How do I put a door back on a passenger car?

@McCoy Little posted:

I have a standard gauge passenger car and one of its doors has come off.  How do I put the door back on?

A little bit generic here.  I would guess there are many types of doors/cars and means of attachment.  Some photos or a better description might help.

I'm not able to take a photo, but the car is a lionel standard gauge passenger car #337

Good morning!

I don't have the #337, but Dad's train has a #309 passenger car.  I'm quite sure they're constructed the same.

First, you'll need to remove the roof.  It's easy on my #309 car...a single screw in the center of the roof will give you access for repairing the door...and changing the light bulb, if/when that becomes necessary.

The door on my car has 'pins' formed from the door stamping, top and bottom, .  The bottom pin fits in a hole in the floor...easy enough to maneuver the door into position.  The top door pin is retained by a sheet metal tab formed from the car side.  The small tab has a hole in it which fits over the upper door pin.  I'm going to make an assumption that somehow that tab got bent upwards out of position to retain the door pin.  You may even have to bend the tab slightly more upward to ease the upper door pin back into alignment. Once the door is in position,  simply/carefully bend the hole tab down as you guide the door pin into place.  That's all there should be to it!!

Hope this helps.

Have a blessed day!

KD

If you need a photo or two of my description referencing the #309 car, I can add that later today.  My photographer (wife) is currently at a PT appointment.

Thanks for all the info. It was very helpful and I was able to get the doors back on the car.

Another success story! :-)