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My wife bought me a 2332 GG-1 for Christmas. Paint was ok but stripes and numbers were gone. I don't believe in restoring all trains to pristine condition , I like the played with look also. This one is getting a new paint job. Just curious where do you draw the line on restoring your trains. Thanks for the opinions.

Tom in Florida
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If they're rusty or beat up to the point they don't look good they get restored. Some purists will say original, yada, yada, and that's well and good, but they didn't leave the factory that way. IMHO

I've seen many a Postwar G with excellent paint, decent lettering/numbering and decals, but no stripes. Stripe(s)make the G, again IMO. Your call. I'd rather have a shiney, new Welz repaint than a G without stripes. The value is about the same regardless.
To me the question is, "What is it that gives it value (or enhances it) to me?" I have things that I consider "investments" but my trains aren't among them. I understand that others do look at them as investments and I'm not judging that. For me, it is about what makes it look good on my layout or on display. It is about whatever adds to the pleasure of owning it. IMHO, that is where an item's true value lies. Do whatever enhances your pleasure of owning the item.
If the goal is to have a nice new looking GG1 there are plenty of options - including Post War Celebration series and Conventional Classics, and I guess Williams as well.

Once you take an original item and "restore" it, perhaps some of that post war magic is gone as well. To me, and I am probably in the minority, these old trains have a mystique all their own. Every old train has stories and memories buried in those worn stripes, dented cab roofs and chipped finish.

There's nothing quite like taking an old engine that ran around who knows how many Christmas trees and putting it back in service. Forty, fifty and sixty year old pellet residue melts in the chamber to once again puff out the rings of smoke that mesmerized us all as kids at Christmas.

Everyone sees these things differently, but I would enjoy that grand old engine just the way she is.
Like Eric aka Gandalf97 said:

Whatever would give you the most enjoyment is exactly what you need to do.

Plus, have you looked at Postwar prices lately for anything less that MIB? You'll never get anything back on it... so why worry about that aspect?

With the PW prices (almost all resale prices, actually) as they are, I'm having a ball surfin' and dreamin' about buyin'. Smile Only one "slight" issue: I need more money. Big Grin

Andre
Santa brought me a New York Central 2333 AA freight set for Christmas way back when.

Needless to say, I enjoyed that train to the max! Over the years, paint started peeling, lettering rubbed off, and the usual 'played with' look became all too apparent.

I had them restored to the original beauties that I remembered.

I still run them today, some 60 years later and they take me back to that Christmas morning when I first saw them.

That's my call.......but this is your call.


CC
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