new member and roof for 610 passenger car

[Anonymous]

Hello,
I am a Lionel fan in the Netherlands and new to this forum, so please allow me to introduce myself and to make a few beginners mistakes.

In 1973 (being 7) I got a pre-war train set (well was it a true set?) from my father, which he received from his father in 1937. The 289E was in poor condition, so was the 604 observation, 659 dump car and 657 caboose. An elderly Marklin-fan helped me to restore the electronics and made the thing run again. I played little with when I was small.
When I went for work to the USA and Canada in the 1990's I purchased some modern Lionel stuff and collected that and kept it for fun, and sometimes run it.
Now that my daughter has become 6 and is very interested in daddy's trains I started to clean, restore and enjoy the old cars. And now with Ebay and the favourable USD-EUR exchange rate of the last years, I started to buy more cars. Mostly, near junk pre-war cars that need much TLC to make little treasures again. I really enjoy turning trash back into small treasures. I know that a lot of collectors do not value restoration work as much as untouched items, but I see it more as trash-salvage work.
My last Ebay purchase got me in trouble though. I bought a 610 pre-war passenger car without a roof. I thought, well there are so many parts suppliers on internet, I will probably pick up a roof somewhere. Now, I have surfed the web for 3 weeks and still did not find a 610 passenger roof and start to realise that it is not so easy. So, I would to ask Lionel enthusiasts if somebody would have a spare roof or would know where to find it.
Thanks in advance,

Ulphard

[pbjwilson]

Ulphard,
Welcome! Great to here from people across the pond. I find it fascinating that you have collected Lionel trains. I enjoy collecting pre-war trains from europe, Bing, Fandor, etc. as well as american pre-war. And like you most of my collection needs help, or is in need of some parts or repair. I can't help with the roof you are looking for other than to suggest looking on e-bay for another 610 that you can use as a parts car.
Good-luck and drop in to the forum as often as you can.

[daan]

Welcome Ulphard, enjoy your time here. Probably there are a few more people interested in your "Before" and "After" restauration pictures. You turn shred into real beauties!
On sunday we always have the "sunday Photo Fun", your pictures are more then worth placing there.
Good luck with finding the roof, I'll keep an eye open too.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Ulphard! Give Dr.Tinker's Toy Train Parts a Try. He has a website and should be able to help you out and he is very knowledgable about Lionel Trains as well. Let us know what happens. Good Luck.

[wrmcclellan]

Uphard,

Welcome to the CTT forum! Try contacting these guys. If they cannot help you they may be able to recommend someone.

Contact Sharon:

Olsen’s Toy Train Parts
1386 Bonneview Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107

Ph: 216.226.0444
Fax: [phone]

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/default.htm

Drop into the forum and let us know how it is going. Join us on the coffee pot for a chat every once in a while or just to let us know how it is going in your area of the world.

Regards,
Roy

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the welcome!

I have visited Olsen's website. They have a handy extended parts list, but not the roof part.

I will look for Dr. Tinker, that one is new for me. thanks for the hint and otherwise it will be waiting for roof on Ebay.

Greetings

Ulphard

[1688torpedo]

Hello Ulphard! Another parts resource for you is Al Cox of Seattle, Washington his address is: 18025 8th NW Shoreline ,Wa 98177-3542 and his phone # is 1-206-546-2230. Fax# is 1-206-546-0114. By the way, Your 289E Engine is a very hard to find version of Lionel's Prewar Commodore Vanderbuilt. Hang on to it. I've only seen two in my life and the second one was in pieces parts. Lionel only made the 289E for two years and that was it. I guess you can consider yourself fortunate to own one now.Especially considering that it was passed down from your Grandfather.It definetly would be worth restoring for sure as 1937 was the last year your engine was made.Hope this helps you out. Take Care.

[Anonymous]

Dear Keith,

Thanks for your reply. Since, Dr. Tinker also did not have the 610 roof, I will try your friend, Mr. Cox. Let's see what he has.

Indeed, I hardly see any 289E's coming onto Ebay and I thought that was strange. In the Lionel Prewar book of Tom McComas and James Tuohy they state that the 289E is desirable, hard to find but will be present on a large meeting.
The paintwork is in a bad state: my uncle used a normal brush and grey alkyd paint to make his own paint scheme in 1972. Not a bad try, but far from the original. I am still looking for pictures to help me repainting it properly. according to the book they have come in black and gun-metal paint schemes. On page 28 there is a picture of the black engine and it is fully black, so I reacon that the gun-metal must have been one colour as well and not the black-grey dual paint scheme that my uncle has created. If somebody has a picture of the gun-metal version, I am interested.

Greetings
Ulphard

[Anonymous]

Buy a junk 612 observation car and keep the rest for parts since you like to restore. The only bad thing about this approach is it becomes a giant snow ball rolling down the mountain, you end up with lots of stuff!

I have the same problem with a 1687 ives/lionel observation, no roof, and that car is real tough to find!

[1688torpedo]

Hello Ulphard! Contact the Train collector's association here in the U.S. They have a website. About 20 years ago they did a book about Lionel's Prewar Trains and a photo of a Gunmetal Grey 289E is in that book.Explain your dilemma and see if they can scan a photo of the engine to your e-mail. I have a copy of this book. But, am unable to scan photo's as I've no scanner plus copy right laws may prohibit this. Good Luck and let us know what happens.