Restoring a Lionel PRR Prewar Steam Switcher & All Things Related to Keeping Them Running! Spring 2024

Photos didn't come through. Perhaps ask around when Sitcher Saturday rolls around?

Thanks, EL Classico. Maybe I'll just try reposting it.

Tom

OK, I think they are all there now. The last photo at the end was supposed to be closer to the top, but the last time I tried to edit it out, I lost all of the others, so I am not going to mess with it again!

Hope the wiring is less stressful than the picture posting!

Tom

That is a cool little loco !!  I have never seen one-that I know of but will look at the upcoming Greenberg Show.  Never knew they used a motor set up like that. Unfortunately I can't help with parts.  Good luck.

How are you going to deal with the e-unit?

This is a shot of the cab of my #231 which shows those nuts that screw on...still hoping somebody out there has 2 they can spare.

Tom

David Johnston posted:

How are you going to deal with the e-unit?

Say a prayer that everything is intact. The #231 looked pretty much just as bad. In that case, it was all intact and I just needed to wrap some electrical tape around it and it was good to go.

Tom

MNCW posted:

This is a shot of the cab of my #231 which shows those nuts that screw on...still hoping somebody out there has 2 they can spare.

Tom

I have seen those sorts of screws? Bolts? Whatever they are in German made clocks. I do not have one around at the moment, but I am pretty sure that widens your search field a bit

Wow, I had never seen the insides of one of these before; thanks for all the photos! I was very surprised to see that strange little e-unit--I have the 1989 reissue, and that just has the standard e-unit, mounted horizontally, with a return spring. If you can't get the original working, perhaps one of those will fit.

I'm sure Dennis Waldron -Just Trains will have them.

There are a lot of interchangeable parts between the 227 family of prewar switchers and the 1989 reissue (18000), but the motor and e-unit are not amoung them.  The 227 e-unit (OO1E-185) is from the prewar OO line of locos. The 227 family of switchers is the only place it is used in O gauge that I know of. In my opinion it is superior to the standard three position O gauge e-unit.  It is certainly much easier to work on.  The problem with it is there are no parts available. The OO e-unit complete is available from several sources, but it is not cheep.

There was an article written "Lionel's #8976  - Wiring and Operation" by William J. Krone which describes how to rewire all these locos and including wiring diagrams.  I have a copy of it, but my copy does not indicate what publication it is from or the date. It might be the TCA  Quartery.  Maybe the TCA library could help.

 The missing brush tube caps may be either the 700E-305 or the 400E-115. There are two different types and I can not tell which is which. One screws on the outside of the tube and the other into the inside. They were used on the 400E, 700E, 763E and 227 family of switchers. They should not be too hard of find. I had one loco which had washers sholdered on the ends of the brush tubes to keep the brushes in. 

Thanks everyone. 

Chuck--I've bought things from Dennis before but somehow forgot him as a source, thanks for the reminder.

David-- Thanks for mentioning the Krone article. I have that in my library of books/articles. With all the damage this loco absorbed (substantial enough to knock off the headlight and put a good dent and what can best be described as a tear/rip in the cab roof), the wiring is just one thing to worry about. These are pretty tough little buggers so I'm fairly optimistic. 

Tom 

great project Tom.

David Johnston posted:

... The missing brush tube caps may be either the 700E-305 or the 400E-115. There are two different types and I can not tell which is which. One screws on the outside of the tube and the other into the inside. They were used on the 400E, 700E, 763E and 227 family of switchers...

David,

 I remember seeing a parts list for the 227-series locomotives and the part was listed as 700E-305 Brush Holder Screw. There is also a "Brush holding Retaining nut" (part# 400E-118, which is maybe internal) on the same parts list which I had originally identified in my original post which I thought I needed, but if it screws on (which it does) I guess it is the "Brush Holder Screw." Thanks for helping me to clarify that so I know what to ask for! 

 El Classico mentioned German clocks earlier which is actually what I thought of as my friend and I started taking this loco apart the other day...to see the craftsmanship of the 1930's, with so many little, well-made, intricate parts.

Tom 

it seems that even in a basketcase condition, those switchers get a healthy asking price.

The parts list for the 227, shows 700E-35 as the brush tube cap. The 400E-118 is the nut that holds the brush tube to the brush plate. Hence if you cannot find part 700E-35, you can swap the brush tubes out to the Bild-A Loco style. Jeff Kane has the Bild -A-Loco brush tubes and the nut on his list.

Tin

As best as I have been able to figure out, Lionel changed from the 400E style brush tube to the 700E style brush tube when they started using brushes with shunts on them.  Maybe some time in 1938.  The brush tube with the cap gave them a way to clamp the washer at the top of the brush spring that the shunt is attached to.  This gives a good electrical path from the shunt into the brush tube.   I have not seen the 700E-35 part number before. I wounded if it is a typo of the 700E-305 part number.  There are lots of errors in the part lists.

The 227 family of locomotives are great locos.  It is too bad they did not make it into the post war era.  I recently ran into a set of wheels which I am sure came off a 227 type loco.  They did not look right and after studying them I discovered they had been insulated for two rail operation. The flanges and tread were scale size, even smaller that the tires that came on the 701. They had the cam on the back that operated the valve gear.   I wonder what happened to the loco they came off of. 

Now you have piqued my interest in these locos except they are too expensive for my budget unless I find a beater to fix up. Interesting thread. Always more to learn. Thanks

David Johnston posted:

  I wonder what happened to the loco they came off of. 

Yes, too bad our locomotives don't come with the histories of who owned them and for how long. You rarely know whether you are owner #2 or #32. 

I've said this before on other threads, that most of my locomotives are around 77 years old. Properly maintained, they can easily go another 77 years or more. Knowing that they were so well made and manufactured here in the US is a big part of the appeal, at least to me. 

Tom