The plan shows an elevated circle but the photo clearly shows an oval. I'd assume the circle uses the 15" radius curves mentioned on the list so I think you're right that the table level uses 18" radius. I wonder if the photo is of a 5 by 7?
Same me, different spelling!
Becky, I was surprised at myself for how long it took me to register that detail about the elevated loop. The first thing that jumped out to me, funny enough, was the curve in the foreground of the picture, between the 0145 Contactor Track and the nearest switch to the front of the layout. It looks much shorter in the picture, than the track plan.I also noticed how the roads didn't follow the same alignment- and how the picture doesn't include the 0919 Uncoupler Re-Railer. I kept seeing the oval shape, then the circle, and then it hit me- hey wait a minute, those two don't match!If you look carefully, the picture doesn't even seem to have actual turnouts in the foreground. Note the distinct lack of a frog on any of the visible turnouts. Maybe it was simply a mock up? But then why does the D-0200 include an 0214 Girder Bridge, if it doesn't have a spot to go on the track plan?In the end, I have finished the track aspect of plotting out the D-0200. Within XTrackCAD, there is no "Lionel HO" track. But Atlas Code 100 snap-track comes in almost all the same flavors Lionel HO did. Currently, it's just basic track, and an aproximate outline of the 0114 Engine House w/horn.While you can't visually see it, the inner loop is elevated 4" above the tabletop. I actually have no idea how tall the "L" size trestle piers are, since I don't own either an 0110 or 0111 trestle set, complete or incomplete. I just had a guess at it It was certainly clear that 15" radius was used for this elevated line, but what was less clear, is the outer loop. If you were to only use 18" curves for the outer loop, as I have discovered, it just doesn't work. So instead, a few 15" curves were used to make everything come together.The next steps will be to plot out all the operating accessories (what few there are), special track sections, and mark out what all the different sections are so somebody else doesn't have to stare at it, trying to tell all the 15" and 18" radius curves apart.I still want to figure out a way to model one of the combo Super O and HO, or O27 and HO layouts. I was thinking maybe I can create them as seperate layouts, and then overlay them in some image editing software for the finishing touches. But goodness, one project at a time...-Ellie
"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"
Based on how the O Gauge trestles are, I'd guess that Lionel went with the "absolutely necessary" method for providing clearance.
You're probably right, Becky. Lionel did something interesting with the HO trestle set, instead of your normal Lionel 110, where there are two of every size bent, the 0110 HO set has 4. Then there's a set of little shims. Every other trestle bent is shimmed, and I think each full length curve or straight needs to be supported by two strestle bents. Metal clips are used to hold the track down to the bents.The largest size bent is designed with some locating pockets to hold the 0110-18 trestle bridge which is included in the set. Lionel also used this bridge as the load for the 6825 flat car.That's all the stuff I've gleaned off of web surfing, unfortunately nothing so far as how tall these are. I'm going to be on the hunt for a complete 0110 at a reasonable price.Today a package arrived from a friend- he sent me some cars he had picked up for me at a show that I was unfortunately unable to attend this fall. He had spotted some Lionel HO boxes and bought them- unfortunately one of the boxes held a Revell caboose, not a Lionel car, but I was very delighted to recieve the cars- and the boxes were exciting too. I now have a third (or is it my fourth?) Log Car, this one is the later type with solid frame trucks. I also now have my second red Alaska RR hopper car. It has all the same features of my other hopper- unpainted red body, white heat stamped lettering, and solid frame trucks. Lastly, I have my first Lionel HO work caboose- the 0819-275 C&O. It was also the only car in its original box & insert. Now I need an 0564 C&O ALCo to match it The boxes were just as exciting to me as the cars, as it turns out. The least interesting box was a badly injured 0300 & insert- no car or manual, and I already have a boxed 0300, but still cool. The box that the Log Car was in had the original number blanked over with a plain label at each end, and a handwritten label on top of that on one end. Using a bright flash light to try to get a look at what was under the label, I can say with absolute confidence that this box was supposed to contain an 0873 Rodeo Car (which looks exactly like the O gauge 6473). Unfortunately, no insert. The last box is the one I'm most excited about perhaps- a complete 0850 box, with the correct insert- and the original instruction manual tucked inside! I wasted no time putting my 0850 inside it.I will have to take and post pictures if I have time tomorrow, I'm rather excited!Lastly for this update, I finally managed to (sort of) repair my 0594 Santa Fe GP9. It runs... awful. At least compared to all my other Lionel HO engines. I believe that betwen the noisy gearing, the undersized motor, and the improvised transmission I had to create for it, there's not a lot I can do. I still am left wondering why my 0594 doesn't have the "correct" motor configuration inside. Weird transitional piece? Your guess is as good as mine.-Ellie
Sometimes you're browsing around online, and you stumble into something that really makes you pick at your brain.To date, I only own 4 MPC-era Lionel HO cars. Of those, at least 3 of them seem to use entirely different tooling to postwar Lionel. I remember trying to do a little research, and it looks like they were made by the same factory that Bachmann was using at the time, and the cars are near identical to Bachmann models. And I did know that Roco was making Lionel HO cars at some point. But then I stumbled upon some oddities (to me), which have brought me to the conclusion that at least SOME MPC Lionel HO items were made using modified postwar tooling. And now that I've seen them, I will have to own a few of these cars.It seems like there were MPC boxcars that use modified tooling for the 0874 boxcar, and the stock cars also may be made using modified tooling. The easiest giveaway though, is hopper cars. I have a Lionel MPC ho Hopper car- decorated for CPR. But it looks completely different from the 0836 quad hoppers of the postwar era, which for some reason Lionel only ever offered lettered for the Alaska RR. Well, it seems like at least at some point, Lionel MPC produced quad hoppers using modified postwar tooling. So far I have only found pictures of two road names- Burlington Northern, and Rio Grande. Some rivet columns seem to have been eradicated to make printing easier, and the detail on the hatches has been removed. Here's a few pix I stole from various eBay listings- note that the cars I saved images of use postwar HO style chassis- at some point they changed to a different chassis, I'm wondering if this is when they started switching over to roco.Boxcar:Stock Car:Hopper:I'm very intruiged, going to have to keep an eye out for these. I realize now, that my 5-8419 Great Northern caboose may also be one of these items. Aside from the coupler pockets, and end rails, everything on it seems very suspiciously similar to the postwar caboose. All very interesting...-Ellie
New addition to the "Mini-Lionel" family, the 0059 Minuteman. One of the rarer Husky switchers... a seperate sale exclusive cataloged in 1962 only. Even in good condition, they're still much less pricey than an original O gauge 59. Mine is in pretty rough shape, but I'm hoping all the grime will come off with some soapy lukewarm water and a toothbrush.Naturally, I will post pictures and possibly videos, as progress is made with this little locomotive.-Ellie
I assume it was bright white when new,how will you clean it up? I have heard of placing items in a container of Hydrogen peroxide and shing a UV light on it and that the results are great!
Yes, originally it would have been bright white.A significant number of Lionel HO locomotives and rolling stock were painted, rather than simply being molded in a fitting color. As far as I know, all the huskies were painted. As I understand it, the hydrogen peroxide method is for reversing the yellowing of plastic, so it probably wouldn't fix paint.I am happy to report that I managed to get the 0059 95% done- it runs, the headlight works, and the shell is no longer covered in dirt. It actually looks pretty good, all it needed was a good bath and some gentle scrubbing (had to scrub harder in some spots). I think I may have missed a spot or two, but when you compare the 'before' and 'after', it's hard to complain too much.Unfortunately, I don't think there's any bringing back the original crisp whiteness of the paint, but I don't mind too much- it was a toy, and it did get played with. It looks pretty good to my eyes, so I'm satisfied!I also took a short video of it with an 0850 Missile Car.I'd love to have a few of the 0365 Minuteman cars to go with, but eBay prices are way too high for me.
-Ellie
It's taken me a while to get this one edited and up online, especially since it ended up being so short. But none the less, here's a little video of the re-powered 0635 smokin' pacific pulling her original set, 5757. My very first Lionel HO- when I got these, I'd never seen a postwar Lionel HO train before. I really only wanted them as a curiosity at first, now look what they've done to me
Running magnificently!
Wow that Minute Man Switcher sure cleaned up nicely!The missle launch was cool Too!
Hello,
Thanks all! The 0635 has somewhat noisy gearing but runs very smooth thanks to a powerful 24v, 6-pole motor. It has better low(er) speed performance than an original motor could have ever provided, and draws much less current. I can leave it running continuously for longer without fear of the motor overheating, an ever-present concern I have with the stock Lionel HO motors...Now I've shown a working 0850 missile car (in the short 0059 video), I should probably start thinking about shooting a 'target practice' video with the 0847 exploding boxcars! Due to their small size, they're tougher targets to hit than the O gauge ones -Ellie
jklein007Hello, I am trying to acquire the valve of my grandpa's old train set. He has passed away and I would like to see if these are of any value? Please get back to me when you can.
Leverettrailfan I've shown a working 0850 missile car (in the short 0059 video), I should probably start thinking about shooting a 'target practice' video with the 0847 exploding boxcars! Due to their small size, they're tougher targets to hit than the O gauge ones -Ellie
I've shown a working 0850 missile car (in the short 0059 video), I should probably start thinking about shooting a 'target practice' video with the 0847 exploding boxcars! Due to their small size, they're tougher targets to hit than the O gauge ones -Ellie
Not if you have a hundred of them....
LeverettrailfanYes, originally it would have been bright white.
Well, you did a great job cleaning it up Ellie, now instead of filthy it looks weathered, like it's been in service for a while.
Great demonstration video of the missile launch. Personally I think I'd have added a sound effect like a cat screech after the missile went out of screen but that's just me, I've got a warped sense of humor.
Thanks again... Becky, I have 2 so far. 98 to go, I guess they don't seem to be terribly rare or valuable. Both of mine are the first version, the 0847, with sprung metal trucks and steel wheels. Around 1963 when Lionel switched over from sprung trucks to 'solid frame' trucks, the number changed to 0847-100. Aside from the number on the box, nothing changed except the type of truck. Wayne... you make a fair point, it was a missed opportunity. I was in a hurry to get some sort of video up so I could share it- didn't even set up the tripod and camera, instead I used my "too smart for its own good" phone to shoot the video, then uploaded it without any editing.I did recently discover my phone can do something my video camera can't- take slo-mo video... I'll try my best not to disappoint when the 'splodin boxcars and the missile car next return to the stage. I'll politely ask my cats for their best screeches, but no promises they'll agree to join my production team Today I started shooting some nice video of a few more of the HO pieces that didn't make it into my last shooting session. I got the 0636 squared away, as well as the noisy gear-driven 0594. Tomorrow I plan to start by getting some proper footage of the 0059, I'll try to squeeze in some "kaboom" action if I can get it to play nice for the camera. I dug out my old 'handi-cam' and miraculously, despite being nearly 10 years old it's working fine, and I get much better video than I was getting with the camera I used last time.Stay tuned, I guess!-Ellie
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