Well, Bobby Baccala died in a train shop, but of course it wasn't the trains that killed him.
By the way, if anyone's seen that show did you notice the Santa Fe "Warbonnet" diesel on the store layout took a bullet as well? You suppose David Chase, the originator of the "Sopranos" series is a steam freak?
fifedogIn 30 years of law enforcement, I've never encountered "death by toy choo-choo"
That brings up some interresting mental pictures based around TV police and detective shows!
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
I hear 'ya fifedog! I've had that "POP!" and "FLASH!" from the layout myself from time to time!
Nothing like a big electrical malfunction with accompanying sound effects to give you what we called in the Marines "A cold rush of s**t to the heart!"
Flintlock - Train addiction v. Drug addiction. In 30 years of law enforcement, I've never encountered "death by toy choo-choo", even though I almost electrocuted myself on a couple of occassions. Not to say that some fellas may have found themselves in Family Court for their "affliction".
A great hobby like toy trains makes you forget about everything, at least for a while.
You're in your own world where everything makes sense. At least most of the time.
There are those occasional mystery short circuits....
Penny Trains Me niether. I had enough problems.
Me niether. I had enough problems.
Isn't that what a hobby is supposed to do ?
Flintlock76 It's a bloody addiction, I tell 'ya! Last Saturday I was in Lansdale PA visiting our niece Stephanie The Mad Violinist and swung by Henning's Trains just out of curiosity and to kill some time. I wasn't really looking for anything but wound up purchasing a Lionel 80's vintage PRR streamline passenger set six-pack for $100. Hey, too good to pass up, right? At least it's cheaper than a drug addiction. I think. I wouldn't know. I was never that stupid.
It's a bloody addiction, I tell 'ya!
Last Saturday I was in Lansdale PA visiting our niece Stephanie The Mad Violinist and swung by Henning's Trains just out of curiosity and to kill some time.
I wasn't really looking for anything but wound up purchasing a Lionel 80's vintage PRR streamline passenger set six-pack for $100. Hey, too good to pass up, right?
At least it's cheaper than a drug addiction. I think. I wouldn't know. I was never that stupid.
That's why so many of the scenarios that R.T. Put forth sounded so familiar to me !
I have rationalized purchases with every excuse in the book !
teledoc Postwar Paul, If you are interested in understanding all the variation of Lionel’s “Torpedo” locos, Just do a Google search for “Lionel 027 Torpedoes- A Case Study”. The first item will give you the link to Modeltrainforum, which has a lengthy thread, with many posts, explaining anything you need to know about the Lionel 1588, 1668, & 1688.
Postwar Paul, If you are interested in understanding all the variation of Lionel’s “Torpedo” locos, Just do a Google search for “Lionel 027 Torpedoes- A Case Study”. The first item will give you the link to Modeltrainforum, which has a lengthy thread, with many posts, explaining anything you need to know about the Lionel 1588, 1668, & 1688.
It's the 2025, 2035, 681 engines that I can't seem to get enough of !
But, I will enjoy reading about their history, so Thank You for the tip !
I like the look of this engine, it is based on the 3768, a K-4 with the '36 version of streaming. One and only engine this way.
Paul
Last Saturday we were in Lansdale PA visiting our niece Stephanie The Mad Violinist and I swung by Henning's Trains just out of curiosity and to kill some time.
I wasn't really looking for anything but wound up purchasing a Lionel 80's vintage PRR streamline passenger set six-pack for $100. Hey, too good to pass up, right? AND they look great tied to the tail of my post-war 681 Pennsy Turbine!
Irrational Rationalization:
making guilt free purchases possible.
That's how I roll....
Or you buy a set just to resell it as the seller had it listed on a buyit now price of about 1/2 of what it will sell for.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
rtraincollector You know your in trouble when you buy a set of trains for one item and thinking you can sell the rest and at least get 3/4 of your money back.
You know your in trouble when you buy a set of trains for one item and thinking you can sell the rest and at least get 3/4 of your money back.
you wind up keeping the whole set anyway.
Please don't ask me how I know this....
Penny Trains I can top it all. I can lay there on the floor running my 2035 and somehow still think "I really need to add one of those to my collection." I must be schitzophrenic or something...
I can top it all. I can lay there on the floor running my 2035 and somehow still think "I really need to add one of those to my collection." I must be schitzophrenic or something...
But, could I ever be able to live up to THAT!!!
Teledoc,
I'm glad I asked !
This has cleared up a lot of questions about the 1688.
I'll be sure to look at the MTF, as well.
The number plates available now, are stick on plates, without tabs, which most suppliers have available. There was a reprint article from Feb. 18, 2015 under “Timeless Classics”, originally written in Sept. 2005 issue, by John A. grams, discussing ‘Lionel’s Torpedo Streamlined Locomotives’, which started my search, for the one unique version, with the Open Cab Windows. I started searching, and found my first one in about a month. I now own 6 of that version, and I know that there are at least 26 more, that have been sold on eBay. During my searches, I would see one version, than th next one I saw didn’t look like the first, and so on. During a 2 year period, I studied, and bought most of the variations. I know every single nuance, of all three locos, (1588/1688/1668), and I can usually identify a version, by a few photos, without having it in my hands.
If you get a chance, check out (Modeltrainforum.com), and snoop around the 0 & Tinplate sections. I am a Moderator on that forum, which is where I hang out 99% of the time. My biggest gripe with this forum is the multi step 3rd party requirement to post photos. Too time consuming, and a complete turn off for me. It’s just my thought.
Thank you for this !
Well, this means that I AM missing a number plate after all...
Yes on a single number plate 1688E, of 1936 vintage, with Thin casting, open firebox wall. The 1936 versions are ALL thin casting, without the firebox wall. Motors are tagged Lionel Jr., 8 spoked drivers. There is a 3/4” square raised area on the cab roof, and also what simulates a “Winged Keystone“ just below the smoke stack, above the headlight. These are only unique to 1936 issues. Due to thin castings, which made the shells easy to break, they modified the molds, and created the Thick castings, and added the Firebox doors inside the cab. The Single tagged, also came in the 1668 six wheeled loco, with the nameplate only on the left side. There are no slots or indentation to put the second tag on the body. I figured out a logical reason that created the single tagged bodies.
The 1689E Commodore Vanderbilt loco comes in two body versions, which were made in 1936 & 1937 only. The 1936 version only came in BLACK, and did not have Marker lights, nor the holes to mount them. The 1937 issue had marker lights, and came in both Black or Gunmetal Gray. I have both the ‘36 & ‘37 issues of the 1689E.
LL675 well the first Lionel steamer I bought for myself was a 675 with the Baldwin drivers.....then I got a later one with the sintered drivers....couple years ago at a show a guy had a box of parts that was a 2025 and a 2035. It took about 20 minutes to have them together enough to run again. The 2025 just needs a trailing truck to be complete, picked up a 675 truck at the last show. Right before that I piced up a 2025 shell....My second steamer I got was a 671 becaue I grew up watching my Uncle's 2020 going around my Grandparents Christmas Tree....a few years ago I inheateted that 2020 when my Uncle passed. I had put a 224E together for myself, no I also have my Uncle's 224E.
well the first Lionel steamer I bought for myself was a 675 with the Baldwin drivers.....then I got a later one with the sintered drivers....couple years ago at a show a guy had a box of parts that was a 2025 and a 2035. It took about 20 minutes to have them together enough to run again. The 2025 just needs a trailing truck to be complete, picked up a 675 truck at the last show. Right before that I piced up a 2025 shell....My second steamer I got was a 671 becaue I grew up watching my Uncle's 2020 going around my Grandparents Christmas Tree....a few years ago I inheateted that 2020 when my Uncle passed. I had put a 224E together for myself, no I also have my Uncle's 224E.
I like to have a lot of engines, and rotate them periodically to give them a break. Distribute the load...
thanks again ! I'll look forward to reading your work !
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read somewhere that there is a variation of 1688 with the number plate only on the left side ? I felt like mine was missing the plate until I read that. Have you come across this at all ?
Paul, My main forum that I use is Model Train Forum, (MTF), where I did a complete write-up about the infamous Raymond Loewy “Torpedoes”, which explains all the variations of the three locos,(1588/1668/1688). It is listed in the Tinplate section, in that Forum. My research on these, will be added to the next book, that Bruce Greenberg, will be publishing in 2020. He did a new edition, covering Standard & 2 7/8” Trains, 1901-1929, back in 2015. His next edition covers 1930-1942, in 0 & 00 gauges. I met Bruce last October at York, where he photographed, some of my major variations of the 1688/E. He got quite an education about the “Torpedoes”, to say the least.
Service complete !
new motor brushes
tender pick up wires
whistle brushes
running well,
whistlin loud and proud !
thank you, sir !
Very informative, never realized so many variations. Mine is a little rough shape, but glad to have it. Had to rebuild the E unit, but it runs great now, a little too great... gotta watch my speed on the curves!
Dave to my knowledge there is 5 different 675, which I have 3 of. Theres a version with alunimum smoke stack, and one with a black smoke stack, ( 2-6-2 ) 1947 - 1949. Then ther was another version ( 2-6-4 ) 1952. I don't have acess to them right now to state which wheels they have. I really need to pull mine out and figure which ones I actually have.
Paul, I put the year of production in the 1937-39 range, and from my original listings, it would be my #15. The motor is what I call the Type I motor, mounted through the running boards, just in front of the cab. The drivers are 12 spoke, and the tag on the motor says Lionel 027. The earliest 1936 issues, had the same style motor, but the drivers were only 8 spoke, with motor tagged "Lionel Jr.", which was a holdover from earlier 4 wheel Junior line motors. The number tag is 1688, versus the earlier 1688E tags, but yours should have tags on both sides. The key to it being closer to the 1939 range, is the countersink hole on top of the loco, just forward of the cab, which is how the 1668 six wheel motors were mounted. The 1588 Clockwork, 1668/1668E, & the 1688/1688E all used the same basic mold, with minor modifications, throughout their production. The 1588 was 0-4-0, the 1688/E were 2-4-2, and the 1668 was a 2-6-2 arrangement. The 1688/1688E used three distinct motors, with first one having horizontal wing extension, that mounted the motor through the running boards, (Type I). The second motor was one of the versions used in a 1664 loco, which used a single 2 1/4" lateral screw, through the body, back near the cab, which is a (Type II), and the last version was identical to the Postwar 1654 motor, which used two lateral screws through the body, making that the (Type III). There are other body mold modifications that were made, from the early 1936 to 1942 version. ALL 1936 issued 1688/E were thin castings, and had an open cab without firebox doors, and all had "Lionel Jr." motors, with 8 spoke drivers. In 1937, Lionel made the transition to "Lionel 027" motors, with 12 spoke drivers, and were now the Thick Casting, and the cabs now had firebox doors. I would guess that 98-99% of people think that all the 1688's are common, with the exception of the very first issue that had open forward facing cab windows. Oh how wrong they are. The 1588 has three versions, the 1688 has 18 versions, and the 1668 has six versions, all different from each other.
Dave
It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody from Toy Story)
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