Thanks for all the messages everyone.
Welcome.
Yes, I put up my old trains back about 8 years ago when my first grandson was born. They had sat stored for about 20 years from when I last ran them with my sons. It has grown by leaps and bounds. My grandsons do come over and run them but the big kid is the main operator.
You need to lube the loco and tender and car wheels before you run it. Also lube the whistle motor.
I recommend ordinary motor oil, as I have 60 years of experience with it. I use 5W-20 or 10W-30. Grease, Lionel Lube, WD-40, 3 in 1 oil, light machine oil, etc., all dry out and become hard or gummy. Motor oil lasts forever.
Recently, I investigated the vapor pressure of motor vs. other lubricants. Motor oil has a vapor pressure <0.01 mm of Hg (Mercury) at 212 deg F. For comparison, water has a vapor pressure of 760 mm Hg at 212 F. Many of the lubricants that have been recommended on the forums do not have published vapor pressures. This Lucas Red and Tacky and LaBelle products, so I cannot recommend them. Lithium grease has a vapor pressure more than 100 times higher than motor oil, and so I cannot recommend it. I have a 2025 loco that was lubed with motor oil in 1965. When I took it out of the box about 5 years ago, it ran just fine and did not need to be lubed again. I have bought two locos that had lithium grease in them that was hard. I had to dig the dried grease out and I lubed them with motor oil, and they are still running fine. This was about 5 years ago.
Aboard!
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Welcome aboard khook! It didn't take much to awake the sleeping giant, did it?
And thanks for the prayers, that's very noble of you.
Welcome to the asylum forum.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
welcome!
Dave
It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody from Toy Story)
Great knowledge here. Also visit the Coffee Pot and tell us all about yourself.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Welcome Khook! Now you have to get yourself (uh er your son) a new set and set up a layout for yourself (um him).
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
KHOOK26,
Welcome to the forum. You are correct. There are many folks here who re-discovered their childhood or family trains and have enjoyed discovering a very satisfying hobby. You will find that there are numerous folks who can help you with answers to questions and give very valuable advice. Enjoy your time here and don't be a stranger.
Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
of
American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
Just wanted to say Happy New Year All!.
I'm sure you've all heard this story. I recently had an a son this past April. For Christmas, I "borrowed" my dad's old post-war o27 lionel set. I set it up and she still ran. (After at least 25 years of just sitting in the attic). I did have to re-wire the whistle tender. It took a while but when it worked again....it was a really good feeling. Suffice it to say, I just finished my benchwork....and the train's not going back in the attic.
For all who need prayers, you are in mine. And thanks to whoever takes the time to read this.
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