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

Another enjoyable and informative video Eli! However, you left us hanging on your alternate method of cleaning the white deposit from the tender shell. Keep the videos coming from the FRV.

@Former Member: I don’t believe it’s a matter of soaking time, just the time n’ effort involved in the cleaning process. Sure, sometimes I soak things longer depending on their status. But sometimes just throw it in the pan & get after it.

@Rich Wiemann: I know, I did that on purpose, cuz I knew you’d ask… lololol  
It’s a Trade Secret- Sorry! 😆

J/k. It’s something I’ve never done before & was/ is completely new to me. And very glad to have discovered it.
So the white buildup/ residue is much like that which accumulates on 2023 Shells & various other PW Stock. It’s filmy & a pain in the rear to get rid of. I had done my normal process w/ dawn dish soap & warm/ hot water. Applying it w/ a soft bristle paint brush & swirling round n’ round. Then use a toothbrush & scrub in detail the entire surface. The film was nowhere near as visible, until after I’d cleaned it. I polished a bit of it off w/ my shirt, so knew then it would come off. I had my cleaning pan w/ the mineral spirits in it & that particular cleaning toothbrush. Which I carefully applied whatever moisture of spirits was still on/ in the brush head. Since this is a painted shell, last thing I wanted was to damage it. My little test spot came completely clean. So I then coated carefully the entire outer shell w/ the spirits, & gently scrubbed away at it. After it dried off it was just an amazing discovery! No paint removal, yet it cleared up the white residue w/ ease, & was looking Oh so Sharp afterwards.
Anyhoo, there’s your long story/ paragraph for this new simple cleaning technique. Hope it helps You & Others make your cars shine Like New!

Have a Great Day, Sir!  
~Eli

I bet some of Y’all thought I abandoned this project…

Negatory Ghost Rider!!

It’s just been on hold till I get all my final steps accomplished.
So here’s the latest update of
FRV’s Smoking & Whistling
840 Power Station
🏭💨🏭💨🏭💨

Hope Y’all Enjoy!

Eli,

That is fantastic!!! What a great idea.

Not long later in the evening from the above clip, I put this together.
There’s no longer a need to slide the roof open to operate the whistle.

Latest update of the Smoking n’ Whistling 840 Power Station project…

In the following pics I’ve got the patterns cut out for the matching roller assemblies. They’ve been cut out using the patterns, then drilled & tapped. Next the axle holes have been drilled, & the axles cut to size, filed, & installed.
Minus sanding & polishing, the Roller Base Assemblies are now Complete.
And lastly a test run…    
Next up is to cut the base out & get the assemblies mounted.

From Eli here @ FRV:  
Hope All Y’all are having a Wonderful Weekend! 🚂🍻💨

From the 2023 AAAA consist of
The Working Railroad @ FRV:
Wishing ALL Y’all Train Folk a
Wonderful n’ Happy New Year!!!

~Eli

Clip of AAAA w/ 7 Car Consist.

And:
After lots of planning, configuring, & taking the proper time to create all the parts that went into this project, it is finally finished…
I present to You Fine Folks
Lionel’s Prewar 840 Smoking n’ Whistling Power Station.

Last Monday got the Custom Roller Base finished to completion & wired it in place. This is the first time I’ve put it all together besides the tests I’ve done throughout its progress. The baffle system needs a little tweaking, & the smoke stack needs to be sealed a bit better. Minor stuff considering what’s taken place thus far.
The building is still completely original & undamaged, other than the bottom plate of the smoke stack being removed.
This has been such a Fun & Unique Project! I’m glad it’s done & I can now carry on w/ other duties here at The Working Railroad of Flint Rock Valley.

As always, Thanks so much for Watching, hope Y’all enjoy the view!!!
🏭💨🏭💨🏭💨

Looking great! I was wondering why you didn't just use the smoke unit by itself, but the sounds of the engine running add a lot to the fun.

It’s a New Year, w/ a new phone that takes Amazing Pictures… so what’s more appropriate than a New Project for the Service Yard of FRV.
Much like the last complete FM engine breakdown & rebuild, up next is two matching 2322’s. Of which only the super nice one of the two is shown here.
As some of you know, not one single thing gets ran on my layout without a major servicing prior their running’s round the rails. I’m pretty excited to add these two that’ll be lashed up together to the Mega Fleet of Flint Rock Valley!

And once again,
Happy New Year to ALL Y’all…
& as always,
Happy Railroading to Everyone!!!

~Eli

@Scotie: If I did that, there’d be nothing to “drive” the smoke out of the smoke unit (without the lever of the smoke flapper being actuated).
And Thank You, Sir!
The sounds definitely help make it sound like a Power Station in operation.

@Flint Rock Valley posted:

I have kept from boring Y’all w/ the goings on over yonder...
For those that do show interest, here’s the latest update from The Working Railroad of Flint Rock Valley.

Massive, Overwhelming, I appreciate all I have learned from your how to videos. now, pardon me while I look for some right/left Lionel 022 and clean them up for use!

side comment for your expanded military genre "ALL your BASE are Belong to US".

Thanks Mr ELI.. it's been a while since we've seen you at an arrowhead dig site. Spring Flooding may cause your creek to get carved out enough to show new digs!

salute

This was filmed in 1958.

Howdy Train Folk,  
Y’all miss Me? Ehh, I didn’t think so…

Here’s some Trains anyway!  
Been busy of course, Always working on something. If you’re interested in day to day activities of FRV ~ there’s always plenty on my Fb Page.  
This is but one clip of an 8 min run I put together. Due to upload specs I’ll share a few more clips below from the shoot.
These runs are featuring the newly acquired 6464 Series cars that belonged to The Gentleman I bought the large collection from. Of which I shall share in its entirety w/ Thee, soon.
Oh Joy… I hope you’ll be as Excited as I am to share it w/ You!
See Ya in awhile Crocodiles 🐊! 👋🏻

Quadruple Vision of Lionel’s Postwar 6464 Series Boxcars. 👓👓 ➰ 👀

FRV Aerial View 🚁

Great videos Eli. The mirrors were a great idea.

Bob

Love that you run these items you get from collectors, that's what they were made for not sitting on shelves.

I have no idea if any of Y’all follow me on any of the social media platforms out there.
If not I’d bet that you’re just dying to know what it is that I’ve been working on here recently. No need to fret, for I am here to ease your conscience…    
This Texas Special was my very first F3 in my collection. Why it took me so long to get around to rebuilding it, I don’t have that answer. Alas, for it has now been rolled through the rails of the Service Yard here at FRV, & is operating like it just left the factory. Below is a few before/ after shots. The first one was during a wide swept power outage, so I was working in the train room w/ my headlight. lol  
After the rebuild it got the “All Clear” from the M.O.W. to proceed down the tracks.
I’ll post the continuation of this project below ⬇️… Enjoy!

While the shells to the original Texas Special AB Units are in no way cherry, I am a Texan & love them very much!
A random Texas Special shell had found me when I bought the large collection last year. So I knew I’d have a plan for it at some point. I chose this 2333 frame w/ motors I picked up somewhat recently from the only train friend I have here in town (My Buddy John). This thing was caked up w/ hardened grease from the days of yore. Building this dual motored Texas Special after I’d done the other original units helped me to create a powerful Dual Engine (three motored) ABA Texas Special. It sure makes for a beautiful train!

Hope Y’all are All doing Wonderful!
Thanks for checking out the pics n’ clips.
I’ll post some more of the latest projects after work mañana.

From FRV ~ Happy Railroading!!!

Howdy Folks! It’s Eli & I’m back w/ more Tales of FRV: 
Now as I am posting these latest projects, I’m actually going in reverse order that they took place. I’d imagine it makes no difference to Y’all. lol    
Right around Christmas time last year I picked up a 2354 AB from my local hobby shop. They’re not in the best of shape, but they were only $150 for the pair so I couldn’t pass. The A unit had one bad motor w/ a missing worm gear & its spur gear was shot. I have had a 2343P w/ good motors kinda stripped apart on the service desk for months now. I used its motors to rebuild the A unit, & then took the shell off my pristine 2354T. By doing this, I have now created myself a beautiful Dual Engine 2354 NYC ABBA Set. The B unit from the hobby shop doesn’t look too bad in the mix, till I might find a better candidate. Since the rear A unit “was” the horn, it is no longer available. So I am currently modifying the not so good B unit to house a functioning horn assembly. I’ll circle back with this later when it’s done.

I hope Y’all enjoy this super powerful beautiful train I’ve put together! I’ll post the prior project/s below as I’m able.
Thanks for looking…    
& as always ~ Happy Railroading to You!

As w/ any rebuild, I try & make it a point to show n’ share lotsa before/ after pics. This helps to see the work that’s actually been done. So I’ll leave y’all this evening w/ the last of my FM’s that've all been thoroughly gone through & run like they’re fresh off the factory line.

We’ll return tomorrow for the rest of the past projects to share w/ Thee.
Hope Y’all enjoy the pics n’ clips…

Have a good evening!

Someone’s having fun! Thanks for always sharing with us!

Howdy Folks, good evening!
Continuing on our backwards project journey, I have this clip to share.
If the rebuilding & detailing of any of Postwar Lionel’s FM Train Masters are something that you’re interested in, this clip might take your interest. It’s the longest clip of any rebuild I’ve done to date, w/ just about every aspect covered.
I’ll post the second of these in the next comment.
Hope Y’all enjoy! And if anyone ever has any questions, please feel free to reach out & ask. I’d be glad to be of help!

Here’s the second of the two Blue Postwar Lionel 2322 Virginians to be rebuilt. Being that I was in the middle of building three back to back I didn’t take any test clips. So these pics will have to suffice, & you’ll have to take my word that it all went perfectly.
Note the couple pics of the truck frames. One has been detailed while the other has not. It’s like a preview of a before & after.
Gotta a Super Fun clip of these engines to share next… ⏳

I call this “Tres Virginians”

That’s right, 3 Dual Engine Powered FM’s lashed together on one throttle of a ZW…  
How's that for some Pulling Power!?!?! 🤓

Wye not Inner/ Outer
Reverse Loop
Super Chief Sunday.
〰️📢 🔃 🛤️ 🔁 〰️📢

2 mins 50 secs 🎥 of
Pure Postwar Lionel
Weekend Fun Run
from FRV… Hope Y’all Enjoy!

There’s a New Train in Town!  
   
The following footage was filmed on March the 3rd, just shortly after I’d rebuilt these two individual matched AA Sets.
Lionel’s Postwar 210 & 211 AA’s. Lashing them together for a Beautiful Dual Engine Powered AAAA Texas Special.  
Hope All Y’all Train Folk are as fine as Frog Hair… Enjoy the clip!

Here’s the current lineup of The Yard.
All of which minus The General are recent rebuilds.
Hope Y’all enjoy the the pics…

Here’s the latest project from FRV:  
A lone 204P at far right, & a beautiful matched 204 AA Set (from the Large Collection). I’ve had the one 204P for probably 15+ years & it’s finally done. It was missing its brushes, nylon washer, & its field was loose from the truck plate. I re-staked it, added its missing parts & it came out perfectly. Just earlier this afternoon finished up the matched set.
The Rails of FRV now are Home to a Beautiful Dual Engine Powered Santa Fe 204 AAA Lashup. Clip of it in action to follow… Had a great time w/ this Super Fun Rebuild! Hope Y’all like the pics!

It’s as Beautiful a Train as I’ve ever imagined!

Hi Eli,  getting caught up on your restoration efforts, fantastic work!  I love the 204 Alco set.  The large mirror on your layout looks like you got double of everything. LOL  thanks for sharing.  Best, Dave

Howdy Train Folk!
Did ya miss me?
Naw, I didn’t think so…  
Here I am anyway, w/ a couple accessories added to The FRV Collection the past couple months.
The Fueling Station, Whistle Shed, & Windmill are things I somewhat recently received that go along w/ the large collection from late last summer. There’s a few more items this person is holding on to, but that’s a story for another day.
The windmill was sealed NIB, & much to my surprise I was able to find space for it on the layout right where it should be- next to The Farm. (& ps: that’s a Hot/ Cold blow dryer creating the wind current. lol)  
A couple decent prewar items, & an extra (slightly beat up) horse corral.
Fun Stuff!

The following attachments were meant to go along w/ the above post. For whatever reason, they didn’t seem to take. So I shall try again…

In conjunction w/ the somewhat recently acquired accessories, here’s a bit of the rolling stock, set box w/ contents, & an actual real train antique that I’ve happened across the last couple months.

And a reminder of what lives in the Space/ Military Display…

I’ll just let this video speak for itself…  
Whatcha think?

And lastly this days old clip…

Enjoy!!

What do you use to get your metal parts so clean?