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Who runs postwar operating cars? If you do, which ones do you run and why? What tips do you have to share to keep your postwar operating cars in good working order?

In other words, this topic is all about postwar operating cars so feel free to show us and tell us about your past and current experiences with postwar operating cars.

I will start us off.

As a child I had the following Lionel postwar operating cars: milk car and platform, barrel car and ramp, log car and bin to dump the logs in, and #397 coal loader.

As an adult, starting in my late 30s until my mid 50s, I bought mainly at local hobby shops about 8 coal/ore dump cars and the #97 coal elevator, about 8 milk cars, about 8 log dump cars, 2 operating merchandise cars, and 2 more barrel cars.

Yesterday , I ran a Lionel postwar Erie Lackawanna FM Trainmaster hauling several coal and log dump cars:

I also ran this operating milk car unit train:

As you can see, the milk car unit train is led by an MTH Railking PS3 NY Central RS3 and includes an operating merchandise car and caboose.

I have more to say and show, but before I do, tell us what you think of postwar operating cars together with photos and videos of them. Please comply with the Forum Terms of Service including posting only photos and videos you have taken or those in which you have the written permission of the owner to post. Arnold

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@MELGAR posted:

Arnold,

Are those all operating milk cars?

I've never seen that many in a train before...

MELGAR

Yes, Key is to have the wheels properly lubricated and to run them slow and smooth so the sliding shoes don’t get snagged on the switch tracks. This works best for me when pull them with a command control engine running on DCS, or Legacy or LC+ using the LionChief Universal Remote. Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari Great topic Arnold, another reason I kick my self for straying away from Lionel track. Besides not being able to run operating cars; any PW cars with solenoid type couplers are shelf Queens. I do have a horse car and a milk car on a siding.
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I almost forgot about the power car that’s also stationary.

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I also have several stationary cars that receive freight from operating accessories.

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