My All Postwar Lionel Layout “Updated 4/7/24”

@jim sutter: Jim, I am not quite sure. Most are either Lionel or K-Line. I’m sure there’s a small bit of cars from Menards in the mix, but there’s also quite a few custom cars too.  
And Thank You very much for your compliment, Sir!

I Custom Designed n’ Built this Layout to be Zero Tolerance across it’s Entirety.
As w/ the standards of the original layout, the same rings true w/ the New Track System.
Here’s a brief clip sharing just how closely spaced things are w/ the NYC Passenger Train rolling through the rails of Siding #7.
The FM’s blaze right between the block signals, too.

Dang Eli! Digging that siding #7!

Those F units and passenger cars just float through the gantry crane!
just killing it!
great overhead (drone!) movie making!

as always I can almost smell the Ozone!

Thanks, awesome PW power to ya.

Fully Operational American Flyer 596 Water Tank…
Since the acquisition of the large collection, this American Flyer 596 Water Tank has given the boot to the Lionel one that lived here for many years. I have stripped all the old wires out & rewired it completely. Didn’t have the actual controller for it, but the one I hooked up is just as appropriate.  

FRV now has plenty of water to fill all the steamers rolling through the rails.

See it in Action 🎥 at the bottom of this post ⬇️.

@Leroof: Thanks so much for your compliment, appreciate it Sir!

Howdy Folks…
Welcome to The Working Railroad of Flint Rock Valley!

- 27 O22 Switches

- 15 Outer Loop Switch Block Powered Sections

- 5 Inner Loop Switch Block Powered Sections

- 11 Trains across the Layout

- 4 Open Sidings

- 1 Wye

- 1 Reverse Loop

It’s like a Chess Game:
You have to move something to make things happen!

Time to Play ~ it’s Your Move!

Awesome layout!

@steam: Thanks so much for your compliment, Steam!

Alright Everyone,
this Postwar Lionel stuff is
Serious Business…
Y’all All need to really
Quit Horsing Around!!!

The Service Yard of FRV
has just rolled out a few FM’s
like they’re Factory Fresh.

Picto Series of stripping down Lionel’s Postwar 6425 3-Dome Gulf Tanker from 1956 for a deep cleaning.
Notice the bent handrail & the rusty wheel.
All tools used to perform this project are as shown, minus dawn dish soap, a paint brush & a different toothbrush & warm water, & my favorite little mini vise used to straighten out the handrail (& of course oil at the very end for lubricant).  
All I used to clean the handrail was the scotchbrite pad. Also, only one ladder needs to be removed for complete disassembly  

Now that there’s Fresh Oil pumping out deep from the bellows of FRV, we’ve gotta have somewhere to put it for transport. This is the first tanker car of my original set of ten.

One down… Nine to go!
(& that’s not including the 30+ I acquired all together a few months ago. lololol)

Details on the Detailing of the Ninth n’ Tenth Tanker Car.

These Ten Tanker Cars have waited patiently well over a decade for their opportunity to Ride the Rails of FRV.
As w/ any engine/ rolling stock/ etc, not a single thing hits the track till they’ve been thoroughly gone through & made as new as possible.
It’s a lovely site to see the crud knocked off the wheels & everything dust free gliding down the tracks. It’s been a long time I’ve waited to tackle this project, & couldn’t be happier seeing them finally on the layout.

Hope Everyone enjoys the clip,
& Thanks for Watching!

On to the next project…

Flint Rock V, You've really done some excellent work and I appreciate the carefully laid out restoration process, the neatness and organization.  Question is what did you do with the very yellowed decals, leave them as they were, or remove and replace.  Thank you for the time and effort to provide this to us.  chuck

@Chuck242: First off, Thank You so much for your kind words & compliment! Much appreciated, Sir!
As for the tank car body, I use heavy dawn dish soap & water (this batch was cold, but most of the time it is warm, too). Using a soft paintbrush to apply the soapy liquid. Being these decals are so fragile, I very lightly brush in straight lines along any decals surface, making absolutely sure not to scratch it or remove any of its surface. I use a toothbrush in other areas for heavier buildup. I do this fairly quickly, as to not let the liquid soak into the decals. When done I give it a thorough rinse w/ some warm (not ever scalding hot) water. Either let stand dry, place in front of fan, & or use compressed air (very carefully, especially around decals) to dry things completely.
Some of these decals are what makes or breaks the piece, so it’d be a crying shame to damage one that’s held up over the many years of its life. Any damage seen here was as is in my possession, prior to their cleaning.
Thanks for your inquiry, & let me know if you have any more questions, Sir.

~Eli

This Latest Project of FRV has been on the books for quite awhile now,
& it’s finally coming to fruition…

Completely cleaned the entire station inside & out, & polished it.  
Next up is to fashion a 1 - 3 tube for All Three Smoke Stacks to Chuff.
🏭💨🏭💨🏭💨

FUN Stuff!!!

Fabricating the 1-3 Smoke Stack w/ parts on hand in my shop. Need to purchase a four way + copper fitting (shown mocked up of my homemade one w/ the blue tape covering the joint).
The Smoke out of All Three Stacks is being driven w/ smoke fluid by an All Original untouched/ as received 2025 Locomotive w/ Aluminum Stack w/ Rubber Stamped “2025” on the Boiler Front Keystone… & OH, MY, Goodness does this thing Chuff like Ten Men in a Cigar Room!!!

What a Fun Project!

Fun!

Some Before n’ After pics prior to reassembly of Lionel’s Postwar Early 2025 Steam Locomotive.

Ahh…  
The sounds of Sweet Success!
🚂💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨

Progression of Lionel’s Prewar 840 Power Station w/ Smoking Stacks.

Did you soak the 2025 in Evapo rust or something else?

@Mike M: Hi Mike. Thanks for your inquiry!
I use mineral spirits for all things not requiring soap n’ water. You can see all the cleaning tools I uses in some prior posts, or my entire process on some of my clips here or on the tube.

Update of Lionel’s Prewar Smoking 840 Power Station:

In this clip I’ve got the baffle system worked out from 1 - 3 Stacks to my liking.

I always enjoy seeing the progression of a Project, & I hope Y’all do too…  
soooo, I present You This:  
The base for the 2025 in it’s rough form, which shall soon live inside the Power Station (in the above clip, which is inside running).

Love this project--and the outside the box thinking to provide the smoke.

I had a design in mind for the Custom Roller Base that I think y’all will quite enjoy...
And when I say Custom, I mean it in every sense of the word.
I Present to You:
My Rough Draft of the Custom Roller Base the 2025’s Drive Wheels will sit upon. I’m using staple end truck axles w/ the wheels flipped around so their flanges hug the outside of the drive wheels. Mind you, this is merely a mock-up of the prospective outcome. It’s such a tight fit, that the flanges of the roller wheels don’t even hit the side rods.
Next is to fashion the frames to hold the roller wheels, then attach them to the base.

What’s that you say: You’ve never seen a Roller Base using old Lionel Wheels.. well You have now!

Pic of Roller Base jig below ⬇️.

Thanks for Looking!!

Next Locomotive & Tender to roll into the Service Yard here @ FRV:
Lionel’s early edition 726 along w/ it’s 2426W Tender. This set came in the shape as shown & received. It hasn’t been touched & or ever ran since in my possession. It’s been waiting patiently for it’s turn on the rails.
The loco is missing one front left marker jewel, one left rear side rod screw, & it’s whistle.
The Tender has a healthy chunk taken out of the front left of the coal load. Have yet to disassemble to see if by chance the missing piece is inside, but I doubt it. It is also missing it’s entire front bottom truck assembly, all it’s wheels, & it’s pickup roller. Though in the mass amount of parts on hand, I happen to find all the right things to make it whole again.
Will most likely end up having to purchase a new side rod screw & whistle. I may look into replacing the marker jewel at some point, but fixing that is low on the list.

This should clean up fairly well & be a great runner. Look forward to sharing it w/ everyone when done.

Hope All Y’all have a Wonderful Weekend!

~Eli

Since I’m waiting for a few parts on the rebuild of the 726, here’s an update on the parts breakdown, cleaned shells, & now newly refurbished 2426W Tender. To roll this around a bit I borrowed my trusty 736, a long time mainstay of the layout & one of my favs.
Only the Good Lord knows how long this thing has been dormant (especially in the dire state it was in)… but alas it shall now have an entire new life to serve out here on The Rails of FRV.

Thanks for Watching!

S’cuse me but I am already convinced 726 will be another great rehab tale!

Have to set this project aside for
a few days till my parts arrive.
Thought Y’all’d like to see the
transformation of the 726 till
it can be reassembled.

From Eli here @ FRV:
Happy Railroading Everyone!!!

What do you do when there’s old n’ crusty wires on your Locomotive,
well what else but replace’em…
🚂💨💨💨 ⚡️🧲⚡️🔄⚙️ ✔️

I just couldn’t help myself to do
a little Test Run on the
Newly Rebuilt 726.
Still needs a (custom built)
Headlight, Short Smoke Stack, & the Cross Head Flapper…

She’s a Beauty!!

@Flint Rock Valley posted:

I just couldn’t help myself to do
a little Test Run on the
Newly Rebuilt 726.
Still needs a (custom built)
Headlight, Short Smoke Stack, & the Cross Head Flapper…

She’s a Beauty!!

Nice job bring that old girl back to life. She has the larger "long stack" motor too. Supposedly that motor was used in store demonstrators only so they would not overheat after hours of running.

Rebuilding the 726 & 2426W Finale….
🍿🍻  🎥

Thanks Eli, for sharing the rebuild!  I watched the several videos that you posted and will watch the YouTube video next week when I have some free time.  I think the rebuilds of vintage equipment is the most rewarding part of our hobby. It amazing that these 50+ year old "toys" were built with such quality materials that they can be brought back to working condition with skills such as yours.  Best, Dave 

hi Eli,  wondering what you use for a cleaning solution for the metal parts.  Best, Dave

@Former Member: So glad you enjoyed the 726 & 2426W. Thank You for your compliment, Dave!
I had thought I’d shared this somewhere in the posts available, but perhaps not.
Anyhoo, as asked, here is the “solution” & a few select other things to remedy most any n’ all your cleaning n’ detailing needs. This particular picture/ tool kit was for the servicing/ detailing of O22’s, minus the screwdriver & wrenches the rest serve me well at the cleaning dish.

I document & narrate all that I share solely for your pleasure.
I don’t have much of any Train Friends where I live (one- my buddy John), so it’s enjoyable for me to reciprocate Our Passion w/ All Y’all Like Minded Train Folk.
So on that note,
Guess who’s been busy in the Service Yard turning Wrenches…
That’s right I’m back,
w/ the Latest Rebuild from FRV!

Tune in, n’ We’ll All be Whistling a Happy Tune Across Our Tracks Together.

Happy Railroading!!!

Hi Eli, thanks for posting the "solution"!  I use mineral spirits as well, but your parts look clearer than mine!  I think you soak yours longer that I do, and some of those tools in the picture look like what my dentist uses.  Lol