Restoring a Lionel M-10000 Streamliner 12/27/19- The Motor Runs!

Came across this thread, and, as a guy who repaints LIONEL trains for a living for over 42 years, if you sent this set to me for a full restoration job, I would definitely try to talk you out of it!  Yes, as most on this thread have stated, and I agree - it's just WAY too nice to strip and repaint. Unusual for Pre-War- especially silver items!

The lettering is still sharp and crisp, and other than a few scratches - which I would live with - the silver is quite beautiful! Most M10000 sets we get in here to restore are downright awful - but your set is a real find!

Glad to hear restoring is off the table. Yes, get it running, and operational - but leave the original paint intact!  My own personal yardstick for "restore or not to restore" is this: - with any new item I add to my own personal collection, I will clean it and put it on my display shelf for a week. If the condition doesn't bother me after that time - it gets left alone!  However, if there are too many scratches and chips for me to "live with" - it gets pulled off the shelf, dunked in the stripping solution and gets a brand new paint job!

Happy Thanksgiving to all,

Len Carparelli

Like everyone above said, clean it, rewire it and have some Fun and enjoy it, Happy Thanks Giving to you and every one

Len, your advice is top notch, sir.  I, and I am certain many others, take note of your opinion.  I have enjoyed your services in the past, have other items I am considering sending your way.  May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and best of the Christmas Season to you and all yours.

Jesse   TCA  12-68275

Len Carparelli posted:

Came across this thread, and, as a guy who repaints LIONEL trains for a living for over 42 years, if you sent this set to me for a full restoration job, I would definitely try to talk you out of it!  Yes, as most on this thread have stated, and I agree - it's just WAY too nice to strip and repaint. Unusual for Pre-War- especially silver items!

The lettering is still sharp and crisp, and other than a few scratches - which I would live with - the silver is quite beautiful! Most M10000 sets we get in here to restore are downright awful - but your set is a real find!

Glad to hear restoring is off the table. Yes, get it running, and operational - but leave the original paint intact!  My own personal yardstick for "restore or not to restore" is this: - with any new item I add to my own personal collection, I will clean it and put it on my display shelf for a week. If the condition doesn't bother me after that time - it gets left alone!  However, if there are too many scratches and chips for me to "live with" - it gets pulled off the shelf, dunked in the stripping solution and gets a brand new paint job!

Happy Thanksgiving to all,

 

Len Carparelli

Len- I hear you. As more folks have responded its obvious as you said that this is a rare find. Probably been sitting in my friends attic for 40-50 years. As others have said for a set that's 85 years old it is in great shape.

I can only hope I look that good at 85

Love Trains- thanks and same to you and yours.

George S- very nice looking set.

Lehigh74- great now and then photos.

Forest posted:

RSJB18 posted:

The shoes are on my list. Have to source the parts.

I think Jeff Kane aka The Train Tender has the shoes. 

Forest

Contacted Jeff and he has the parts.

Thanks Forest

While the turkey was roasting.....

Dismantled and cleaned the Observation car. Some dish soap and a old toothbrush later....

A lot easier to take one of these apart than a modern loco.

The rivet detailing on the belly of the car is very nice. Heavy too- the piece is solid aluminum

The window film is still flexible. I was afraid they would shatter when I touched them but they cleaned up well.

The jewels were black before washing

Bob,

  It's looking good! 

Tom 

MNCW posted:

Bob,

  It's looking good! 

Tom 

Thanks Tom.

Looking great! It's amazing what thorough cleaning can do.   

JD2035RR posted:

Looking great! It's amazing what thorough cleaning can do.   

 

Sure does.

Thanks JD

they looks great!

Steamer posted:

they looks great!

Thanks Dave.

That really is rather special, isn’t it? 

<>The rivet detailing on the belly of the car is very nice. Heavy too- the piece is solid aluminum<>

Pretty sure it is pot metal/zinc/zamac or whatever it is properly called. Many of them warp like crazy. You are lucky that yours is still straight.

RoyBoy posted:

<>The rivet detailing on the belly of the car is very nice. Heavy too- the piece is solid aluminum<>

Pretty sure it is pot metal/zinc/zamac or whatever it is properly called. Many of them warp like crazy. You are lucky that yours is still straight.

Could be, regardless it's got some weight.

It seems that I have been very lucky to have this set fall into my hands. This kind of stuff usually happens to somebody else......not me.

Rockershovel- thanks

FWIW - I agree that painting this trainset probably isn't a good idea, although I think that all of the UP variations were painted in the then-UP colors of yellow and brown.  As it turns out - as you likely know - there were several versions in the M1000X series.  The version owned by the OP here is indeed based on the original M10000, which was a three car unit train set with shared Jacob's bogies to provide articulation.  The power car - accurately depicted by the model - contained the 600 hp Winton prime mover (spark ignited, distillate fuel), a Railroad Post Office section and a baggage section.  Successive M10001 and M10002 versions also had the "turret"-style front end, but were longer trains and bigger (and diesel) prime movers.  The later M10003 to M10006 versions were different, having an "automobile"-style front end (a couple of  the pictures of tin-plate versions posted earlier in the thread are models of those trainsets).  It was an interesting era, with UP actively engaged in designing and commissioning these trainsets.  Rather than hijack this thread (further), I'll post some pictures of the M1000X on a Real Trains thread that I downloaded from wikimedia (all free of copyright) - along with a link to a detailed description of the M1000X trainsets from Utah Rails.

More history! Love it!

Thanks Rich

Started re-assembling the observation car yesterday.

re-wired the rear truck and cleaned the wheels.

Nice and shiny now

And re-glued the felt bushings for the vestibule. Also still in great shape for their age.

This car is done except for needing a new light bulb. Need to pick them up for the whole set.

Enjoyed my favorite adult beverage too!

Bob

That observation car looks great, Bob!

Coming along nicely. I think you got a great deal on this set. 

Happy to see you only cleaned it up and rewired it, it looks great

When my old time train buddy passed away his family offered this set to me, free. I always loved to watch it run around Jim's layout. I turned them down because it seemed it should stay on the layout. The family is keeping the layout in operation. I did take a six unit City of Portland that I had sold him years ago. I only had the original three unit train but Jim had added to it. Don

RSJB18 posted:

Forest posted:

RSJB18 posted:

The shoes are on my list. Have to source the parts.

I think Jeff Kane aka The Train Tender has the shoes. 

Forest

Contacted Jeff and he has the parts.

Thanks Forest

He's my go to first train parts guy. Very polite and very knowledge-able about he has and what you need. If he doesn't have it then the hunt is on. Glad I could help you.

Thank you. Forest

Hi All- In between doing all the Christmas decorations I did a little more clean up on my UP Streamliner set. Cleaned 80 years of crud off of the wheels on the vestibules. The wiring on these looks OK so I'm going to leave them alone.

Then I started on the motor. This will need a complete rewiring. I pulled the brush plate and cleaned the commutator. It's in great shape, no signs of excessive wear or pitting. Cleaned the E-unit too.
I found a set of brushes for my 2037 steamer that are the same size. 

Have to order some parts from Jeff at The Train Tender today.

Bob

Bob can you reattach the pics as they are not visible. Thanks

Done- I pasted them in, guess they didn't show.

Let there be Light!

I received the bulbs and new pick-ups from Jeff at the Train Tender the other day.

I'm impressed with how well lit the car is with just one bulb at each end.

Cleaned the middle car too

Engine body is next and then I'll tackle the motor.

Bob

RSJB18, Bob,  WOW, your lighting effect is Beautiful, great job, Merry Christmas to you and your family.  I really like your streamliner set. Happy Railroading 

Thanks Larry. Same to you and yours.

Yea- it's starting to look like something.

Bob,

  Nice progress. Looking forward to more updates as it moves along.   Merry Christmas 

Tom 

Been wondering how your project was coming along. It's turning out quite nicely

You are doing a great job with that, Bob!!

Tom, Lew, and Mark,

Thanks for stopping by and looking.

Merry Christmas to all!

Bob, It was worth the visit!!!!

Looks like your project is coming along nicely, Bob. It amazes me how well the set has held up over 70+ years. Can’t wait to see it run.

Thanks Paul- while its not running yet, both cars and the engine have been cleaned and reassembled. The motor is the last piece of the puzzle but I want to do it when I have enough time to go start to finish on the wiring. I don't want to stop half way through and miss something.
All of the track has to be cleaned and I want to see if the original transformer and rheostat still work.

Here's today's progress:

Center car is done and on display lit up. Had to fiddle with the window glazing and brackets for a while to get it back together properly.

The engine has been reassembled as well. Looks much better than before. Lots of grime in the stacks bays.

Before

After- just like the tail light lenses, the head light and dome lenses were black before.

I'm still amazed the plastic for the windows is in such great shape.

Onward and Upward!

Bob

Busy with some last minute shopping yesterday and the kids wanted to bake cookies.....

I did find a few minutes to check the old transformer that came with the set. It still works! The cord is very brittle and will need to be replaced.
The rheostat is neat but it has asbestos wire and a sheet of insulation above the coil so I plan to wrap it up and put it away for now.  Amazing where that stuff was used years ago.

Interesting.  In all the years I've been in this hobby, I have never taken the time to understand those early transformers.  So each contact on the transformer is a step in voltage and the restate is used to make the transition smooth ?

There sure are a lot of taps on the winding Dan. I've never see so many on a small transformer either.

Yes- you have a combination of either constant output which can be varied through the rheostat or stepped voltage in three ranges.

I'd love to open it up and see what makes it tick but I have a feeling that if I do all of the wiring will turn to dust in my hands. Think how well you would move if you were in the same position for 80 years. Add in the heat and its a sure recipe for disaster. 

Here's a better view of the top.

Bob

RSJB18 posted:

There sure are a lot of taps on the winding Dan. I've never see so many on a small transformer either.

Yes- you have a combination of either constant output which can be varied through the rheostat or stepped voltage in three ranges.

I'd love to open it up and see what makes it tick but I have a feeling that if I do all of the wiring will turn to dust in my hands. Think how well you would move if you were in the same position for 80 years. Add in the heat and its a sure recipe for disaster. 

Here's a better view of the top.

Bob

Aren't the casings for these transformers spot welded closed ?