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Running my Prewar Lionel OO set.

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  • Member since
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  • From: Kokomo, Indiana
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Posted by emdmike on Saturday, June 13, 2020 5:07 PM

I have gotten to own one in the past when I was much heavier into O gauge.  Those 226e's are heavy.  Their boiler became the basis for the Berkshire boiler and the 225 became the 675 series in the postwar years.   I think the GG1 outweighs them all.  Just imagine if Lionel had done the F3's with diecast shells!!!!   

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, June 13, 2020 11:25 AM

Let me tell you, the Lionel 736's and 2056's are heavyweights too!  They can darn near pull tree stumps out of the ground!

The heaviest classic Lionel I've handled so far is a pre-war 226E.  Wow!  It's bigger than it looks in photos and the weight will shock you!  

How heavy is it?  Well I might be letting the hyperbole get the better of me but I'd swear I could feel the power of industrial America in 1941 just from holding that toy! 

I don't own one, I just got to heft one.

But maybe one day...

 

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Posted by emdmike on Saturday, June 13, 2020 10:38 AM

Those William "clone" GG1's are just as heavy as the genuine Lionel ones.  So yes, they are definatly "heavy metal".   If you get the chance to pickup a Lionel 675/2025/2035 PRR style steamer, do so.  They are really heavy for their small size, pull well even without magna-traction and have all the best features.   The 2035 has magnatraction, and the 675 with the nickle silver rims/baldwin disc drivers is one of the quietest running AC driven Lionels I have seen with the spur gear drive.  

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Posted by Penny Trains on Friday, June 12, 2020 7:08 PM

Well I don't have a Lionel, but my Williams By Bachmann GG-1 is a two hand job!  Big Smile

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

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Posted by emdmike on Thursday, June 11, 2020 10:49 PM

I got that to, got given a complete Lionel 2035 powered freight set, those PRR engines are quite heavy for a postwar steamer, one of the heaviest in my opinion other than maybe the GG1.   Mike

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Posted by Penny Trains on Thursday, June 11, 2020 6:24 PM

Yeah!  Big SmileThumbs Up  Most people think I'm nuts when I say I want to get my trains back on the hardwood floor!  Laugh  Did I mention I'm into heavy metal?  Whistling

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

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Posted by emdmike on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 9:55 PM

Noise, ozone and hot oil.  All part of the Pre/Postwar and most of the MPC/early LTI era of Lionel!  

 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 8:34 PM

Mike, who needs switches?  Just set yourself up a nice interesting loop and let it run!

None of the loops on my layout have switches, I just let 'em go 'round and 'round and let them do their magic on me.  But then I'm easily amused anyway.

If I need any cars switched out I let the "Hand of God" take care of it.  Wink

Any you're right Becky, the noise is half the fun!   And if the engines don't make enough noise a nice, long consist will!  

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Posted by Penny Trains on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 6:44 PM

It runs like a classic Lionel should: 1: Well & 2: not silently.  Big Smile  A lopt of modern trains leave me flat because they're "silent gliders".  Give me noise!  Big Smile

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

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Posted by emdmike on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 11:11 AM

The full scale version had a good cowcatcher.  The semi scale version that I have, was the one with the busted one.   But its a 2 rail engine and I am running on 3 rail with switches, so 2 rail doesnt do well as it looses power going thru the switches if I wire the 2 outer rails for power.  I converted the full scale Hudson to 3 rail power pickup.  But have not found the parts to do the same for the semi scale 004.  So that complete set is up for sale on other sites now.  

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 9:17 AM

That's cool Mike!  Thanks for posting!

I see you've got the new cowcatcher installed as well.

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Running my Prewar Lionel OO set.
Posted by emdmike on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 10:47 PM

Hot and sticky outdoors tonight, so running my Prewar Lionel OO set for a bit.  While the video was short a few days ago, the same action has been going on all evening.  While only made for a few short years before WWII shut down toy train production.  Lionel's little jewel NYC Hudson and all diecast cars were top notch and run well once cleaned and if need be, frame straightened on the Hudson.  Yes there is a gentleman out in Arizona that does this thru the winter months when its tollerable for him to work in his shop temp wise.  Enjoy!   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMFIA9b-nAI

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