Rough whitish surface on silver locomotive wheels?

Wish, I could help, and I hope this is not that pest thing discussed in several forums. this will be interesting to see what experts think.

Those wheels are ZAMAC, a zinc alloy. The white is surface corrosion.
I'd polish it off, and not worry about it.

I should have asked: How did you come by the train?

   Because it might be a heavy cleaning, I'd brush the loose lightly first, then jumper the motor and spin them to brush. It will stop creation of many little flat spots (Dremel) ; smoother rolling.  I'd clean and flush for the corrosive dust, trying to keep it contained to a small area.

I suspect that may have been a flood/leak victim, against a basement wall,  caught sunlight part of the day (condensation) etc. etc.

Better to ask here on the forum if there are steel wheel replacements. Why anyone would make diecast wheels on an engine is a mystery to me.

Better to ask here on the forum if there are steel wheel replacements. Why anyone would make diecast wheels on an engine is a mystery to me.

The ZAMAC wheels are genuine Lionel production.
Lionel used die cast wheels prior to 1950.

It looks like it's just oxidation (What rust is on steel.), so a good cleaning and then regular running should fix it and keep it from coming back.  The oils it picks up from regular running should be more then enough to keep the wheels in good shape. 

C W Burfle posted:

I should have asked: How did you come by the train?

I just bought it. Advertised as C-9, and it has clearly never been run.  But one of the coupler thumbtacks is missing (just the steel end, the plastic part is there and unbroken) and the (plastic) spring on that coupler knuckle is also broken.  The seller will pay return shipping if I don’t like it.  If only the coupler I might just ask him if he would rather give me a few $ for parts but I think this wheel cleaning may be a bigger project than I’m looking for (not a lot of free time and I need to build a layout which is why I was trying to buy some trains that only needed a quick lube). 

Thanks for the information everyone. 

Did you inspect the engine for other damage? Any rust forming on the frame or handrails? As Adriatic wrote, the engine may have been exposed to excessive moisture. If you would not be out any money, I'd send it back.