My Grandfather’s Trains

You will need 0-72.  I don't know if 063 might work and I won't be back to my NJ layout for several months to test it.

Al

I have a Pridelines UP M10000 and it definitely won't negotiate the O54s on my layout.

Al's right you need at least O72s or bigger. It actually looks kind of funny on the O72 so I'm guessing bigger would be better.

Jerry

It was made to run on 072 minimum. Anything less will cause damage that you would not want too witness.

"Pappy"

I thought I would follow up on this.

In late January I got an M10000 that was in sad shape both mechanically and cosmetically.  The seller said it was found in a box in a shed.  The insulation on the wires is crumbling.  The motor is in the shop and I will rewire the vestibules.  It won’t look too nice, but it will run again (if the motor doesn’t cost too much to fix).  It came with O72 track that I cleaned up using scothbrite.  A few weeks later I got a 261 steamer and 261T tender (my grandfather had a 261/261T, not a 262/262T as I had thought earlier).  Then in late February, I saw a very nice M10000 on ebay so I got that too.

All tracks on my permanent layout have at least one curve that is less than 72 inch diameter, so I set up the O72 track that I got in January and ran the M10000 that I got in February.  I can see now what Pappy means.  When the train rounds a curve, the cars rotate about the vestibules.  The ends of the cars come pretty close on the O72 curves and if the track diameter is less than 72 inches, the ends of the cars will touch which would at best remove paint and at worst bend the tin.

A lot of those streamliners have problems with zinc rot on the castings. I have one in pieces that needed a new belly for the observation car, and a new tail piece. How are the castings on yours?

Pictures, pictures, pictures, please.

Richie

Lehigh,

Congratulations on your getting your layout ready to accept your new old trains. I'd like to offer one more little tidbit of advice. When running your M10000's you should keep your speeds down on turns even with 072. If you do not, you may find mysterious scrapes on your vestibules. These are due to the clearances being so close (especially if any bumps in track). 

I just recently got an M1000, bought new wheels from Train Tender and installed 072 curves- won't run on anything less. I tried.  No trouble with curves or the vestibules scraping but there were a few clearance problems on a few curves and an adjacent track. I also bought a new engine collector plate assy. although it isn't installed.  Enjoy !!

CW – Both have straight (unwarped) castings.  The seller of the nicer train said it had minimal zincpest in his ebay post, but I don’t see any.  The one that was in the shed has some rust spots on the tin and minimal zincpest on the engine and tail castings.

Richie - I would love to post a few pictures, but can’t with my ancient (6 year old) browser.  I took a shot of the M10000 and the 261 on my layout that duplicates the 80 year old photo of my grandfather’s and emailed them to some of my train buddies.  They thought it was great.

Pappy – Thanks for the tip.  I set up the O72 track on the floor temporarily and used a 1034 for power.  It’s not part of my permanent layout.  The vestibules came with a few scratches even though the better train still has felt pads on the ends of the cars to minimize that.

OK Richie.  Since you asked, I used my wife's PC with a different browser.

This is circa 1935.

And these are 2015

   Wow! Love the old pics! Looks like your Grandfather's original train was a 261E or 262E with a running board stripe! Rare bird! 

I believe it's a 261E with a 261T tender.  That's what I was told by someone that knows a lot more abour pre-war than I do.  I'm going to say there is no running board stripe on the 261E.  Its just a reflection from the lights.  If it had a stripe, then I would have to go out and try to find one to duplicate it and I don't want to do that.