How do I figure out what I have?

[Anonymous]

I have some old toy train cars and engines that I think are O-scale (the trucks measure 1.5 inches across, outside of wheel to outside of wheel). I've done some research about Lionel and American Flyer, but none of these trains have any manufacturer's marks or numbers on them. The only numbers on them are decals, which I don't think are manufacturer's numbers. I'm willing to buy a price guide but I don't even know which one to buy because I don't know who the manufacturer is. I know they are at least 50 years old because they were in the family and belonged to a relative who bought them before his 50 year old son was born.

What I have is:

A black engine with a decal "1267" on it. I thought it was a steam engine because it has a long cylindrical front and the cab is in the back, but it also has a an oil/water car with 1267 and "Southern Pacific" decaled on it too, so maybe an early disel? It has a third rail wheel for power.

A black diesel engine with "New York Central" decals on it. It has G-shaped couplings and has no numbers on it whatsoever, decals or printed. It does not have a third rail wheel for power, looks like it uses contacts on the two outer rails for power.

A Southern Pacific Caboose with number 1039 decaled on it.

A Koppers Coal Tar Products tanker car

A Great Northern boxcar

A Frisco Lines hopper car

A Milwaukee Vineger Co car -- it's an open frame with four large tanks in it.

I've done extensive searching to try to identify these cars or at least the manufacturer, with no luck.

Thanks!

[lionelsoni]

The important measurement for the gauge is the distance between the inside surfaces of the rails, which should be 1 1/4 inch for American O gauge, The distance between the outside edges of the wheel flanges should therefore be just a little less than this. It sounds like you have O-gauge stuff.

The "oil/water" car is the tender for a steam locomotive. Many of them burned oil.

It sounds like your pieces may have been repainted. Did you look at the bottom of the steam locomotive, between the pickup rollers? Lionel usually put a metal plate with their name on it there. The Marx trademark may not be obvious, if it is present. It is a circle filled with a large "X" and the smaller letters "MAR" written across the middle.

The wheel arrangement of the steam locomotive could be helpful, that is, how many small wheels in front, how many large driving wheels, and how many small wheels in back. Also, is there any evidence that either of the small leading or trailing wheels have been removed?

Postwar Lionel couplers are (too large) replicas of real Janney-type couplers, often called "knuckle couplers" They look a little like a right hand in a mitten, with the fingers moveable to grab the mating coupler. This may be what you described as "G-shaped".

[Anonymous]

Howdy!!, can you submit a few pics of your stuff.It would make I.D.ing it alot easier.
Good Luck[;)]

[Anonymous]

A picture speaks a thousand words. The 2 rail diesel sounds like american flyer, mainly because that is what was really common 50 years ago. I beleive that the engine with number 1267 has been redecaled. But post some pics!