Postwar Preferred?

I like a mixture of Postwar and Modern Era, but my actively buying Modern Era stopped around 25 years ago. Why do I like both? A few reasons. I can place 25 MPC era freight cars behind a PW locomotive and have it pull them around my 11 x 17 layout with ease. I can use my PW operating cars with MPC locomotives. I can run that mix of old and new trains that I remember happily from my childhood in the 1970s. Here's a few photos of the layout in progress.

I like PW Lionel easy to repair, gotta love the smell of ozone in the air, I do have Williams, K-line and MPC along with some PS-1s they are great pullers.

@HOPPY posted:

How many of you have had second thoughts about buying or holding on to their modern era trains and yearn to return to running Postwar trains exclusively?  Nostalgia and the idea of simple upkeep are something that appeals to me.  Thanks for all replies!

Never. I'm 76, still have my 1955 2055 Hudson set and extra cars, loved every minute of it, admire much about the PW product and memories.

But, I've always been a model railroader (at heart, though I use the 3RO Hi-rail format to practice it), so the PW equipment definitely won't do for me.

I mean, I have - for example - a Lionel 1:48 SP Lima AC-9 2-8-8-4 that runs like a watch.....1955 just can't compare.

I’m with you.   Postwar all the way.  Sold all my modern stuff.   I’m 76.  Still run my 1467 set my dad gave me in 1951

I'll always have a soft spot for late prewar to early postwar trains, about 1937-1950. It's what my grandparents who got me into model railroading ran and probably the reason I still prefer running everything conventionally. And at Christmas time I always have some postwar trains running as part of my tree display.  But as an operator I wouldn't want to go back to that era, I love the slow speed control and easy maintenance of modern can motors and digital electronics. Maybe it's a generational difference, but the frequent maintenance required to keep a Pullmor motor running in regular operation seems a lot more tedious than troubleshooting a failed circuit board here or there.

For me, it's the "look" of my favorite PW pieces that I like. I also love the heft and construction of many of Lionel's offerings from the PW era.

Should I ever return to 3 rail, it would be with "traditional" sized trains with an emphasis on PW Lionel. (Along with some Marx and other "traditional" sized 3 rail offerings by other mfg'ers.)

Now, should dexterity, eyesight, or both, ever cause the need to up-size my trains from my HO scale modeling I am currently involved in, I would take a serious look at S scale hi rail. There's some truly good looking stuff available in S scale hi-rail.

However, for now, I can still do HO, so it's full steam ahead!

Andre

If you will allow, to illustrate how nice traditional sized PW and PW-type trains can look among "sincere scenery*", I have a couple of pictures to share.

* "Sincere scenery": Scenery in which reasonable attempt was made to create plausible scenery.

First up: Just simple 027 track on a charcoal gray base with some of my PhotoFlats on the backdrops...

(Note: In the above picture, the figures are S scale, or 1/64". After doing some experiments, I concluded S scale figures worked better than 1/43 or even 1/48th figures when it comes to the reduced size of "traditional" trains.)

Now, to up the ante just a bit, look at what a difference it makes if one simply uses GarGraves sectional track and switches in a similar setting:

To my eyes, the track change alone raised the realism bar so that the traditional sized equipment looks even better.

Admittedly, a couple or so scale sized cars are amid the above scene, but the engine and cars on the right are not. Those are all traditional sized. The engine is a Railking SW8 and the cars on the right are 6464 type boxcars.

Now, just think how much better that last picture would look had I eventually painted the rail, put in appropriate ground texture, vegetation, and such additional efforts as that?

SO... I think there's great potential in a Hi Rail layout with PW and PW-type equipment and thought I'd share the above as an aid is seeing its potential!

Andre

Yep, PW does it for me. @Sitka showed me this little gem from 1957 and I've been hooked ever since:

She's my littlest one, but, with a few reversible mods, she packs a punch. The rest of my PW roster:

1955 2340-25 GG1

1955 2354 F3 AA set

1965 2322-15 FM

1960 2037 Adriatic

1946 671 Turbine

1947 2025 K-4 (thanks to @Mark V. Spadaro)

1949 2025 K-4 (again, thanks to Mark Spadaro)

1948 675 K-4 (again, thanks to Mark Spadaro)

I've tuned up every one of these locos and gotten them running like new, possibly better, and they almost seem happy. While I do get the modern stuff 'cuz it IS fun to run in Legacy and/or Lionchief, working on "Wellspring-Era" locos is considerably more frustrating and less rewarding.

I must admit, Post War trains in the late 1940’s and 1950’s were the best toys a boy could have ever wished for, the Lionel F3 Sante Fe’s, the gray F3 New York Centrals, the 773’s, the 726’s, 736’s, 671’s, 682’s, GG1’s, FM’s, smaller motorized units and tons of accessories and the competition Marx,  Gilbert’s American Flyer Lines, and the sectional track, what great memories…. This is where the memories are that stuck with me all my life, and PW trains will always be remembered. However, we can’t live in the past and Lionel has made the best moves over the years to keep us model railroaders able to enjoy the hobby in a much more realistic way, Command Control. Also, going more into scale has given us the look of real trains. By using our handheld Cab remotes, we can enjoy running our trains with our friends and walk around our layouts instead of being behind a transformer in a fixed position. Running our trains, on a nicely done, scenicked layout is just amazing. Slow crawling speeds make for realistic fun, so enjoyable. Great question, lots of interesting views. Happy Railroading Everyone

While I have respect for what Lionel did in the postwar period, it is not my generation.  Having come into this hobby at a very young age from the real trains I saw, I never had much of an interest in Lionel.  As I've matured, I have a few key Lionel pieces in my collection.  A 2332, 773, 736, 781, 2046, and a 2035 that came mainly from local auctions when the price was very favorable.  The 2332 and the 773 are keepers for sure but the rest will probably go back out to auction.  My main interest in Lionel is in the wonderfully colorful tinplate standard gauge of the 1930's.  Outside of that, I'll always come back to being more interesting in scale pieces regardless of whether it is in O, HO, or N.

Pretty much what Larry above said

I can see a small PW layout around the tree or a 4 X 8 display table preferably using Super O track as I have no particularly fond memories of regular tubular track. I started with American Flyer in 1949 and "our" 2 rail T topped track just oozed realism compared to 0-27 track.  Flyer's ads convinced us that Lionel's stuff was 'just toys' while our equipment was 'accurately scaled from the real thing' ! Pretty convincing to an impressionable young lad of 6 or 7 years old!

My Flyer engines were pitiful performers compared to the neighbor's Erie Alcos (I now have a pair) and small steamers. Sure, my 312 K5 smoked AND choo chooed better than the small Lionel steamer but theirs had a REAL whistle!

As fun as those days were on floor, when I got back into the trains at age 43, I gravitated to the 'realistic approach'. Highrail was a new term that I quickly embraced.  It was nice to discover that the wonderful and handsome Lionel F3's  actually were pretty close to scale. Then came the 18" passenger cars from K-Line and the much hyped scale 700E. I was hooked and gradually have gone full 3 rail scale with the intent to convert to Kadees and lower some of the diesels for a better look. If I were younger (am 80) I would jump into 2 rail O but that's not practical now.  

Photography is a major interest with the trains and I enjoy trying to get good photos that convey the realism of our modern 3 rail equipment. All of the manufacturers have made great strides in detail and realism in the last 25 years.

I have kept 2 post war locos, my first train from 1956 along with the 4 cars it came with and a steamer I acquired in the early 80s.  The rest of my post war rolling stock has found new homes.  I guess one could call my layout high rail and due to space constraints it will remain 3 rail but if I had the space and could do it all over I would go 2 rail. 

I still have all my Post War that my dad and I collected and still add select items now and then in fact just picked up a 726 and a 2346 but at the same time I acquired a Lionel Modern Era 18010 S 2 Scale and a Williams Cab Forward. I predominantly run modern era MTH using DCS but have no issues running my Post War when the urge hits me and love running them. Still have my first Lionel 2353 F Units I got at the age of 9 months in 1953.

I have been and probably always will be an admirer of all things Lionel, both pre-war and post-war.   I was brought up on Lionel trains in the late 1940s and 1950s and still love running this stuff.  The bulk of my collection is post-war and I never tire operating the F3s, Berkshires, turbines and Hudson's.  I still love operating their ingenious accessories as well.  The abundance of the old Lionel Corporation's trains still available and still running is a testament to the quality and durability of their products.  I also have several pieces of MPC equipment as well as a generous supply of TMCC motive power and rolling stock which I run quite a bit but my first love is old school Lionel.

I am an E unit fan so pre/post war are my focus.  I do own a couple modern steamers, mainly because I wanted a Big Boy and a Challenger.  They have a term for us, 'Luddite' and in one of my other hobbies, Amateur Radio, my primary radio gear is WW II surplus and American made gear from the 50's and 60's, even my motorcycle is 48 years old.

Raised by a single mother, in and out of projects, I never had toy trains as a child. My much older brother had some AF, but they were sold when my dad died. So I have never had any nostalgia for or interest in them.  That said, I do have some PW trains I inherited from my brother that are in a box somewhere.

With all the problems with the new stuff plus the lack of parts I would be PW and Pre war if I was getting into 3rail again.

Although there are a few exceptions, I think most of the folks involved with model railroading grew up with them in our youths DECADES ago. That makes post war rolling stock precious memories.

In my case, nothing can compare to the 2026 and it's consist including the classical whistle tender and puffing smoke. I did upgrade the pellet smoke chamber to liquid smoke for convenience and options with smoke scents. I was ecstatic when I was given an old 1948 Lionel catalog from a relative who cleaned out a hoarder's home and saw this consist in the catalog! Price of $47.95 was probably not cheap back then. I do have some modern engines to provide fun sounds and ease of operation, especially for grandkids who are very much into technology, but when I come down to run some trains, it usually begins with the classic whistle, then pull out with all the smoke rings!

Enjoy some photos of the catalog, consist, and and a video with the smoke rings.

Michael

I hope I run as good as my postwar NYC F unit when I'm 75! 

Since I got back into trains in the 1970s postwar was the way to go.  Postwar was available. inexpensive and repairable.  I have less money in my large selection of trains (if I take out my new when issued K-line GG1 and the Lionel 756, like new freight set) than the cost of one new, latest, fancy engine and I can fix the PW trains and find parts so whats not to like?

CALNNC My other hobby is vintage 1970s stereo gear as the big receivers, with real transistors are repairable, powerful, beautiful and were being given away in the early 2000s. 

Charlie

PW Lionel NYC 2344 ABA from 1953, along with Santa Fe 2333 1948-49, Also added the NYC 2344C B unit from 1950-55 to the ABA set

Sitka,  those two were definitely the pair to have!  I had Flyer and used to drool over those Lionel catalogs...

Other than a few select postwar Lionel items (Santa Fe Super Speedliner, NYC F3s, 773 Hudson / Irvington cars, 5-Star General), I jump from prewar right to modern era command control. I'll never part with my prewar tinplate and the small number of postwar trains I own. it's what I grew up around. Whether it's prewar, postwar, or MPC-era, I suspect those trains will still be running long after our rolling computers (modern command-equipped trains) have become obsolete. I enjoy running my modern trains that have DCS, TMCC and Legacy, but I don't expect them to last the way their predecessors have.

@Michael Pags posted:

Although there are a few exceptions, I think most of the folks involved with model railroading grew up with them in our youths DECADES ago. <snip>...

Michael

I guess I'm an exception. I never owned a Lionel when I was but a lad.

My first electric train set was an HO Marx set I received in '58. My only 3-rail was a hand me down Marx 999 set with 3/16" litho 8-wheel cars I was gifted in 1960. Had a ton of fun with it, but it wasn't Lionel.

I did have a friend that had a Lionel set, and I played over at his place some for a short spell... but otherwise... no Lionel in my life.

For Christmas 1962 I received my HO scale Lindberg Lines train set, and that one set the hook in me for model railroading. HO has been my primary model railroad medium.

It wasn't until I discovered the charm of Lionel in the early 1990s that I began to have an interest in 3-rail, with a lot of that interest being Postwar. I had amassed a pretty large collection. However, in 1998 fully 99% of my 3 rail stuff was sold in order to help raise the front money we needed for our forever home we still live in.

Since that time, my 3 rail involvement has been much more subdued.

Andre

Well, if you have an original 1937 or close Hudson J1e, and have a new 125th anniversary VisionLine J1e Hudson, you will then have The Best of the Best…Wow! Lionel continues to Satisfy… Happy Railroading Everyone

I am blessed as I have prewar, postwar and modern Lionel. I run and enjoy them all. But if I had to pick it would be late prewar. I think that was Lionel's high water mark in all its years of making trains.

Hi @Bill Swatos  I too prefer Postwar Lionel trains.  I also have a #41 US Army switcher.  It was my very first electric train.  I received it one Christmas in the 50's.  I'm curious about the "reversible mods" you've performed.  Your motorized unit doesn't sound or pull like mine!  What did you do?

John

@c.sam posted:

Sitka,  those two were definitely the pair to have!  I had Flyer and used to drool over those Lionel catalogs...

The Santa Fe was like the 3rd PW Lionel I bought some years ago and the NYC around 2014 for a real good price, the 2344 NYC is a good runner.

Another Favorite and good runner Wabash 2240 AB from 1956

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

Since I got back into trains in the 1970s postwar was the way to go.  Postwar was available. inexpensive and repairable.  I have less money in my large selection of trains (if I take out my new when issued K-line GG1 and the Lionel 756, like new freight set) than the cost of one new, latest, fancy engine and I can fix the PW trains and find parts so whats not to like?

CALNNC My other hobby is vintage 1970s stereo gear as the big receivers, with real transistors are repairable, powerful, beautiful and were being given away in the early 2000s.

Charlie

Off subject, but I've got a Crown SL-2, PL-3 through B&W DM-12's with B&O Beogram 1700 and MMC 20CL cartridge. Can't beat it today! My Kyocera DA-510cx lost her mind so I'm looking for a replacement.

@CA John posted:

Hi @Bill Swatos  I too prefer Postwar Lionel trains.  I also have a #41 US Army switcher.  It was my very first electric train.  I received it one Christmas in the 50's.  I'm curious about the "reversible mods" you've performed.  Your motorized unit doesn't sound or pull like mine!  What did you do?

John

John, short answer is 4 "low-profile" traction tires on the drivers, held along the outside edge with CA adhesive, "Quadra-Trac" if you will. There is no "differential bevel" to the drive wheels on these motors, so the tires will be "flat" to the railhead. The "low profile" diesel traction tires are available from "Trains in the Attic" on the auction site:

My Delrin lower bearing came loose a while ago, but I caught it right away so there was no damage to the bearing, worm or drive gear. Not having a machine shop to make a bronze one, I cemented the Delrin bearing in with contact cement and let it cure for a week. I made up a 50/50 mix of silicone plumbing grease and Yamalube MoS2 grease to apply to the Delrin bearing after the contact cement was well cured as above. I greased the worm and gear with 100% Yamalube:

Make sure the contact wipers on the pilot and trailing trucks are in good shape as these will serve as the outside rail contacts. The CA application takes some doing so I can email you the details on that process.

The majority of my collection is MPC (along with postwar & LTI) but I have a few legacy engines, MTH, ATLAS & Williams engines.  While the new stuff looks nice, I've had a lot of issues with it. Couple that with the prices and I usually find myself running the older stuff more.  I grew up on MPC and also had my taste of postwar through my Dad's & Uncles trains.   If traditional sized trains are placed in a realistic setting, they can look really good. All it takes is a little imagination, which is a big part of what this hobby is about.    Plus, there's nothing like the smell of ozone, grease and oil and the sound of a Lionel air whistle.   

I'm exclusively Postwar (and MPC). My version of one of the  5x9 Lionel Dealer Display Layouts.

Thanks for the reply, Bill.  Adding traction tires would definitely improve the pulling power.  I think I'll leave mine alone.  It has too much sentimental value to me to make any changes. 

John

I prefer the scale sized locos and cars of the modern era. but could do without all the electronic gadgetry that comes with it. Even steam loco smoke gets a bit much after a while.  I never understood the point of crew talk on a steam loco or smoke on a diesel.