Grandpa's trains unearthed

As for a value, that all depends.......sentimental or monetary?

Sentimental. They all can be repaired and cleaned and they are still Grandpas trains!

Monetary. Not much there as they all have to be repaired and cleaned.

Looks to have been stored in a garage or basement with temperature swings and/or high humidity levels.

Interesting. I see 2 tenders, but no steam engines. Are they gone? Same thing with the other stuff. Bits and pieces. You have a collection of loose items from the early 1950s, but no complete train set. I gather the stuff was just tossed in a box and shuffled around. Unfortunate. However, stuff back then was well built. You can resurrect everything you show to operating condition. Please DO NOT try to run the engines until you get them checked! The grease is probably hard as a rock. You will do far more harm than good.

Also, get the ZW transformer checked before using! It was a top of the line, well built piece. But even it can suffer the ravages of time just sitting in a box. Insulation can dry out and crack, leading to dangerous conditions. A good hobby shop will know what to do.

Chris

LVHR

Well, I am quite fond of those 2028 Pennsylvania Geeps .

Yup, I like them too. I have one. Unfortunately, this one has all the markings removed. He might be able to find a set of Pennsylvania decals in faux gold to redo them. They won't add value to the engine, but they will make it look a whole lot nicer.

Chris

LVHR

Thanks everyone, sounds great.  I told him that they could be repaired and made to run again.  Glad there's nothing valuable (monetarily), he'd probably not run it.  I didn't see any Lionel markings on the chassis of the GP.  He does remember the PRR logo though.  Is the tinplate caboose post war also?

Hello - My information shows that the 657 caboose was made from 1934-42.  But yours has been fitted with postwar trucks, evidently to be compatible with the other equipment.

quote:

Yup, I like them too. I have one. Unfortunately, this one has all the markings removed. He might be able to find a set of Pennsylvania decals in faux gold to redo them. They won't add value to the engine, but they will make it look a whole lot nicer

I guess that's what makes horse races. I'd rather have them with the markings gone. The way the lettering fades is part of what makes it an interesting piece to me. I have one right now, with the lettering very faintly visible. I've owned a couple others in the past, also with the lettering gone.

I got a Pennsy GP7 from Barrys Train shop about a year ago, the rubber stamped markings were completely gone, since I will never sell it, I ordered a dry transfer set and redid the markings, as the GP was in really nice condition otherwise. Easily done, I also added horns and handrails, everything but the fuel tank, and I might add one, but it is a primo runner, yours could be also with some work. If you want to do it yourself, get a Greenberg repro Lionel service manual, and any time you get stuck, there is beaucoup help here on the forum.