I was just perusing the Lionel parts lists on Brasseur Electric Trains’ website. What are some recommended picture guides that connect numbers with items?
Carl
Carl,
For openers go to the link below and look for the link to “Library” in the blue box at the bottom of the page.
Find the locomotive, car, transformer, or whatever by model number and see whether a pictorial diagram with parts numbers is available.
Be patient – the Olsen’s site is not the world’s fastest, and sometimes it is down, but usually it is a gold mine. They are another good place to buy parts.
http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/
wolverine49
Thanks. I’ll have to take a longer look at the Olsen site a little later. My online connection is pretty slow. Is Olsen’s considered the definitive source for parts?
What I am looking for at the moment is a source for fast-angle steel wheel trucks, plastic brake wheels, stakes and such from the MPC/Fundimensions era. Any ideas?
Carl
i experienced the same problem. For PW items under 4000 it is basically the number of the item…260 bumper, etc etc.
modern items just use the last 4 digits…so 6-12741 would be looked up as 2741. the descriptive words next to the item aren’t always clear, but you should be able to figure it out. // electronics and bulbs are almost impossible to find without asking the vendor for help because they have a different coding.
when all else fails, send an email using the contact us box. Dean b. is very helpful. you can also call lionel and ask for the part number. they have the list but it isn’t available on line.
other sites for parts… trainexhange.com wiltonparts.com eastcoasttrainparts.com
they don’t have pictures of the items, just lists. prices vary forthe same item among sites…
hope it helps
Carl,
For MPC/Fundamentions era materials try Customer Service at www.lionel.com which has “exploded diagrams” of many of Lionel’s products. You can still buy parts directly from Lionel.
There are many good sources of parts, once you know the part number, although some parts are difficult to find or just not available anymore. Most places that sell train parts are run by knowledgeable folks who will work with you to find the right part.
Brasseur’s is an excellent source. I also think that if one uses the Olsen’s Library service it would be nice to support it by buying at least some parts from them; or, at minimum, sending a “thank you” on their website. They provide a link for this.
Once you have determined a part number you can often find a source for it simply by typing it in to Google, as in “Lionel 8204-14” generally without the quotation marks.
wolverine49
Although many parts dealers seem to have a similar “core inventory” of about 7,000 parts, there ARE differences between suppliers.
Some specialize in hard-to-find parts; some seem to have bins of salvaged parts; some have minimum order requirements, some specialize in Marx, some in hook-up wire or bulbs, some in pre-war items, etc., etc. For starters, check out this link:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=lionel+train+parts
Many suppliers advertise in CTT and other fine toy train magazines.
wolverine49