Antique value of old trains

[Anonymous]

Hello Guys:

I am new and at the same time very old to the hobby of model trains. I am also new to this forum (my first post). I have resently gotten bit all over agian by the hobby of model trains. After being away from the hobby for 35 years I went out and bought the Polar Express train set for an "arround the Christmas tree deceration" but after looking at the quality of the set and the Locomotive in particular I started to investigate TMCC and all the new technolgy out there since I was playing around with trains and there is a lot of new technolgy!

Well right away I had to have TMCC so I found TAStudios and ordered EOB and RailSounds and command and control, the whole nine yards as well as all the electronics to connect it up the set. I plan on remaining in the hobby now for a good long time.

Anyway all this excitment got me wondering if I could find any of my old trains at my parents. So I stopped over the other night and went looking through there attic and low and behold I found an old locomotive and some other parts. Well I say I found a locomotive, I should say I found most of a locomotive. Enough to restore is what I found. (When I was a kid I took everything apart....LOL or should I cry?).

The train is a 1952 or so Pannsylvania No.671 S-2 Steam Turbine. My question to you all is:

1. Does this train have any antique value?

2. How far do I go in restoring it? Meaning can I paint it? can I put TMCC in it? There is a much newer version of this train can I use the new parts from Lionel on this old train and retain it's value

3. If I TMCC it with RailSounds and stuff, what does a steam turbine sound like? Is there a set of sounds for it?


Thanks for your time,

[Frank53]

671's are pretty common and in "played with" good condition they draw a couple hundred bucks maybe. Like new in opristine condition with an original excellent box they might go as high as $500. One that needs refurbishing is in the below $100.00 range most likely.

With that said, fix it up as best you can, avoid the temptation to put TMCC or some other control system and run it as it was built to be run. I would assume there are some childhood memories in that engine - why mess with history?

I have a 681 that my Dad had for probably 50 years. Still runs like a champ.

I'd be interested to see how teh trains being bought today run in 2056. I'll bet my 681 would still run.

[Frank53]

Here's teh 681 blowing out a perfect smoke ring:

[marxalot]

Curv,

Welcome to this forum. More knowledgable people and information here than you can shake a stick at. Whatever that expression implies! Just getting back into O/027 myself. Enjoy.

Jim

[1688torpedo]

Hello Curve ! and[#welcome] to the forum. Olsen's Toy Train Parts has diagrams to help you determine which parts to replace for your Turbine and they have Paint and Rubber Stamps for the Cab numbers. It is worth restoring. And like Frank said run it the way it was built. Here is the Number for Olsen's 1-216-226-0444 and they also have a website to help you out. If you need any parts Olsen's may not have in stock, Let us know.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the welcomes, I’m sure I will enjoy participating here on this forum. I really like that picture Frank53. If you have any others I would really appreciate seeing them.

I appreciate all your input and although you all seem to be coming down on the side of don't put TMCC in it, however the way I am adding it up is this train is worth probably more to me than it is to a collector so I should make it the way I want it. I say this because one of the parts that’s broke is the control unit (as a kid I was trying to fix the E-unit). So I figure the parts from TAStudios will be a wash.

What I am really curious about is what did a steam turbine sound like?

Thanks again for all your great input!

---------------
Irv Lennert

[mpzpw3]

I think you are right, curv. I am a traditional operator, but feel that if you would prefer tmcc, you should convert the engine to tmcc. Some people would also tell you not to repaint the engine, as it shows all the dents and scrapes of the past, but it is your engine, and should be restored as YOU want it. I would get with TAS or Digital Dynamics as far as the sound is concerned.

[iguanaman3]

QUOTE:

What I am really curious about is what did a steam turbine sound like?

QUOTE:

Even though Lionel has sold 1000's of S2"s there was only one full size locomotive actually made. It was apparently very loud and had a typical turbine "whine" ...no chuffs like a regular steamer. Lionel has recently made a "scale" model of the S2 which is much larger and has the correct sounds, Although they couldn't have come from the real thing as it is long gone. I don't believe those sounds are available from anyone as an add-on though so the turbine might not be the best choice for a railsounds upgrade. You could convert to TMCC but if I were you I would pick up another e-unit and keep it conventional for nostalgias sake. All you would need is a Powermaster to control it with your Cab-1 as easily as a TMCC loco if you want.

Neil

[railfanespee4449]

A little history. The Pennsy ordered a 6-8-6 turbine from Baldwin in 1948. The "Big Swoosh was speedy & powerful, but under 40 MPH, it was a fuel hog. The sole engine, 6200, was scrapped in 1952