Just got this answer back from Joe (great timing):
"The brushes will pop out but the springs will remain attached to the brushplate. If the springs do come out, you have another problem to address as either they are incorrectly installed or they are broken. Either way, replacements are available and very easily replaced."
Bob Keller
I'll shoot your question over to our Q&A guy, Joe Mania, and pass along his reply.
Roger, I recently was given a 2331, Virginian by Lionel. It is in good shape on the outside but is not running. I want to remove the brushplate to clean the brushes and commutator but I am concerned I will open a can of worms for myself since I have never worked on this model. Will the spring pop out once I take off the brush assembly? As long as the spring and brush do not pop out, I think I can handle it, knowing how to clean the brushes and the commutator. I have done this on my Sante Fe, but the springs are different in the Sante Fe.
Mr. Leeper, it looks like you scored TWO home runs in one game, a nice find of an un-cataloged Lionel set AND an invitation from Mr. Carp to have it featured in the magazine! You lucky guy, you!
And welcome aboard!
This is a photo of the entire set. I really like the Baby Ruth car, its cool.
Hi,
I also purchased a set with the B&O 44 tonner from Sears. The number on the side of the Sears box is 9602. The only thing I can remember about the set other than the engine is that it came with a figure 8 layout and it had a black gondola with red cannisters in it. I bought it as a Christmas present for my brother (in 1956, I think).
He later painted the engine black. His daughter now has the set, and I have the box for the set.
PS: The cost of sending the set from Philadelphia to western NY by U.S. mail in 1956 was 80 cents.
Take care,
Dick
aboard!
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
check your local library...ours has or can get from other branches most of the Greenberg books.
nice find!
Dave
It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody from Toy Story)
Hi and thanks for posting the information about your Lionel uncataloged X-453 set. Please contact me about an article on the set in our magazine.
Thanks,
Roger Carp
Senior editor
Classic Toy Trains
262-796-8776 ext. 253
Nice set and a great find, but not the only one.
https://new.liveauctioneers.com/item/7294165_lionel-post-war-x453-train-set
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Not only is the loco a rare piece, a box for ANY 44 ton switcher is super rare. I've never even seen a picture of one before. What a find!
The Locomotive is Baltimore and Ohio 44 Tonner a rare piece The set is probably as stated a promo set used to get rid of surplus inventory
The locomotive was made in 1956 only and uncatalouged
What are the other cars?
Your set was probably a promo set for some company. Lionel did a lot of them back in the day. You will need to get a Postwar uncataloged set book. There out of print so finding one will be $$ or find someone who has one.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
JLeeper Recently found a Lionel train set but can't find any information on it. It states on the box X-453 and the paperwork included inside is dated 1957. Going through other online history sites that list models released through the years do not include this model? It seems like a simple circle track that has locomotive and 4 cars. Works great, includes all the boxes and so forth. Much nicer then my old MARX train sets! I'm not a 'train collector', just like old toys or old things in general.
Recently found a Lionel train set but can't find any information on it. It states on the box X-453 and the paperwork included inside is dated 1957. Going through other online history sites that list models released through the years do not include this model? It seems like a simple circle track that has locomotive and 4 cars. Works great, includes all the boxes and so forth. Much nicer then my old MARX train sets! I'm not a 'train collector', just like old toys or old things in general.
Added is the photo:
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