Lionel Aluminum Cars manufacturing question?

@Pingman posted:

@Santa Fe Forbes, first, how did you come to respond to a SIX year old thread?

Would love to see photos of your train.

Six years ago--that's yesterday for me. A link to this thread was rendered by my searching the web for information related to The B&O's Columbian.

All of the posts herein related to production methods and "secret" manufacturing locations is interesting too.

In terms of The Columbian prototype-- I found it interesting that it was primarily an all coach Train (with one Sleeper added between Pittsburg and Chicago) running just "behind" The Capitol Limited.

I've yet to discover a good photograph of The Columbian being pulled by F3's. Generally, B&O Trains using F3's are pictured dragging mixed Freight.

An aside. Lionel (or at least MPC) had a contractor to make the Pittman motors here in Harleysville, Montgomery County, PA, by a division of Amatek. Mark

@Santa Fe Forbes posted:

I've yet to discover a good photograph of The Columbian being pulled by F3's. Generally, B&O Trains using F3's are pictured dragging mixed Freight.

Have You seen this one? B&O PR photograph for new streamlined Columbian.  May, 1949

Regards,

C.J.

@GP40 posted:

Have You seen this one? B&O PR photograph for new streamlined Columbian.  May, 1949

Regards,

C.J.

Thanks! A great one over the Thomas stone viaduct too.

Back in the day when I was 18 . I meet a man that worked on clocks and trains .. unbelievable mentor.. Mr Fred Wilson..

He worked in his basement repairing ( making gears on a small lath etc. ) old clocks and very old Lionel  and prewar trains along with postwar  trains

He worked for the Alco aluminum company  in New Kensington/Arnold  manufacturing plant..

He told me that they made the aluminum 2500 series body's in this /these location not sure if total or just finished them

  Im 64 yrs old now  , and he has long passed away.. I can only go by what he told me then..... daniel

Could that explain why the  4 bay hopper from the 50's was marked Alcoa?

@Santa Fe Forbes posted:

I've yet to discover a good photograph of The Columbian being pulled by F3's. Generally, B&O Trains using F3's are pictured dragging mixed Freight.

I was actually asking for a photo of YOUR train.  Can you post one or more?