Update: This afternoon the 2037 set arrived, 6466W tender, and the parts to repair the the 2466W, all at once. Ordered the wrong impeller for the tender. That was a downer. Obviously the 2037 didn’t run (It was an e-bay purchase). After a complete disassembly, clean and lube, including the removal of a finish nail from the gears, it is running fine, and smoking up a storm. At the moment I am using smoke fluid. It has a pill unit. I wonder if I should look for some pills, or keep using liquid? The 6466W hums as soon as track power is supplied but whistles just fine. Think the relay may need adjusted to cure the humming problem, but am going to try some other avenues first. Cleaned and lubed all the rolling stock, and am currently running the set the upper loop of the layout.
I’m new to the forum and this is my first post. And somehow I found this thread and discussion which I can relate to fully. The trains of my childhood, which suffered rough handling and then years of storage were taken out nearly thirty years ago, and a long restoration began.
There was a short flirtation with HO around 1970, and the Lionel trains were originally replaced by slot cars in 1964. But the specialness of Lionel reached out of the past and drew me back.
I operate first and collect second. Those trains served no purpose stored in boxes, and they were designed to be used.
The locomotives run as strong as they did fifty years ago. The nicks, scratches and bruises are a testament to memory. The rough pieces remind me of rolling stock I see on real railroads.
Fixing and repair are part of the fun. The lights, growlings, buzzing and other electromagnetic sounds are time-warp to the past. I saw a post where someone said “I love the smell of ozone in the morning.” You got that right.
And as a sideline I learned years ago that some of those old pieces are worth quite a sum, but none will ever be sold, because for me it would be a betrayal of a parent’s love to part with such a wonderful gift from so long ago. Amazing that this stuff is so durable and operates with such reliability. I don’t have very many fifty year old possessions and I recently speculated that this stuff may still be running very well at age 100.
You just can’t beat the smell of ozone and smole pellets, Right on!
Just a few days ago I received a Lionel #2344 powered unit that I had purchased off Ebay. When I tested it, the engine struggled to operate properly and discovered one motor was failing. As it turned out, the bad motor was really dirty, so all it needed was a little cleaning. The horn too was not working, but a couple of turns with the horn set screw it was working once again. With a little maintainence she now runs like a swiss watch.
Try that with these modern pieces of Chinese Lionels! Ahh the simplicity of the old Lionels!
Welcome Prarietype!!! Stop by the coffee pot, and say hello, and stay tuned for Sunday photo fun, we’d love to see some photos of your layout, and trains.
The ozone from my newly aquired 2025 is amazing. This is my first of the upper line of trains. I have a 1666, and a 2338, but none produce the aroma of the 2025.
I have found with 2 young children I have very limited time to run trains, but I can find 30-40 minutes at a time to tinker, and repair. So for now I find a few moments to run, with a small set-up for Christmas, that can run on its own.
Kurt
i also have a 2025 but its sick, doesnt smoke either,its being sent of to a very good repairman. i put in a new e uint and it ran. for a minute. So shipping it off today and hope to get it back soon. i relly havent got to run it to much but really looking forward to it. Want to find a smoke unit for mine so i can smell the ozone as well…