Inherited train set!!

Welcome to the top of the cliff, let us provide you with the grease!

Please post some pix and any other info you have. Plenty of regulars here to help.

Bob

I’m not telling you what to do, …..ok, I’m telling you what to do,….there’s a special bond between toy trains ( or model trains if you’d like) and the Christmas season ,….to a lot of us, they go hand in hand,……those old postwar Lionels you inherited are as tough as they come,….don’t wait till Christmas Day, get them out now!…it’s still way early in the season, start enjoying them now!….( just my .02 cents ) …..I see you’re relatively new to this forum, so welcome aboard …….there are some super super smart Postwar Lionel gurus on this very forum!!…..( Chuck Sator, BMORAN4, and the list goes on) …the books you ordered are gonna be cool, but they won’t compare to that hand on the throttle!…..got your tree up??..get em under there,….we’ll help you get going, those guys can give you quick tips for lubing, testing, and get you going ……enjoy your inherited trains, ….sounds like you’re in a for good time…..

Pat

Welcome aboard, Evan! Plenty of folks on here ready to help. I’ve been running trains since 1947, when my dad bought my first sets just as I was born. Show us some photos! We’re excited for your journey in this fun hobby.

Hi Evan, and welcome

   I think you'd enjoy scrolling through this PDF from the Lionel corp. back in the day. "How to operate Lionel Trains and accessories". Its a neat intro to postwar Lionel that has good info about how to set up a layout and operate it and basic maintenance tips and so forth. It is dated (circa. 1965)  so, enjoy it for the history as well. Fun Stuff!!

https://clintjefferies.com/tra...ual_1965(larger).pdf

@Evan Miller posted:

I’m pretty excited to have recently inherited a Lionel 0 gauge train set. Oh and, I’m completely new to the whole train world!!!!

The dear man, pretty much a stepfather...

I feel like a kid about it!!! I’m 51 years old...

I think you're fortunate to have received this particular inheritance. The "dear man...stepfather" must have been aware of your interest and known that his lifetime train set would be appreciated and in good hands with you. To me, if you're 51 years of age, you're still a kid! I'm much older, and I feel very fortunate to have model trains as a hobby which, for me, began at around the same age as your benefactor. Trains and model railroading are fascinating. I hope you stick with it and enjoy the hobby.

MELGAR

Evan,

Congrats on the train set and welcome to the Forum. We always feel like kids when it comes to trains.

Here are some things to think about

1) the Transformer -- this is probably the most critical part of the setup.  If you got one, please check the plug and wires.  Old transformers are fantastic for running the PW trains, but the insulation on the wires will harden and can cause a short or fire when its plugged in.  fortunately,  replacement wire with a plug are available. 

2) the track,  old lionel track can have rust on them which will cause problems, the rust can be removed,  with scotch pads, DO NOT USE STEEL WOOL!  the small filings will get caught in the engine wheels. 

3) the engines will need to be checked out, generally they will need to be lubricated and the wires can also be frayed, and cause a short.  the e-unit which is the lever that makes the engine change directions,  the e-unit can have some issues, but it can be repaired.

4) all the wheels on the engine and cars need to be cleaned.  Lots of ways to do that.

The 2046 engine is wonderful.  If you want to understand the ins and outs of repairs, I suggest getting the step-by-step manual from JWTrains.com. I have used several of his manuals, they are engine specific, its one stop shopping for the e-unit,  smoke unit, wiring,  cleaning. etc.  Also, while taking apart an engine is one thing, putting it back together is another thing.  The manuals are 13.75 each.  He also has one for the tender, in case you want to get the Whistle working.   All that said, many on the forum can help with questions.

Good luck 

@Evan Miller welcome to the forum!  It's great that you've come here looking for information on how to preserve and run your inherited trains.

@Penn-Pacific posted:

Hi Evan, and welcome

   I think you'd enjoy scrolling through this PDF from the Lionel corp. back in the day. "How to operate Lionel Trains and accessories". Its a neat intro to postwar Lionel that has good info about how to set up a layout and operate it and basic maintenance tips and so forth. It is dated (circa. 1965)  so, enjoy it for the history as well. Fun Stuff!!

https://clintjefferies.com/tra...ual_1965(larger).pdf

Thank you for posting this, it's a good resource.  There was a minor issue (typo) in the link.  I think this is what you had in mind:

LionelOperatingandIntsructionManual_1965

Edit: The link keeps changing after I fix it when I update this reply.  If the [ just before "larger" is changed to a ( the link works , but it won't stay that way after updating.

@Former Member posted:

I suggest getting the step-by-step manual from JWTrains.com. I have used several of his manuals, they are engine specific, its one stop shopping for the e-unit,  smoke unit, wiring,  cleaning. etc.  Also, while taking apart an engine is one thing, putting it back together is another thing.  The manuals are 13.75 each.  He also has one for the tender, in case you want to get the Whistle working.

I find the explicit refusal to provide part numbers to be alarming and even more disconcerting to find there are different specific manuals for items that are the exact same construction excepting the number painted on them

@SteveH posted:

@Evan Miller welcome to the forum!  It's great that you've come here looking for informatoin on how to preserve and run your inherited trains.

Thank you for posting this, it's a good resource.  There was a minor issue (typo) in the link.  I think this is what you had in mind:

LionelOperatingandIntsructionManual_1965

Thanks for reposting the link, but, I guess the forum mods didn't like any of them because I clicked and it went "404 not found" immediately. At any rate those pages can be found in this book;

Operating 0 and 027 trains  on Amazon

I poured over that book (among others) in the 80's and 90's and it really was helpful in designing a layout and operating my trains in the early years

The "search" function on this forum is also one of the best resources for model train info. on the web today!

@Penn-Pacific posted:

Thanks for reposting the link, but, I guess the forum mods didn't like any of them because I clicked and it went "404 not found" immediately. At any rate those pages can be found in this book;

Yes this is a weird issue. I've tried to fix the link in my reply several times after I realized it did the same thing as when you posted it, but the interface keeps replacing the ( with a [  when it posts.  Go figure.

My goodness, where do I start to reply??!! I'll start with the list and work my way down.

RSJB18: Thank you. Sure thing, I'll post some pictures. We did and inventory and they are back in boxes and safe. (Although I did bring the loco's in from the garage to see just what they are in more detail.) I've been so busy this last 2 months with going through everything in the house and I'm exhausted! It will be a while before I can get some images put together.

Harmonyards: Thanks. believe me I'm doing what I can in my spare time full well knowing that Xmas is right here and I WANT to set things up!! Yes I'm new to the forum, I'm new to model trains! So for me to "Set them up ASAP" I'd not really have a clue where to start,Ha! With my commission artwork and seasonal shows right now I barely have any time. Well, at 4:30 AM the other day I was up with my owners manual reading by my phone light when she comes out and says, "What are you doing?" I replied, " Just checking out that you can have a car with cows that can be unloaded! See look!" She laughed!

Artie-DL&W: Thanks for the welcome! That's amazing, since1947! Whoa!! I did have a set growing up that was set up only once. I think it was HO gauge? As mentioned above, Photos to come.

Penn-Pacific: Will do. I do have a owners manual that's already been a huge help! Looking forward to checking out the link. Thanks.

MELGAR: Yeah just a kid to you no doubt! "(No idea how old you are!) I don't think it was his intention to give them to me , it just ended up that way. I'd really probably the better of my brother and I as I'm quite handy making things. He just didn't express interest. I've always respected my elders and love the idea that so many of you folks have had these in your lives for so long, it great!

Brewman1973: Thanks for the welcome. Ahh, I see you are a Tacoma guy, cool. I'm in Sequim WA! Noted on the 4 points. I'll look for that book and manuals too. Might be more coming for Xmas than she thought!!

SteveH: Thank you, I appreciate the welcome! I'll look into that link with the suggested edits. In my hunting around on the web this site came up and it seems perfect!

bmoran4: I bet once I get some pictures it will be obvious to those in the know what needed as far as manuals and such. Thanks for the heads up.

Penn-Pacific: looks like I'll need that book too then! Thanks for that update on the frustrating link! No problem, I'll find it.

In all, I really appreciate the comments. I'm pretty darn busy! I do wake at night thinking of the trains. I realize I'll have to keep on and I'll post when I can!!! Regards to all!

This has nothing to do with the "...forum mods..."  

Evan M.

I'm now 82 and have specified in my Will which trains from my O-gauge collection should be allocated to family members. I hope the inheritors will be as enthusiastic and appreciative of them as you!

When hobbyists are actively collecting/operating trains, probably few think ahead to the time when the final disposition of the trains must be made. Oftentimes, a widow may not have directions as to what to do and may dispose of them without knowledge of their marketplace value or sentimental legacy to others. You are a fortunate one! Enjoy the trains in the spirit in which they were gifted to you.

MY PREDICTION ... after a Christmas season or two, a holiday layout under the Christmas tree will no longer suffice.  You'll want to build and operate a permanent layout -- in the basement, attic, or a spare room. Your late stepfather would be pleased by your immersion in the hobby.

To further advance that prophecy and as inspiration, I've attached pix of my L-shaped layout. It is the culmination of the time and effort by dad invested in a train layout for me when I was a boy in the 1940s and 50s.

Carry on, relentlessly ...

Mike M.    LCCA 12394

Lots of good advice here and a very similar situation to mine. I inherited my grandfather's postwar Lionel collection back in 2002 when I was 37. Hard to believe that was 20 years ago. Like him, I set them up at Christmas and like others have suggested, in 2005 I built a permanent layout in the basement. Then I REALLY got the bug and started buying new and even stepped into electronics and command control (Train Master Command Control or TMCC in the Lionel world).  That "permanent" layout came down in 2013 when the kids demanded more social space in the basement, but I restarted permanent layout 2.0 in 2019-20. 

One of my inherited pieces is a 2056 engine, same as your 2046 but without magnetraction (meaning yours is better).

Please post some pictures of what you inherited.

Mike H Mottler: 82 and working with trains, excellent!! Such fun to be had I know! I can hardly wait. It's actually difficult to do my artwork and other responsibilities right now because all I want to do is immerse myself in the trains!! Oy, to have patience, which I have plenty,  but this is really interesting!! Thanks you for the encouragement. My brother and I are still undoing a household of deep entrenched living since 1966. It's difficult on many levels, but a good way to remember my mother and him. Still surprised that I had not ever talked with him about the trains, it just was not something that came up as he came into my life after I was out of the house. I do envision a permanent layout because it's far to exciting not to!! Thanks for the pictures.

raising4daughters: That's fun to hear for sure. Amazing that you had it up and took it down. Understandably so with children's needs. Glad you got back into it as well. I've really been sooo incredibly neutral as to what I have and knowing if it's better than other models out there. I'm just trying to understand and learn. I also envision how he felt about them and what he really enjoyed. It's such a privilege for sure. I'll work up some pictures when I can.

@bmoran4 posted:

I find the explicit refusal to provide part numbers to be alarming and even more disconcerting to find there are different specific manuals for items that are the exact same construction excepting the number painted on them

Thanks for mentioning the part numbers. Those are fairly easy to come by. Attached are the ones I have for the 2046. In my experience,  which I fully admit, that I am a work in progress with respect to repairs, I have repaired 15 or so PW engines,  the parts list do not exactly show how to break down the engine or put it back together.  So that is why I like the the JW trains manuals. You are also right about being able to use one manual for more than one engine number.

For parts,  Jeff at the Train Tender is great to work with.  www.ttender.com

Brewman1973~ Thanks for the parts PDF's.

Mike. M Mottler~ Those are great photos of your set up!! I love the Astroturf as the base layer of things, and I spotted a grommet for your wire drops, (my term here) very nice!!! What a layout and the amount of time invested, well done!

Rich Melvin~Thanks for the manual upload link. Got it. I do have a manual I'll take pic of and let everyone know about. This one you suggested is slightly different and welcome!!

@Former Member posted:

Attached are the ones I have for the 2046.  

@Evan Miller posted:

Brewman1973~ Thanks for the parts PDF's.

Just an FYI, posting those files is likely a copyright infringement and against the forum TOS as they credited to the commercial work done building the digital collections being scanned, compiled, edited and sold on CD by Olsen's Toy Train Parts/@sharon.ottparts.

Some examples of licensed/legal copies (aside from any originals) can be obtained for all eras:

Prewar:

Book Publication: Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Prewar Parts & Instruction Sheets

Digital Publication: Olsen's Toy Train Parts has many digital CDs

Postwar:

Online: The LCCA/HSL Digital Archive is available to LCCA Members and covers all Lionel postwar items.

Book Publication: Greenberg's Repair and Operating Manual for Lionel Trains, 1945–1969

Digital Publication: Olsen's Toy Train Parts has many digital CDs

MPC/LIT/Modern Era:

Online: Lionel - https://www.lionelsupport.com/service-documents/ Product Supplements 1-47 and www.lionelsupport.com

Book Publication: Greenberg's Lionel Modern Era Diagrams and Parts Lists (Covers through ~1991)

Here’s an attempt to show a book purchased from Ebay by Bantam from 1950, and the train manual that came with the set. Both at excellent resources so far.

I did order the “Operating 0 and 027 trains” from Amazon today as well. ( I might get to look at this one pre-Xmas.) vs. the 3 books I mentioned before that are FOR Xmas! Or so I’m told! Ha!
When I mentioned about everyone’s comments and how I “should set it up now” she said, of course!!! Really, she’s not quite as excited as me, but still extremely supportive of the idea!! Good fun!

Anybody ever seen one of these? It was also part of the set. Must have been really fun for a kid to put it into use designing a track layout!!

Have a great Sunday everyone!

I have a few of those stamp printing kits in my collection. Great for the imagination!

@Evan Miller posted:

Anybody ever seen one of these? It was also part of the set. Must have been really fun for a kid to put it into use designing a track layout!!

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Well what that's interesting.  You don't see those often.  Thanks for sharing.

@Evan Miller posted:

Anybody ever seen one of these? It was also part of the set. Must have been really fun for a kid to put it into use designing a track layout!!

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Yes, Evan I have seen this item before and in fact I have one which I inherited from my Grandfather way back in 1960.  I used it many times when planning my early layouts.  It's a neat artifact to own.  

@OKHIKER posted:

Yes, Evan I have seen this item before and in fact I have one which I inherited from my Grandfather way back in 1960.  I used it many times when planning my early layouts.  It's a neat artifact to own.  

That's great!

We worked up a completely temporary layout last night and it will be something I just try and see how things go.

Welcome to the forum and to this hobby. I warn you, but I think you already know, the train bug can bite pretty hard! I'll just add one recommendation,  a great winter read : "All Aboard", by Ron Hollander- a fascinating, poetic, and nostaglic book on how these trains came to be.

I'm an artist and former cabinetmaker myself. I love the "art" of the toy train. Maybe add your website to your signature. I'd love to see what you do.

Evan, this website had disappeared, but thanks to the efforts of one of the forum members here, it is back on-line. This is one of the very best sites for all around information: I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet. You need to scroll down and read carefully all of the varied subject matter categories and then click on any of them.

http://www.thortrains.us/

Also since you have postwar trains, here's another site devoted to postwar stuff that you might find informative.

https://postwarlionel.com/

@Will posted:

I'll just add one recommendation,  a great winter read : "All Aboard", by Ron Hollander- a fascinating, poetic, and nostaglic book on how these trains came to be.

I'll second that. 👍

Mark in Oregon 🎄

@Will posted:

Welcome to the forum and to this hobby. I warn you, but I think you already know, the train bug can bite pretty hard! I'll just add one recommendation,  a great winter read : "All Aboard", by Ron Hollander- a fascinating, poetic, and nostaglic book on how these trains came to be.

I'm an artist and former cabinetmaker myself. I love the "art" of the toy train. Maybe add your website to your signature. I'd love to see what you do.

Oh, it certainly has bit plenty hard alright!! I'll look into the book, thanks. I've added the website to my signature, hopefully it works!

Cheers!

@brianel_k-lineguy posted:

Evan, this website had disappeared, but thanks to the efforts of one of the forum members here, it is back on-line. This is one of the very best sites for all around information: I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet. You need to scroll down and read carefully all of the varied subject matter categories and then click on any of them.

http://www.thortrains.us/

Also since you have postwar trains, here's another site devoted to postwar stuff that you might find informative.

https://postwarlionel.com/

That's some pretty amazing info there, thanks! Went to the sites and I'd say that they're dangerous!! Incredible resources for sure! I'm not sure I'll have any more time for anything else now! Ha!

Evan, your website link isn't active. You have to use the link icon when you do your signature. If it is active, it will show up as blue in your posts.

@Will posted:

Evan, your website link isn't active. You have to use the link icon when you do your signature. If it is active, it will show up as blue in your posts.

Will~ Much appreciated!c I think I corrected it.

About 1/2hr ago I set up my 1951 Lionel loco #2046 on nearly the tightest circle I could, with the track it came with and (added in a straight section) and gave it whirl for the first time in my life! My smaller transformer was not working for some reason, the larger one did! Mind you I've never done trains and this was a big step after a light cleaning and lube of the loco. I spent about 3 hr.s total scotch-brighting the track. 2 days ago I set up an initial layout I like, and that's the track that got cleaned. So for now, The loco works and the coal tender 2046W does not whistle just yet, but today was a large effort getting to this point.

Here she is, 1 of the locomotives that came with the original set. I quickly  composed this shot out on my porch with some track roughly joined. Hope ya enjoy it!

That's a handsome engine!

@Will posted:

That's a handsome engine!

Thanks, I really like it myself!

I imagine the folks that saw this initial post would like this picture too. I'll have to repost it.