old lionel

[cheese3]

I got a box of free trains (lucky me!!) and they are all lionel. I need some help identifiying and help repairing some of them. Any info is appreciated. Can some one give me some info. on the locomotive pictured below and where can i find a front for it. Thanks!

[railfanespee4449]

you have a good fixer-upper. either a 258(e?) or 259e (prewar)

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor is in !!! First: Greetings From The Humble Doctor!!! It seems you have a Pre-War Loco. Try the parts dealers like Olsen's Toy Train Parts , www.Olsenstoy.com. They have listings and drawings showing the parts & numbers. There are others, check the CTT ads for others. Again, Welcome Aboard !!
Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble, Yet Strangly Evil Doctor !!![}:)] [#welcome]

[1688torpedo]

Hello Cheese 3 ! Your Engine in the photo is a old Lionel 259E which was made in the late 30's and is a easy fixer upper with parts that are not hard to find.Olsen's should have a Boiler Front for you or try the Train Tender in Pittsford,NY. Just type in "The Train Tender" on your URL and you'll get their webpage.If you need any more info,Just let us know.There is plenty of help on this forum.....................Keith

[cheese3]

thanks guys. I never in my wildest dreams could even imagine getting a hold of a pre war lionel. It seemed like a fantasy. But now I have one! There are more locomotives that came in the box but are postwar. That I know. It only took 2 hours to get the prewar going. All I had to do was clean it. Does any one know the value of this loco. as is and what will happen to the value when i get the replacement front? I will post more pictures of what i got soon. looks like I will be on this forum for a while. I will have to let the guys at the MRR forum know. Thanks for the info everyone! [8D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Id date your 259e to 37-39. If the "L" emblem is nickel its probably 39.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Cheese 3 ! A new boiler front will not drastically hurt the value of this particular engine as they are probably worth around $ 90.00-$ 100.00 in excellent condition.So,don't worry too much about value. Just enjoy what you've got and have a good time with it.............Keith

[cheese3]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1688torpedo

Hello Cheese 3 ! A new boiler front will not drastically hurt the value of this particular engine as they are probably worth around $ 90.00-$ 100.00 in excellent condition.So,don't worry too much about value. Just enjoy what you've got and have a good time with it.............Keith

Believe me. I am not worried about value. Just want it to look good. It runs like a dream. I was just wondering what it was worth

[Anonymous]

Wow! That's a great find! All for free? How did you get them? What other trains were there with it? Inquiring minds want to know.

[cheese3]

I got them from my sister in law's mom. She found them in her basement and was going to throw them out!!!!!!! I asked if i could have them instead and i got them. I got Three locos in addition to the one pictured. They are all lionel and steam. I have numbers 221, 2025, and, 1666. The 221and the 259(pictured) work but the other two need alot of work. All of the cars are lionel also. I got 3 passenger cars...2 pullmans #2442 and an observation #2443. 2 tank cars # 2465, 2 flat cars #2411(do not have loads[:(] ) 2 gondolas #347000, 2 search lite cars # 3520, a Baby Ruth box #x2454, A caboose #2257, and 2 tenders #2689tx And #221w

That is it for the lionel stuff. I got some HO stuff too...A Mantua 0-4-0 that i got running, a varney 4-6-0 that i cannot get running a varney pennsy box car and a Rock Island Box Car. I also got alot of HO track but no O track. There was a transformer too but i smoked it[:I]

I would say i am pretty lucky [:D]

[Anonymous]

Yes, you are very lucky! That is an incredible find! I hope that happens to me someday. The closest I've come to that is getting a single banged-up 1950's Bub German clockwork engine that a coworker of my dad's found in his garage and would have chucked otherwise. The flatcars would have originally hauled pipes or logs, which ought to be easy to manufacture. Have fun with those trains!