Let us see your Homemade Lionel (or Other) Style Cars or Engines you have Made or Modified

I think (opinion only) you should change the heading to something with "Scratchbuilt or Kitbashed cars "

"resurrected junk,rebuilds,etc"

coach joe posted:

Lee according to another thread Lionel put those air tanks on only 3 switchers, this Alaska 8154, it's predecessor, Alaska 614, and orange tanks on a DT&I switcher.  they do give this switcher a different look.

Good job on the flat.  i knew I wasn't the only one using HO decals on O equipment.

Okay Joe, Lee, and whoever else, the new guy needs some help, Lionel put air tanks on top of three Alaska switchers. What for? And did actual Alaska switchers have them?

I think they done that to engines for more room for bigger fuel tanks I'm not sure 

Vincent Massi posted:

Okay Joe, Lee, and whoever else, the new guy needs some help, Lionel put air tanks on top of three Alaska switchers. What for? And did actual Alaska switchers have them?

A) IIRC, to keep the air tanks heated with engine heat.  

B) Yes, they did. 

Mitch 

Thank you, Mitch.

Just checking in on this site to see if anyone has modified a Lionel Legacy scale Southern Railway Ps-4 Pacific by replacing the 2 wheel trailing truck with a 4 wheel truck to convert this from a Pacific to a Hudson. If so, I would be interested in knowing the details.

Thanks,

RAY

This Christmas I found a 6-21955 Rio Grande passenger set under the tree. This set comes with a powered F3 A and a dummy A. I rebuilt the dummy as a powered A using the set shell and front truck. I also used an on-hand MPC single-motor F3 frame (was black so I rattle-canned it silver), a TMCC electronic E unit, and a GP power truck and motor. I also used a GP silver colored power truck frame from which I cut the pilot and steps. If you look closely the gap between the engine and first car is wider than normal because of the long GP coupler shank. Some day I'll pick up a proper silver F3 rear power truck frame to address that fault. Meanwhile I added an excellent running Rio Grande F3 to the Plywood Empire Route's  iron horse stable.

Lew

              BTW, the pic on the wall is of the prototype Royal Gorge c.1962.

             That day power was a pair of PA-1s.

            Dad took that pic from the Dome.

Here is a car I made inspired by the LGB Cement Mixer Car.

The first two photos show the actual car that was and is possibly still on display at the Toy Train Museum in Lancaster, P.A.

The third photo is the final result, made from a variety of Lionel and mixed parts.

The last of the three D&RGW ski/business cars. This one began life as a N&W Powhattan I got from Ebay. Window configurations changed and side door added.

Terry

John T that's one crazy build.  You've got a one of kind MOW car.

Terry nice work on changes the windows.

Here’s a old AHM Boxcar I converted into a 3 rail. There was a little Dremel work involved  I used Lionel trucks with the bolster made in the truck. It was a fun project that lasted maybe 1hr.

Lew, 

I have to admit that the Rio Grande of the fifties would provide a lot more passenger modeling possibilities. I like the looks of that Royal Gorge car.

Terry

Pan Am Railways?

Yes, indeed. It is a holding company for some railroads in New England and New York. The New England railroads were hurt by the fact that manufacturers had fled the NE, so freight traffic had decreased. Add in the fact that most hauls were only  for short distances. The new holding company struggled along, adding a bad reputation as it went, so it bought the name and logo of the defunct Pan Am Airlines, which it has no connection with.

Yup. If you click the pic of the grille bar and enlarge it you can see napkins with the old Pan Am Airways logo on them.

It may look like a tear down for service, but this actually all parts from the bins. The motor is a brand new OEM unit I’ve had for years. I have locked the reverse unit in reverse. This will be the back end of a ABA with both A’s being powered. Total of 4 traction tires. I also added a wire between the front and rear trucks for better continuity.

Steve

From an MPC D&H 9400 box car; custom done by my brother as a 70th birthday present.

Happy Birthday, Coal Cracker! And that is a beautiful boxcar.

I finally got around to making a Vanderbilt tender.  The Vanderbilt tenders have a cylinder shaped water tank which was lighter and cheaper to build that a rectangular shape water tank that had to have more internal bracing and more rivets and time and material to make.  I used a junk Lionel New York Central coal tender, a hard shell mailing tube, the bottom of a hair spray can,  a piece of junk metal roofing and some popsicle sticks.  All junk stuff, all free or slight cost for the junk coal tender, and paint and decals I had.

I cut up an old coal tender that is shown below.   I cut the angle at the coal pile with a band saw and the bottom cuts with Dremel saw blade and Xacto razor saw.  Note the crack in the section cut out in the LI  NES letters, thusly earning the title 'junk coal tender'.

Coal tender section, frame from sheet metal, and Vanderbilt water tank from mailing tube and hair spay bottom  (dia. 2 1/8 inch, a bottom of a Pam cooking spray can will also fit my mailing tube) with decking from popsicle sticks.  I added internal wood braces and bottom sticks to popsicle the mail tube.  I had to cut about 1/16 inch from bottom of tube make smaller diameter to fit in between top of coal pile and bottom frame.

Assembled ready for painting with Krylon semi gloss black paint.  I added a back up light.

Pictured with new to me Lionel 3435 engine from the old Marx 333 mold

I have enough material to make another Vanderbilt tender but with a longer body better for use with longer 2020 and 2046 engines.

Charlie

One of these is OEM and one is bashed from parts on-hand.

5521 is OEM and I assembled 5524 using the shell from the dummy A unit that came with 5521.

Lew

Lionel 3472 and 6472 reefers......

These are my only two custom thingies. Weaver flatcar with MTH trucks and K line crane with Lionel trucks 

Choo Choo Charlie posted:

I finally got around to making a Vanderbilt tender.  I used a junk Lionel New Central coal tender, a hard shell mailing tube, the bottom of a hair spray can,  a piece of junk metal roofing and some pop sickle sticks.  All junk stuff, all free or slight cost for the junk coal tender, and paint and decals I had.

Cut up old coal tender, I cut the angle at the coal pile with a band saw and the bottom cuts with Dremel saw blade and Xacto razor saw.

 

Coal tender section, frame from sheet metal, and Vanderbilt water tank from mailing tube and hair spay bottom with decking from pop sickle sticks.  I added internal wood braces and bottom pop sickle sticks to the mail tube.  I had to cut about 1/16 inch from bottom of tube make smaller diameter to fit in between top of coal pile and bottom frame.

 

Assembled ready for painting with Krylon semi gloss black paint

 

 

Pictured with new to me Lionel 3435 engine from old Marx 333 mold

I have enough material to make another Vanderbilt tender but with a longer body better for use with longer 2020 and 2046 engines.

Charlie

Charlie that turned out great!

Charlie I agree with Dave.  Fine job.

Super detailed K-Line Hudson. Scale pilot and head light, scale engine or pilot truck with correct brakes. Reworked  baker valve gear, added correct piping detail and some other stuff. Forgot to bell back on. Duh!

Choo Choo Charlie posted:

I finally got around to making a Vanderbilt tender.  I used a junk Lionel New York Central coal tender, a hard shell mailing tube, the bottom of a hair spray can,  a piece of junk metal roofing and some pop sickle sticks.  All junk stuff, all free or slight cost for the junk coal tender, and paint and decals I had.

Cut up old coal tender, I cut the angle at the coal pile with a band saw and the bottom cuts with Dremel saw blade and Xacto razor saw.

 

Coal tender section, frame from sheet metal, and Vanderbilt water tank from mailing tube and hair spay bottom with decking from pop sickle sticks.  I added internal wood braces and bottom pop sickle sticks to the mail tube.  I had to cut about 1/16 inch from bottom of tube make smaller diameter to fit in between top of coal pile and bottom frame.

 

Assembled ready for painting with Krylon semi gloss black paint.  I added a back up light.

 

 

Pictured with new to me Lionel 3435 engine from old Marx 333 mold

I have enough material to make another Vanderbilt tender but with a longer body better for use with longer 2020 and 2046 engines.

Charlie

 Now that’s some good scratch Charlie!

 I’ve been working on some all nations cars here is the latest one I have almost complete I also cut down some Lionel Trucks to lower it 

 Here’s some that’s on the workbench 

Just a quick bash, this one:

I substituted MTH trucks on this old Standard O gondola. This has the effect of lowering the car making it's appearance more prototypical.

I have standardized on this style MTH truck. Notice the hole in the car floor just above the bottom axle. That is the original truck mounting hole because Lionel built these cars with that odd off-center truck pivot. So I drilled new holes in order that the trucks and coupler knuckles are correctly positioned.

Lew

Here’s a MTH Railking I repaint. It was Union Pacific  thought I would make it more Proto typical and awesome one of my favorite railroads 

Lee nice work on the All Nations kit and that Hudson looks much better now that it's wearing the right road name.

These are 2 old AHM Boxcars I re paint and decaled 

You have to be old to remember these being shipped to power plants around the country.

Paul very ingenious load.  Where did you get tubes in this day and age?

tubes are pretty easily found in antique shops. 

Then there was the order to the Tesla plant, he always thought that DC was the better way to go.

choochoopaul posted:

Then there was the order to the Tesla plant, he always thought that DC was the better way to go.

Paul, that is a fine example of what you can do with a flatcar and a little imagination.

scale rail posted:

Thanks Charlie, they are fun to build. It made me feel like I was in the 1950's again. I love building kits but there are so few of them anymore. LaBelle is one of the last. I have a small stack of them now, but not a lot of time. Don

Really Cool! You got me motivated. I just ordered 2 kits from LaBelle. 

Any recommendations on brand of glue and paint would be appreciated. 

Thanks,

Jeff

choochoopaul posted:

Then there was the order to the Tesla plant, he always thought that DC was the better way to go.

One high voltage rectifier and two horizontal output tubes. Nice. I'm an old TV man, too.

choochoopaul posted:

Then there was the order to the Tesla plant, he always thought that DC was the better way to go.

I hate to pick nits, but Nikola Tesla was a firm proponent of alternating current.  It was Thomas Edison who believed in direct current.  In any case, the cars are VERY cool!  Got to find some small enough for S use!

Jerry Poniatowski                                                     Historic Presenter, The Henry Ford Museum          Dearborn, Michigan

I re-decaled this Lionel REA Boxcar today 

not a very good picture but you can get was I was trying to make. scale rail posted:

Thanks Charlie, they are fun to build. It made me feel like I was in the 1950's again. I love building kits but there are so few of them anymore. LaBelle is one of the last. I have a small stack of them now, but not a lot of time. Don

Really Cool! You got me motivated. I just ordered 2 kits from LaBelle. 

Any recommendations on brand of glue and paint would be appreciated. 

Thanks,

Jeff

Well, I'm not much help but I used thick super glue and the last of my Floquil paint. Haven't switched over to water base yet. Don

I hope you O gauge guys can forgive me for this one.  I assure you that the shell was from a junk box which cost me the grand sum of $3.  S guys have known for years that O27 rolling stock is close to 1:64 scale.  The "Baby Ruth" style double door car is withing scale inches of being a perfect fit.  So this one became what you see in the last photo.  Scalecoat paint and dry transfers came into play and a frame from my parts box plus a couple of trucks finished off the car.  With the car rolling down the track at train shows, nobody can tell its origin.

As a PS to the above post, here's another O27 conversion, but this time a direct frame swap.  In the photo you see (left to right): an American Flyer car (which is based on a small prototype PRR car), the O27 car, and an American models true to scale boxcar.  The O27 car fits in quite nicely, and in this case with a minimum of fuss.

 Argh. I love Baby Ruth cars 😨 But that looks good too😬

I keep thinking I've met you at lunch a long time ago Jerry. Maybe at Miller's or Kiernan's, Andiamo's, or the Market? ...🤔 early day Skeeball at the "Mouse house" off Graph on Miave ?! 😶 🤔  

JDS repainted the Halloween loco for me last year.

Lets hope for a better year this year.

Using Marx 3152 and second hand Lionel cars previously painted, the Seattle Sounder seemed a good inspiration to create a conversion consist.

I made add on's  for the LONE RANGER SET. Makes a full battery

added a cannon and cannon balls stack and a gunpowder vat.

GG1GUYY

I made some "Trailers" for my Burro crane. 

I started out with a Lionel 4 wheel gondola (6-9030) from the Kickapoo Valley & Northern starter set (ca:1970)  These cars can be found for a few dollars at train shows.  They were made in red, yellow and green.  Lionel may have used them in other sets, also.

I separated the body from the base by gently prying the sides of the body until the molded in latches released.

The sides of the car were painted Reefer Yellow.  The deck was painted RR Tie Brown.  The running gear, wheels and couplers were lightly painted with Rust.

I left one gondola intact.  After painting and weathering, I  added a ballast load.  Extruded foam insulation was cut to size and shaped to the proper contour.  I sprayed gray primer on the foam, which reacted causing a rough surface.  While the primer was still wet, I covered the surface with ballast.  A Woodlands Scenics figure was added.

When hooked up to a Burro crane they make a respectable MOW train for the section gang.

Tom

Can someone please recommend a source for military miniatures in or close to O Scale?

 Thanks, Jeff 

Up grading and making a Cheap Lionel General 4-4-0 dc Locomotive more Functional and Beautiful

A cheap Lionel General 4-4-0, 8005 dc powered set with coal tender and Lionel 9541 Santa Fe Railway Agency Express Passenger car was obtained to have two 4-4-0s like the Great Locomotive Chase of the Civil war. 

I added a full wave rectifier and changed the Lionel 8005 to ac operation although in one direction.

A forward/reverse selector switch was added for manual reversal.

The Lionel 8005 was painted, along with the red and silver front wheels and painted domes.  The body and stack were painted Black.  Gold stripping was added to dress up.  Much more beautiful !

Here is picture of the smoke stack spark screen I made from a piece of fiberglass window shade screen I had laying around.

The forward/reverse switch was mounted by the door in the rear of the cab.

The Generals getting ready for The Great Locomotive Chase.

A fun and easy project to improve a cheapo General 4-4-0 loco.

Charlie

Choo Choo Charlie, that Vanderbilt tender is just a super idea. I wish I had thought of that one, but that's okay... You did.

And I love Gandydancer's reefers made from the short 027 box cars. I asked him about it at one time, and if I recall correctly, they're printed paper sides on modified sides to the car. In his photos, they look so good. The car ladders and door hinges look so 3-dimensional. There's a project I really want to get to myself.

I've repainted the normal Lionel traditional reefers, and have lowered the truck mount so that the cars ride lower, with their overall height now closer to the shorter Lionel, MARX and K-Line box cars. But I still like the shorter length of Gandydancer's versions.

And here's a couple more little projects of mine. I wanted some modern looking tank cars, so using the Lionel 027 body, I built a new frame to mimic the appearance of the newer unibody tank cars. And of course, Procor is a common name seen on tank cars. The bright green ones caused a sensation in the HO world when they first appeared on the real rails. Although black tank cars are certainly more common on the rails, the bright green appealed to the toy train guy inside me.

Below that is a MOW crane flat that I made using a crane from a kid's toy truck. The flat car was an old beat up MARX one. The crane boom goes up and down, and also rotates around, but the crane hook is stationary.  For me, it's mostly the appearance of having a MOW crane car on a train.

The red painted fuel tank came from some dollar store kid's farm tractor toy. I added a figure to inside the cab of the crane also. The smoke coming out of the tractor smoke stack is from the fiber used inside pillows, which I think looks way better than the cotton so many have used in the past.

brianel_k-lineguy posted:

Choo Choo Charlie, that Vanderbilt tender is just a super idea. I wish I had thought of that one, but that's okay... You did.

And I love Gandydancer's reefers made from the short 027 box cars. I asked him about it at one time, and if I recall correctly, they're printed paper sides on modified sides to the car. In his photos, they look so good. The car ladders and door hinges look so 3-dimensional. There's a project I really want to get to myself.

I've repainted the normal Lionel traditional reefers, and have lowered the truck mount so that the cars ride lower, with their overall height now closer to the shorter Lionel, MARX and K-Line box cars. But I still like the shorter length of Gandydancer's versions.

And here's a couple more little projects of mine. I wanted some modern looking tank cars, so using the Lionel 027 body, I built a new frame to mimic the appearance of the newer unibody tank cars. And of course, Procor is a common name seen on tank cars. The bright green ones caused a sensation in the HO world when they first appeared on the real rails. Although black tank cars are certainly more common on the rails, the bright green appealed to the toy train guy inside me.

Below that is a MOW crane flat that I made using a crane from a kid's toy truck. The flat car was an old beat up MARX one. The crane boom goes up and down, and also rotates around, but the crane hook is stationary.  For me, it's mostly the appearance of having a MOW crane car on a train.

The red painted fuel tank came from some dollar store kid's farm tractor toy. I added a figure to inside the cab of the crane also. The smoke coming out of the tractor smoke stack is from the fiber used inside pillows, which I think looks way better than the cotton so many have used in the past.

 

Brianel, I hate Conrail. But that's the first Conrail vehicle ever that I didn't hate. It looks pretty sharp.

Nice work on the crane Brian

Here’s a Lionel Standard O Boxcar I repainted and decaling  in NYC 

choochoopaul posted:

You have to be old to remember these being shipped to power plants around the country.

Those look like preamp tubes for my Marshall amp. 😎

Guitarmike posted:

choochoopaul posted:

You have to be old to remember these being shipped to power plants around the country.

Those look like preamp tubes for my Marshall amp. 😎

Another fine example of what you can do by combining a flatcar with imagination.

Here's a wood side gondola I fabricated from the base of a Fundimensions crane car and craft sticks.

Since at least the 1960's boxcar catwalks have been prohibited. I decided to try removing them on several boxcars. Since they are not add-ons but are molded into the plastic, I used a Dremel tool to get the job done, along with a hobby file to cut down the recessed areas. I also shortened the ladders on the ends and sides. Final picture is one with the roof weathered.

Terry

We had need to haul flamingos on our layout, so we modified an MTH Premier stock car for dedicated flamingo transport:

I made the CN boom car from an MTH TOFC car with compartments and toolboxes underneath. Atlas trucks were used instead of MTH to lower the car.

This storage mail car began life as a Williams 72’ REA Mail/Express car. It was Pullman green, but it had gold pin striping (which I did not like).  I tried to sell it cheap at a train show, and I tried to sell it on eBay but nobody wanted it.  So I decided to keep it, but change it into something more appealing to me. 

I always liked the look of an old silver painted, grimey baggage car. It would look at home in a cut of ATSF outfit cars, too. 

My opinion of Williams stuff has never been favorable except for this type of car. It is well constructed, easy to disassemble, and seems to have accurate dimensions. 

If I stumble onto some realistic diaphragms they will be added.

Started out as a K-Line "Krackle" caboose, turned it into an old CNJ "plywood" caboose...

Flared spark arrestors, ala Frisco:

Not a Lionel car or engine, but...….  thought this might be of interest to some one.

A few yrs ago and recently I bought several Lionel 455-23 oil drums, decided to drill them out.

Center punch the center where you want to drill the barrel out. If you want a barrel to look rusted out, offset the center punch approx. 1/16" off center, the drill bit will cut slightly along the outer edge.

Approx 1/8" drill bit for pilot hole, 13/32" drill bit for finished hole.

I used 2 strip's of luan to hold the barrels in the vice clamp to help secure and prevent the barrel from rotating while drilling.

Track cleaning car made out of a MTH test weight car.

Tom

Okay, Trussman, I understand that you drilled out some of the barrels to make them "rusted out." But why did you drill out the other ones?

Trussman,
I did this same thing a few weeks ago because I needed an empty barrel. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily it drilled out!

Vincent Massi posted:

Okay, Trussman, I understand that you drilled out some of the barrels to make them "rusted out." But why did you drill out the other ones?

To put things in like shovels, pipes, trash barrels, burn barrels and stacked on their sides as empty barrels, just to names a few.

An experiment with a boneyard gondola, "rusted" using off the shelf spray paints and some bulging sides created by using white glue.

JB, that is one realistic-looking old gondola.

Vincent Massi posted:

JB, that is one realistic-looking old gondola.

I learned the glue technique from a Lionel.com blog 2 or 3 years ago. Doesn’t really show well in the photos, but it is amazing what some blobs of white glue can do to create that bulge effect.

Here is a New York Ontario & Western R.R Inspection locomotive that me and my brother made It was the locomotive from the 8410 Redwood Valley set. I got on eBay for $38. It still needs handrails and decals. 

Here is a better view of the modified tender with real coal. Tool boxes are also custom.

Here is what the locomotive looked before it was modified. 

You fellows really amaze me with the clever ideas and super construction.  Great work.  After more than 30 years in model railroading there are several things I have never seen before.

I really like that New York Ontario & Western R.R Inspection locomotive by Porter09.  A very unique car and an operating engine to boot.  I bet no one else has one of these !

Charlie

This weaver boxcar doesn't possess the realism of an Atlas Trainman or Masterline car, but I couldn't pass on it since it is C & S.  You just don't see a lot of C & S / F W & D cars for sale.  So, I added lube plates and ACI badges, weathered it with Chihuahua desert dust, and dull-coated it.  Because of the wheelsets, it still looks somewhat like a 2 year old wearing his father's work boots, but I thought it looks better.

K-Line Mikado with added feature.

I got 2 - A&WP #290 (Now Lionel makes one - but I like my K-Line more) and Frisco #4018 with a matching caboose.  Not a lot of options for us Southerners - especially in the steam era!  But nice to see Lionel trying, but much cheaper to get on the secondary market and re-letter!  I'd like to find another K-Line Pacific undecorated and letter for Western Railway of Alabama.

lee drennen posted:

 I’ve been working on some all nations cars here is the latest one I have almost complete I also cut down some Lionel Trucks to lower it 

Nice work Lee',  I love the All Nations kits'.  Questione for you, What size and type screws are you using to install MTH trucks the cars?  Thanks in advance Lee for your help'.. 

Memories from when my son was little.

all from the junk boxes. Rusty 1630s and a 1631 repainted in the Ives Black Diamond colors

and two broken 1666 shells made into a 4-8-4

Hi everyone', here's a  scratch built ,"Payroll Car" from a half of an "All Nations ", diner car.  The red side is pieces of balsa wood. It is based on a kit of an actual wood payroll car.  [not sure of the brand] . The trucks are old school "Walthers, cast white metal, with old plastic and metal wheels from various scrap parts.  The actual kit was in a million pieces of small 1 x 1.5" sheets of basswood.  No hint of instructions,  I couldn't figure out how to put  it together, so I designed and built my own version.  Complete with the pay master and RR uniformed police, for security, and the gang foreman...

In case you are wondering why I write in bold'?  It helps me see the print'.. poor eyesight'

Actual 'Payroll Car'

Quarter Gauger, that is an interesting-looking railcar.

Did a little more work today on one of my Williams Brass K4s. So far have cut out 1/8” in the frame between the cylinders and drivers and maybe 3/16” from the nose of the frame. Also cut 1/8”ish from the front of the second course just behind the smokebox. Temp 36” dia freightcar wheels for the pilot and shortened the pilot by abot 3/8”. Today I got around to soldering the boiler back together, not done but in solid and seemingly straight but still a lot of fiddling to go. Looks like it will take my 0-42 curves as is. Its getting there slow but sure.

The cab steps for one of my prewar switchers were missing, as is a common issue...so I fabricated a new step from copper and JB Weld filled it in. This topic is so long, sorry if I posted this before!

Tom  

A minor alteration when my orange cable reels got lost.  Just a couple of YoYos.

Charlie

A MTH NE style caboose converted to two rail, repainted, weathered and has the trucks pushed outward for a prototypical spacing.

Glad to see this thread still going.  I'll have to see if I have pics of some more homegrown cars.

I see Porter09 and another have done inspection engines ...l was planning one, but has seen a photo of a similar, but longer steam coach, and built and posted it.  Think l used a Walthers combine kit. I have a number of "critters", some I'd forgotten, such as an 0-8-0 switcher with Elesco and flying pumps.  Others are a steam dummy, a Lionel 0-8-0 bashed into a Great Western consolidation, pickle plant factory branch cars, etc.  Will have to post photos.

Hello again! I've added steps to the Excelsior. Yes , that is the name of locomotive.

 I also really enjoy  this thread,it's a reminder of model railroader ingenuity at it's finest.

Please keep posting the pictures,it really shows the creative side of the hobby that makes it more than just cookie cutter train running .

Hey Porter09, The Excelsior looks just like the 'executive inspection' cars for the big railways of the steam erra...  Nice job'....

I have posted these railcars before, with the steam coach centerpiece. I will build a Walthers gas electric and maybe an inspection engine to join them.  I have a Mack rail bus and a very rare Sykes rail bus, in brass, 3 railed, l can't quickly find. Both need reverse installed.

Photos:

Now photo of steam coach, also previously posted:

Now will add photos of steam coach, #60 Consol. on the Great Western, with a stand-in tender, built from a Lionel 0-8-0, a switcher maybe built from same source, for my free-lance road, with Elesco, flying pumps, and Vanderbilt tender (as l want all equipped), and a Marx #1829 bashed into a Mikado.  All need better tenders...#60 a scale one, all others good models of varying lengths of coal Vanderbilts.

And the free lance Lionel 0-8-0.

Lionel Standard Gauge  339 cars converted  to M.U. cars that actually run off a live catenary .

Added a cover to one of my 512 Standard Gauge gondola cars.

Here is another standard gauge car I worked on . I took a 513 cattle car and converted it to a lighted poultry car.

Homemade Longer Vanderbilt Tender

Got around to making a second longer Vanderbilt Coal Tender, marked up as a Rock Island.  It is identical to the shorter Vanderbilt Coal Tender except it is 1 inch longer. 

I cut up an old coal tender with the band saw.

Added 1 inch to the side bottom rails from the plastic from the not needed part of the CT and added pieces of tin to strengthen with J B Weld.

A bottom was made from a piece of sheet metal roofing bending the folds in a wood working 4 x 10 inch Columbia vise.

The water tank section was made from part of a 2 inch dia. mailing tube and decking and reinforcing was make from popsicle sticks.  Dark red sealing was from 60 year old model airplane dope.

The crack between the coal pile and water tank was filled in with balsa wood.  A pair of six wheel Williams trucks, one with a coupling, were purchased years ago at a train show just for a large Vanderbilt coal tender.  The tank domed back is from a hair spay can bottom, ground off with a grinder.  See the back up light and hand grab ready for the ladder to come.

A back up light and ladder (made from N gauge track with every other tie cut out) and hand hold were added to give more detail.  The first shorter Vanderbilt CT also got new ladder and hand hold.  The CT was painted with Krylon semi gloss black spray can paint.

Decals were applied and sealed with clear spray paint.  The 50 year old decals had to be sprayed with clear before applying as they disintegrated in the  water.

The new, longer Vanderbilt Coal tender is only one inch longer than the first one and the same length of the longer Lionel 6 wheel CT sold with longer engines.  The big boy CT sure makes the shorter one look stubbier.  The longer CT and the longer Lionel 2065 will not quit fit on my turntable so the get to stay on the layout cruising.

Charlie