Tin Plate Questions from an Ignorant O gauger

The recent and current MTH and Lionel (by MTH) offer PS/3 or PS/2 with DCS control in addition to conventional operation. MSRP is the same either way. There is also quite a bit of recent manufacture Marx around, but I don't know if that's actually still in production or not. The current 0 gauge tinplate field is rounded out by ETS, but that's European and you are interested in US. ETS is available with U.S. type 3-rail AC power and reverse and Lionel-style couplers. 

So all Lionel/MTH use MTH DCS and tether?

MikeMike,

    You can also purchase Lionel original Tin Plate rolling stock to pull behind a MTH Reproduction engine & tender, mixing them in with the new MTH repro rolling stock makes for a great looking Tin Plate layout.   We also have the original Lionel 2600 series work train on the Christmas layout, the original 2600 Tin is something you might want to consider if you are just starting into Tin Plate trains.  Having started out with Tin Plate as a boy I am stuck on it.  I do have other O Gauge trains, however the

Tin Plate trains are my favorite, especially at Christmas time, Original Lionel Tin Plate Engines are all Conventional, MTH Repro comes in both DCS or Conventional.

PCRR/Dave

WHEW! 

By the title, I thought I started this thread and forgot!

- walt

No tether with the conventional locos, but no smoke or sound either.  Some of the newer items are tetherless with the connection in the drawbar.

Thats a nice looking train! Is it a Lionel?

- I wouldn't say limited, all the PS2 and 3 locomotives come with full sound files, engine sounds, cab chatter, station announcements, whistle, horn, bell, whatever.  Additional sound files can be downloaded and installed.

"They all have a tether between tender and engine..."

- only the smallest standard gauge steam engines have a tether to the tender, all the larger ones have all the electronics in the locomotive.

"So all Lionel/MTH use MTH DCS and tether?..."

- The whole Lionel Classics line of tinplate (modern reproductions) do not use DCS.

As far as manufacturers, MTH does dominate the field at the moment.  But in addition to the original classic-era manufacturers (Ives, Lionel, Flyer, Dorfan, Marx, Hafner, Hornby and several others), there was a renaissance in tinplate and especially in standard gauge in the 1970's and 1980's, when a lot of very fine "modern era" tinplate was made: McCoy, Daniels, Roberts, CMT, Hendrich, Liberty Lines, Fourney, and more.  

If you can lay your hands on two books by Peter Riddle, you will fill in a lot of information on tinplate.  "America's Standard Gauge Electric Trains", all about classic and modern era SG:  and "Trains from Grandfather's Attic", which focuses on O Gauge tinplate.  Tinplate is rich in both tradition and innovation - and what there is to learn about tinplate will keep you happily occupied for many years to come.

My favorite tinplate set is an Ives 1616 set made by Lionel and illustrated in the last Ives catalog in 1932. I saw an original at York but the $10,000 price tag would have disrupted my domestic  tranquility. Plus I would have been afraid to run it.

MTH heeded by pleas and offered thsi set in original colorsand lettering. I got the version with sounds. They add a whole new dimension.

This set looked so good that I bought a Lionel 262E restored by Vic Panza so I could run an unactaloged Lionel set ("Department Store Special") from 1933.

I think what I am looking for now is a Christmas around the tree layout with sound. Currently my layout is all Lionel Legacy/TMCC.  All these tin plate trains seem to have character and memories.  I must say the work train and the Ives set seem very very nice! Thanks for showing them.

So I would need track and the MTH DCS system and the actual train. A full layout is just not possible but if we move to warmer weather and smaller house…Its just so hard to think of moving after 30 years. But if and when we do a standard gauge loop will be included thats for sure. 

Reading Fan,

     Now that 1616 is one serious hunk of Tin Plate Train, congrats on a fine purchase!

PCRR/Dave

Thank you, PCRR/Dave. That is my favorite tinplate set. I wish Lionel had cataloged these long, sleek, elegant cars with different locomotives. Those would have been splendid sets.

In stark contrast, their Standard Gauge counterparts (1766, 1767, 1768) were cataloged through 1939, the end of the pre-World War II tinplate era, and hyped to the skies.

To highlight their good looks I photographed a meet with a MTH Premier Reading T-1 in an Iron Horse Rambles paint scheme pulling SGL Lines 2000-series semistreamlined ("blimp") coaches.

All the trains in this thread are O-gauge there is no Standard gauge mentioned. Anyway the original poster mentioned  needing track DCS and possibly power. These are all included in starter sets made by Lionel Corporation Tinplate which is an MTH product. There is power,track, a DCS lite system and of course a tinplate train in O or Standard gauge. MTH starter sets are the best value in O and Standard gauge.

MikeMike,

    In answer to your question, the 263E Engine pictured in my prior post is the

MTH Reproduction DCS controlled, pulling mostly original Lionel rolling stock, with a MTH Spot light Car & Caboose.  I also own the original Lionel 263E Work Train.  The 2600 Tin Plate Work Train also pictured rides the inside RealTrax.

PCRR/Dave 

The original Lionel 810 Crane Car moving some big boxes.

The original Lionel 263E displayed on the Left, the MTH DCS Repro on the right, the Rolling Stock displayed is Original Lionel.  

Reading fan,

    I can fully understnd why the 1616 is your favorite Tin Plate Train, wish I owned one myself, I saw the same original you did, my wife just looked over her reading glasses and said don't even think about it.  Is the repro DCS by any chance?

PCRR/Dave

I don't know what the deal is but they just seem to make you smile. We could use that these days

Understand totally.  Toy trains can carry you to your happy place.  Cancer has hit my family twice in the last few years and one of my best friends just lost his wife to it.  Hang in there man, we're praying for your son.

It seems for a fleeting moment you can at least ride it there. Thats exactly what it appears to be doing!!

mikemike,

   No doubt about it, Tin Plate Trains have the magic of Christmas in them.

PCRR/Dave

When Std Gauge train catalogs don't list a minimum diameter for an engine what is the assumption for the minimum diameter?

Christmas Tin

John,

   Great Christmas Tin John!

PCRR/Dave

42.

mikemike, Standard Gauge was invented by Lionel in 1906 and lasted until the beginning of WWII.  I believe they only made one diameter track which was STD42, and of course everything they made ran on it.  We are spoiled now and have multiple diameters to choose from.  There are modern tinplate trains that require larger diameter track but if you stick with reproductions of trains that were made pre-war you will be fine with STD42.  For under my Christmas tree I go up to the next larger size which is STD57 which I think the trains are a little bit more comfortable on but again they all would work on STD42 if I needed the space savings.

By the way mikemike, and I hope you don't mind me asking but how old is your son?

Take care,

John.

He is a young adult and in another thread I probably said more than I should about his health and our situation. People don't really care and it wasn't appropriate. But at the time I was really down and we are having trouble dealing with it during the holidays. Unknown to him I am looking to bring some joy anyway we can. We all need it more than ever this year.  He loves anything mechanical/electrical and modeling of any type and of course my o gauge layout. I am seeing this as a permanent purely toy train Christmas display downstairs in a finished room we haven't really used in years. We can work on it when he comes home at break and this summer. Its really for everybody

mikemike, I don't agree, people do care, I care.  I have a mother and a father-in-law who are both battling cancer but I still can't say I know what you are going through.  It's not the same when it's your child, of which I have two.  If you are serious about starting a tinplate layout in either O or Standard Gauge, let me know, I have plenty of extra track from various starter sets that I'm not using that you could have.  I also have an extra remote commander (I think that's what it's called) and power pack that you could also have if you think you might want to run DCS.  I may even have some duplicate rolling stock that's just taking up space I could send your way.  I think a tinplate layout is a great idea for raising everybody's spirits.  Let me know if you plan to proceed and I'll put together a "care package" in either O gauge or Standard gauge or both, they go well together.

Take care,

John.

You would be surprised at how many of us older folks care and wish/pray the best for your son and family.   None of us are immune to cancer and many of us are cancer survivors or have personally seen the battle waged against it.  We all relate.

John,  Thanks for the offer. Thank You. That's quite generous. Now I am trying to figure out what fits in the space.

Matt,  I really wasn't trying to be snide. I apologize. I am getting older myself 60 next year and have been hospitalized twice in the last year. When its you its one thing. But when its a kid it hurts. Its just that it's our problem not other peoples. Our family has been hurt and it has shaken us to the core. We are trying to dig out and keep a stiff upper lip. Sometimes it just slips out in a weak moment. I suppose the anonymity of the computer and the loneliness  we feel in the holidays this year.  Sorry. Need to keep my mouth shut before the forum chiefs shut me up.

At any rate. What I am discovering is that there are 042 switches from Lionel/mth and 072 from Ross,Gargraves and Lionel/MTH. Thats about it.  So I guess I have to use 042 due to space limitations. After looking at switch options and my space,  I see this as an island layout as a centerpiece of the room. All year Christmas themed display. I think I will go with an outer independent loop of 6 foot diameter curves.  

I am trying to figure out the track pieces I need for the inner loop with dual reversing tracks forming an "x". using the 042 switches and a 90 degree crossing? Ie… a figure 8 within a continuous loop.  

I think I am going to use USA standard guage track on flex bed. It has to be quiet so we can enjoy being in the room.  I like the look of the tin plate track.

Mike,

  As was stated many of us care very much and have gone thru some devistating

times.  In my case I care but try to keep a low profile about it, having lost a young wife and 2 sons to the devistation, your boy and his problem are in my prayers.  Please understand there are those of us who care greatly.

PCRR/Dave

Thanks guys for your thoughts and prayers. IT helps when you talk about these things and his doctor has been encouraging us all to talk more with people. This just isn't the place.

Regardless, things are moving. I told Kirk at USA track what I wanted for the first loop. Thanks to Kirk  he actually drew out the plan on some program so I could order the exact # of pieces. Now thats service! I will be ordering more track in the near future for a 57" and 072" outside loop.   It looks like it will only add about 16 inches of total length to the layout which is workable. Does that sound about right?

 I also ordered the Red American Flyer Repo Presidential Set and Cars from the 2012 catalog. Big for 042 but 072 will follow soon. 

Power and control? Not sure what to do there. Need to decide soon.

We are feeling better just thinking about building a toy train layout. My son will love it when he sees it!