Help with proper cars-engines

sunrise, you need to get yourself a good reference book on standard gauge.  one of the few in print is Peter Riddle's "America's Standard Gauge Electric Trains", edited by OGR's Alan Miller.  It'll fill in the details of the major manufacturers, both vintage and more contemporary.  It's available on amazon.com.  It will really help you sort through a lot of the misinformation out there on ebay etc.

the different manufacturers all had their own proprietary couplers, so you can't mix them without some modifications.   they each have their own characteristics, and as you get to know the trains made by different makers, you will find out what your favorites are.

MTH makes replicas of Lionel, Flyer, and Ives standard gauge, and their replicas have the same couplers as the originals - which is to say they don't mix and match.

The 400E steamer (in blue) is famous for pulling the blue comet cars, #427-430 series.   It's a big loco, so you'd want the big cars like these or maybe the #418 series.

hojack,

Thanks for the reply.  I'll look into getting the book you refrenced!

Thanks again,

Sunrise

I'm in process of reading it, well worth the time & $$$.

Steve

I ordered that book too (because of this forum).

I agree-Great Book!

While you're at it. Try, "Trains from Grandfathers Attic" also by, Dr. Peter Riddle. The title is a little deceptive. It takes up where his, "Standard Gauge Electric Trains" left off, IMHO. Excellent reading for those caught up in the, "spell" of Std. Gauge prewar trains.

Sunrise Special,

You have crossed over the threshold. You are now at the point of no return. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Std. Gauge trains are the forefathers of todays hobby. Tinplate Std. Gauge is one of the most exciting areas of the hobby. Have fun and don't forget to share your wonderful newfound pleasure with friends and family.

Pappy, I agree 100%, Grandfather's Attic is another great tinplate book.  It's a little more focused on O gauge tinplate, but still very worth the investment for background info.  His section on restoration in that book is excellent if you're into that at all: when to restore, and how, and when not to.  

The photos Riddle uses are very helpful in comparing and sorting out the different manufacturers, couplers, and even the different sizes of Standard Gauge made by one manufacturer like Lionel.

The third book that I think of with these two by Riddle, is "Classic Toy Trains" by Gerry and Janet Souter.  This book really takes in the whole sweep of the various manufacturers and how things evolved to the state we're in now.  The Souters have a wry sense of humor that makes for terrific reading.  And again, the photos are really helpful.

I was brought up reading books so I always devour what is out there on a subject I'm interested in.   Of course, there can be wrong information in books too, but when the research has been done right, you can learn a lot.

Then of course there's the likes of Louis Hertz' "Riding the Tinplate Rails", if you really want to read the classics.  But that's another trip altogether.

Sunrise, I was brought up running my dad's Ives standard gauge trains, so I have a built-in bias toward a certain manufacturer and period as to what looks and feels "right".  I don't think I'll ever warm to Lionel with the same connection I feel toward the old Ives.  If you're starting out more neutral, that will be a benefit, you'll be able to look at all of them and decide what characteristics you like in each.

And compatibility is really not a problem.   You'll see many examples on these forums where folks have just switched out couplers to run one makers' freight behind another's loco. Others have made custom transition couplers to hook unlike cars together.  It's easy to do, and there aren't any rules to break. 

After Ives, my favorites are McCoy, which took me totally by surprise.  I didn't even know about them until just a few years ago, and the trains are much more toylike than the more realistic Ives.  But I just love them, they are the coolest thing.   Who knows, maybe you'll develop a passion for Dorfan or Boucher.

I was not aware of this.  Admitedly, I have mostly read the pre-war part of the book, as that is my interest.  Are the errors in the chapters on post-war?  Could you point out some examples?  Thanks.  The book is a great read, but I don't want to be recomending it if there are errors.

It's been ten years since I reviewed this book so it'll take a bit of time to dig out all the sloppy bits of misinformation that got into print.

Ron M

Approximately ten years ago I wrote mini-reviews for the TCA's National Headquarters News on these three Souter books:

"Modern Toy Trains by Gerry and Janet Souter ISBN 0-7603-1179-0 $14.95. Short and somewhat imprecise history of toy trains from 1970 to the present time. Beautiful photos." (11/02)

"American Flyer Classic Toy Trains by Gerry and Janet Souter ISBN 1-58663-574-3 $35.00. A coffee table book. Beautiful photos, but is somewhat marred by historical inaccuracies." (11/02)

"Classic Lionel Trains by Gerry and Janet Souter ISBN 0-7603-1138-2 $14.95. Very evidently, there was a rush to publish. Numerous errors and gaffes. The pretty pictures are the only plus." (1/03)

The only thing going for the Souters is their photography.

Ron M