Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Anyone here into vintage HO? 1940s thru the 60s?

29348 views
143 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Thursday, November 7, 2019 4:53 PM

Well back to my HObbyline HO trains . Here is my Passenger and Freight cars. I have a couple more coming a pair of ACL blue goldolas', and another southern box car, a HObbyline yellow gondola,  a DSS&A gondola and unknown flat car. 

Here is the Video

https://youtu.be/y99kV1xK_BM

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Sunday, December 1, 2019 9:39 AM
Silvine C.R.R.of N.J. #15 WaspSilvine C.R.R.of N.J. #14 HornetAnd so Vintage HO railroading continues. Back a few of my posts I spoke of my dilemma in lack of information on a pair of 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotives. Well this dilemma still continues as no one anywhere know anything about them B&O #62 and NH #60. That’s Ok! Life goes on. I now speak of other Silvine 0-4-0 side tankers I have and what I am doing with them.
 Well three of them are no longer in my B&O stable of locomotives. They have moved on with two of them becoming C.R.R.OF N.J. namely #14 the Hornet, and #15 the WASP. They went into the Elizabethtown shops and were refurbished, you know rebuilt coming out a little more modern as steam locomotive go with nicer fully enclosed cabs, and large side tanks. We had just to many frost bitten crew members as they went speeding over the open marchlands between Elizabethtown and Newark. The old Elizabethtown and Somerville has become the Central Railroad on New Jersey. The company future is bright and we will soon be building across Newark bay to Bergen Point with a hope to lay track up the peninsula through Centerville, Bayonne, Salterville, Pamrapo and Greenville to the Jersey City river front.  
 Through a agreement with the New Jersey Railroad and transportation our trains will use their new Hudson River Depot at Exchange place. The New Jersey Railroad as it is known will shuttle our trains to Newark and added to their regular service with us providing for a few direct trains to the ferry depot. The Hornet and Wasp will be a part of this service.
 
  • Member since
    November 2018
  • From: Just another small town in Ohio
  • 268 posts
Posted by Erie1951 on Sunday, December 1, 2019 11:42 AM

That saddle tanker is a real survivor, Frank. It's unfortunate that it can't be identified, but do you have any guesses?

Russ

Modeling the early '50s Erie in Paterson, NJ.  Here's the link to my railroad postcard collection: https://railroadpostcards.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Sunday, December 1, 2019 1:19 PM

A guess would to Silvine because that is who sold the B&O #25 side tanker, and the boxes #62 and #60 came in were the same as the Silvine box. Also all 3 are made by New One and the box may be a standard New One box. But a guess isn't a fact. A picture in a catalog, magazine, or sales flyier would be convincing. Also anything in writing, picture, or photograph. 

frank

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Saturday, December 14, 2019 9:57 AM

Now for a little more HObbyline HO from the mid-fifties. I finally have Western Pacific FA-1's for some set photos. The motor and other parts are missing from the power unit which is beat up pretty good, but I am really happy to at least have this set for posed photos. HObbyline Western Pacific FA-1's

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Saturday, December 21, 2019 7:59 AM

The Box coverAs it would happen the next week the auction had a box set 466 the Fronteirsman. No one want it so I got it. The pair of FA-1 locos are excelent as are the cars. The box is in bad shape and didn't completely protect the cars and one of the trucks came apart and a axel is lost. I replaced it with a sprung Varney truck.

frankThe set on my layout. The cars and Locos

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Sunday, December 22, 2019 10:28 AM

Now I have a chance to do something I wanted to do for years. I'll try not to pass it up. Here is what I was plaining when building the first section of ths new layout.

 
***That last layout seen in some photos of mine had to be removed to allow for a new rug to be installed in the room. My new one will have gorge scenery like along the Lehigh River. No I won't be building a Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe) Just an old mans layout. Not very profesional just one to have fun with.
  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 28 posts
Posted by I like Vintage HO on Monday, January 13, 2020 4:06 PM

Nice looking equipemnnt.  I absolutely have to figure out how to do pictures on here.  I managed to pick up some very nice old-old stuff lately: a 1938 walters gondola, a diecast International Alco FA-1, a pair of Hobbytown EMC E-7s with motors and trucks but no frames, a huge box of Ideal Cranes - some never put together, and a huge pile of old Comet car parts.  

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Thursday, January 30, 2020 7:22 AM
In responce to this post
 
 
Midwest Northern R.R wrote the following post 4 months ago:

I've always thought that vintage trains were easier to operate, and maintain. Some of my personal favorites in my roster are,

  • Bachmann UP SD-45
  • Lima Models Pennsylvania 0-4-0
  • Athearn ATSF GP-35 #1347
  • Athearn GN S-12 #25
  • Lionel Lines Scout 2-4-0 #1130 (Another Forum on this loco-Classic Model Trains)

These locos I would suppose are some of the easiest to maintain, which makes me into vintage model trains. No pics available, due to a technical difficulty (it's not not knowing how)

 

"Your never too tall to play with trains"

                                                        -Liam

Backmans SD45 would not be my choice for a good loco but they made so many that most were reliable. Lima's 0-4-0 was a long lived good steamer. Some of them were made without the l Lima name on their bottom and wound by in different forums " Identification Station". Not much you could say about Athearn Geep 35 and S-12. They get the rabbit with the drum award for relieability. Keep- en clean and they keep going. Lionel's Scout, now I always being a HO modeler have noticed the sheer number of them showing up at train shows in good  apearance and running condition is common. I kinda remember them being also made in Tin-Plate. That name, Lionel Scout, has been around a long time.

Frank

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Saturday, February 1, 2020 8:48 AM
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, October 19, 2019 7:54 PM

 The cab, frame, and cylinders of the New Haven #60 look exactly like the super piece of junk sold by Life Like, they just called it the Tea Kettle. But it had a square tank, not a round one. Even the colors of that model are the same, including the background of the number decal.

 I don't think the one I had even made a full hour of run time before it died. 

--Randy ( end of copy)

 Well Randy without any problem I can tell you the Life Like side tank 0-4-0 teakettle is totally different from saddle-tank, NH #60. Life like B&O #25 was a side tanked (two tanks not one) with a different style cab. The New Haven is a larger locomotive. Also LL #25 was made of plastic, its drive had a three gear drive with a worm gear tuning a idler gear which intern turned a axel mounted gear. The little idler gear almost always failed. On NH #60, B&O # 62 another saddle taker, and Silvine B&O #25 is the locomotive that Life like copied and sold, all three were are die cast white metal with a direct worm gear to axel mounted gear drive. These three metal locomotives run just fine. All three have identical drives that are interchangeable. Any of the three bodies will fit any other drive.
  My problem is that I don’t know who imported and distributed the two saddle tank locomotives. The die cast B&O #25 is well known to have been released here in the U.S. by the Silvine Company.
  Anyone having any info on these other two locomotives, could you please inform us all as to who imported and distributed them.
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, February 1, 2020 12:38 PM

 I would consider Aristo, they did some oddball locos in the early days.There may be some pictures in Sutton's The Complete Book of Model Railroading, mine's not accessible right now. Perhaps advertised in old issues of MR.

                                       --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: West Australia
  • 2,217 posts
Posted by John Busby on Saturday, February 1, 2020 6:41 PM

Hi I have a number of old trains made By Hornby Dublo from the sixties before the original Hornby went bust.

None of the really collectable ones good thing since they are part of the use it items.

I also have a and I know nothing about other than it works a Varney steam switcher upgraded with a brass whistle and bell this was a deliberate purchase for a 9 X 5 layout that was to be the original Gorrey and Dapheted (spelling) upsized.

I have some of the Roundhouse DG&H and G&D pasenger and freight cars as yet un -built.

Not sure when the Roundhouse was manufactured. I don't consciously look for older trains and only buy it if I like it and it is going to be used on a planned layout.

If it doesn't get built and a layout that it doesn't belong on is built it runs on that no point having them if they don't get played with that's where the true value is. regards John

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 52 posts
Posted by RealGomer on Saturday, February 1, 2020 7:02 PM

I picking up again from around 1979. I'm shooting for the period between 1955 and 1967. Unfortunately, a lot of the vehicles and roadside kit aren't available. I'd love to find a milk tanker (single or twin axle) from that period but so far all I've found is a Walther set from the 1990s. And most of my rolling stock is literally from that period, including a 1956 Revell SW7 in UP colors.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 28 posts
Posted by I like Vintage HO on Thursday, February 20, 2020 11:00 AM

Ulrich had some of these if I remember right.  Check out Ho Seeker for reference and Ebay for the item itself.

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Monday, February 24, 2020 5:49 AM

HObbyline set #425 "The Hilltopper"

A set powered by Hobbylines FM H12-44. All axels are powered on the loco. I cant get photos to post anymore. For some reason Flickr links wont open. I am here to share what I have and if I can't there is no reason to be here. 

 Now this one does open. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30431536@N03/49572353597/in/album-72157710242700546/

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Monday, July 20, 2020 8:40 AM

third viewtyco forum image from tyco forumIn Vintage Ho most old timers like myself through the years has compiled quite a number of trains and sets made by Marx. All Marx with the exception of their battery powered train sets were made in the USA. The battery ones were made in Japan. I added to my collection this week with a Marx/Allstate (Sears) set. 9941. The set includes a NYC Hudson locomotive, a Erie flat with a load of two 1957 Chrysler seadans. Another flat with a load, this one a Lehigh Valley flat and it has a wood load. To help retain the wood load side were added that appear as substancial wood board construction. Mine is black with yellow letering, In a box somplace in my attic is the same car but colored green. A black and white New Haven box car is encluded with a Souther Pacific Gondola. The gondola's purpose to run with the New York Central Crane car also provided with this set. Tail ending the freight set is a New York Central Caboose. You will have to use only my graffic description of this like new beautifull set in its original weathered box that shows it age but has protected this early 1960 train set admirably because I can't transfer a photo directly from my computer. See how this works a photo from a forum.   

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, July 20, 2020 8:46 AM

toptrain
I can't transfer a photo directly from my computer.    

I can see the photo just fine, and the set looks excellent.

Congratulations on the beautiful find.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, July 20, 2020 9:05 AM

 Excepting the Thomas and the Trainmaster, those photos take me back to the layout we used to set up when I was a kid. At one point we did use that same scenery paper material, though our skirting was a brick pattern paper type thing - more like a light and flexible cardboard. Didn't have any Marx HO though

                                            --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Thursday, July 23, 2020 7:17 PM

 I now have the HObbyline B&O passenger set #462 Royal Blue. Just it seem I have to post the photo somewhere else, then I dont know what to do. So no photo of set #462 B&O Hobbyline UNcataloged passenger set that I have in its original box.

 

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 9:26 AM

Here is my HObbyline repaints now. The blue is lighter than I want it to be. Testors dull coat has a way of darkaing lighter colors. They, HObbyline only had the B&O name on their cars. No number or anything else is seen on them. I may change that for my set. 

frank

My Royal blue set now lettered for the baltimore and Ohio

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 9:55 AM

  Plains are to run a HObbyline set like the set #462. A much larger Royal Blue than Hobbyline released is in the plaining stage. Their set #462 had a combine and three day coaches. This was pulled by Twin FA-1 locos with 8 wheel drive, very capiable of handling the 4 cars it was pulling. Between my Pennline and Varney cars that match in size and type the original HObbyline car I can put together a longer train doubling the cars to 8 or more. At a eight car minimun a full baggage will be added to leed the consist with three other new cars tail ending this train. 1 dinner , 1 pullman, and a observation on the very end. I am painting a Trainminature pair of FA-1, FB-1 which are both powered to match in the paint style done by HObbyline for their set 462. Thinking about and doing it is two very different things. This is a we will see.

frank

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Friday, September 25, 2020 10:58 AM

Is there anyone out there who also collects HObbyline Ho trains from 1953 to 1957? Those are the only years they were in business.

frank

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 104 posts
Posted by toptrain on Friday, October 16, 2020 2:27 PM

 Back to my HObbylne Vintage trains. 

I finally got my CONOCO tank car in a video with my play worn C&O FM H12-44. When you viewed and heard info on the soundtrack, I left out the fact that the cars seen all are originally ready to run with HObbyline split Kunkle couplers and brass wheeled trucks. The CONOCO tank is different in that I have never found it to have been released. I used the same trucks and couplers on it as the other cars have.

  The CONOCO tank is seen twice in the 1954 catalog, and 4 times in the 1956  catalog. This car if released was not done in any large numbers. Mine is a HObbyline tank car from a Shell tank car kit and lettered using a Champ Decal set HT-53. The main car number provided by Champ is the same as seen in the 1956 catalog.   

  I used my phone camera to make the video and I am very pleased with how clear the video is. I placed the video on Youtube. This is a very good Video and you should view it Full Screen.

frank

https://youtu.be/cvIrjRrWgig

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!