Buying tin-plate rolling stock

Walt,

 

Make up an index card with a notch cut out at the level of your coupler?

 

I have a 1:1 picture I keep in my wallet of a car (automobile) that is the size I use on my layout.  When I see a car for sale, I compare it to the picture I carry to see if the size is right!

 

Hope to see you at York!  our usual meeting place? (standing in line in the Orange hall waiting for the event to open)

 

Ed

Walt, just for my two cents worth, I think if it was me I'd take one of your cars with you. There are just so many variables, being able to whip your car out and plunk it down on the table and hook up a potential purchase to it will immediately tell you whether it's perfect, or could be made to work, or just ain't gonna happen.  Otherwise, you'll find yourself guessing.  You'll be carrying so much other loot by the end of the day, bringing one car in with you won't be that much inconvenience.

 

 

Thanks for the replies! 

 

I think I will follow hojack's advice, especially after reading his comment about 'so many variables'.

 

Eddie: yep, see you there!  BTW: I'm not always there by noon on Thursday and last year was more of an anomoly.  I check into my hotel first, which is in Lancaster, and then head to the fairground.

 

- walt

Walt,

 

We stay in Lancaster too, but get there a day or two ahead and enjoy all the train stuff in the Strasburg area!

 

We usually stay at LaQuinta

 

Ed

Walt,
   For a new guy purchasing Tin Plate rolling stock, knowing the couplers and the different cars just by sight is kind of difficult, because the auto couplers came on both the 800 series type cars and the 2600 series cars also, some even have different length couplers depending on the rolling stock.  I have been looking at this Tin Plate rolling stock sense I was a little boy, am able to mix the 2600 rolling stock with the correct 800 series cars for running, it takes a life time to correctly identity what cars can be run together, the best way for a novice purchaser to purchase is to take one of the cars with you, as you purchase and physically couple the cars together and if possible have the cars run on a layout together.
PCRR/Dave

A mix of original Lionel 800 & 2600 Tin, along with 800 series MTH repro Tin.

thanks for your comment PCRR: "the best way for a novice purchaser to purchase is to take one of the cars with you, as you purchase and physically couple the cars together".

 

It's what I am going to do - for sure.

 

- walt

I am starting out as well and I see what you all mean ...

I picked up the no 337, red one on the left during my visit to NYC this weekend.

I was surprised that there is a size difference but I thing they will still couple together.

 

Whats the best way to move rust from the wheels?

 

Walt,

 

I saw an M&M's Christmas car at Brady's last weekend. Maybe something for your York list?

 

m&m's Christmas Car

Thanks Doc!!!!!  I want to buy new, unused stuff so I'll check it out.  Nice and colorful and "Christmasy"- just what I'm looking for.  Plus, I see it's a '2600' series car which is what I want to match it to.

 

- walt

Walt,

    Make sure it has the correct couplers to match your 2600 rolling stock, physically match up the cars.

PCRR/Dave

Walt,

 

IMO, there is no reason to physically match up the couplers on two 2600 cars until you get them home and put them on the track. They will couple up just fine.

coupler height can be a fly in the ointment, but I never let that stop me from buying what I like. A little trial and error and they will work together.

Doc,

   There were 2 different type couplers made for the Lionel 2600 series rolling stock, the auto couplers and the latch over couplers.  Same goes for the 800 series rolling stock, and infact the height of the cars can be quite different depending on the era of the rolling stock, and whether the cars are passenger or freight or work train rolling stock.  Some of the later Lionel Tin Plate actually came with post war conventional auto couplers. 

PCRR/Dave

In my experience, that doesn't apply when the items are on the same page of the catalog.

Doc,

   You also must be aware of the 2600 transition 655 box car, that has the old style auto-coupler on one end and the post war conventional auto-coupler on the other, this is one seriously cool Lionel original Tin Plate box car.

PCRR/Dave

Walt,

    Then ofcourse ya got to love Tin Plate on FasTrack!

Yes, I've read about them but never actually seen one (or didn't notice the different couplers if I did).

I just looked at the 2014 tin-plate/RTR catalogue and saw the new 2014 Christmas 2600 series car: 11-70101 Christmas #2655.

 

I tried to do a search on it to capture an image but the search said 'not found' and I couldn't manually browse around and find it either.

 

I would like to get both now!

 

And what did I say last October after York and my 2 new tin-plate trains purchases??  "I'm all done buying now".  OOPS

 

- walt

Walt,

   Tin is definitely addictive, especially the Christmas Tin!

PCRR/Dave

Walt,

 

Patience is a virtue.