chop sticks to metal clothes hangers to get the doors completely shut.
@Tinplate Art posted:NOTE: Being subclinically OCD, I just cannot abide by swinging doors! LOL!
Are the doors stamped steel too?……..the popular auction sites sell tiny magnets by the bushel, place a magnet in an inconspicuous place, ….problem solved….OCD’s intact….
Pat
Pat: Great suggestion! THANKS!
@A. Wells posted:You should be thankful it's not like the MTH springed doors that once pushed open would not close properly due to alignment problems. Ran into that issue with their last batch of smooth sided passenger cars and E8's. The E8's were the worst. I had to find some clever means of using everything from chop sticks to metal clothes hangers to get the doors completely shut.
Take shell off, close doors, apply glue. 
ALL good ideas, but I do not like glue, have no magnets, and so will stick with the time-tested styrofoam wedges. :-)
Interestingly, MTH chose not to add springs to the doors on their repro state and BC cars, although seemingly that would have been an easy modification given that the template existed for the repro larger 300 series car doors.
@Tinplate Art posted:ALL good ideas, but I do not like glue, have no magnets, and so will stick with the time-tested styrofoam wedges. :-)
Magnets are like dirt cheap….heck, hobby and craft stores keep them on the shelves,……to be sure they’d be a lot more reliable than a styrofoam wedge …..and nowhere’s near as unsightly…….no need to make mountains out of mole hills…..open door, insert magnet, close door, job done….
Pat
Pat: I covid-hibernate since my wife is a liver transplant patient, but my daughter can check at a craft store for me. I do like your magnet idea! THANKS! :-)
Pat: BTW, my Nashville TCA friend is happy about his 576.
@Tinplate Art posted:Pat: BTW, my Nashville TCA friend is happy about his 576.
Oh, good ol Bob?….he’s a pleasure to work for, …..good guy!….I’m not too far from being in full mock up, …..then he’ll be out of the woods….
Pat
Bob is VERY happy with the project, and I know his engine is in good hands, as is the real 576! :-)
