@Jim O'C posted:Doll et Cie was eventually taken over by Fleischman but their Production was nowhere near the same quality.
Only a bit of the Doll tools was sold to Fleischmann, the tools for the steam engines and a few of the train tools. The tools for the great goods cars was sold to Distler. Cars like banana, beer, fisch and other was made by Distler till around 1950.
Arne
Well after being out of the hobby for near 10 yrs , picked up some standard gauge like I use to have back in the day , thanks to Art got my 400e again and also bought a dark green 9e passenger set , now getting the track ready for the tree 
Bought this Hafner shell with the eyebrow headlight years ago. It had already been repainted. Many months ago I found a correct motor with the rear reverse lever, then promptly lost it. Doing some sorting this week I found the shell in the shed and the motor in the garage. They are now paired together as I intended.
Steve
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:.....I found the shell in the shed and the motor in the garage...
Steve
This sounds like every project I do!!!
That's a pretty little engine Steve, love the gloss black!
I got this Marx castle from Nicks Trains in Raleigh NC. Never seen this variation. I added the door and stairs - all easily removed. 
These arrived yesterday!! Both bought from Dave Corbett of Wisconsin. Two more BIG DOGS to add the posse (or kennel) of American Flyer Wide Gauge train pieces. Woof, woof!
Got some more Ives in the mail, including a few I haven't taken pictures of. The Gondola and caboose are not new, I have had them for a few months.
First, we have a 3242 from 1922 in dark green with huge 187 and 189 cars. They almost look too big compared to the engine, but this is a real set. It was sold by Ives as 'Set no. 702'. There's even a three-car version with a 188 parlor called 'Set no. 703'. It does run, but I might send it off to be repaired.
Next, is an Ives 3255R in olive. I do not have the matching 130 Buffet and (129) 132 Saratoga observation cars for it. This engine was part of a set called 'The Green Mountain Express', or 'Set no. 508'.
Not shown is a Set 701/701R 'New Yorker' or 'Gray Ghost', a repainted 3255R, and my American Flyer 'All-American' I picked up from the Little Choo Choo Shop in Spencer, NC.
Telephone shed to go with the yardmaster's office:
Next up, the tool-shed.
PD
@Arne posted:Only a bit of the Doll tools was sold to Fleischmann, the tools for the steam engines and a few of the train tools. The tools for the great goods cars was sold to Distler. Cars like banana, beer, fisch and other was made by Distler till around 1950.
Arne
I thought the chassis looked somewhat like Distler- although the detail was better refined.
Here are a few of my Tinplate pick-ups from last week which I haven’t had a chance to post:
the modified doll car and a Bing 2nd class passenger car in great condition
End of the Bing car
My journey to collecting 4 wheel Bing NYC cars continues- got the steel sided express baggage(left)on eBay which arrived last week. The wood-sided is on the right 
some of my other steel sides NYC Bing cars
Bing 2nd class Passenger car up front, Wood-sided litho And Steel-litho NYC 4 wheel passengers in the back
Prewar AF 3/16 on O gauge Shell tank car- Body in great shape butDidn’t come with any trucks so I bought a Marx 3/16 Niacet tank car from a junk pile, removed the trucks and added a plastic auto tilt w/ slot coupler and the normal tab and slot coupler. 
Have 2 more AF 3/16 on the way, including an extra truck with link coupler. I plan on replacing one of the trucks on the shell car with the extra link coupler truck in order to have a nice transition car
Last, but certainly not least, what are slowly becoming my favorite types of figures- 30mm Comet Metal Products, Authenticast, Swedish African Engineer soldiers by Holger Erikson. Comet/Authenticast being the maker of AF’s Postwar lead figures.
first batch is of lesser quality, appear to be German soldiers
These figures are definitely SAE Sculpted by HE. All in great condition, the soldier with the blue uniform being the real steal. In the back is a modern Lionel figure for height comparison purposes
A squad of 5 HE figures in a 1/50 scale corgi truck. These figures came with pegs on the bottom, indicating they were made to sit in a certain vehicle, unfortunately I had to remove them for functionality. The figure with the white helmet is a Corgi s scale soldier
I bought a three car 418 set two years ago, been looking for the add-on diner ever since. Found it yesterday.
Third car from the front.
Life is good, sometimes it’s the little things.
Bought some more junk lol more project material! Yipee!
Plus an American Flyer 533 Northern to go with my 806 and 572... Also got a couple of 517 cabeese and some other parts coming lol. I seem to buy more leading up to Christmas for some reason lol.
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:Bought this Hafner shell with the eyebrow headlight years ago. It had already been repainted. Many months ago I found a correct motor with the rear reverse lever, then promptly lost it. Doing some sorting this week I found the shell in the shed and the motor in the garage. They are now paired together as I intended.
Steve
Steve, I am glad to know I am not the only one who does that!! Can't tell you how many times I have picked up pieces to complete something only to not remember where the rest was hidden!!!
Cool little loco too!
"Bought some more junk lol more project material! Yipee!"
I don't see any junk, Dennis, just a bunch of cool stuff for fun projects.
Great finds, enjoy
"Here are a few of my Tinplate pick-ups from last week which I haven’t had a chance to post:"
You've been a busy boy last week Steve. I need to "shop" where you shop. Love those treasures
Dennis, cool stuff for sure. The 607 / 608 look like a long way from Junk and you even have boxes. The roof of the 608 could use some work but the 607 looks really good. Now you need a 253 loco in "Stephen Gerard" green to match!
Don
Thanks guys, yeah the 607 and 608 are pretty good as is. I actually have another 607 in same condition with box to go with so full set of three cars. I may even have a clear Green roof for the observation somewhere. I do either need a Green 253E or I could put them with a Black 262E or 259E. I think the later Gunmetal 249E or 259E would have come with cars with Green belly pans instead of tanks. Not sure when they switched from the early boxes to the Orange and Blue ones though either lol If I get lucky, I may be able to just clean up the set of the three 600/601/602 as well who knows lol. The fun of the journey!
While I wait for some of those other projects to show up, I pulled out a couple of old Blue Comet cars that I got a while back. They were in really great shape having been wrapped up in the same news paper since 1964. After cleaning and polishing the bright work and offering a light cleaning and waxing to the shells, these will look great. Just need to find another 2614 observation in the same condition lol
Got some more cars in today, the three Grey and Red car 600/601/602 and they will need some work to be layout ready. Also got an Apple Green 607 and 608 to go with the lone 607 I already had. Staged em up with some other stuff for fun.
Made a tool shed for the tinplate layout:
From the "cutouts" section of an early-1950s issue of Toy Trains magazine. Changed it up slightly, and added a couple of signs made in Excel. Paper, some matt-board, a hobby knife, scissors, a matchstick, and a small piece of masonite...you can do a lot with a few bits.
PD
I'm in the process of making something that I hope turns out pretty cool. Below are some progess pictures of my Wide Gauge American Flyer Pacemaker Caboose. Right now it's just sitting on the trucks and the roof is not attached but it's coming along and I hope to have it finished in a few days.
New arrival today. Santa Fe LCT 400E passenger set.
Steve
I just tripped over this KBN 4-4-0 O gauge clockwork on a BIN for cheap and I have been wanting one of these American outline loco's for a while. Will have to make a head light box and find a tender lol. Can't wait for it to get here and see how well it will clean up.
Here is a link back to page 11 of this thread and John Smatlak's loco for reference of what a nice one should look like. John, if you see this, I would love to see an underside picture of your loco so I can see the lead truck and how it mounts. Also, would like to know the diameter of your lead wheels! Thanks in advance!
Steve, that Santa Fe set is pretty rare if I’m not mistaken, I’m fairly certain not too many were made. I saw a set for sale on eBay recently, might this be the same set? At any rate, congratulations on the new set, it’s a stunner. Maybe you can post a video of it running some time, it would be great to see it in action.
@Dennis Holler posted:I just tripped over this KBN 4-4-0 O gauge clockwork on a BIN for cheap and I have been wanting one of these American outline loco's for a while. Will have to make a head light box and find a tender lol. Can't wait for it to get here and see how well it will clean up.
Really nice one Dennis, it seems you are finding some good pieces, buyers mode or the magic of Christmas maybe....
Very best, Daniel
@John Clifford posted:Steve, that Santa Fe set is pretty rare if I’m not mistaken, I’m fairly certain not too many were made. I saw a set for sale on eBay recently, might this be the same set? At any rate, congratulations on the new set, it’s a stunner. Maybe you can post a video of it running some time, it would be great to see it in action.
John, there were only 10 sets made. Yes it was from eBay. He lowered the price some, then made it a “or best offer”. We went back and forth a few times and I finally went for it. More than I paid for my other 3 sets in the series, but nice to have it.
Steve
I was watching it too Steve. I'm glad at least I'll get to see it run! At some point at least.
@POC914NUT posted:I was watching it too Steve. I'm glad at least I'll get to see it run! At some point at least.
Someday I need to get some Marx stuff to you.
Steve
Steve, which other three sets do you have, if you don’t mind me asking? I used to have the 400E in B&O livery with the matching passenger set, it was gorgeous, I regret selling it. Maybe I’ll come across another one some day.
@John Clifford posted:Steve, which other three sets do you have, if you don’t mind me asking? I used to have the 400E in B&O livery with the matching passenger set, it was gorgeous, I regret selling it. Maybe I’ll come across another one some day.
As x Army, I have the Army Hospital train. Both my dad and stepdad were Navy so I have the Navy Hospital train. My wife is from Chicago so I have the CNW set. I live within earshot of the BNSF main so the Santa Fe set is a good fit.
Steve
Well Steve, a tip of the hat to your wife, I’m from Chicago and in fact still live here, although I can’t wait to retire so we can move.
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:As x Army, I have the Army Hospital train. Both my dad and stepdad were Navy so I have the Navy Hospital train. My wife is from Chicago so I have the CNW set. I live within earshot of the BNSF main so the Santa Fe set is a good fit.
Steve
Steve that anyone could gather more than two of these for themselves is amazing to me.
That two tone stripe on the running board of the SF set is a super impressive detail !
Great Scores @Dennis Holler & @Steve "Papa" Eastman !!!
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:New arrival today. Santa Fe LCT 400E passenger set.
Steve
Steve,
What a truly sharp looking set!
Bob Nelson
Picked these beauties up over the long weekend.
@Steve “Papa” Eastman- awesome Santa Fe tin- love it! @Dennis Holler I wanted to comment last week I like the lime green 607 and 608 the most, they definitely are exemplars of the Prewar era bright paint/lithography! Regardless, all very nice. I happen to have a similar KBN(came w/o clockwork motor) that I recently disassembled in hopes of fitting in a different motor but didn’t work out.
Hope your efforts go better than mine! Yours is clearly in much better shape!
@Jon Edwards you described them perfectly- thoseare absolute beauts!
Wanted to post these early but was busy w/ the layout and making some modifications to some of the new pieces below. Nothing like some of the preceding posts but things I’ve wanted for awhile
lets start off with the odd-balls:
From pop’s collection. battery operated made in Japan Rock Island Line 3 piece set. Was surprised this little guy fit on o gauge track
Not sure if I showed this ever- Karl Bub s Gauge trolley(streetcar) from eBay. Wind-up mechanism works. it’s on AF track and works more than decently well on that track(likely because it’s a single unit and clock-work). Also, the figure in front is an early AF minitoy/Comet/Authenticast by Holger Erikson figure- got it at Joe’s train station in Hatboro yesterday. Fits well with o and s
both of the above
Moving on- from left to the right:
Marx red Pullman passenger set. Have wanted this since I rejoined the hobby!(2+years!) Got it at Joe’s train station for a deal and all 3 cars in nice shape
Lionel-Ives transition?/winner? Erie 1514 Box car. On the bottom of the frame, the part that holds the coupler in place on wind-up roling stock had broken off, I made my own with thick styrene. One end has a Marx type tab/slot coupler, the other a Lionel latch
Adding to my Flyer 3/16 o gauge, came in the mail today, 486 hopper and 476 Gondola(came w/ Box- will add pic later) Also new- the link coupler on the Shell tanker which has a Marx t/s on the other side. The White containers are also new
Closeup/non flash of the 2 newbies
all the new tin!
THIs weekend coming up I’m really hoping to get some nice tin at Renninger’s flash train meet
I finally found a McCoy car that I have been looking for since I began collecting McCoy Trains. It is the 1980 Christmas car that was given away by the McCoys to just close friends and associates during that holiday season. If you search long enough and hard enough, eventually you can find what you are looking for in this great hobby! Stay safe and healthy everyone!
I just found my Christmas Present.... It was listed as follows... "1971 Lionel 0 Gauge Train Set With Track, All Metal, Blue" It's amazing I tripped over this and saw it in the first place so I made the offer and the seller accepted... This will go with my other original Blue Comet 
I think they will soon be coming out of my ears... Last picture is my current Blue Comet sitting at the Station Platform not waiting on #2 to show up...And this current set was lets say a lot less than a any MTH LCT Blue Comet set I have seen lately. Probably less than some LCT 263E's I have seen lately. Love the old stuff
Only you Dennis, only you😁!
For once, something on ebay that is better than described.
@John H. Shetler posted:Only you Dennis, only you😁!
I concur !
@Dennis Holler this man is on a streak, ladies& gents, fantastic gets the last couple weeks!
As for me, 2 pick-ups today(so far). Nothing terribly special. Had an opportunity for a Prewar Flyer Hiawatha engine(w/o reverselever but w/ functioning F-N-R) for $65, coulda haggled down- I feel I’m gonna kick myself for not buying that one
My first unique arts train- the Caboose
And the collection of Prewar tank cars continues. Will try to post a pick o all of them later today. 804 no label with brass(?)trim.
I don’t know what happened to my other picture of these “odd balls”(as I call them). But these are all hubley, midgetoy or tootsietoy from my grandfather.unfortunately the entire consist of the rear train isn’t shown-I feel it’s supposed to be lead by a steam loco but I don’t have the appropriate tender- but I love the black switcher that’s leading this Passenger consist(brown observation after blue passenger). In front of that is the steam engine(midgetoy) and a yellow oil tender which I believe is tootsietoy. My tootsie toy pic didn’t save for some reason.
Behind the blue Passenger is the nose of an orange Hubley #31 engine with a SRR blue tender(not shown in picture)
because of these, I also bought this midgetoy tank car today. Will try to get the tootsie consist and rest of midgetoy consist up later
Figured I'd never come across an original in the condition I want for a price I was willing to pay, so I snagged the repro by MTH. Hoping it will arrive next week.
Picked up a 1:43 diecast Bentley 1932 convertible for my Upstairs O Gauge Layout Litho-Land area. Will be near the Marx Grand Central Station.
I'm a sucker for 804 tanks as well:
Even made a few one-offs along the way:
This guy started off as little more than a tank, someone having soldered the hand-rails directly onto the shell. Careful bit of refurb, a few replacement parts from George Tebolt, a set of repro postwar decals, and we have a never-was.
PD
I got this 263e with 263w tender. The loco has been restored but the tender looks pretty original except I think someone along the way drilled a hole in the frame between the two trucks. I need to rewire the tender and shine\clean them up a bit. There is a little crazing and some scrapes but it was to good a good deal to pass up. The loco runs good both forward and reverse and I had a friend(Rob English) take a look at it. Thanks Rob!
Jon
Jon, That looks pretty great! I wonder if the sticker is just to show the frame was replaced? Might be the light Blue is original. It does look pretty nice.
Picked up the chrome state cars from a few years ago and the add on Reagan car. Now I need to find the add on baggage.
Steve
Those are awesome Steve!
I got lucky!! I bought an MTH LCT Orange 255E from a forum member but it had gotten lost in the world of the the USPS... All of a sudden it was scanned through Indy this morning and showed up at my doorstep by 3PM... I do like it, I like the slightly darker Orange on the 255E. The Blue is better in my eye as well. Gonna have to look for the Orange 261E now... Hopefully, I can get some time tonight to get down and try and run it some!
Nice Dennis, I prefer the color of the 255e and blue roof and tender top makes it nicer too.
Still heavy buying mode 
I've been wanting a 248 set for a while and finally found one that wasn't too beat up and at an acceptable price. Paint appears to be original. The wheels were replaced (stamped on the inside with Train Tender). A little cleanup of brushes and commutator, some fresh grease and oil (it was clean but bone dry), and it runs pretty good. For me the red color is perfect for my Christmas layout.
I was wondering if it's possible to determine approximate year based on the motor. Also, the wheels move freely but the non drive side is really close to the motor frame. Is this normal, or were the wheels not installed correctly?
Don
dmestan : Yes its possible to date your 248. In fact nearly the exact locomotive is pictured on, page 153 of Greenbergs large treatment of O-gauge from 1915-1928 (although his treatment of the 248 extends beyond 1928). Your pictures of the motor show the following characteristics...flat rectangular brush plate , no gear cover, double reduction gears (change from 1925-1927), Phenolic intermediate gears, square holes for the pendulum reversing mechanism. It is listed as a type 6 motor and dates from 1927-1929. Your pictures also show a type 4 pickup spring label which also equates to 1929. I would say, based on my references and review of your pictures your 248 dates from 1929.
Great set, I have a red one and a orange one from 1928. Both are great runners.
Don McErlean
@Don McErlean posted:dmestan : Yes its possible to date your 248. In fact nearly the exact locomotive is pictured on, page 153 of Greenbergs large treatment of O-gauge from 1915-1928 (although his treatment of the 248 extends beyond 1928). Your pictures of the motor show the following characteristics...flat rectangular brush plate , no gear cover, double reduction gears (change from 1925-1927), Phenolic intermediate gears, square holes for the pendulum reversing mechanism. It is listed as a type 6 motor and dates from 1927-1929. Your pictures also show a type 4 pickup spring label which also equates to 1929. I would say, based on my references and review of your pictures your 248 dates from 1929.
Great set, I have a red one and a orange one from 1928. Both are great runners.
Don McErlean
Great info Don, thanks!
Don
I got this O Gauge Flyer 425 and 426 tender over the summer but was searching\waiting for the left side linkage to arrive. Luckily I found a one and it arrive this weekend. I looked at a whole bunch of pics on the web which showed this linkage with the curve up or down. Well this engine has one side up while the other is down. 
Anyone know how to date which year the engine is from? I have two different 426 tenders and am trying to figure out which goes with it. I believe the tender on the left is from 1938-9 due to the curly Q coupler and the heat stamped AF logo. The other one I think is from 1940 since it has the link coupler and 3/16 freight trucks and silver stamping.
@Jon Edwards posted:I got this 263e with 263w tender. The loco has been restored but the tender looks pretty original except I think someone along the way drilled a hole in the frame between the two trucks. I need to rewire the tender and shine\clean them up a bit. There is a little crazing and some scrapes but it was to good a good deal to pass up. The loco runs good both forward and reverse and I had a friend(Rob English) take a look at it. Thanks Rob!
Jon
You are welcome Jon!
Found these at my local train shop. American Flyer 2012 single arm semaphore circa 1922-27, 2009 single Arc light 1920-26. They had just got them in and both the semaphore and lamp worked as soon as I replaced the bulbs(I just threw a random bulb in to test). The water tower has a little paint flaking on the top, should clean up nicely.
Jon
Here's my latest purchase
Well, I bid $4.99 on this giant double semaphore and won the auction lol. I assumed it was Bing, there was not a photo of the underside. However, I found this reference to American Flyer on line and interestingly wonder if it could be AF instead of Bing... or possibly Bing made for American Flyer....If it is the Flyer version, I guess I paid exactly twice the original list price from 106 years ago! LOL And shipping was a whopping 4-5 times the original cost!!
Good deal Dennis, those BING signals are nice and better match with standard or wide gauge than O. They are big models.
Daniel
@Dennis Holler posted:Well, I bid $4.99 on this giant double semaphore and won the auction lol. I assumed it was Bing, there was not a photo of the underside. However, I found this reference to American Flyer on line and interestingly wonder if it could be AF instead of Bing... or possibly Bing made for American Flyer....If it is the Flyer version, I guess I paid exactly twice the original list price from 106 years ago! LOL And shipping was a whopping 4-5 times the original cost!!
Dennis,
Flyer's early signals were indeed made by German firms. I am not sure exactly which firms made their items, but I know that Bub made at least a few of them.
Your signal certainly appears to match the one from the Flyer catalog.
This is what my wife is getting me for Christmas, American Flyer station 101 circa 1925-27. The lithography is so awesome I don't even mind the Navy recruiting post too much. Semper Fi!
Jon
Jon: Beautiful station outstanding lithography. Merry Christmas
Don
Go Navy!! Great station Jon!
@Dennis Holler posted:I got lucky!! I bought an MTH LCT Orange 255E from a forum member but it had gotten lost in the world of the the USPS... All of a sudden it was scanned through Indy this morning and showed up at my doorstep by 3PM... I do like it, I like the slightly darker Orange on the 255E. The Blue is better in my eye as well. Gonna have to look for the Orange 261E now... Hopefully, I can get some time tonight to get down and try and run it some!
Just curious
What year did Lionel really firm up the orange/blue colors as part of their trademark? I know the boxes started coming out in the 1930's some time, right?
Jim
@StevefromPA posted:@Dennis Holler this man is on a streak, ladies& gents, fantastic gets the last couple weeks!
As for me, 2 pick-ups today(so far). Nothing terribly special. Had an opportunity for a Prewar Flyer Hiawatha engine(w/o reverselever but w/ functioning F-N-R) for $65, coulda haggled down- I feel I’m gonna kick myself for not buying that one
My first unique arts train- the Caboose
And the collection of Prewar tank cars continues. Will try to post a pick o all of them later today. 804 no label with brass(?)trim.
I don’t know what happened to my other picture of these “odd balls”(as I call them). But these are all hubley, midgetoy or tootsietoy from my grandfather.unfortunately the entire consist of the rear train isn’t shown-I feel it’s supposed to be lead by a steam loco but I don’t have the appropriate tender- but I love the black switcher that’s leading this Passenger consist(brown observation after blue passenger). In front of that is the steam engine(midgetoy) and a yellow oil tender which I believe is tootsietoy. My tootsie toy pic didn’t save for some reason.
Behind the blue Passenger is the nose of an orange Hubley #31 engine with a SRR blue tender(not shown in picture)
because of these, I also bought this midgetoy tank car today. Will try to get the tootsie consist and rest of midgetoy consist up later
The diecast yellow tender was made by Londontoy of London, Ontario. It goes with a Canadian National style semi streamlined locomotive and four piece set of freight cars. 
It also came in black.
The complete Midgetoy Old West train looks like this....
-Mark
@Jim Waterman posted:Just curious
What year did Lionel really firm up the orange/blue colors as part of their trademark? I know the boxes started coming out in the 1930's some time, right?
Jim
Jim, I think maybe 1934-35 time frame.
@Mark S. Thank you for clarifying! I really appreciate the info. I figures the passenger cars didn’t go behind the switcher but my Wild West engine is missing the tender. Good stuff- thanks again!
I posted this in the Tinplate photos thread but meant to post it here. I felt that my tin has been lacking so I bought this guy today(yesterday). Already gave Arne and rdigilio shout outs for helping with identifying it, so I won’t bother them again, but I cannot fail to mention them as I wouldn’t have known what I was getting without them
front(or rear)
Rear(or front)
Side entrance with ticket window
underneath
Found at a local antique mall months ago but didn’t want to buy it without more info. The eye catcher for me,initially, was the “A.D. 1898” above the clock- which I now surmise is like the stone on a building saying when it was completed. I posted a picture the other week to ask for help identifying. This station was sold by both Carette & Karl Bub- but it was made by Bub. Produced from 1902- 1911. Possibly made until 1913, per this link which has pictures of the station which I used for reference along with the photo from the 1902 Bub catalog which Arne So helpfully provided https://www.historytoy.com/car...-toy-railway-station
I have some neat European Prewar buildings and accessories- but always wanted a larger, older station. FInally snagged one! I find the use of the tin lithograph station on a pressed metal(correct term?) base with the pressed metal waiting area to be interesting- it’s different.
Downers: it’s missing the flags, the awning above the ticket window has broken off, the bell atop the tallest/middle spire is broken off on one side
pros: the lithography is in pretty good shape, no signs of warping, the railings and bench are sturdy and intact, with the possible exception of the red roof, it does not appear that anything was repainted
Very, very happy to have this on my layout.
A Christmas Gift to myself.
Steve
I managed to find a couple more McCoy Christmas cars to add to my collection. Speaking of which, Merry Christmas everyone!
@POC914NUT posted:
I managed to find a couple more McCoy Christmas cars to add to my collection. Speaking of which, Merry Christmas everyone!
Your getting quite a collection of them.
Steve
I have the complete TCA 25th Anniversary set, but have always wanted to add a few extra cars. Bought a 3 cars set in kit form and this is my first one roughed out.
Steve
Very appropriate!
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:I have the complete TCA 25th Anniversary set, but have always wanted to add a few extra cars. Bought a 3 cars set in kit form and this is my first one roughed out.
Steve
Arno was such a nice guy! He advised me when buying this at Cal-Stewart in 2012.
@Jon Edwards posted:This is what my wife is getting me for Christmas, American Flyer station 101 circa 1925-27. The lithography is so awesome I don't even mind the Navy recruiting post too much.
Jon
Very nice, but Go Army!
Tom
@Nation Wide Lines posted:Arno was such a nice guy! He advised me when buying this at Cal-Stewart in 2012.
What a neat tribute to Arno - good friend of mine. Miss you badly, been 4 years now. I have to credit him with getting me into the train building business. He arranged the deal that brought the Lee Lines tools and parts to his house, we were going to team on it, but by the time I drove to his place in Atlanta, he let me have all of it, he was too sick to participate.
I made him a shorty streamlined observation passenger car. He got it the day before he died, and sent me a quick text 'Looks like you had a few extra parts laying around, I love it'. Had his name on it as well, 'Baars Lines #1'
Jim
I made some scrap metal loads for gondolas. pics are in the Sunday Scenic Showcase thread.
Here's something I think is pretty cool. I was looking over this Lionel #124 station today and it looks like somebody put a home made smoke unit in the chimney. They soldered up the seams on the chimney corner and inside the base to make it liquid tight. There's a little heating element looks like 3/8" square of mica with nichrome wire wrapped around it. I don't know enough about post-war Lionel to say but the smoke unit may have been pirated from a PW engine. Looks like the work was done a long time ago...like 70 years ago. A little crusty but I'd like to try it out someday, would be neat to see smoke wafting from that little chimney again.
I never really studied this station before but the detail's on it are impressive. Besides the fine stampings, the corner light stanchions are made of heavy castings and the spring-loaded/self -closing litho doors with their little brass knobs are great.
I guess it had to be nice to justify the princely sum of $9.00 in 1925 !
An Ives 113 station:
Trainfam
This repro Standard Gauge Dorfan Electric engine is currently on its way. Snagged on the evilBay.
With this addition (a filly) to my Standard Gauge "stable" of engines, I will have in repro or originals:
Dorfan Electric, AF "Shasta" Electric engine, AF Gold Millenium "Commander", Ives 1134 loco, Lionel 392E loco, Lionel Electric 381E, Lionel Electric 408E (filly).
One more is soon to be forthcoming- an original 1931 AF bell ringer Brass Piper locomotive, with an original AF 1931-1932 Vanderbilt Tender.
@Carey TeaRose posted:This repro Standard Gauge Dorfan Electric engine is currently on its way. Snagged on the evilBay.
With this addition (a filly) to my Standard Gauge "stable" of engines, I will have in repro or originals:
Dorfan Electric, AF "Shasta" Electric engine, AF Gold Millenium "Commander", Ives 1134 loco, Lionel 392E loco, Lionel Electric 381E, Lionel Electric 408E (filly).
One more is soon to be forthcoming- an original 1931 AF bell ringer Brass Piper locomotive, with an original AF 1931-1932 Vanderbilt Tender.
They are very smooth running, you'll like it. They do have a unique coupler though.
Steve
I've seen several of Steve's run and have wanted one ever since. I'm glad I had other projects brewing and didn't run the price up on you as I quit bidding as the price went up. I look forward to seeing it on your new layout!
This American Flyer 3190 cast iron steamer c. 1931 arrived in the mail today. It has a complete set of original die cast side rods on it!
NWL
I made this out of a junk Flyer Standard gauge boxcar.
@Pete in Kansas posted:I made this out of a junk Flyer Standard gauge boxcar.
Beautiful job!
Bob Nelson
I have been making balustrades/guard rails for my Christmas "display layout". Here are some along the front in their unfinished state. They are made from poplar with small gallery rail turnings. I am debating whether to make them cream or green. I think I will start with cream, which will differentiate them from the station platforms behind them. You can also see the unpainted fascia with moldings that is the front of the table.
The scenic plot on this layout, seen in the background of several photos, can be seen in OGR Run 315 in an article on making the trees.
I haven't posted pictures of the whole thing this year, because I have been trying to get it more finished.
Very nice Will, one thought- you could paint similar to the scheme on Lionel bridges such as a #106. Maybe try a mock up in card board first?
Will those look great! These will add a lot of character to the display. Initially I had the same thought as John for the color combination. However, the question I have is what about the display fascia and molding, is that staying natural or being stained/painted? That or the railing would influence my decision on the other. Again, I really like the finished detail these will add to what looks like a fantastic display.
@G-Man24 very interesting pre-war modifies smoking station! The station itself look in nice shape. Apples to oranges, but I have a K-line ranch house with a smoke unit(the kind you see in a modern day train) that doesn’t work. Hope you have more luck with yours!
making an interesting connection with the aforementioned and @TrainFam ‘s post of his Ives 113. First- very nice pick-up, looks to be in fantastic shape. I have an Ives 115? It’s very similar but only one door that “opens” on each side. Gray tile like sidewalk around it. Someone modified it to have a light on the inside quite a long time ago- the wire is covered in old fabric- but it works well.
@Carey TeaRose very nice loco! Also/ congrats on your photos appearance in the most recent Interchange!
@Will very nice consist- looks great for a Christmas layout! The cars are in great shape!
@Pete in Kansas FANTASTIC work on “turning garbage in to gold”(as one of my favorite sports commentators used to say). That Reading paint job is great. Kudos on the wonderful work!
Picked up this little guy recently. 1920s Bub produced , from what I’ve read, and also sold by Issmayer and Carretes however the Issmayer version that I’ve seen has the typical “Bing style” l European type couplers. No clear markings on this car. The fixed upright tab and oval opening is I assume because it was a wind-upz simple car but colorful and actually in decent shape except for the lack of a roof
on the tracks, side A
Side B, looks like there was a marking in the middle long ago rubbed off
One of the ends
@Rich Wiemann posted:Will those look great! These will add a lot of character to the display. Initially I had the same thought as John for the color combination. However, the question I have is what about the display fascia and molding, is that staying natural or being stained/painted? That or the railing would influence my decision on the other. Again, I really like the finished detail these will add to what looks like a fantastic display.
This reply is for John Shelter too. I actually have a pair of 106 bridges on the layout. I hadn't thought about a two-color scheme, so I may have to ponder on that. If they matched the bridges, I guess the columns would be cream and the actual balustrades green. Or maybe the opposite would look better. Not sure.
The table fascia will be painted cream like the prewar table layout in Ron Hollander's book. I may put a "Lionel Trains" logo on the face. I probably should paint the fascia first and prime the ballustrade in cream and see if it looks ok blended in.. Then decide if I want to take the plunge and add green. There is already a lot of green in the two 46 crossing gates and the two 156 platforms which are right behind this. They are hidden by the train in these photos.
@TrainFam posted:
Trianfam, no prob. That said, I’m sorry because I got my Ives items and catalog numbers confused. I have the rather cumbersome115 FREIGHT station and, according to the Ives Society, an early version of the 201 Passenger station(1923-1928) which I think I also combined with the #96 Prewar Flyer station that has a baggage room door and waiting room door, though no lithographed people on that station. Anyway, the pictures of the 201 are below.
Front:
Back
The light used to hang from the ceiling via two wires that went through holes made in the station roof(due to the darkness of the 2nd photo you can’t really see them). Now they just go in the back door.
I have another prewar Flyer Northern on the way. Tender is a little rough, but should be able to get it back running again with some side frames and a pilot. Looking forward to getting this one as it as nice solid numbers on it unlike my other 806. This would be the 1939 spur gear motor version with the RDC reverse (sort of like Lionel's Magic Electrol). It triggers using the Lionel whistle control if you don't have the proper Flyer RDC controller button. It is a little interesting that the tender is a chugger which they did not start making until 1941 so either it's a put together loco and tender or the accepted timeline is suspect.
I picked up this Marx Clockwork Seaboard set recently.
The box graphics
The price tag from Montgomery Ward - original sticker and mark down. I paid a tad more but I have no regrets
...and the set
This nice Marx Commodore Vanderbilt locomotive followed me home from the local train shop today. It runs great, of course.
Even if it didn't run it would be an attractive art deco display piece.
-Mark
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