Lionel 2056 worth fixing?

Hey Cheryl!  Long time no see.  Regarding your 2056, if all you have to do is purchase the parts and you provide your own labor, then yes, it is worth it.  If you have to have someone else do both parts and labor, then make it into a static display on the layout like a restoration scene or park display.  Those engines were great engines and they are very easy to find at shows for very reasonable prices.  Hope to see ya around.

Hey Spike, I'm mostly working scenery now, with few tech challenges.  As to the 2056, in my research I found they were produced only in 1952, seems like a short run so wasn't sure on popularity/availability.  I can do the work, so won't have much invested.  Especially since the engine was free, lol.  Thanks for the input.

E unit fingers and drum will likely also need to be replace!

It tries to reverse etc. but quite can't do it.  Besides, I don't know which way to move the lever to do what, lol.

Thats a big engine during the postwar. I think it's worth fixing especally since it's trying to run.

Just recently I restored a 675.   You wouldn’t believe what it looked like.   Completely rusted.   Worked on motor and e unit first.   Runs great.    Repainted the shell, new drive rods.   Cleaned smoke unit.    The engine looks and runs great.   I would never give up on a postwar engine.   I love them to much to throw away.   My advice,   Go for it.   The finished product will reward you with a sense of accomplishment.

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I seem to recall that the 2056 was simply a wartime (Korea) version of the 2046 which resulted in the removal of the magnetraction feature, hence the number change.

That said, I like to think of it this way when it comes to pre/postwar locomotive repairs.  They aren't making any more of them.  If most of the major parts are there and in serviceable condition, then it's probably worth putting back together.  I tend to get more enjoyment out of the locomotives that I rebuild than most of the ones that I purchased in working order.  I'll admit, I've spent more money than they were really worth in a couple of cases when it came to obtaining parts, but that's one more piece that will be on the rails for decades to come and I'm not really looking to sell them anytime soon.

This Lionel 225E was probably my best example at throwing money at something that probably wasn't worth it... I purchased it at a train show without giving it as close of a look as I should have.  Upon closer inspection after arriving home it became clear that it had taken a nose dive to the floor at some point in its life.  The pilot casting had been broken and rebuilt (a surprisingly well done repair) using epoxy to the point that you wouldn't have noticed it without a very close look.  Cosmetically it was fine to run with, but I worried about future cracking issues during regular use/handling.  The smokebox front and lead truck also had some issues due to the inflicted damage and needed replacing.  Ultimately between the initial purchase price and the replacement parts, I have way more financially invested in it than its worth (and that was before I purchased the tender that it didn't have...), however it's one of the best running locomotives in my collection and I enjoy it far more after my efforts.  The replacement pilot casting is actually a postwar part from a 736 Berkshire (more obtainable and affordable than an original Prewar part).  Lionel modified the tooling for the Postwar locomotives so it took some minor machining work and a custom shim to make it fit properly, but it was an enjoyable job to do and I now have another fine locomotive that's ready to go for another 80+ years.

@Charly posted:

I was given a 2056 in rough to fair shape.  Missing puffer side rod/crosshair assembly.  Needs a thorough cleaning.  No tender.  Wondering if it is worth the time and effort to get running.  It shows signs of life.

Yes they are great runners and tenders are easy to find almost of the Post War tender frames are interchangeable with most all tender shells and very few Post War steamers have their original tenders unless you or your family had it since new. had it

Whether or not something is worth fixing is kind of a subjective question.  I bought this 152 at Kutztown a few years ago.  I probably paid too much, but I felt sorry for it.  This year, I took it to Hennings to make it run and to install some shiny bits.  Monetarily, it’s certainly not worth what I put into it, but to me anything that’s even older than me and still works is a thing of beauty.

@Lehigh74 posted:

to me anything that’s even older than me and still works is a thing of beauty.

...yes, it is!

And thank you for my favorite quote for the day!

Parts are available as the MPC era reproduced copies of them.

Here's my Lionel 2020 turbine that's almost ready to come off the bench and back onto the layout. I bought it cheap knowing it needed some work, but when I got it home and tore it down, I found out I had really underestimated what it needed. Maybe I should've resold this one and got another. I know that these 2020's aren't rare. I could've easily bought a better one with what I've put into this one, but I decided to use this to build some repair skills. I bought some tooling to remove and press on wheels properly, I learned how to paint, service E-units, apply decals, rewire, clean, etc. Skills that I want to apply to some more desirable and sentimental pieces. I know not everyone is prepared to go down that path, but I'm finding the repair/restoration side of the hobby enjoyable. I have a buddy who prides himself on fixing the "unfixable", especially postwar stuff.  Are you a "buy and operate right away" person? A sentimentalist? A fixer / tinkerer? I think some of those thoughts should guide your buying, and "worthiness" of an item, especially the older stuff.

Hey Guys, Great info, thanks for all the input.  The old girl is on a whisker off the tt for now.  Not powered.  Will begin the search for parts...  main drive rod, bolts, spacers, jewels and as crosshead, otherwise she's intact.  New Years project,