I have acquired a prewar 1631 observation car and it's matching 1630 pullmans. I would like to install lighting in the three cars, but retain the prewar trucks. Is this a job that is relatively easy to perform with the correct parts? Also, can a postwar knuckle coupler be installed on one of the pullmans prewar trucks? Any help greatly appreciated.
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I just looked at close ups of the trucks and couplers. You would have to duplicate the coupler tang to match the original and attach a new knuckle coupler to the new tang. Quite a bit of work.
The lighting would not be relatively easy either, as you would have to fabricate some kind of slider or roller on the bottom of one of the trucks. If you can cut bend and solder a brass pickup for the middle rail,,, maybe...., but I would find a way to battery power a light in the car.
My comments assume there are no power trucks available and you have to modify the existing trucks.
Just my opinion.
Good luck!
Lots of prewar cars had pickups for lighting. I bet Jeff Kane @ The Train Tender can help you find something. Also, Lionel made adapters for prewar to postwar couplers. Jeff can help with that also. Henning's is another great place for parts.
Good luck,
Chris
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