I need to pick up some parts for Modern Era (MPC/LTI) Lionel–mostly traction tires–and would like to know who’s most likely to have them in stock. Decent service and prices would be nice, but quick availability is the biggest issue.
Hi Paladin, Olsens is usually great though fax them or email rather than call - she’s having a baby this month. They have a nice searchable website: I notice it is down though. There’s a host of vendors in the marketplace section of the latest CTTs. The issue before last had a separate listing of repairers / parts vendors too.
Thanks for the leads!
Funny thing: everyone–including Lionel–is having a hechuva time with a silly traction tire (for a 18018 or 18030 steam engine). Two places–the Train Doctor (Dean was VERY helpful and WILL get my repeat business) and Lionel itself (they are sending me a couple of possible substitutes to try, letting me pay or return them after finding out as the case may be)–are sending me tires that MAY work. The part number is obsolete–read: no one carries it–and a phantom of the parts lists.
I suspect this simple part is obsolete because relatively few engines used it and because these engines were among those developed by Mike Wolf not long before he and LTI had their falling out. Anyway, thanks to Dean and to the Service Department at Lionel for responding above and beyond.
Hello Palillin! Give Jeff Kane a try at The Train Tender in Pittsford,NY., They have a website & ship same day also. Plus, Jeff has been to the Lionel & Madison Hardware Auctions & may have some parts that others do not have in stock. They have been able to help me out many times with parts & are one of the best parts dealers around. Take Care.
Just trains of Delaware. Free shipping over $200.
laz57
For S gauge, either Doug Peck at Portlines Hobbies or Hobby Surplus’ Train Repair Parts. Portlines also carries new products, as well.
Portlines: www.portlines.com
Hobby Surplus: http://www.hobbysurplus.com/trainrepairparts.htm
Hi all,
Just adding this post here as it seems relevant.
BF—I hope this is o.k.
Jim H
High all, just moving this post from the FAQ list.
jim H
oconm77,
I have found that emailing parts suppliers is largely a waste of time.
What works for me is:
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Using the “Library” at Olsen’s Toy Train Parts, or the K-Line (or Greenberg) Service Manuals for postwar stuff; or the Customer Service pages at Lionel.com (for modern stuff) I first ascertain the precise Lionel part number. The “exploded” or “pictorial” diagrams are virtually essential for this.
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Armed with the part number, I go to any of several websites of parts suppliers, locate the part (if available) and order online or by mail or phone. (Never e-mail.) If I have located the part number via Olsen’s most useful website, I try to buy parts from them in order to help support their online service, which is free to you but certainly not free to them.
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If I need help or special service I call Chuck Sartor at Mizell Trains in Colorado; David Laughridge (Dr. Tinker) in Massachussetts; Brasseur’s in Michigan; Stanley Orr in New York; or my own local parts guy, Charles F. Schmitt in Maryland; or the like. It is amazing how much info these guys retain in memory or can look up quickly. Sometimes, if a part is not available, they can suggest a substitute. Many parts suppliers attend train shows with large stocks of parts. You might consider getting to know a few of them. Forget e-mail inquiries.
Note1: Mechanical reversing units (“E-units”) have become increasingly difficult to obtain in recent years. Some parts suppliers require that you send them your old e-unit to exchange before they can sell you one, so don’t trash it.
Note2: In some cases it is possible to “upgrade” two-position e-units to three-position ones; or to substitute modern
E-mail inquiries to Dr. Tinker have been answered quickly, and professionally.
Kurt
Jeff Kane’s Train Tender Parts has recently(early 2007) moved from Penfield, NY, to a magnificent new facility out here by me.
Rob
kpolak,
You wrote: E-mail inquiries to Dr. Tinker have been answered quickly, and professionally.
I’m happy to hear you have had good experiences with Dr. Tinker via email. For those of you who don’t know, David Laughridge (Dr. T) is undoubtedly the “dean” of toy train parts suppliers. For quite some time he was the question-and-answer guru and columnist for O Gauge Railroading Magazine. His website http://www.drtinkertrains.com/ is worth visiting just for his comments and repair hints, and to learn something about the gentleman himself. He is a professional in every sense of the word. My last order with him was for over $200. It enabled me to restore at least half a dozen of my postwar accessories, some of which had lain dormant for years.
That said, while David is great for large orders, those of us who are less-than-well off need to be mindful of his minimum-order policy. He and I are about the same age, and I fully understand his position on this, which is not to say that I can always afford him. When I can, I do.