Post War Celebration Series Rolling Stock- Are they higher quality than originals?

I was out of "O" scale when the PWC series came on the scene.  I have the PWC operating barrel gondola and it operates nicely.  I have the newer version of the Pennsy Trainmaster with Magne-Traction, but I don't know if it's considered a PWC loco.  It has nice detailing and operates smoothly.  

Not all the originals had plastic trucks but all of the PWC cars roll better due to their needle point axles plus the trucks are sprung. Not sure there is much difference in the bodies as far as material thickness. I have some PWC and some Post War and prefer the PWC for operation. 

Pete

I really like the PWC(should be CC "conventional classic" F3's They look awesome without the collector condition cost. They both run great with electronic e unit and horn and bell.

franktrain

There are plenty of benefits to the PWC reissues. For example, the PWC 2245 Texas Special has two motors where the original only had one. Plus engines like the F-3 that didn't have the earlier deluxe trim like mesh screen vents now have them.

To me, the benefit of PWC stuff is that it is new.  In my opinion, its a wash at best to say the PWC is better than the originals though.  To me for example, the lighter/smaller gage wiring in the new PWC series is a downer though I've not had any wiring problems to date. I also prefer the old electromechanical E units of the original, but I realize things like that don't concern some others. I have had coupler heads come loose on the PWC either in transit or through normal (not abusive) use.  Never had that problem on postwar stuff.  The graphics are better, I will give you that on the PWC.  At the end of the day, to me its based on perception and is a fair personal opinion either way.  I have six PWC/CC sets and a couple of separate sale engine's and I do like them all just as much as I do my postwar stuff.  That said, if there is a choice, and dollars are equal, I will choose postwar over a PWC.

Thanks guys. I should have specified I was referring exclusively to rolling stock, particular to the 1960's military/space items. Finding out this is a hobby where you should never say never. I never thought I would have an interest in those cost cutting cheesy items from the Cuban missile crisis years, but now I went and got sentimental. 

Smoke Stack Lightnin posted:

Thanks guys. I should have specified I was referring exclusively to rolling stock, particular to the 1960's military/space items. Finding out this is a hobby where you should never say never. I never thought I would have an interest in those cost cutting cheesy items from the Cuban missile crisis years, but now I went and got sentimental. 

I love the military and space stuff. Actually have thought of doing a small layout one day with that theme.

Btw, one of the sets Lionel did in the Conventional Classics series was the Orbitor Space Set. One of my favorites.

When the PWC stuff came out (I guess it's almost 20 years ago now) I swore I would never get involved with it ...well at the last ATMA show I bought a new 2349 Northern Pacific GP9 it was real cheap. I was happy with it after I got it home.

Then I had the opportunity a few weeks before Christmas to buy a PWC B&O set brand new and that I was really happy with ! ...never say never !!!

franktrain posted:

I really like the PWC F3's They look awesome without the collector condition cost. They both run great with electronic e unit and horn and bell.

Actually, the CC (Conventional Classics) series engines have the e-units, horn and bell. The PWC (Post War Celebration) series F-3s are equipped with TMCC and Railsounds, directional lighting, electrocouplers, interiors and crew figures, etc. 

taycotrains posted:

When the PWC stuff came out (I guess it's almost 20 years ago now) I swore I would never get involved with it ...well at the last ATMA show I bought a new 2349 Northern Pacific GP9 it was real cheap. I was happy with it after I got it home.

Then I had the opportunity a few weeks before Christmas to buy a PWC B&O set brand new and that I was really happy with ! ...never say never !!!

Yup. I really like the PWC stuff, too. One other big advantage over the Postwar items is the quality of the decoration, i.e., paint and finish. With the benefit of modern paints and paint processes, it's far superior in every way to the Postwar. Much finer coloration, much higher levels of detail, and paint decoration in place of flake-off decals - all make for a huge improvement.

 I don't think the original post was looking for a comparison between original postwar and PWC trains, but I could be wrong. Got to have a great memory to compare the two, considering the postwar period was 70 years ago.

I really liked all the PWC series.  I did think the quality was better.  The Marines missile launch set was great.  Wish I hadn't sold that.

Hello guys and gals...........

The PWC cars ARE made better such as the use of ABS plastics for car bodies and better coloring of the cars and with the die-cast trucks sprung of course.  The bottom line is they are better than originals.    I have a few of those modern cars and see that the are of better quality with good prices on some of them.   I use those PWC cars to be pulled by Williams F-3's in postwar style !!!    I have one postwar US mail boxcar #6428 and compared to the modern made LTI era boxcars, the modern ones have better made bodies and finishing,coloring and it shows.  One of the PWC ,a favorite of mine is a auto loader car #6414 and the whole car is better made compared to the original 1966 version of the auto loader car as I remembered that car very well as it was part of 2383 set that includes the 6414 car the set # 12730 which my daddy got for me in 1968.

"The virgin will be pregnant and will give birth to a son. They will name him Immanuel. (Immanuel means 'God with us ') Matthew 1:23 ERV (Easy to Read Version)

Tiffany

William 1 posted:

 I don't think the original post was looking for a comparison between original postwar and PWC trains, but I could be wrong. Got to have a great memory to compare the two, considering the postwar period was 70 years ago.

I really liked all the PWC series.  I did think the quality was better.  The Marines missile launch set was great.  Wish I hadn't sold that.

What do you mean SEVENTY years??  The PostWar period ended a scant 48 years ago.  

breezinup posted:

Yup. I really like the PWC stuff, too. One other big advantage over the Postwar items is the quality of the decoration, i.e., paint and finish...

If you study the cars carefully, comparing, it is amazing how the Chinese have cleaned up & sharpened the tooling on just about every reissue/reuse of postwar molds. The condition of some of the late postwar rolling stock coming out of late Hillside tooling was approaching on embarrassing in comparison.

William 1 posted:

 I don't think the original post was looking for a comparison between original postwar and PWC trains, but I could be wrong. Got to have a great memory to compare the two, considering the postwar period was 70 years ago.

Well, he said "Post War Celebration series rolling stock - are they higher quality than the originals?" Sounds like he's asking for a comparison with original Postwar trains to me. It's not necessary to have a great memory to remember what Postwar era trains (1969 and earlier) were like. They're not extinct -  obviously lots of them are still around to look at and run and compare with the more modern stuff.

Our PWC and conventional classics rolling stock seems very accurate to our original late 40's and early 50's rolling stock as far as material thickness, the stiffness of the plastics, gauge of sheet metal, etc. 

I was well on the clear-cut path of going with only scale purchases when PWC and CC pulled me in!

I bought another PWC item today ! I was on standby today waiting for the snow to come and saw a that I was near a train store/warehouse. I usually  don't cover this section ...good thing too ! I have to leave the credit card home from now on !

taycotrains posted:

I bought another PWC item today ! I was on standby today waiting for the snow to come and saw a that I was near a train store/warehouse. I usually  don't cover this section ...good thing too ! I have to leave the credit card home from now on !

Cool unit. But be careful. Those Lionel motorized units can be addicting. Very easy to fall into the "collect 'em all" trap! 

Yes, that's a nice find. I have a Rio Grande plow version of that Vulcan, with TMCC. Amazing they could get all that into it. Great fun to run.

We have the Rio Grande as well. Great little switcher for sure and yes, the small motorized units are addicting.

Those are great little yard goats. I have the Navy TMCC version and it is fun to run. Great find!

Rich

I like those little Vulcan switchers and plows. I have several Postwar and several Modern era ones.

I have the entire PWC and Coventional Classic series. They are truly outstanding.

I compared the rolling stock from the postwar era and the PWC/CC era. The newly made versions of rolling stock run better with the needle point wheels and the graphics and color are crisp.

The engines, even with the TMCC and Railsounds, and the Conventional Classics seem to run alot smoother and quieter too!

I wished they continued the series :-)

ADCX Rob posted:

breezinup posted:

Yup. I really like the PWC stuff, too. One other big advantage over the Postwar items is the quality of the decoration, i.e., paint and finish...

If you study the cars carefully, comparing, it is amazing how the Chinese have cleaned up & sharpened the tooling on just about every reissue/reuse of postwar molds. The condition of some of the late postwar rolling stock coming out of late Hillside tooling was approaching on embarrassing in comparison.

Rob,

You're absolutely correct -- our factory in China did an amazing job of running older tooling.

And we used the opportunity to restore obliterated rivet detail (the MPC people loved removing it) as well as adding missing rivets where it had never appeared previously, such as on the 6026 Tender, 6517 Bay Window Caboose, 3435 Aquarium car and 6672 Reefer.

TRW