Help with removing Lionel 97 coal elevator solenoid

Help! I’m trying to restore my old 97 coal elevator solenoid (the one that releases the coal from the building with a spring-controlled trapdoor). However, I’m giving up hope that I can remove it without destroying it. The portion where the spring meets the solenoid has me stumped- can this somehow be taken apart?

Sorry, I just figured out how to post a few pictures. M97 picture 197 pic 2aybe now this will make more sense…

Here’s some photos. Can’t seem to figure out how to post them so they’ll show up in the body of the post…

http://s10.postimg.org/kb8fr3bkp/0220162237a.jpg

http://s10.postimg.org/mh2qllf15/0220162237.jpg