Postwar is just so good

[overall]

You people make me feel old. I was born in '57. Most historians believe the postwar era ended about 1969 with the purchase of Lionel by general mills. I got to participate in it some. I had two postwar diesels and some steam engines that I ran as a boy and a teenager in the 60's and 70's. I still have those trains today. I still run them but not as relentlessly as I once did. I am also a railfan. I grew up around GP-38's, SD-40-2's,SD-45's and GE diesels also. There were still alot of first generation diesels around too. When Lionel and others started to make newer diesels in southeastern road names, those became my favorites because they looked like the real ones I had grown up with.

George

[Sturgeon-Phish]

One of the best parts of post war, is it is simple to work on. March CTT had a great article on cleaning up post war American Flyer locos. Take pictures or make sketches of things before you take them apart, especially drive rods to aid in re-assembly. You can usually "see" why it's not running unlike the newer things with boards. 99% of my stuff is '46 - '66.
Jim

[Jumijo]

I'm going to be looking for an old junker locomotive at an upcoming train show that I can practice working on. I want to learn how to clean and lubricate one to start, then work my way up to more complicated stuff.

Jim

[LL675]

I was born in '63, and grew up watching Dad's and my uncle's Lionels. For me, there is nothing better than digging thru the junk boxex at shows. I've got enough trains that are ready to run, so I look for the projects. I have one new locomotive, an MTH PRR M1s. I think the sounds are great, and I may get one or two more moderen steamers, but my first love will always be the classic trains.

Dave

[Anonymous]

I am fourteen and I love postwar Lionel because I love the sense of nestalgia I get every time I throttle up.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it neat you can get parts for the post war stuff and fix it up. Welcome to the fun of Junk box trains, my favorite.

I bet in 50 years getting parts for those DCS (or is this a ChE term) whatever MTH, Lionel etc trains wil not be possible. For one thing they will not make enough of the same ones to make it profitable to make repo parts.

And another, the electronics are too specific and limited production before obsoletance that they will be only fodder for refiting with new can motors and conventional control to provide a use for those beautiful detailed $1000 bodies.

Give me a $40 junk box 2035 any day.

Charlie

[alank]

To Mike S.

I am glad you found some joy in an old pair of Lionel trains. I used to have nothing
to do with those old cheapies, but too found they can be fun. After having acquired several in used sets of trains that I bought, you start thinking what can I do with them to spruce them up, and make them fit in with what you have. By adding windows, and other little parts, they become presentable and fun to run. I have even come up with different ways of fixing the broken aprons, and like running them dual, so there is no
dummy units. They make good runners, and I don't worry about them.

At the same time, while I like postwar, look at the trains out there in front of you.
I have a little from each generation, and enjoy my newer stuff with the command control.
I don't worry about the electronics, I enjoy the trains. Having grown up in the postwar era, having older brothers and a family that got me into the hobby, and being a technologist, I find I can't limit myself by living in the past. I buy new Lionel, and study the stuff before I purchase. This way I experience fewer disappointments. I find I liked K-line, and am attracted to Williams. I have not ventured into the MHT arena as I don't need the distraction. I have friends and cousins who have gone that way. we just enjoy our trains.

I don't know if you are new to the hobby, but you have a lot of trains out there on Long Island. If you want to make something for yourself with you Alco, why not build a push pull passenger set using a Kline MP15 for one end, your Alco for the other and stick in a set of postwar passenger cars. I used to see them that way out in Riverhead.
Anyway enjoy your trains, and take advantage of what is out there.

Alan K.

[Dave Farquhar]

I was born in 1974, but postwar is my first love, since I grew up with my dad's postwar Lionel and Plasticville (and a little bit of Marx) set up in the basement. I'm definitely drawn to the prewar stuff too because of its simplicity. I've set my layout in the 1940s so I can swing from both sides of the plate without it looking awkward.

I've seen the new stuff in operation and there's some appeal in it (I have the Polar Express set, for example), but if I wanted scale realism I'd go with HO or N. And the technology is a non-starter for me. I spend all day working on computers for a living, so it's nice to come home and unwind with something whose magic is wrought entirely by mechanical means.

[phillyreading]

I have alot of post-war stuff like steam locomtives and quad hoppers and a post-war 275 watt ZW transformer, a 250 watt Z transformer. Not that up on electronics because of what I know about residential AC voltage and how easily electronics can be fried. Even have a computer power surge protecter for my transformers because of living in West Palm Beach area, subject to frequent power fluctuations thanks to Florida Power and Light. Far as new stuff; I run Williams locomotives, MTH freight, K-Line freight and a few locomotives.
Lionel has totally turned me off for many reasons, the biggest reason is quality is missing far as I am concerned and Lionel will not acknowledge problems with their products. Case in point is the 6-23011 O gauge switches; I have had nothing but problems with this switch and even called Lionel to find out what to do to remedy the problems, Lionel said they never heard of any problems with the switch.
Lee F.

[cnw1995]

You probably have some cool memories, Alan. It would be fun to 'hear' them someday. I got that book out of the library - it was a great read. I personally believe MTH 'saved' Standard Gauge with its reissues. It's fun to read SG threads on the other forum.

[1688torpedo]

[tup] For Pre-Postwar Trains. Don't worry Groucho, we won't tell Harpo or your other Brothers that you also like older Lionel Trains.[;)][:)][8D] Have Fun!

[Anonymous]

I can't afford the modern stuff that Lionel, MTH, etc. make. I admire it, but it's not for me.

That's why I love Marx (prewar and postwar). It's pretty cheap to buy, easy enough for me to maintain and restore and a whole lot of fun!

I even occasionally run some of the old Lionel stuff too, but don't tell my fellow Marxists!

[msacco]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Allan Miller

Yes, that would be me, Mike. I was managing editor for Greenberg Books and Greenberg Publishing Company at the time. Some really great times with some great people!

Allan,
I really like Kouba's book and it's too bad it's out of print I believe. It has helped me a lot while working on my first layout.
Is John Kouba still involved in the hobby?

Mike S.

[Anonymous]

I couldn't agree with you more, Mike! Vintage trains, postwar AND prewar, just have something that modern era stuff doesn't. Sure, the new stuff is nice, but it just isn't the same. Being born in 1986, I was born far to late to experience the postwar era (or even the MPC era for that matter). Nevertheless, it will always be the vintage trains that I have the biggest passion for. Like Doug, the new technology scares me! Say all you want about TMCC and DCS and DCC and whatever other letters there are, but for my money, there's nothing finer than running a locomotive from the golden age of trains (toy and real) around the track for the first time in decades!

[Anonymous]

Yes, that would be me, Mike. I was managing editor for Greenberg Books and Greenberg Publishing Company at the time. Some really great times with some great people!

[msacco]

Hey Allan,
I'm currently reading Greenberg's old Model railroading with Lionel trains Volume 2, John Kouba, the author, thanks an Allan Miller in his Acknowledgements.
This wouldn't happen to be you would it?

Mike S.

[Anonymous]

I most definitely grew up in the postwar era, and have no complaints about postwar trains made by Lionel--I sure enjoyed them for a number of years, and they're the reason I still have an interest in O gauge (along with the other scales I enjoy).

At the same time, I'm still fortunate enough to be alive and kicking today, so thoroughly enjoy the wealth of products being offered now, along with some significant improvements that simply add to the operating fun.

Truth is, mosty of my interest today is drawn to trains of an even earlier era--prewar Standard Gauge--and that interest wouldn't have evolved at all had it not been for the commitment MTH made to enter and stick with that particular niche in the hobby. I could never afford original items in the condition I want, and MTH made Standard Gauge affordable, and they made them even better than the originals. Yesterday, I set up the new #384 Standard Gauge set I received this past week, and am thoroughly enjoying not only the quality of workmanship and the reasonable price paid, but also the PS2 sounds and, in particular, the slow and smooth "speed control" that you can only get in those trains made today.

Toy trains of any era are attractive to me. There's nothing like having such a great range of items to choose from, not matter what era one may prefer.

[cnw1995]

Man, I'm scared of the electronics in the newer stuff. I love the sounds and lights, but prefer the older things or newer things that are relatively unsophisticated like those produced by Williams. I got a #41 moving the other day that hadn't been worked since the 1970s. A little lubrication and off it went.

[Anonymous]

Im sure postwar stuff has alot of value to those who grew up and lived in that era. I pretty much dont have alot of knowledge of that era (being born in the late 70's and all), though my four late uncles I knew had some postwar stuff. Of course for me personally I dont care if its postwar or modern stuff....if it looks good on my layout then I will run it.

Chris

[msacco]

My last purchase was an MTH aerotrain. Great loco with their great cuise .
I found myself enjoying this loco quite a bit until a friend gave me a busted pair of 218 sante fe cheapie alcos. A unit had a stripped worm gear and the dummy unit had a broken apron. Typical.
Quick purchase of a new unit from ebay and a through cleaning and tuning of the pullmor and she runs so, so well.
I'm running these little unit a lot. It just so great to be able to take an almost 50 old toy and make it run like it's new again.
Love some of the new technology, but postwar is Lionel.
Ozone and pullmors. Does it get any better than that?

Mike S.