Buy anything cool lately?

Picked this up this week:

Although it's rated at only 2 amps, it'll run any Flyer or Standard Gauge engines I've tried so far.

Mark in Oregon

EDIT: Since this got 6 "likes" (way more than I would have thought), I should probably mention how good this also works with actual DC-powered stuff; that "load compensator" switch is pretty handy. 😁

I picked up some postal vehicles that I'm really excited about. The Dodge Rams were always easy to come by but the only step vans out there were the hard-to-find K-Line models. The K-Line models are often on eBay for $100 now (they were initially $10).  Greenlight finally makes a step van for all your "last mile" deliveries.

I picked up this pile of cr$& from a resident in my community.
The Evans loader, helium car, target launcher, caboose, and gang car are excellent with a few  problems. Need a target, men on gang car. The plow has broken window struts and a loose plow. The 736 is locked up  it’s not out of Qtr, so I’ll be taking that apart. The rocket launcher has broken railings and the launch mechanism appears to have a problem. May be heading for the junk pile in the back. The cherry picker is missing the end. The F3 is real mess, don’t know if the shell will clean up enough to be repainted. It would be a shame since it’s got the screens. Good news is no battery damage. It will be my first endeavor with horizontal driveshafts. There’s a box of parts envelopes and buttons.

Bob sent you an email. Please read before tossing anything

George

George,

Got it, I’ll let you know.

@pennsyfan posted:

I picked up this pile of cr$& from a resident in my community.
The Evans loader, helium car, target launcher, caboose, and gang car are excellent with a few  problems. Need a target, men on gang car. The plow has broken window struts and a loose plow. The 736 is locked up  it’s not out of Qtr, so I’ll be taking that apart. The rocket launcher has broken railings and the launch mechanism appears to have a problem. May be heading for the junk pile in the back. The cherry picker is missing the end. The F3 is real mess, don’t know if the shell will clean up enough to be repainted. It would be a shame since it’s got the screens. Good news is no battery damage. It will be my first endeavor with horizontal driveshafts. There’s a box of parts envelopes and buttons.

WOW! That is rough......

As Bob mentioned that F3 is rough. However, it could be incorporated into an engine repair facility scene. It wouldn’t need to be weathered.

Jay

Picked these up at CVS for $7 each.  They are labeled 1/48 scale which seems correct.  They also ad a red one. Front and rear doors open, sliders do not.  There is a small stack of boxes in the rear.

This is a fun thread.  I found this yesterday morning on Facebook marketplace in my city. A full set of 1957 Lady Lionel girls train. Unfortunately the loco was spray painted mostly black but the rest of the set is original. We have two little girls so they are very happy about the pink train. I posted in another thread about getting the black paint off/ potentially repainting but thought I’d share this find here. It’s particularly a rare find as I’m located in Canada in an area with very limited O gauge so I wish I knew more about the history. Anyways, here it is!

Before thinking about trying to remove the paint you should try to find out if what you have is a dealer repaint. According to the Greenberg guide to Lionel Trains 1945-1969 pp. 60 "Lionel marketing efforts suffered a slight setback in 1957 when the pastel Girl's Set was rejected by both girls and boys. In fact, many engines ended up being repainted black by dealers so they could be sold."

  The problem is - I have no idea how you would go about determining if what you have is a dealer repaint.

Hmm, interesting point Robert.  Maybe I'll see if what info I can find online.

https://ogrforum.com/...5#162898447532646975

Great find! Good for you!

https://ogrforum.com/...2#162757710024095142
That’s a good buy; but too new for me. Although I used a similar one to show my Wife’s cousin’s business.

I got the Lionel 68 Executive Inspection Car on Stout Auctions.  I've been cleaning it up, inside and out.  I replaced the 50s era pin bulbs with warm white and red LEDs, and reduced the light leakage.  I had to replace the windows since they were scratched and the reversing knob on top since the silver was worn off.  Luckily the car body and bumpers were in really good shape.  It was a true 'growler', but a little bit of grease and oil the right places made it hum.  I imagine it's no louder than the DeSoto it was modeled after.

This was a difficult piece to work on, so I'm hoping I don't have to crack it open for awhile.

I'd been curious about this book, found a good deal on Amazon, and just got it an hour ago:

I knew the man had visited my beloved ET&WNC, but I was surprised to find some excellent uncropped photos from my favorite railroad:

I found a new old inventory U33C Conrail American Flyer U33C Lionel Legacy built in 201 2.  Runs great looks great always wanted one.  It is currently pulling a 10 car coal drag. 

@Gerhardt posted:

Hmm, interesting point Robert.  Maybe I'll see if what info I can find online.

I think if it was a dealer re-paint both the engine and tender would have been painted.

@coach joe posted:

I think if it was a dealer re-paint both the engine and tender would have been painted.

Yes, based on what I've looked up online, they would've done a better job of the locomotive as well and redone the 2037 numbering rather than masking around it, leaving the pink / blue lettering.  I think it's a home special.  I'm thankful they didn't do the tender

@Gerhardt - WOW what a find, from a collectors point of view.  I am glad your girls like the set, you know of course that originally when it was new in 1957 it was not popular with either boys or girls.  Its the "Edsel" of Lionel Trains !  Originally almost everything about this set was unusual, even the basic color of the basket weave outfit box.  It came with (besides the trains) 8 curved and 5 straight tracks (0-27). 6029 uncoupling section, and a 1043 - 500 60-Watt white transformer with a white cord, and 4 white canisters for the gondola.

In reviewing the pictures you posted there is no question in my mind that your 2037-500 was originally pink. You can see the pink "shadow" around the numbers under the cab window and some areas of pink up near the pilot and on some of the sharp edges.  The story of Madison Hardware repainting the engines is a common tale and there is no real data as to how many engines that they did that to nor if they did the tenders as well.  In truth since the original tender was a non-whistle tender, it may have been cheaper for Madison to just insert a new black shell rather than go to all the trouble of a repaint.

All of which is really unimportant, especially if those youngsters like the train and want to run it...So let it run and enjoy !!  You are a lucky fellow Gerhardt.

Best wishes

Don

Well guys, I am really excited about this purchase.  I have been wanting some longer passenger cars for my Santa Fe engine and I recently found these KLINE cars.  I can't run the 15" Aluminum cars everyone has as they will not pass the tight clearances on my layout. I had been running the Lionel 0-27 cars but at 10 1/2 " they are a little short.  So I found these KLINE cars, that are closer to scale at 12 1/2 inches and will traverse my layout.  So here is my new passenger consist.

Here is the full consist with my Lionel #212 war bonnet Santa Fe Alco's from 1960-64

Here is a close up of the baggage car and the combine car.

Here is the dome car and the observation

Close up of the dome car

Close up of the observation car, yes those lights on the rear do show through from the interior car illumination.

To illustrate my desire for a bit closer to scale, here is the Lionel 0-27 dome car on the left in comparison with the KLINE dome car on the right.  The Lionel car is 10 1/2 " long and the KLINE car is 12 1/2 " long.  Quite a noticeable difference.

Well best wishes everyone.

Don

Don, if you would like to add any more of those K-Line Santa Fe cars to your consist forum sponsor Trainz has some for sale.

Thanks Joe I will check that out.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Well guys, I am really excited about this purchase.  I have been wanting some longer passenger cars for my Santa Fe engine and I recently found these KLINE cars.  I can't run the 15" Aluminum cars everyone has as they will not pass the tight clearances on my layout. I had been running the Lionel 0-27 cars but at 10 1/2 " they are a little short.  So I found these KLINE cars, that are closer to scale at 12 1/2 inches and will traverse my layout.  So here is my new passenger consist.

To illustrate my desire for a bit closer to scale, here is the Lionel 0-27 dome car on the left in comparison with the KLINE dome car on the right.  The Lionel car is 10 1/2 " long and the KLINE car is 12 1/2 " long.  Quite a noticeable difference.

Well best wishes everyone.

Don

Don- I have several sets of the K-line passenger coaches. They are a nice alternative to Lionel's 027 cars.

Enjoy.

Well the dining room table is still full of the collection I showed the other day as I work through it. I took the Berkshire apart and it turned out that the motor shaft was stuck due to dry grease . I freed that up and disassembled it. I’m currently soaking the drive gear in the engine before I put it back together. In the meantime this showed up yesterday from Black Coffee auctions. I was intrigued by the American flyer talking station. I had worked on an original one for my friend a while back so I Bid on this and also some various scenery objects that you’ll see here. The station will replace the original American flyer station with crane that’s on the Hirail  layout; it’s really too big for that space because I can’t make the crane appear  functional. There is not enough space to make it look good. By replacing it with this station which is a little shorter I’ll have room free for a passenger overhead walkway which I wanted to do along time ago but there was no room. I’m going to add the freight station to the tinplate layout because it’s a keeper. Came from under my friend’s layout when he passed      

@RSJB18- Thanks for your comment.  I agree, they seem to be a good compromise between the short 0-27 cars and the big 15" Aluminum cars.  I didn't know how many liveries they came in, there is not too much data around on KLINE.  I would keep my eye out for Amtrak, NYC, and PRR for example.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

@RSJB18- Thanks for your comment.  I agree, they seem to be a good compromise between the short 0-27 cars and the big 15" Aluminum cars.  I didn't know how many liveries they came in, there is not too much data around on KLINE.  I would keep my eye out for Amtrak, NYC, and PRR for example.

Don

Don- I have three sets as of now- LIRR, Yuengling, and NYC. The Yuengling cars were part of a special run that K-line did for the brewery. There are more freight and passenger cars out there.

The NYC cars are from O-line Reproductions, with the K-line tooling. I bought them from a forum member so I don't know much about O-line.

Bob

Picked up a pair of K-line 027 switches. I'm planning to replace a couple of the Lionel 5122's. The track gang's schedule is pretty packed these days so this may become a winter project.

Bob

@RSJB18- Bob thanks for the input.  Since Yuenglang is a favorite "adult" refreshment, will have to keep a look out for that set!!  Thanks for showing me the NYC as well.

Don

Just when I thought it was safe to open the door; there’s Brown with two boxes from MrMuffin’sTrains.






sorry about the poor pics. 5 of the items are Christmas and I am leaving them boxed for the club Christmas layout.
the other two, I liked the look of the Apple car and the Flag car was a no brainer.

I scored an RMT AristO 1776 GG1 and caboose on Ebay. Been looking for one for a while to pull my Lionel Spirit of 76 boxcar set. The original U36 seems a bit anemic for pulling it and was going to get another to double head them but this will work too!

Jerry

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

I scored an RMT AristO 1776 GG1 and caboose on Ebay. Been looking for one for a while to pull my Lionel Spirit of 76 boxcar set. The original U36 seems a bit anemic for pulling it and was going to get another to double head them but this will work too!

Jerry

Nice score! I installed a cruise commander in mine, the die cast body ensures it will have plenty of traction!

Still haven't picked up the caboose yet.

A new job is a good enough excuse to buy trains right? Train World had a pretty good deal on some of the Lionel heavyweights from a couple years ago. The NKP pack had been on my radar for a while because I work with the real NKP 62. So that and a B&O pack makes a pretty good excursion train for my #4070 or #765.  First order of business is actually going to be a truck swap (which I believe should be possible) since the real 62 has three axle trucks.

Nice pick-up Jerry!

I know to the purist that the PRR never painted their Alco FA & FB in five stripe Tuscan Red.  They weren't Passenger Locos, they did not have steam generators installed.  But I thought these would look nice pulling my K-Line Fleet of Modernism Scheme Cars.  Raymond Lowey would be proud!

The ESE is a Weaver (can't show a Pennsy without a Central).  The Black Widow is K-Line (the only other Diesel I own).

These are Weavers but not the ones constantly for sale.  I am going to start a Topic as I have some questions about these and need some help. - Jim

Great buys everyone!

I made my first visit to the Renningers Flash Train Meet in Kutztown, PA this past Saturday.  Awesome show with a much bigger selection than I was expecting. There’s also several other vendors there for the Farmers Market so lots of foods, crafts, antiques, etc. for everyone. Anyway, I picked up this K-Line PRR boxcar in near excellent condition. I know, nothing special but it’s my first PRR boxcar. I’m definitely keeping these Renningers Flash Train Meets marked on the calendar. They hold a few each year.

Next up I grabbed a RH 022 switch with controller from a LHS that’s specializes in HO but have a decent O selection. I also did a combined deal on eBay which really dropped the price on 2 more sets of 022 switches, one set with controllers and one set without. Grabbed a small bag of reproduction coal as part of the bundle deal too.

Happy Railroading Everyone!

Lionel 38532 unpowered Southern Pacific GP35.

Neal Jeter

Been wanting this for a while and got a copy yesterday,  about German railroad collectibles. No real reason, I just wanted it...

Since Lionel has never bothered to furnish its CA-4 cabooses with marker lights, I installed my own, even if not lit and just ornamental. So I used one of those plastic packing spacers from the inside of a Lionel passenger car box, cut out a couple of small rectangles with the Dremel, then sanded, painted, and installed a couple of small rhinestone jewels. The jewels were purchased off eBay, 5,400 in various sizes and colors, for under $10.00, shipped. Then simply glued them on to both ends of the cupola, where the UP placed them on their CA-4s.

Kind of crude and I could have done a more precise job with the cutting and sanding. I used Badger Model Flex UP Armor Yellow for the finish. The plastic was a little too thick, not a precision job, and a little over sized. But oh well.

My latest Menards order:

That's a name you don't see in the Northeast very often. FedEx from Eau Claire, WI to NYC in 4 days. Menards' own tracking page only shows what's going on under their roof. Once it's shipped you go to Fedex's site for detailed progress. Or at least you would if you knew they were the ones handling your package. The Fedex tracking number is indeed displayed on the Menards tracking page, but it's unlabeled so if it's been awhile since your last order (or if it's your first), chances are you wouldn't know it was there.

The contents of the box:

The second green Menards 'billboard' boxcar (279-5345) was an error on my part--when I moved nine items from my wishlist to the cart, they didn't all add in on the first try. After my second attempt, I didn't notice one item in my cart had increased to 2 units. Oh well, it was still cheap..

Edit: Here's what was in the boxes:

---PCJ

@Yellowstone Special posted:

The plastic was a little too thick, not a precision job, and a little over sized. But oh well.

I disagree, as I think you did a very good job and it looks right. On the RR where I volunteer, we have two of these hacks and this is about what it looks like for real.