Trains.com

Lionel 318, repro or real?

4991 views
17 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Lionel 318, repro or real?
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Sunday, October 30, 2016 10:59 AM

Hello everyone! I just recently got into standard gauge and i am looking at a set that i believe has 3 original 300 series passenger cars in state brown that look to have been restored, the set also includes a 318 which looks REALLY good for its age and it seems to have been rewired at some point. The thing that really gets me is that it has the original type pick-up rollers with a groove like its been run but there is no name plate on the bottom. there is a plate but its just brass like the pick-up roller "thing". So does this mean its a repro? I wouldnt mind getting a repro but i dont want to get one and thing its original then come to find out its not.  Thanks for ANY information on this subject!

p.s. the wires all are rubber coated like modern wires but u can tell its older. i also heard they made 408 repros in the 80s and the wires seem like they could be that old. Thanks again!

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Sunday, October 30, 2016 6:46 PM

Maybe the Lionel info got rubbed off the brass plate or accidentally dissolved during a cleaning?  Some of the inks Lionel used vanish easily if you use an aggressive cleanser like Windex.  Maybe a previous owner tried to hard.

Becky

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, October 30, 2016 7:04 PM

I'm not an expert on pre-war by any means, so take this for what it's worth.

I looked up the 318 and saw it was made from 1924 to 1932.  That being the case I'd assume the wiring would have been cloth insulated like other electrical products of the time like radios, and not rubber insulated, and definately not insulated with plastic.  Maybe it was re-wired at some point?  Again, I'm just speculating.

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 10:27 AM

Thanks Becky and Firelock! i do believe it was rewired at some point and Becky that may have been what happened. Anyways i decided to go with a lionel number 10 set with 4 cars but the cars need some intense care. one has a bad dent that made the roof pop off and over. i got if for a cheaper price than the 318 but i feel like i kinda saved this set lol.  Thanks for the replies none the less!Big Smile

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 6:31 PM

Someone had restored my #8 at some point before I purchased it, but then let battery acid leak all over it!  Tongue Tied

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 6:36 PM

Penny Trains

Someone had restored my #8 at some point before I purchased it, but then let battery acid leak all over it!  Tongue Tied

 



Crying  Thats horrible! 

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 6:51 PM

Aside from a wobble it's much better now!  Big Smile

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 6:54 PM

Penny Trains

Aside from a wobble it's much better now!  Big Smile

 



o.o Very nice! I like that paint color!

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • From: Ohio Valley
  • 706 posts
Posted by LL675 on Saturday, November 5, 2016 12:01 PM
definatly need to see more of that beauty Penny

Dave

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

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Saturday, November 5, 2016 7:01 PM

LL675
definatly need to see more of that beauty Penny
 

 
Here ya go!  Big Smile
 
 
 
 
Matching 35 and 36 passenger cars on siding by tunnel.

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Sunday, November 6, 2016 7:37 AM

Penny Trains

 

 
LL675
definatly need to see more of that beauty Penny
 

 

 
Here ya go!  Big Smile
 
 
 
 
Matching 35 and 36 passenger cars on siding by tunnel.
 



Amazing setup! that paint color is great! i love it lol. Stunning layout too!

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Lake Worth FL
  • 4,014 posts
Posted by phillyreading on Sunday, November 6, 2016 4:36 PM

I have the Greenberg's price guide and the 318 is listed two ways, both are 0-4-0. First there is a Standard Gauge version # 318 made from 1924 to 32, the second is the # 318E(unsure if standard gauge, no mention of any size) made from 1926 to 35. Depending on the color is the price of the 318 or 318E from $150.00 to $1275.00 in excellent condition.

Lee Fritz

Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 3:24 PM

phillyreading

I have the Greenberg's price guide and the 318 is listed two ways, both are 0-4-0. First there is a Standard Gauge version # 318 made from 1924 to 32, the second is the # 318E in O gauge made from 1926 to 35. Depending on the color is the price of the 318 or 318E from $150.00 to $1275.00 in excellent condition.

Lee Fritz

 



Thanks for the info! I happened to go with a different set after all, i didnt want to risk it.  Also i think the 318e was also a std gauge engine!

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Lake Worth FL
  • 4,014 posts
Posted by phillyreading on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 4:02 PM

Toy Trains FTW

 

 
phillyreading

I have the Greenberg's price guide and the 318 is listed two ways, both are 0-4-0. First there is a Standard Gauge version # 318 made from 1924 to 32, the second is the # 318E in O gauge made from 1926 to 35. Depending on the color is the price of the 318 or 318E from $150.00 to $1275.00 in excellent condition.

Lee Fritz

 

 

 



Thanks for the info! I happened to go with a different set after all, i didnt want to risk it.  Also i think the 318e was also a std gauge engine!

 

 

After looking at the Greenberg's guide again there is no mention of the 318E being either standard gauge or O gauge, however it is listed between a few standard gauge items so I may venture to say it is standard gauge as well.

Lee Fritz

Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 4:50 PM

yes i agree! thanks for the info!

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 5:46 PM

Becky, I just looked up the #8 in my Doyle's guide and I have to say you did a helluva job on yours, it's better than new!

According to the book, Lionel didn't use blue paint on the #8, but so what?  They should have!

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 7:03 PM

Thanks!  I just looked in my files and I thought I had a photo somewhere of the "Blue Comet" drumhead I installed on the railing on my #36 observation but I don't.  I'm hoping to shoot my completed Plasticville layout tomorrow so I'll get one of the obs. at the same time.  For the set I was going for the Rolls Royce blue Flyer used on the President's Special, but the Tamiya paint I used is more violet in tone.  The frame is black, but the cab roof is a very dark blue that always looks black in photos.  I paid around $125 for the loco (sans postage) and only needed a few repair parts plus the paint so all in all not bad for standard gauge!  Big Smile

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • From: Ohio Valley
  • 706 posts
Posted by LL675 on Thursday, November 10, 2016 9:25 AM

beautiful! thanks!

Dave

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

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month