EricaAnn posted:Another Railroad Rescue!
I always enjoy a good restoration challenge, but this one was BAD! Recently bought this Lionel Leigh High Valley 2-bay hopper car on eBay for $10. I knew it was in poor shape when I purchased it, but the posted photos didn't do it justice. I believe someone at one time had used it as a planter or an ashtray. There was a generous coating of sand, charcoal and a few used book matches in the bottom of the hopper when I washed it out. The wheels barely moved on the arbors they were so rusted. Did some research on this car before I stripped it and came to find that over it's production period there were 14 versions of the Leigh High Valley hopper car. Based on the paint, trucks and road markings, this little car was made in 1954. It was originally molded in white plastic and painted using Lionel's "dip" method. It's interesting to see how details disappeared from these cars over time.
After many years, she runs the rails again under a new assignment to the C&NW hauling coal. Car 61327 was part of an order placed by the C&NW in early 1929 with the Standard Car Co., later purchased by Pullman, for 250 hopper cars.
Beautiful car! But could you clarify Lionel's "dip" method?
