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Old Lionel Train Help

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Friday, December 17, 2010 6:54 AM

RockIsland52

Northwoods.....if there were only two left in existence and one was on Mars, you'd probably have the other one.  Smile, Wink & Grin.

Jack.

And if the one on Mars was a slight variation from mine the Martian who owns it should be very wary!  Laugh

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

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American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by RockIsland52 on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 3:49 PM

Amen arkady and LL !!!!

Northwoods.....if there were only two left in existence and one was on Mars, you'd probably have the other one.  Smile, Wink & Grin.

And welcome Welcome syscokid....or are you Pancho?

Jack.

IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.

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Posted by arkady on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 3:29 PM

LL675

Welcome to the site. lots of good answers here. A lot of these trains have sentimental value that outweigh their dollar value. I'd say in your case yours have double the value because they were your Dad's.
A few years ago my Dad gave me his Lionels. One was a 6110 Scout 2-4-2 steamer. It didn't run right, and I kept hearing it wasn't worth fixing. Then I met Dean at Braussers, and he took good care of it.

 

I'll second that.  After my father died, Mom nearly trashed his old prewar Lionel 252 locomotive.  It hadn't run in decades, most of the trim items were missing and all four wheels had fatal Zinc Rot.

I rescued it, bought the needed parts from The Train Tender, and got the old workhorse running like new again.  It's circling the Christmas tree even as I write, just like it did in 1928.

The moral is: if it's part of your family history, it's worth saving.

 

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Posted by LL675 on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 2:54 PM

welcome to the site. lots of good answers here. a lot of these trains have sentimental value that out weigh their dollar value. I'd say in your case yours have double the value because they were you Dad's.
A few years ago my Dad gave me his Lionels. One was a 6110 Scout 2-4-2 steamer. It didn't run right, and I kept hearing it wasn't worth fixing. Then I met Dean at Braussers, and he took good care of it.

Dave

It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody  from Toy Story)

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Posted by teledoc on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 2:35 PM

Welcome Syscokid,

     Looking at a 2008 Greenberg price guide for comparison, you definitely have a Lionel train worth fixing.  The items you listed were all made in the 1939-1942 time period.  I would recommend having the locomotive checked out by a Lionel repair shop to make sure the internal wiring is intact, and have the unit lubed and overall serviced before trying to run it.  Time takes it toll on old wiring, so be cautious.  As for value, the 203 loco/tender combo are in the $550-600 range if excellent as you say they are.  The only difference in price is whether you have  2203b (with bell) or 2203t (without bell).  The Shell oil tanker averages $60, the caboose $40, and lumber car $55, if also in excellent condition.  The prices are subjective to what someone is willing to pay for them, should you decide to sell them, and are the average prices that someone would pay, if sold.  Knowing the value, should help make up your mind about fixing them.  Good luck, and welcome.

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Friday, December 10, 2010 8:34 PM

syscokid

 also American Flyer trian:

#3107 # 3161 #3162 #3150

 

Hi Syscokid,

The 3107 in a midsized Boxcab that American Flyer called their New Haven style.  It was produced from 1930 - 1932.  It appeared all three years in the catalog with the 3 cars that you have. The #3150, #3161 and #3162 were cataloged from 1930 - 1933.

You have a set called The Frontenac

 

 
Over the course of the years that it was cataloged it came in different shades of green and in 1932 it came in a shade of blue.
The components of your set should look something like this:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Its a nice set and has a great deal of charm. Do you plan on running it?
 
Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
 

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

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Posted by phillyreading on Friday, December 10, 2010 4:05 PM

The 203 is listed as an O gauge engine and will need the older style tubular track and switches to run on. Also the pre war cars will need a UCS remote control track, five rail track, to uncouple with or to operate a car with dumping feature.

Lee F.

Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
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Posted by DMUinCT on Friday, December 10, 2010 1:02 PM

You are looking at  ALMOST  Catalog Set No.245 (or 245B) from 1940.

# 203 6 wheel switcher locomotive,

# 2203T (or 2203B with bell) tender,

# 2654 Shell tank car

# 2655 Box Car

# 2657X Caboose (X for having a rear coupler)

It's interesting that you have the Log Dump Car in place of the Box Car. 

  The locomotive was again produced in 1941 , only a two year run, but was mated with 2700 Series Cars in that year.   Look at the front of the locomotive, it should have a centered Headlight and two Marker Lights with red jewels, if the Markers are broken or bent it will seriously affect the value.    If everything is there and in good shape with boxes, you have one of the most scarce of the Pre-WW2 locomotives.  It can range from $300 to $600 to a Pre-War collector.  The cars are all common but the boxes add to the value, $25 to $75 each.

I doubt if a 203 will show up on E-Bay, BUT, if you go to E-Bay, type in Lionel Trains 203 you will find a Mouse Pad with a picture of your locomotive on it!

Don U. TCA 73-5735

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Posted by wyomingscout on Friday, December 10, 2010 12:24 PM

The Lionel sounds like it might be Prewar; they went with Sunoco tankers after the war & I can't find a 203 engine listed in Greenberg's Post war stuff.

Since you have the numbers, you could look on ebay & see what these items are going for.  In my never to be humble opinion, the Lionel should be worth fixing, if it needs it.  All you need is a transformer and  some wire to check it out.  If you have that and track, just put in on the track, hook up & see what happens.

Maybe someone who knows about American Flier can help on that.

good luck,

wyomingscout

I've often said there's nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse. Ronald Reagan
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Old Lionel Train Help
Posted by syscokid on Thursday, December 9, 2010 8:20 PM

Hey guys - I need your help

I was given my dads old Lionel train set and American Flyer train set - all in excellent condition - no rust

Not sure if it is worth fixing - holding on to or selling - need some expert advice!!

Here is what I have: all in original boxes

Lionel Engine #203 with #2203 tender - excellent condition

#2654 shell oil tanker car - perfect

#3651 lumber car - perfect

#2657X caboose - red - perfect condition

track - crossing lights - tower lights - no bulbs - power supply - original instruction manual

 

also American Flyer trian:

#3107 # 3161 #3162 #3150

can somebody help me get a contact to help me - i need to have it looked at and let me know if it is worth fixing - i cannot find any information on the internet

 

HELP!!

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