Just got this prewar Torpedo 1688! Whistling tender and cars were restored. The loco will need some tlc, but what a cool and fun set to watch. Pretty impressive for late 1930's tech. Just thought I'd share!
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Sounds like it could use a lubrication. Those restored cars look very well done. Enjoy
Yeah,as soon as I have some time I'm gonna take the shell off and check her out. Clean her up and lube. The e unit is a little sticky. The cars are definitely nice and the whistle in the tender works perfect.
Nice Donnie - I love the look and sound of pre-war tin running. Enjoy that cool set - I know that there will be more to come!
Last year I ran two sets of Lionel prewar tin O gauge around my Christmas tree, in prior years Standard gauge. I restored the Standard Gauge passenger set (engine and cars) shown in the third pic below, the diner shown in the last pic is special to me and its construction is spotlighted in one of my earlier posts on my website.
L
Donnie,
Looks great...enjoy! Prewar is where the excitement is (for those of us who are enlightened!). 
Tom
John- those are some awesome looking trains. As we come upon Christmas season, I'll be taking a break from purchases. Lol. Although I am looking for in the future for a 259e and either 224e or 225e locos. The 226e is waaaayy out of the price range right now. Also some passenger cars. I may need some advice on re doing the 1688. Havent decided. It doesn't look all that bad as it is now. I cleaned and greased her up last night. What a difference! Very smooth. Enjoy your day guys!
The 1688 looks to be in very nice shape, Donnie; not sure that I would contemplate a respray. Remember, it earned all of those minor dings/scratches over its 85 years. Maybe just renew the plates on the tender which appear to be quite oxidized.
PD
pd- I'm more in agreement with you on that. I mean, I've seen people pay large amounts of money for a loco only to "weather" it. The Torpedo's came naturally. I did clean up the shell and used a paste wax. It improved it good enough for me. Thanks for the heads up on the tender! I think the only thing I'll do to it is find or make a headlamp lens.
Very nice to see also enjoy prewar so simple and reliable for the most part weak spot e-unit easily fixed when need be.
I also agree it looks great as is. Welcome to prewar. I came over to prewar after years in postwar and then modern scale-scale size Lionel. Prewar is so much more relaxing and charming.
The prewar bug has bitten me also for the last two years. Just picked up a 238e from Antique station in St Georges Delaware with the boxes! It's worth checking out, they have a ton of pre and post war all scales. Good luck with your 1688, it looks great.
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