Your thoughts on the PW 675

We've discussed the postwar 675/2025 early versions here a couple of times. I LOVE them!

They are nicely proportioned, good looking and very smooth running engines.  Really Lionel postwar at it's finest.

 You won't be dissappointed, and it will run. Of course it'll most likely need a tune up.

 

Mike S.

I have one, also the same 1947 version you just bought with the unpainted aluminum stack.

I absolutely love mine. With the e-unit locked out, the only sound I can hear while it's running is the clanking of the smoke unit piston. It's without a doubt the smoothest running postwar engine I own, and one of the best I've ever handled. It has my 681 and 2056 beat hands-down.

I installed a new smoke unit element and removed a coil from it when I installed it, as well as stuffing some fiberglass under the element. It now smokes great with both pellets and liquid.


It's a bit lacking in pulling power, but that's to be expected considering the nickel rimmed drivers and lack of magnetraction. It is fairly heavy, though, which does help some. Mine can pull about 8 well-maintained postwar cars, or 25 modern cars with needlepoint bearings and fast-angle wheels.

There are three articles related to the 675 in the January, 1999, CTT:

I would like to thank everyone that has replied so far.  Mike S.,  I hope your right.  Ben,  if this is better than the 681,  I am confident that I made a good decision.  I always liked the 681, and I can't wait to see the 675 in action.  Bob,  thanks for telling me about the articles,  I'll have to dig that issue out.  Please keep the info coming.

 

Got one too, it is a handsome engine.  I have had no troubles, and I am sure with a little TLC, you won't either.

Dennis

jimtrumpie wrote:

I would like to thank everyone that has replied so far.  Mike S.,  I hope your right.  Ben,  if this is better than the 681,  I am confident that I made a good decision.  I always liked the 681, and I can't wait to see the 675 in action.  Bob,  thanks for telling me about the articles,  I'll have to dig that issue out.  Please keep the info coming.

if you like the 681, you will really like the 675. Much smoother, much quieter is much more dependable as it relates to derailments, particularly on switches.

In my experience they have been quite reliable locomotives, but then WHAT LIONEL ISN'T?

Looks like you're getting a nice looking engine for not a lot of coin. Don't you love it when that happens?

I don't have a 675, but I have the O27 version, 2025. I bought mine from a junk bin at a hobby shop, and had to add a smoke unit, a boiler front, and a trailing truck. The boiler was in pretty nice shape though, and it ran like a top after a little lubing.

Like others have mentioned, this is a fine running loco. They have a great reputation for reliability. The main downside  (IMO) is that they are relatively difficult to take apart.

Regarding what it will pull, I think Ben hit the nail on the head with 8 postwar cars, assuming they all have diecast trucks. On my last layout, (currently without a layout, as I recently moved) I would typically run the 2025 on a O27 loop.  It would usually pull a train of 6014 boxcars, or 6456 (et al) hoppers. The train would usually be about 6 to 10 cars long including caboose (excluding tender though). Usually only half of the cars had diecast trucks though. My last layout had no grades; I don't know how this engine would slug it out trying to pull a train up a hill.

I saw a lot of references comparing this engine favorably to a 681 turbine.  The only turbine I have is a 2020 (smoke bulb version), and at best I would rate my 2025 as equal to the 2020. (if it were a race, it would be a photo finish) Well, except for the fact that my 2020 is a non smoking engine, so I guess the 2025 would win in the smoke category. I'm too tight to pay for that dimple bulb for smoke in the 2020.

Anyhow, here's the only shot I could find of my 2025; definately not the best pic I've ever taken:

jwse30 wrote:

(currently without a layout, as I recently moved)

 

Yo JW - get to work on that layout!

"The only turbine I have is a 2020 (smoke bulb version),"

The early smoke bulb turbines used a different drive train than the post-1946 671/2020 and all the other following ones.

Basically, both the front and the back set of drivers had a worm wheel on them. A drive shaft with worm gears at both ends extended the entire length of the frame, and was geared by the worm gear to both the front most and rear most axle. This shaft was then spur geared to the horizontally mounted motor.

The later ones had the motor mounted at a slight angle and directly worm geared to the rear most axle. The other three axles were then powered by the side rods.

I have never had the opportunity to run an early 671/2020, or an early 726 for that matter, but most people say that they're quite a bit smoother than the later versions.

For what it's worth, by 681 is definitely a coffee grinder, while the 675 is as silent as can be.

Frank53 wrote:

jwse30 wrote: (currently without a layout, as I recently moved)   Yo JW - get to work on that layout!

Will do, just as soon as I trim out the back door, install 2 cabinet doors, put all the hardware back on the cabinets, fence in the back yard,  change out some light fixtures,  well, you get the idea. Also need to go to work sometimes, and spend a bit of time around my family.

My goal is to have a table with enough track to run a train on it by Thanksgiving. Of course, my goal  was to have my old house ready for sale by Aug 15th, and it still ain't on the market.

J White

Ditto to all of above. My 1947  675   performs much better than my 1947  671. Runs quieter and will pull more cars.

My 2025 (O27 version of a 675) runs very smooth, smokes well, and is a great puller. I love mine. I'm surprised Williams hasn't made a replica of it or the 2055. Both are great looking engines.

Jim

The 675 arrived yesterday.  Much better than the pictures on the auction.  It ran, but then the wire from the rollers to the e unit came off of the terminal on the e unit,  I resoldered the wire, cleaned the motor, and rebuilt the e unit.  I noticed a very slight amount of side to side play in the armature shaft on the brushplate end.  Should I be concerned about this?  It runs just as great as everyone said it would!  The only thing I don't like about the 675 is that it is such a to put together!  However, I finally got it together.  Overall, I am happy with it.  Thanks for the help. 

New brushplates aren't that expensive. Right around $10. You might want to replace yours.

Jim