Pulled the trigger on a 675

I hope you got a nice one. Many of these are worn out and you won't know until it arrives in your hands. Look at the rear axle bearings first thing. If there is excessive slop, as in egg shaped, its seen lots of miles. I have looked at a lot of these at shows and bought a few. If I cannot check axle bearing slop I won't buy one. I have asked many sellers and never get a factual answer. Best to pass. The tenders you want sell for 34.00 or a bit more on average. A LOT of sellers buy parts and make up tenders so you can't be sure there either. The correct tender will have an all metal whistle and 2466 wx on the bottom. A number of these "hobble" going down the track because the factory did not always get the axle holes properly drilled. Let us know how you made out.

Rob

It's great to finally find what you are looking for, isn't it?  Now to complete your search.

Enjoy.

 

George

 

Mike, once you find the tender send me an email if you are still interested in the 2400 cars.  I have a 2400, 2401 & 2402 that I am going to sell.  They are in nice shape.

 

Doug

If you can rebore and sleeve worn out bearings for the 675/2025 I would think there would be a demand for that. Its something I looked into myself in the past. I bought some Madison Hardware motor assemblies to replace mine that were worn out. Sounds like you got it covered.

Rob

Pulled the trigger on a 675

That's one BIG rifle. Personally, I think a 470 Nitro Express or a 500 Tyrannosaur is plenty. 

I take the chassis and strip all the wheels/axles out of it, clamp it in a vise and redrill the axle bearings on a buddies drill press.  Then I use brass tubing to make up a sleeve that goes from wheel to wheel when they are in gauge.  Been awhile since I made one up, but I am sure I could do it again if need be.  Usualy the ones that are worn to that extent were not properly oiled over the years.  A little play is ok, but like you, I have seen them with loads of wear.  But I like how the earlier drive runs compared to the later alum plate chassis.  Those later 2025 and 2035's seem to all have that common gear noise to them, where as the early 675/2025 dont.  I used to have one that ran so freely, that without a load, the lowest notch on my ZW would send it off the track at the first 042 curve on my layout back then.  I have pulled 15-20 car trains with that one. A buddy down in Arcadia would make up these huge floor layouts, multi level with return loop.  Last one took 15 min to go from start to finish!  I would just keep adding cars till my 675 started slipping out, then remove a couple and run with it.  I even modified a pilot to have a non operating coupler so I could double head, just like the PRR did on the Broadway limited.  His older K line PRR heavyweight train was to much for a single 675. But my 675 double headed with his 2035 could handle it with ease.   He was working on a short wheelbase 4 wheel truck to correct the wheel arrangement, dont know if he ever got it done as I have long lost touch with him.  He had it so the wheelset was right back almost touching the lead driver in 031 curves.  Truck was mounted more like the later 4-4-2 starter set engines with a shouldered screw thru the center of the truck in to a drilled and tapped hole in the pilot.   Mike

Here is a pic lifted from the auction.  Has some touch ups obviously but the other pics showing the running gear and underside look good.  Keeping my fingers crossed.  This was the best example, at the local shows a nice 675 fetches 175 to 250 dollers.  Which is out of current budget. I have better matching enamal paint, so I will redo those touchups to better match the OEM paint.   Mike

As you said, the old 675 mechanism was just about the smoothest ever made in that period. I recently worked on a 1952 model 2025 and it was nowhere near as good. I still have 2 of the 47-48 models and love them.

Rob

My 675 arrived via Fedex this morning.  Absolutely no play in any of the axle bearings, no rust anywhere, only a light goove in the center rail rollers from operation.  Even the smoker looks seldom used.  As soon as this chunk of postwar metal warms up a bit, I hate firing up a 50+year old train that is freezing cold, I will give her a good running on the layout using dad's tender.  I am on the hunt for a correct tender right now.  I plan to look at the Great Train Expo in Indy tomorrow that I am attending with my friend.  New pics once I get her running on the layout.   Mike

Ok is it warmed up yet? I'm sure everyone is curious.

I will do you one better, how about a video?  She runs excellent, smokes up a storm using my old Kline smoke pellets.  E unit is a bit sticky from sitting but it seems to get better the more I use it.  I will tear it down later today and service the E unit to get it back to proper operation.  I had to do my dad's engine last year, dust and dirt had made it sticky, not so much anymore!  The Marx depot is one of my wife's B day presents, she lived in Girard, PA and her credit union was located in the old Marx toy/train factory that is now various seperate industries.  I have wanted to get her one of these for awhile, but they are always expensive or beat up.  Scorred this one for $15 at a shop in Lafafette, IN.  He got in a bunch of Marx in an estate, including a nice IC hand crank draw bridge.  I have to get the station wrapped before she gets home, B-day isnt till the 21st.  Enjoy the video, Click on the pic to play the video. Cheers   Mike