I picked up a decent looking Lionel Prewar 225E this weekend at a train show as the price seemed right and I've been wanting one to add to my collection of late prewar die cast locomotives. I wish I would have looked closer when I purchased it as it initially looked like it just needed a new front truck due to some damage to the original. Upon installing the replacement I purchased, I noticed that it appears that the truck damage was likely sustained during a drop and the pilot must have shattered as well. Somebody did a very clean looking epoxy job that is hard to notice at a glance and I unfortunately didn't notice this at the show before purchasing it.
I can't seem to locate a 225E steam chest replacement, but the postwar 675 part looks similar (I believe the 225E tooling became the postwar 675/2025). Are these actually compatible, or is there a source for a replacement steam chest? I'd also be on the hunt for a new boiler front as I'm not happy with how the door on this one fits. Any potential sources would be great.
