the old tinplate how do you like them?

I like mine showing that they were part of a child's life, 

not a trophy sitting on a shelf!

Running at about 60-80 smph

Rattlin' around the layout!

Well-loved with enough life left for another hundred plus years. Or as I tell my wife, "Just like her, a wonderful patina, still in excellent shape with a little 'love-wear' around the edges."

I look at the scratches, and imagine the joy some child had putting them there. I remember the simplicity of childhood, and miss it dearly sometimes. not always fun being the grownup.

from the number of times i've accidentally dropped a piece of tinplate without a noticeable mark, i sometimes wonder what sort of play sessions could cause any damage at all.

tip of the day... unfortunately i cannot say the same for cast iron wheels.

handle with care!

cheers...gary

They are dear to me, which is a bit funny as they are just objects, meant to play with.

But they are intriguing, been in somebody's hands in times I can only try to grasp a little.

Times I only heard of by stories of my parents and family and now even they are not around any more. Feels like I'm driven out of that safe haven and drifting around on my own, and one way to cope with that occasional frighting feeling is to build up a little world beyond, a world I can share with others by the way.

They call it escapism I think. But it helps me a lot, as life outside is already exciting enough.

Kieffer

I like my trains to be in the best original condition possible. I have no interest in restored items, nor do I purchase reissues/reproductions. I'd rather have a well worn original.

Bright and shiney MESG with all the eletronic bells and whistles available and running on a SGMA layout.

Bob

I prefer the effect on my imagination that original tinplate has versus "scale", as well as the colors, the variety, the mechanical reliability, and rather trying to represent any sort of hard core reality with rules, I found more freedom to tinker with an engine that doesn't represent a huge cash outlay, as well as having found that I enjoy the challenge and reward of bringing some pieces back to life.The research that's needed sometimes can be pretty daunting and yet rewarding as you feel like you really accomplished something when an engine or car comes back to life like living history you can't find in a book. Another thing I like are the old transformers and having to adjust speed on curves, etc. I think cruise control would bore me. I like the Giard whistle more than realistic diode driven accuracy. 

I like the noise, the smell of oil, and at times, putting the pedal to the metal. It has no pretense to be anything other than what it is, a toy. If it breaks down I can repair it easily. A worn brush or a gear is easily found. It's made retirement very enjoyable. 

I love the originals as like every one said.  You think of how that child was given the piece , was it for Christmas, a birthday or the rare just because gift.  Or did they save their money and buy it themselves.  I found a piece of tinsel wrapped around an axle on a loco I gave my son for Christmas .  It made me think of all the past duties that engine had pulling freight or passengers around countless tree's .  Then I also think about how the piece was separated from its owner as well.  

Glenn

I wasn't my intent to unintentionally insult anyone's tastes. If so, I apologise.

Its strictly my choice of not preferring scale, as I said, because there are no rules to tinplate. Theres enough room for anyone to go where they want to go..it's just that "realism" not my path. That doesnt make it better or worse than scale examples. Just different.

And back to TrainDork's question:

I just clean them, with care, trying not to rub away paint or breaking tired parts. I can live with minor missing parts, and I have no problem with a new spare part. Usually they are only bolted or clipped on, you can always take them off without any damage.

My latest treasure is a Nr 10 Lionel. The seller thought it was a repaint, but it wasn't.

Only the roof top had a light repaint, some water based stuff I could easily wipe off. I was more than happy that the original paint was almost intact.

It was mainly dirt and dust that made the engine look very dull. Frankly speaking I have been considering a repaint, but when in doubt: don't do it, is my motto.

And to be honest, a good friend and my wife strongly objected.

It is sometimes tempting, bringing back some life at least in a totally battered item. Being a painter myself, knowing how to do these things, it's fighting your own instincts.

And, my wife and friend were right after all. It doesn't feel good, it wouldn't have been that old Lionel any more. It's standing on a little piece of track now, and I look at it in the morning, and enjoy it in the evening when a little old reading lamp makes the trim shine.

No, I perfectly understood your intention! I was just mumbling for myself, and like you it's a matter of taste without disrespecting other views. It's like you say: just different.

I am not a native English speaker. Sometimes I have the feeling I miss the right wave or tone or wording or something, but I really don't want to pick on people here or argue with any one.

If it sounds like that, I do apologise!

I do that set up for misinterpretation myself more often than seldom and I was born here.

that's what makes this such a great hobby. there's room enough for the scale guys,and the tinplaters. I have pleny of trains that are ready to go, so I get more pleasure, being on the floor at a show searching thru a junk box. It pleases me no end to see a locomotive or car going down the tracks because of me. My 225E is one example.

I like my tinplate either on my layout or within arms reach :-)

Anywhere between H0 & Standard

Steve

I don't have modern tinplate. All my items are either pre-war European or 1950's Marx O Gauge. It ranges from "slightly scratched" to "pretty banged up." It all runs. And, yes, part of the intrigue is speculating on who had it and where its been before it got to me.

All of my Standard Gauge Tinplate trains are modern reproductions while I have both modern and pre-war tinplate in O gauge.  My tastes vary from time to time, sometimes I enjoy running modern while on other occasions I like running my old stuff.  I suppose it depends on my mood.  Bottom line, I love 'em both.

When I first got back into trains I had managed to keep my mother from getting rid of my Lionel and one Marx set.  However my other Marx set was the M1005 AA set and all that had survived was the caboose.  It took years to find one but that set was always on my wanted list

I like the original stuff better.  As said before it is interesting to speculate on its history, and I like bringing them back to life. 

Having said that....there are a few repros that I would consider, items that are just too scarce for me to acquire the original.

Agree with you John. I picked up a dead mint Ives 1694 made by Williams for $380 on evilbay, and we both know how much that would set me back as an original.

I have been a O scaler for 15 years or so, but all that changed when I got a clock engine just for the #### of it a month ago.  My life has changed, my lionel removed from the train tabel and O-27 is now in charge.  When I was cleaning my garage I found 3 sets of Marx, and it sure looks cool.

Al

I like my tinplate for the family history behind it. My dad's old Lionel train from 1931 was out of our family for 35+ years and was generously gifted back to me by an old family friend in 1998, thirty years after we had moved 3000 miles away.

Ace, that is excellent. Good to hear the train is back where it belongs.

beautiful set Ace!