Last week I was browsing Some auctions and I put a minimum bid for very nice Lionel 623. All said and done, I won with that minmum bid. The loco arrived today. I always heard that these early NW2 were smooth runners, but I never owned one. But wow, what a nice little engine. Runs at a nice constant speed too.
Postwar isn't going to replace my Scale equipment, but I am definitely going to have to build a small PW style layout!
Just thought I would share.
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Here's the sellers photo:
A little light dusting and it looks even better!
Looks great! Those early NW2's run great. F3's and early Alco's next 
Caution…stay away from Super O track…it's contagious also and those little NW2's look great running on it!
CJ
Get a GP-9 with magna traction to really get hooked. Of course there were some real interesting pieces made back then, Like the mobile rocket launcher.
Every time I would buy post-war stuff at train meets, back in the late '70s and early'80s, I would bring it home, put it on the layout, throttle up and away they went. Like they never missed a beat.
franktrain posted:Looks great! Those early NW2's run great. F3's and early Alco's next
I am currently getting my Dad's 2344 AA set ready for the Christmas season...so yeah...I know all about them F3's
I know what you mean, I am just now recovering from a really bad case of the MU's or Motorized Units, I had it bad for several months, Urgent Care said it was all in my head. I would be doing a lot better with a EX+ #42.
Chris Sheldon
Welcome to the PW club! They are fun trains and cause a lot less angst than the modern stuff you'll read about daily in these pages. 
Nice acquisition! I had a 623 for a time and really liked it. Now I have the earlier, similar 622 with the annoying bell-ringing feature. These are super engines.
I *so* wanted a Lionel switcher when I was a kid, because NW-2's or similar switchers used to ply the spur behind my house and I wanted an engine that looked like them. I know I'm one of untold numbers of those who had to wait until adulthood to have the engine(s) we wanted so much as kids. Once the postwar bug hits you, it seems to spread rapidly. It did for me.
When I was a little kid in the late 80's and early 90's, and postwar stuff was at its height, all these engines seemed unattainable. Very happy prices came down quite a bit and I can get a few od these pieces here and there and not break the bank.
I've had the PW bug since 1953, when Santa brought me my first Lionel set, the 2034 engine. Looks like the bug may be permanent.
yankspride4 posted:Last week I was browsing Some auctions and I put a minimum bid for very nice Lionel 623. All said and done, I won with that minmum bid. The loco arrived today. I always heard that these early NW2 were smooth runners, but I never owned one. But wow, what a nice little engine. Runs at a nice constant speed too.
Postwar isn't going to replace my Scale equipment, but I am definitely going to have to build a small PW style layout!
Just thought I would share.
My favorite NW-2 ever. Great runners.
I find it fun to assemble a train of postwar cars. Like 30 to 40 of them and put them behind a scale loco. It's cool to watch.
I agree. Postwar is very contagious. Like Dan said above, you can buy them, put them on the track, add power, and away they go. Here's my latest acquisition. Like new , OB and the set box, all for $1300.00
george posted:
I agree. Postwar is very contagious. Like Dan said above, you can buy them, put them on the track, add power, and away they go. Here's my latest acquisition. Like new , OB and the set box, all for $1300.00
What a beauty! That'll be on the list one day! Maybe I'll trade my Vision Line Big Boy for one? LOL.
The 623 was one of the first locos I bought when I got back into the hobby a few years ago. One of my favorites. I also have a pair of Alcos and 2026 steamer that has a new smoke unit. All three have magnatraction.
Put each on the track and the took right off when I bought them. A good cleaning and lubrication later they never leave the layout.
I never got cured of the postwar bug. It's still the love of my life. I've got so many great memories of the many layouts,Christmases,Birthdays and my Dad showing up with boxes full of garage sale finds. He had his co-workers looking for trains and for years there was a steady supply of Lionel and Marx. He still has the 1950 model 773 that a seed company rep gave him. I still have the trains of my youth and over the years added more. I've owned hundreds of the newer hi-rail scale locomotives and control systems. The modern trains ARE beautiful AND operate well but poor quality,lack of parts and higgledy pigglety control systems gave me pause a couple of years ago. My focus has been redirected back to those wondrous trains of long ago. Most of the modern era stuff is gone and due to the soft PW market,I've been able to obtain many more postwar,fundimensions and LTI items to enjoy. 
This is my layout in 1977.
I ALWAYS called Postwar "rusty old sh*t!"
Had no interest in it. Didn't want it. Wanted only command control trains with sound, cruise, etc.
I ALWAYS wanted a 671 (or similar) Semi-Scale turbine. Don't ask me why, I just knew I wanted one. I gave up waiting for MTH to bring back the Rugged Rails turbine popular in the PS1 and Early PS2 days. I found the Railking Imperial turbine a bit large. Something about the 027 semi-scale unit I loved. I was on the fence about a modern Williams reproduction or an original Postwar.
Walked into Toy Trains and Collectibles one day. Dan had a very nice, boxed, 681 on the shelf. Price was reasonable. I asked about it, saw it run and said "pack 'er up"
Got it home and, quite frankly, didn't expect much in it's operation. Got it on the tracks and start watching it drag a train around, smoke puffing and air whistle blowing. I start slipping back into being that kid on the floor of our house on Falls Road with the Lionel train years ago........I was very impressed with how it ran, looked and was having a great time. I hadn't had this much fun with a train in years.
I also started thinking - here was a ~70 year old toy train. Wayyyy older than me. I started asking myself, while looking at it, "Who had this?", "Who got this for Christmas on year?", "Where has this thing been and what kind of stories could it tell?" For me, wondering those things cranked up the "cool" factor even more.
I bought that 681 about 14 months ago, the first Postwar ANYTHING I've bought. What do I have Postwar today?
-2055
-726RR
-2065
-2025
-2023
In addition, plenty of freight cars. I also have two complete, all original, boxed sets - 1515WS and 1467W.
I'll be looking for a 773 at York this week.
As you may be able to guess, I don't call Postwar "rusty old sh*t!" anymore.....(well, some of it still is )
Yes, I agree, Post War Lionel trains, from 1952 to 1965 was might favorite years. I was just a kid, but the 2332 GG1 set was my first Lionel Train...Then the Diesel 2338 with a few Cars was next....I envied the guys with the F3’s, 773’s, 736’s...Those were really fun days as we ran our trains....Great Post....Rolling forward to 1996 and forward, after college, marriage, Kids, their College, and getting back into the hobby, I went Century Club 1 to get started again.,..I do like Command the best. This is a great thread....Enjoy.
Can understand anyone having the postwar bug.
Personally enjoy lionel prewar,postwar some marx and mth protosounds 2 and 3 .
This is a great thread, I'm loving every entry. I can soooo relate.... For example RSJB18, I have a barn find (honest-to-God-in-a-barn-when-I-found-it find) 623 NW-2 - dirtiest cleanup I have ever done, but now runs like it's new and has many years of "Kid patina" all over it. Part of me prefers that, to serve as a reminder of what fun THIS engine has brought into some kid's life, and of course part of me wants it to look like new - on this one, a NOS shell is probably out of the question.
RSJB18, I also have the 218 Santa Fe, acquired from a Goodwill store in Madison, Wisconsin in 1971 (great runner!), and I have a 2026 which is now partially disassembled, pending a good cleanup.
TMCC you say? I am slowly acquiring enough pieces to load up my first engine with it, but this will just be an experiment. With all the PW stuff I have, I don't think I'll ever go straight TMCC, or any other remote control system - those PW engines would drown out a sound system!
So, rusty old sh*t? Yeah, but there's no better in the hobby in my mind.
SJC posted:Walked into Toy Trains and Collectibles one day. Dan had a very nice, boxed, 681 on the shelf. Price was reasonable. I asked about it, saw it run and said "pack 'er up"Got it home and, quite frankly, didn't expect much in it's operation. Got it on the tracks and start watching it drag a train around, smoke puffing and air whistle blowing. I start slipping back into being that kid on the floor of our house on Falls Road with the Lionel train years ago........I was very impressed with how it ran, looked and was having a great time. I hadn't had this much fun with a train in years.
Hmm. Thought I knew all the D.C. area train stores, That's a new one on me. On the other side of the river but may have to make a trip one of these fall/winter weekends.
Glad you're in the PW club, SJC. Looks like you need some PW diesels now! 
Well...here she is:
Loving it! And it's s a 10 stanchion to boot.
maybe a 736 next
Awesome thread! I caught the postwar bug in a department store toy department in about 1948. Christmas of 1950 a 2036 freight set appeared under the tree. Years later Dad allowed as to how they put it in layaway and paid 10 bucks a month for 3 months to make me a happy kid. A church friend got a 622 set that year with ringing bell and a front coupler. This was huge, as even a 5 year old knew real trains had front couplers, and also knew that 2-6-4 was a fake wheel arrangement in Tenn. at least. I coveted the 622 until another friend got a 1930 A-model Ford...
The postscript is that a TCA meet in the early 1980s there was a table with a boxed, reasonably priced 623. I still wanted a bell, but that was when you had to get a loan to buy a 622 in decent shape. I looked long and hard at the 623, walked the room, went back and bought it. When I got home and had it on the bench for quick clean and lube I noticed a black screw in the hood I had missed at the meet. It went to a whistle relay. The job was so neat, it looked professional. There was one more serendipity, also overlooked in the dim light of the meet hall. The front truck had a bell. I learned to live with the number not being 622.
Couldn't resist, had to throw some pics at you!
A rough looking shell!
Sliding shoe missing, and looks like straw in the side frame
How do you like the custom light job?????
See the white wire under the red one? It's not really white, it's black. That's some kind of white corrosion on the wire.
Nasty!!!!!!!
Let the cleaning begin! Hardened grease on frames was exactly like candle wax - could have been candle wax for all I know!
Three of my barn finds - the 623 and trolley came from the same barn - $60 for the pair, trolley is low mileage.
The 6250 was $20 at a small train show - it was also quite dirty, but I had to go easy on it because the paint was coming off - But it's a beast!! Strongest magnets and smoothest running PW I've ever seen!
George
Though I no longer have any Postwar engines, many of them have a panache about them that just can't be duplicated with any reproduction. And the ozone... my oh my... the OZONE!
"I NEVER MET A TOY TRAIN I DIDN'T LIKE, THAT IS UNTIL THEY INSTALLED THE @#$%#@#$! ELECTRONICS."
Which is pretty much the way I feel about F-N-R transformer control and a buzzing e-unit. Ouch.
Some PW charms me - like the scale Hudson, of course, and the NW-2 - but I keep thinking how nice they would run with can motors, cruise and command.
SJC posted:I ALWAYS called Postwar "rusty old sh*t!"
Had no interest in it. Didn't want it. Wanted only command control trains with sound, cruise, etc.
I ALWAYS wanted a 671 (or similar) Semi-Scale turbine. Don't ask me why, I just knew I wanted one. I gave up waiting for MTH to bring back the Rugged Rails turbine popular in the PS1 and Early PS2 days. I found the Railking Imperial turbine a bit large. Something about the 027 semi-scale unit I loved. I was on the fence about a modern Williams reproduction or an original Postwar.
Walked into Toy Trains and Collectibles one day. Dan had a very nice, boxed, 681 on the shelf. Price was reasonable. I asked about it, saw it run and said "pack 'er up"
Got it home and, quite frankly, didn't expect much in it's operation. Got it on the tracks and start watching it drag a train around, smoke puffing and air whistle blowing. I start slipping back into being that kid on the floor of our house on Falls Road with the Lionel train years ago........I was very impressed with how it ran, looked and was having a great time. I hadn't had this much fun with a train in years.
I also started thinking - here was a ~70 year old toy train. Wayyyy older than me. I started asking myself, while looking at it, "Who had this?", "Who got this for Christmas on year?", "Where has this thing been and what kind of stories could it tell?" For me, wondering those things cranked up the "cool" factor even more.
I bought that 681 about 14 months ago, the first Postwar ANYTHING I've bought. What do I have Postwar today?
-2055
-726RR
-2065
-2025
-2023
In addition, plenty of freight cars. I also have two complete, all original, boxed sets - 1515WS and 1467W.
I'll be looking for a 773 at York this week.
As you may be able to guess, I don't call Postwar "rusty old sh*t!" anymore.....(well, some of it still is
You stated:
"I also started thinking - here was a ~70 year old toy train. Wayyyy older than me. I started asking myself, while looking at it, "Who had this?", "Who got this for Christmas on year?", "Where has this thing been and what kind of stories could it tell?" For me, wondering those things cranked up the "cool" factor even more."
I moved from post to prewar (still keeping my post war) and asking the same questions. Always imagine the person who received this as a gift/Christmas present and the joy they got out of that
RonH posted:SJC posted:I ALWAYS called Postwar "rusty old sh*t!"
Had no interest in it. Didn't want it. Wanted only command control trains with sound, cruise, etc.
I ALWAYS wanted a 671 (or similar) Semi-Scale turbine. Don't ask me why, I just knew I wanted one. I gave up waiting for MTH to bring back the Rugged Rails turbine popular in the PS1 and Early PS2 days. I found the Railking Imperial turbine a bit large. Something about the 027 semi-scale unit I loved. I was on the fence about a modern Williams reproduction or an original Postwar.
Walked into Toy Trains and Collectibles one day. Dan had a very nice, boxed, 681 on the shelf. Price was reasonable. I asked about it, saw it run and said "pack 'er up"
Got it home and, quite frankly, didn't expect much in it's operation. Got it on the tracks and start watching it drag a train around, smoke puffing and air whistle blowing. I start slipping back into being that kid on the floor of our house on Falls Road with the Lionel train years ago........I was very impressed with how it ran, looked and was having a great time. I hadn't had this much fun with a train in years.
I also started thinking - here was a ~70 year old toy train. Wayyyy older than me. I started asking myself, while looking at it, "Who had this?", "Who got this for Christmas on year?", "Where has this thing been and what kind of stories could it tell?" For me, wondering those things cranked up the "cool" factor even more.
I bought that 681 about 14 months ago, the first Postwar ANYTHING I've bought. What do I have Postwar today?
-2055
-726RR
-2065
-2025
-2023
In addition, plenty of freight cars. I also have two complete, all original, boxed sets - 1515WS and 1467W.
I'll be looking for a 773 at York this week.
As you may be able to guess, I don't call Postwar "rusty old sh*t!" anymore.....(well, some of it still is
You stated:
"I also started thinking - here was a ~70 year old toy train. Wayyyy older than me. I started asking myself, while looking at it, "Who had this?", "Who got this for Christmas on year?", "Where has this thing been and what kind of stories could it tell?" For me, wondering those things cranked up the "cool" factor even more."
I moved from post to prewar (still keeping my post war) and asking the same questions. Always imagine the person who received this as a gift/Christmas present and the joy they got out of that
I always wonder the same thing about any pre-owned locomotive. Who had it...where was it....was it a Christmas gift?....etc. For instance, I have a pre-war British locomotive manufactured by Hornby in Liverpool in 1937, and I always wonder where it was during the Blitz. (It didn't make its way to the US until the early 1990's.)
jay jay posted:RonH posted:SJC posted:I ALWAYS called Postwar "rusty old sh*t!"
Had no interest in it. Didn't want it. Wanted only command control trains with sound, cruise, etc.
I ALWAYS wanted a 671 (or similar) Semi-Scale turbine. Don't ask me why, I just knew I wanted one. I gave up waiting for MTH to bring back the Rugged Rails turbine popular in the PS1 and Early PS2 days. I found the Railking Imperial turbine a bit large. Something about the 027 semi-scale unit I loved. I was on the fence about a modern Williams reproduction or an original Postwar.
Walked into Toy Trains and Collectibles one day. Dan had a very nice, boxed, 681 on the shelf. Price was reasonable. I asked about it, saw it run and said "pack 'er up"
Got it home and, quite frankly, didn't expect much in it's operation. Got it on the tracks and start watching it drag a train around, smoke puffing and air whistle blowing. I start slipping back into being that kid on the floor of our house on Falls Road with the Lionel train years ago........I was very impressed with how it ran, looked and was having a great time. I hadn't had this much fun with a train in years.
I also started thinking - here was a ~70 year old toy train. Wayyyy older than me. I started asking myself, while looking at it, "Who had this?", "Who got this for Christmas on year?", "Where has this thing been and what kind of stories could it tell?" For me, wondering those things cranked up the "cool" factor even more.
I bought that 681 about 14 months ago, the first Postwar ANYTHING I've bought. What do I have Postwar today?
-2055
-726RR
-2065
-2025
-2023
In addition, plenty of freight cars. I also have two complete, all original, boxed sets - 1515WS and 1467W.
I'll be looking for a 773 at York this week.
As you may be able to guess, I don't call Postwar "rusty old sh*t!" anymore.....(well, some of it still is
You stated:
"I also started thinking - here was a ~70 year old toy train. Wayyyy older than me. I started asking myself, while looking at it, "Who had this?", "Who got this for Christmas on year?", "Where has this thing been and what kind of stories could it tell?" For me, wondering those things cranked up the "cool" factor even more."
I moved from post to prewar (still keeping my post war) and asking the same questions. Always imagine the person who received this as a gift/Christmas present and the joy they got out of thatI always wonder the same thing about any pre-owned locomotive. Who had it...where was it....was it a Christmas gift?....etc. For instance, I have a pre-war British locomotive manufactured by Hornby in Liverpool in 1937, and I always wonder where it was during the Blitz. (It didn't make its way to the US until the early 1990's.)
We are just a bunch of sentimental folks. Shows where are heart and minds are
long live PW and MPC......
Jsulli21 posted:
Found at an estate sale and a very happy camper. This one was well taken care of and the long wait finally paid off. What a steal for a piece of american made toy that will probably outlast me. Finally one for the good guys, Now if anyone can recommend what to use in cleaning up the body without any damage would greatly appreciate.
Jsulli21 posted:Jsulli21 posted:
Found at an estate sale and a very happy camper. This one was well taken care of and the long wait finally paid off. What a steal for a piece of american made toy that will probably outlast me. Finally one for the good guys, Now if anyone can recommend what to use in cleaning up the body without any damage would greatly appreciate.
Sure would like to be able to see the picture!
LOVE these old engines they have a certain magic about them I think we all agree on that men.Nick
GeoPeg posted:Jsulli21 posted:Jsulli21 posted:
Found at an estate sale and a very happy camper. This one was well taken care of and the long wait finally paid off. What a steal for a piece of american made toy that will probably outlast me. Finally one for the good guys, Now if anyone can recommend what to use in cleaning up the body without any damage would greatly appreciate.
Sure would like to be able to see the picture!
I see two postings of photos of the 2340. anyone else not see the photo?
Gents,
Got that BEAUTIFUL 773 - 1950 edition - today at York. All within the first hour of the doors opening. Photos when I get home. Ran great in the hotel room, will get some test runs at home and then major servicing as needed.
Jsulli21 posted:GeoPeg posted:Jsulli21 posted:Jsulli21 posted:
Found at an estate sale and a very happy camper. This one was well taken care of and the long wait finally paid off. What a steal for a piece of american made toy that will probably outlast me. Finally one for the good guys, Now if anyone can recommend what to use in cleaning up the body without any damage would greatly appreciate.
Sure would like to be able to see the picture!
I see two postings of photos of the 2340. anyone else not see the photo?
I tried Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer and Firefox, plus I did a reboot - still no pictures 
Windows 10, cannot see with firefox or IE.
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