What's Your Oldest Locomotive?

My oldest engine would be this Ives #20 clockwork from the mid-to-late Twenties.  The oldest electric one would be Lionel #259E from 1933-42, probably more toward the latter.  I have read that the earliest ones were black; this is gunmetal.

Mine would have to be a 1924 253 engine that originally belonged to my wife's grandfather.

How lovely it is to have one with such a history, Joe.

1954 AF #283.

Wow and Nice...in just nine years it will be 100 years old! 

My loco fleet is relatively young I guess. Here are my two oldest engines...

The Lionel 2020 is a 1946 model that was my Dad's and the Marx 999 is from '48 or '49. Either one is way older than me, a late 1963 model.   

1927 254E. Unrestored except for minor cleaning.

Pete

Andy,

  Glad to know I am not the only Baby Boomer living in the past!

Tom

1912 Ives clockwork... it needed a lot of repair, but it was worth every minute and penny I spent on it:

mine would have to be Dad's 1684,my 224E or my 225E.

I wish I had my 1954 Lionel Trains, however, my oldest engine is Lionel's TMCC UP Veranda, number 73.  Good Question, Happy Railroading.

A 2343 ABA This engine still runs great.  In the video it's pulling Disney cars on the original NLOE layout circa 1990.

I have a 1915 Ives electric O gauge that still runs and three cast iron clock work ones that I have never dated. One is an Ives and another a Dorfan plus an AF with a tend and a nice tin passenger car. They all  still work, in fact tomorrow I might run them just for kicks

The one I have owned the longest is my 1959 sears Boston & Maine set. New in the box in 1959. 

 2 Lionel 42s with dual motors dates them 20s. Not sure of any engines before this.

I also own a friends 385E that he received in 1936 with 1766(7)(8) cars in nickel trim.

Question for Jim or James about Ives clockwork engines...how hard is it to fix the mechanisms or to find someone capable of fixing them? 

If either of you are interested, I noticed there is an Ives 1910 catalog for sale on eBay.

Tom

The oldest I have is my grandfathers 1666E that I restored. It doesn't get much run time tho, I don't want to mess it up after all I had to do to get it back up and running.

Jerry

Tom, I'm not sure how many guys are out there that do clockwork train repairs... there are bound to be some professional repairmen out there, but I've not met them yet.  I do all my own repairs.  Perhaps the some of the other forum members can recommend someone who is in the business.

As to how hard it is to repair it yourself... I don't like to give this type of answer, but "It depends".  Depends on what is broken, how the motor is made, how hard it is to find or make parts.  For example, replacing a broken mainspring on an Ives is relatively easy (but wear leather gloves); but making the repairs that the little 1912 Ives needed isn't something most sane people would attempt.

If you have a clockwork that needs some TLC, feel free to email me... I'll be glad to help you out.  My email is in my profile.

SG # 51 steamer with the thick-rimmed drivers, from (I think) around 1910.

I have a 1924 Lionel 256 that is waiting on some work to be brought back closer to original. I also have a 252 and a 151 that are not much younger.....

Märklin Midland 4-4-0 ca. 1904 Clockwork. Bing LSWR 4-4-0 ca. 1906 original, and an LSWR 4-4-0 ca. 1904 restored, all are gauge 0 clockwork

Roland

My Blue comet from about 1932.

jim r

I really enjoyed your video there, Thanks for sharing.  All the fancy electronics in the world can't replicate the sort of wonder you get watching that.  

To chime in on the topic, Oldest runner would be a Lionel 2055 from (1953?) been in the family from new, has more hours of run time than everything else I own combined, and it  just works.  Finally bought a new rear truck but haven't gotten to putting it on to replace the one that's had the side frame held on with electrical tape for 25 years.  

The oldest loco in my collection is the Gauge 1 Marklin Starkstrom (High voltage) locomotive from around 1915:

Regards

Fred

MNCW- I look t my little winders lat night and the Ives on specially. The cast sides are riveted together but the motor drops down by taking out a screw on the right side. The motor is riveted together so it would be a job to put it back together. I would look for another motor or parts engine at a show if you really want to make yours run or if it is in good shape. Mine aren't to pretty but they run pretty good. If you do take it apart then you will need to replace the worn parts  especially gears. I imagine you can fix a main spring, I have heard you can buy the spring material. I cleaned the motor and in small print on the side was a patent date of 1911 and a mfr. date of 1927.

My oldest Std Gauge would be a Lionel 42 & 33 both from the early teens. Both are electric profile engines.

For those who like to dig deep into definitions:

What are the differences between a locomotive and a engine?   

Pictured below is my Lionel 153 Electric which is running on the top level of my tiny all tinplate layout.  This engine was manufactured only in 1924 and 1925.  The Armored train running beneath it is a LCT reproduction.  My oldest train is a Lionel 152 Electric which was made in 1918 but I have it packed away.  The 152 initially was owned by the father of my wife's first cousin.  It was given to him on his first birthday way back in 1918.   Both the 152 and 153 still run beautifully and still have their original wiring although in a somewhat deteriorated state. 

This Weeden Dart live-steam engine and car is definitely my earliest train. I have operated this on modified Gargraves track at a friend's house. The flanges are very shallow and the gauge is approximately 2 3/16. The locomotive is embossed 1887, but they all are and this version dates to the late 1890's-1902. Since acquiring this engine I have obtained a reproduction stack and headlight. Interesting fact is that this particular early example has on one operating piston while later examples have both pistons operating. It was a real treat to get this operating.

Eric

TCA, LCCA

I have an 1948 Lionel 2026 given to me by my dad's second cousin complete with the rest of the original set, additional cars (operating and regular freight), and accessories all in original boxes.  My dad had Charles Ro give it the once over when we first got it in 1998 (i was 8 so my repair skills hadn't fully developed yet).  Not much wrong, just replaced the shoes and headlight wire.  Still runs and smokes great!

My oldest locomotive is the first one I purchased myself around 1973 or 1974.  It came in a set named "The Allegheny" and I purchased it at Schaffners on Cleveland Ave in Canton, Ohio.   It has its original "Sound of Steam" board in the tender but I have no idea if it still works as it spends its time these days in a display case.   Wow, the wave of nostalgia that ...

Here is a picture of the engine.

Thanks for posting all the pictures, especially love the real "oldies". It is amazing to see the 100 yr. old trains running. Really like the Marklins- good trains. I have some Lionel electrics-252-23-254  plus a couple of Ives. Have to gt the out and run them soon.

Amazing indeed!

The clockwork ones are amazing in themselves...But, the fact that any of these non-clockwork engines are running 100 years later or nearly 100 for some of us says something about how well they were made! Except for deteriorated wiring, they can easily make another 100 with us providing some TLC.

Tom

We celebrated this little Ives 3200's 100th Birthday a little over a year ago.

Steve

Tom, I'm sending you an email on a repairman.

Lionel 154, the inside of the cab has December 1918 painted on it, so I assume that's about how old it is. All original with it's coaches, runs better than many modern locomotives do... it's surprisingly very quiet (well, it is without the coaches, those things rattle like cowbells on a jalopy).

My oldest is a barn-painted ca. 1911 Lionel 1910 that I am slowly trying to remove the over layer of RED paint.

Ron M

1927 American Flyer O  

I was told that my American Flyer 3197 was from the late teens, so that would be my oldest. I think the tender and the cars might be a little younger though.

Close on that list is my 1935 Lionel Commodore Vanderbilt, that my Grandpa got new for Christmas. Unfortunately, it will be going in for major repairs soon (the first time leaving the family's site since it's last trip to the repair shop...in 1940)

Currently there would be several from the late 20s, however the oldest I have ever owned was a Lionel SG #6 and cars

I apologize that I don't have pictures...........my oldest is an 1953  Lionel 2353 AA  ( I also have a B unit). all are in probably C9 shape...run great!

    Not too long after I bought these I noticed they don't have the dimples

I went back to the train store where I purchased them to find out if they knew this....they honestly said  "we appreciate your honesty, we did know and you are pretty lucky".

     They probably will be my ONLY shelf queens.  The B unit looks as good as the day it was made. Oh yeah......the lenses/windows are nicely yellowed!