Was this PW stuff a good deal or what?

Photos, please?

looks like 685 is the correct number, but it may have been restamped. I'd say you did fine for $140. That engine goes for that.And it's not the correct tender, but it is a better looking one.

Agree.  Did the cattle car and corral come with the switch, blades, and cattle?

Enjoy you new purchases.

At a buck forty with pieces that you really enjoy....you did just fine!

If you look very close, I bet you find evidence of number masking. Because its likely a repaint too, but may have even been assembled like that. Good deal either way. A good repaint at least shows someone cared about it for a while. Your turn to care for it! 

I'd say you did very well for $140. The operating cattle car and pen look to be in real good shape.

I looked at a couple of online sources, and the postwar Lionel catalog. They did not show the 685 with a feed water heater on the boiler front. So I think you have the correct one.
I cannot identify whether you have a repaint or relettered engine from the pictures provided. I don't know how people do it.

IMHO, if you are happy, then you got a good deal.

The number area is seldom in need of repainting. Masking over and around the number with a good matching paint all you will notice would be a fine box shaped line around the number. Rubber stamps were used by modelers to recreate the numbers. Getting a rubber stamp made was once commonplace for most businesses. They could make you anything. White is ink not paint. I'm not sure about silver.   

As long as your happy with the deal then you got a good deal.

The loco is correct as a 685 and was made in 1953.  Its the "sister" of the 2055.  In good shape the 685 sells for about $175.00 on its own with the correct 6026W tender.  Of course you could always pick up a 6026 tender on ebay, a local train show or even this forum if you want to make it correct. 

But as others have said if you're happy with it, then why bother

You got the cattle pen and car as a "bonus" ... so at the end of the day, you did real well!

quote:

The number area is seldom in need of repainting. Masking over and around the number with a good matching paint all you will notice would be a fine box shaped line around the number. Rubber stamps were used by modelers to recreate the numbers. Getting a rubber stamp made was once commonplace for most businesses. They could make you anything. White is ink not paint. I'm not sure about silver.  

I am not clear on what you are saying. I am familiar with masking around the numbers for a repaint. Are you saying you can see a "box" around the letters?

I have one engine painted in such a matter. It was so dirty when I made the purchase, that I couldn't see the box. Once the engine was cleaned up, it was apparent. It is more visible in some lighting conditions than others. If is one of a handful repainted pieces I own.

"A box around the edges"

Exactly CW, this can sometimes be eliminated further by careful, light wet sanding with 1500+, extra fine papers.

  Just the day before yesterday I was reading a 1958 magazine(model railroad craftsman). Rubber stamps were being sold to order by number, or name ("Lionel" for tenders implied) as well as different techniques for use.

The most hardcore guys my Gramps new, claimed to know which stamps were used when by "finger printing" the typefaces. Trains labeled as original everything, but are repaints, date to the 60's at least. A good printer though, could duplicate it pretty exact, to impossible to tell. Seeing how I run everything, mechanical excellence is what I'm after    

Thanks. I downloaded one of the pictures and enlarged it. I can see the box now.

It does have the correct boiler front for a 685.

I've repainted a few pieces. I chose to use dry transfer lettering.

I looked again its 685. I thought I saw 665. My screen has been cleaned. Sorry! Im blaming it on the dogs, and deleting /editing a post or two above. 

if it brings you happiness why worry about value. my trains are worth a million dollars each for the pleasure they bring me. they have also gotten my son interested in the hobby and you can see how he is progressing with the bowling alley he has done, and wait till you see the jewelry store he's working on......

There sometimes called baby hudsons.

685 and 2055 are the same except numbers

665 and 2065 same as above except feedwater heater boiler front.

Have several of these and there good runners and pullers for when made.

I also agree it was a good deal. The plated Corral floor looks like new, not easy to find them like that. Drive rods are excellant as well. If they have been replaced it was a long time ago as most current repros are nickel plated rather than tin plated. I think its a safe bet its been repainted, though a nice job. I think 685s were heat stamped. This actually apprears to have dry transfers as the numbers are not lined up. Rubber stamps wouldn't produce uneven lettering. 

On closer look the eccentric rod may be a nickel plated replacement.

Pete

Thanks for all the possitive feedback as this was my first PW purchase. I am very happy with this set and the cattle pen. The train Crossing is my maim source for everything concerning trains. The original tender was available but I like this one best. The number has definitely been changed but looks great.

Hey, You got something you wanted and the price looks to be in line. ENJOY!!!