Going Back to the Older Stuff

I like the older "Postwar" Lionel also. Maybe it is because that is what I grew up with. Maybe it is because I am "afraid" of the newer electronics. I think it is a combination of the two. I only have one MTH engine, and  run it with my ZW transformer. Somehow, to me, the old Lionel is just the epitome of toy trains, so , that is what I have collected and run.

Jeff

I’ve been thinking along the same lines.   For years I had a large PW collection sitting on shelves gathering dust.    Lately, nothing new excites me.    I started running my PW and have found a long lost love for my roots in the hobby.   I still run my subways but now I’m running my 2020 and 671 engines with all PW cars.   I have complete PW sets and soon they will be seeing action again.

I enjoy my scale stuff, but I often find myself looking at the older stuff lately as well.  I'm a rather mechanically oriented person and not so much circuit board electronics oriented, so I'm not as comfortable popping the hood to maintain my new stuff.  The Postwar stuff is fun to take apart and service/repair for me because I can understand how the basic electronics work in it.  I also enjoy bringing long dormant pieces back to life.  You can also do a lot within pretty much any price range.  While some of the nicer and more collectible pieces still fetch a lot of money, you can also get some decent runners for not much more than a scale piece of rolling stock in some cases.

Like a lot of folks, I grew up and — later on — out of trains before returning to the hobby in my thirties.  I love the pre-war, early post-war and some of the post-war-inspired items of the mid 90s.  However, with all of the modern electronics and confusion they often bring, I like the simple operation of straightforward analog operation.  (Same goes for my Marklin HO collection.)  As a fellow collector/operator once told me, “no need to program... just play.” 

I've been going through the modern era back to post-war cycle for literally years.  Right now and for the last month or so I've been in the command command control mode but for almost the entire previous year I was in the post-war conventional mode.    I must admit I have a slight preference for post-war because of its simplicity and reliability but then eventually I swing back to our present technological wonders.   Actually guys, having both conventional and command control at our fingertips simultaneously makes for more interesting and diverse operating sessions.  Get tired of one then bounce over to the other.  When you think abut it, its great.  I don't think I'll ever get completely weary of either.

Pretty much all PW for me. The one exception is picking up some Lion Chief Plus now and then.

Agree with Mark's comment above about pricing. I was all in on that PW- inspired Santa Fe Set but finally decided the price was too much. For $800+ I can get a lot of PW.

The newer items have never done it for me. I tried to like it, but it didn't work. I sold the bit I had, except for an MTH railking challenger.  I'm with Mowingman, I like them to be "old toys". 

Nope.  I got into O specifically for scale stuff.  Without it, I'd be in HO.

The 1930's diecast locos and all the classic PW (Scouts excepted!) are perhaps the most durable and dependable O gauge trains ever made. SOME MPC makes the cut, especially the colorful 6464 repros. Oh, I also never met a MARX engine that was not dependable!

I don’t look back. I never had post war Lionel. I did have a couple American Flyer sets and they still have a soft spot in my heart. I got into OGauge mid 80’s and have enjoyed immensely the electronic evolution. I enjoy being able to run 3rail more prototypical especially the cruise aspect. 

I'm on the other side of the fence.  The command stuff with all the whistles and bells is what sucked me back in, I love it!  It helps that I can fix it if it breaks...

While I enjoy some of the new electronics, the cost, reliability issues, and lack of parts has been pushing me back towards the simple stuff.  And I like the whimsical nature of it.

Might go back to smaller stuff for building a more realistic layout - frying the guts of a $200 HO or N loco isn't as traumatic.

I'm only going 1 or 2 steps back looking at Tmcc stuff from the mid 2000's or so.

I find the build and paint quality superior to the same Loco offered in legacy and Tmcc versions can be had for as low as 30% of a legacy offering.

Of what I currently own. My Tmcc locos have been bullet proof. Right down to the smoke unit. Ironically,all of them were bought nos out of warranty, and had no issues of any kind.

If I wanted. I could always  upgrade those that need it with gunrunners upgrade package and still come in several hundred dollars below a new legacy equipped model.

Also not thrilled with the new direction Lionel has taken, but hey, that's my problem.

Never left the older stuff and enjoy pre and post war and have a small dcs layout..

All the mth engines here have bcr's and are also enjoyed.

If i had to only have one type of era trains it would be prewar just something about them.

As some of you have pointed out, the electronics are what makes me back away from the modern stuff. If it isn't repairable with a screwdriver or pliers, I'll pass. Plus, having a small layout means all the DCC, TMCC, whatever, etc. really has no use to me. The most modern engine that I own is the first Lionmaster T1 Duplex just because I fell in love with the real thing, and if / when the boards fry, they'll be replaced by a rectifier and a mechanical e-unit. 

Postwar and Conventional for me thanks.

When my grandfather gave me all of his stuff it was PW so I’ve just stayed with it. However Santa is planning on bringing the Lionel winter wonderland set this year so my son can grow up with his own

I have older stuff I like. I just gutted out the E-units, battery horns or PS1 and installed ERR boards and RailSounds in their place, to make them fun .

I’m a simpleton....er, I mean simple man. 🤔I like conventional control. I have mostly stuff after 2000, though I do have a little post war, and a couple of pre-war sets, one of which I adore. I can appreciate the new, high end stuff, but it just isn’t me.

I have the post war and have collected and run it on 3 loops and 1 siding.   It is easy to repair.   I have 2 of the new sets and enjoy the sounds and the fact that you can turn off the smoke.  Some people can not handle the smoke and I have been running it since 1954.

I'm in the process of selling all my boxed postwar stuff and some boxed MPC.   Just keeping enough PW & MPC to run and enjoy.

Never got past William's level stuff and a few PS-1 engines (so cheap they can be doorstops).

Reading the forum threads kept me from the electronics stuff.  I don't  know of a dedicated train store within 1000 miles of me.  So getting repairs would also be a pain.  I enjoy seeing it on layouts at train shows, but I couldn't justify that price/heartburn ratio. 

PW is so dependable and repairable.  And I enjoy the smell of ozone, smoke pellets, and hearing the clackity clack that lobster claw toys make when running on tubular track. 

But that's just me

When I left 3-rail, it was the "Hi-rail/Scale" approach that caused me to start looking for the door to go elsewhere.

Long story short: When I was indulged in PW and PW-type engines and 6464 type rolling stock, I enjoyed it. I was enjoying toy trains and the center rail was SUPPOSED to be a part of that scene. It wasn't until I started attempting to make my 3-rail hobby look more scale (with scale sized engines/cars) that the center rail submarined my immersion. Mistake. However, it's for the better, for my true modeling roots is steeped in HO, and that's where I ended up back into. (And I'm thoroughly enjoying it at this point.)

Now, having said that: IF, for dexterity reasons, my HO becomes too small/piddlesome, and IF my health and ambulatory ability were still up the challenge, at that point I would be VERY tempted to pull down my current HO layout. In its place I would build an around the walls w/peninsula "yard scene", and thereon create a Kansas City-type layout within my 20' x 16' layout building. HOWEVER, all this with a twist: The layout would only use 3-rail "Traditional sized" equipment, AND I would build reasonably realistic scenery. (Emphasizing the "gritty" nature of city railroading during the 1950s.)

A long time ago, the following pictures helped me to truly see the potential of traditional sized trains when the setting is convincingly realistic.

From an OGR member that I can never remember who...

In the above picture, I love the overall look of those cast frame FA's look pulling those 6454-type rolling stock through such scenery. They would also look good at the head end of 6464 boxcars.

And from ORG member "Christopher", come these two photos:

Note even the little stamped frame FA's look great when the scenery is convincing...

And another from "Christopher" that takes the lowly little 2-6-4 and makes it look great. Again, (IMHO) the setting (scenery) is the key...

So yes, if my aging body gets to the point that HO has a bigger H Factor (Hassle Factor) than F Factor (Fun Factor)... then it would be very tempting to do something along the lines illustrated in these pictures. Upside: In view of the above, I already have a plan IF HO eventually gets to be too small and the H Factor overtakes the F Factor. 

Yup, I certainly understand the way PW can call out to one's inner self.

Andre

Another Caveman here; my collection is nearly all Postwar and MPC.  The hi tech scale engines made today are fantastic, but the nostalgia and simple fun keep me with the classics.  There aren’t too many things in my house made between 1946 and 1985 that still work good as new (me included). 

RickO posted:

I'm only going 1 or 2 steps back looking at Tmcc stuff from the mid 2000's or so.

I find the build and paint quality superior to the same Loco offered in legacy and Tmcc versions can be had for as low as 30% of a legacy offering.

Of what I currently own. My Tmcc locos have been bullet proof. Right down to the smoke unit. Ironically,all of them were bought nos out of warranty, and had no issues of any kind.

If I wanted. I could always  upgrade those that need it with gunrunners upgrade package and still come in several hundred dollars below a new legacy equipped model.

Also not thrilled with the new direction Lionel has taken, but hey, that's my problem.

Wish I could give this two...or four....thumbs up!!!

Hybrid here.  Run TMCC Conv.  Run PW, MPC, Williams.  Like TMCC for controling 2 loops, switching lead, lighting, and 364 log ramp.  One PH/PM for each loop, lead, lighting, and log loader.  Williams has bullet proof drives, and good electronic e units.  Best of both worlds.

I am a scale guy with no real appetite for PW equipment but there are still things that concern me, especially pricing.  I am starting to think along the lines of @RickO that backing into TMCC models from 15-20 years ago may be the way to go. I was looking at a TMCC Allegheny over the weekend that was brand new in the box for $700 versus $2100 for the latest Legacy version. I will never be able to justify that price tag and its really the same mold with upgraded electronics and some extra hand installed pieces which I could create/purchase and install myself. 

The other concern I have is how rapidly the technology is changing.  Its great to see and I'm happy there are a lot of young people in the hobby but I'm concerned when we are going down the path of using our phones exclusively for running trains. I hear the rumors/fact that MTH will not be building DCS remotes soon and I'm sure at some point Lionel will follow suit. That is when the hobby becomes frustrating because if the apps don't work, trains cease to be fun. There is something to be said for PW crowd; its a simpler, more consistent running experience that will continue to bring them joy for many years to come.    

Mark,

If you ever decide to sell your new, scale engines with all that soon to be bad, unrepairable electronics, my email is in my profile  

For me, it has always been about the trains, not the technology to run them. In my past lives in HO and On30, simple block control was all I needed to make trains run, so that's all the higher up the control system food chain I wanted to go.

In O gauge 3 rail, mechanical E units have been doing the job for decades, so why bother with anything else? Besides, it's the trains I like to see run. They don't have to be scale, they just need to be clearly identifiable as trains. Another plus for me, older stuff like pre and post war trains tend to be undersized compared to actual O scale trains, but that just means more trains in a given space.

For me I grew up with postwar Lionel items and still like them the best. Nowadays I like them for new reasons in that they now have the nostalgia aspect to them, they are durable and when they need fixing many times I can do it myself. I do have a few modern items, but even they are run conventionally. In my world durability and simplicity wins the day.

Fireball RR posted:

I am a scale guy with no real appetite for PW equipment but there are still things that concern me, especially pricing.  I am starting to think along the lines of @RickO that backing into TMCC models from 15-20 years ago may be the way to go. I was looking at a TMCC Allegheny over the weekend that was brand new in the box for $700 versus $2100 for the latest Legacy version. I will never be able to justify that price tag and its really the same mold with upgraded electronics and some extra hand installed pieces which I could create/purchase and install myself. 

The other concern I have is how rapidly the technology is changing.  Its great to see and I'm happy there are a lot of young people in the hobby but I'm concerned when we are going down the path of using our phones exclusively for running trains. I hear the rumors/fact that MTH will not be building DCS remotes soon and I'm sure at some point Lionel will follow suit. That is when the hobby becomes frustrating because if the apps don't work, trains cease to be fun. There is something to be said for PW crowd; its a simpler, more consistent running experience that will continue to bring them joy for many years to come.    

I think Lionel, MTH, or somebody else need to make a transformer or "PowerMaster" which can be Bluetooth or Wi-Fi controlled.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Fireball RR posted:

The other concern I have is how rapidly the technology is changing.  Its great to see and I'm happy there are a lot of young people in the hobby but I'm concerned when we are going down the path of using our phones exclusively for running trains.  That is when the hobby becomes frustrating because if the apps don't work, trains cease to be fun. T.    

I think Lionel, MTH, or somebody else need to make a transformer or "PowerMaster" which can be Bluetooth or Wi-Fi controlled.

My issue with bluetooth/ WiFi running is you have to stare at your phone or iPad instead of watching the trains.

I can control all of the main features of locomotives by feel of the different controls on the legacy remote and watch my trains react as I do so.

There's no way one can do precise operations like switching out cars staring at a screen. Now we're drifting. Back to folks running older stuff.

I've always liked, collected and ran Postwar Lionel. I sold most of my Modern era stuff and only kept what had the 'Postwar feel" to it.

I penned a piece called "Nostalgia", it is on the homepage of my website (link below) - I think this explains the allure of Post and Pre War

NO wifi or blue dentures (joke) for this lad! just give me a ZW or Z-4000 HANDLE and I am happy. Too many people already starring into those d**n phones!

There is a whole segment of the hobby dedicated to really old sand cast brass, bronze, and aluminum models.  Most are quite crude by today's standards, but they are full size, often with accurate overall proportions, and about half in 17/64 scale (to fit the O Scale track gauge).

I modernized my Christmas PW layout last year and hated it. Still used the ZW for the throttle but all the switches and accessories went through my phone. Took it apart as quickly as possible. Now back to all PW controls

I've always liked 3 Rail stuff from the post war but I have to admit that I'm not all that crazy about the animated accessories for some reason, I guess that makes me weird in a crazy kind of way but I like the scale stuff as well but the fact that they can't figure out how to make a diesel's pilot be fixed and not have to swing really gripes me especially when they say it is SCALE.  I guess I could say that I like both but if I were to start all over again, I'd probably stick with the post war stuff from the 40's up to the point right before it became MPC.  Just my opinion here, I think when it became MPC the quality of Lionel went way down.  However,  I would love to have one of the original scale Hudson's, I love that engine, it is an outstanding engine and I think Lionel really had their act together when they came out with that engine.  Oh Snap, I just love trains, be they HO, HOn3, S or Sn3, O scale, O Gauge, G Scale or Fn3 (1:20.3) and especially 1:1, I just love trains and I forgot to mention 1 1/2" scale 7 1/2" gauge live steam or diesel .  Interesting topic.

Our hobby is under a VERY LARGE tent to be sure! And there is room for MANY different interests!

I have eclectic tastes when it comes to buying trains - I have prewar, postwar, and all forms of modern era Lionel (MPC, LTI, LLC, and modern Vision/LEGACY), along with K-Line, MTH, Weaver, and Atlas. So, I have a little bit of everything, and they're all ones I'm very happy to have.

All that being said, the majority of stuff I hunt for nowadays is a mix of postwar and LTI era Lionel. Both eras' (especially the latter) stuff you can find for absolute bargain prices (compared to back in the late 90's). Plus a majority of the LTI locomotives, early LLC locomotives and MTH PS1 locomotives are scale and can be upgraded for inexpensive prices, all the while still spending less on a current LEGACY or PS3 version.

I grew up with HO and my Dad's tinplate at Christmas. Loved my HO trains but something about Lionel made me wish I had them. Fast forward to about 4 years ago when my In-laws found a box of old tinplate freight cars. Built a layout (albeit small), and started down the garden path.

I've got post-war, MPC, and "vintage modern" as I like to call it (Lionel and MTH), Williams and WbB, and lots of K-line.  I run all conventional using blocks to park trains. Scenery is a mix of things, no operating accessories as they take up too much room to fit my space. The third rail doesn't bother me, but 2-rail scale is impressive.

Might switch to modern controls one day if I build a bigger layout but for now what I have is fine.

I have mostly modern (post-1996) stuff.  Prototypical accuracy has never meant much to me, so I'm a toy train guy.  I like postwar, but I also like new trains out of the box and I like command control.  That said, I find myself enjoying LionChief, LionChief+ type locos that have much of the postwar feel (at least to this geezer) and some of the modern features such as command control, electrocouplers, digital sound etc. 

The prices are actually cheaper than the cheapest postwar stuff was in the 1950s, corrected for inflation.  Thus if you like postwar but want similar new and sparkling out of the box models with some modern features at a value price, in my opinion, nothing beats current LC and LC+ type locos. 

If you haven't tried them, you can use the included remote (Lionchief and LC+ prior to LC + 2.0) or the smart device app, or, in the case of LC+, a traditional transformer/power supply.  Not a big investment up front, compared with the high-end Legacy stuff, which has its appeal but is much pricier and more complex overall.  I've bought LionChief locos from Charles Ro for under $200 recently and they come with the necessary remote.  Looks a lot like postwar but not quite as heavy.  Just a thought .