I have a 2.5 year old who loves trains. I recently misdiagnosed a non-working train issue as having a bad transformer, so now I have a Lionel 1033 transformer with no train to put behind it. I am considering purchasing a train to enjoy with my son, but am unsure of what to look at. The train I've been working on is Lionel 681 which has the functioning tender, steam, whistle, ext. I like that one, but don't have the $200+ to put behind purchasing one like that on e-bay. I have an electronics background (which is how I ended up working on the 681), but no background in trains. Can anyone recommend a train to purchase? I would like a good engine (I would consider the 681 a good one and I can repair if needed), that will be something neat even 10-15 years from now. I've been looking on ebay for engines and tracks… Is this a good approach? Thank you for any feedback.
Curtis
The small 2-6-2's of which there are many numbers are very good runners and are about the most reasonably priced of the die-cast variety. They are pretty easy to work on, and DURABLE.
I'm going to show you a couple of options you should concider as a first mainly because there low priced and you say electricaly your okay working but these will be ones suppose to be working also but for a starter set look small and then you can work up
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lionel-train-sets-/181325128243?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item2a37d1e233 actually he has O and O-27 O is just taller
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lionel-Pennsylvania-Flyer-Freight-Train-Set-6-31913-/321327625077?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item4ad09e7375 you say you have a transformer so heres a good one ( I'm not a fan of this transformer set up
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Also not sure if you know this but the 671,681,682,&2020 are all the same engine heres a set that ends tomorrow you might want to check out http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIONEL-1417WS-FREIGHT-OUTFIT-W-BOXES-2020-LOCOMOTIVE-TENDER-2465-2560-2419-3451-/380844155178?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item58ac14a12a
Mychvypwr,
As my name goes, Hudson 685, you can see that I like the PW Baby Hudsons. You can pick them up reasonable and they are tough. I still have my 685 that I got for Christmas, 1953. In that family are: 2055, 2065, 685 and 665. Parts are easy to come by. They are great runners and I get mine smoking rings. Other Hudsons to look into are the: 646, 2046 and the 2056. I have these (multiple versions) in my livery and I have nothing but good to say about all of them. For engine and tender needing no work I have paid from $75 to $150 (that one was pristine in the original box).
Good Luck with your hunt!
John
Curtis,
As to the second part of your question, I do purchase on E bay, but I like going to shows and wheel and deal. I you have any questions feel free to ask.
I bought a Thomas set for our grand daughter (age 2), it then went to her brother at age 2 and that was 6 years ago and they both still love coming here to play with that train even though there's many many more expensive trains downstairs on Grandpa's permanent layout. They caught on to the transformer handle very quickly and still just enjoy it a lot. Now there's two younger cousins who will begin to run Thomas soon. A simply oval is all you need.
They really enjoy taking the tops off of the passenger cars and put their Dads old Fisher Price people in, I just love watching them play. Simple is good.
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
The 671, 681, 681, and 2020 are all models of the PRR S-2 steam turbine, but have significant differences among them:
Early 671 or 2020--Horizontal motor geared to horizontal worm shaft driving worm wheels on two axles; horizontal e-unit (reversing unit); special dimpled headlight doubling as a smoke generator (unless converted); no magnetraction.
Later 671, 671RR, or 2020--Diagonal motor with worm on motor shaft driving worm wheel on one axle; normal e-unit and smoke generator, no magnetraction, but a lead weight added to later models.
671R--Special version for use with "Lionel electronic control".
681--Like later 671, but with magnetraction.
682--Like 681, but with unrealistically large oiler lever usually connected wrong to front driver to avoid interference with pilot truck; white stripe on running board.
I recommend the 681 as having the best combination of features.
I have a later 671 that I'll send you if you will reimburse me for postage. It lacks the lead weight and has the wrong number on the boiler front, 5690 instead of 6200. It has a Lionel Lines 2046W streamlined tender with 4-wheel trucks and a magnetic coupler.
Bob Nelson
Lionelsoni,
Sorry I missed that last paragraph when I read your previous post; that'd be great! That's very considerate of you. What would be the best way of getting in touch with you?
My e-mail is my forum name, then the "at" sign, then aol.com.
It was given to me. I already had a 681; so I think it's appropriate to re-gift it to you.
Thank you, I will e-mail you from my hotmail.com account.
Bob,
How does that magnetraction feature work?
Magnetraction is a postwar Lionel scheme to magnetize the wheels for better traction. They did it in various ways: First they tried magnetizing the axles; but the hard iron didn't stay magnetized. Later they used stainless-steel axles and separate magnets, with the magnets located adjacent to the axles or inside oversized hollow axles. Lionel discontinued Magnetraction for a while during the Korean war, around 1952, when magnets were unavailable.
Nowadays, Lionel and other manufacturers have switched to rubber tires, which were American Flyer's answer to magnetraction. They recycled the Flyer name "Pul-Mor" to refer to the Lionel universal motors. The 671 has no magnetraction, the 681 does. There was a lead weight installed in later 671s to improve traction. The 671 that I'm sending you has none; but you can easily add one. When I got it, it had several loose chunks of misshapen lead inside, interfering with the works.
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