As a seven year old, I had Lionel trains, they were a Freight Set, I remember, and still have the 800 series cars. The Engine a 1688 PRR Torpedo Model in black with a 1689 Tender. What started this post was a question someone had about the use and differences of #8220;Stamped#8221; and #8220;Cast#8221; parts. Back in 1940 I enjoyed my trains and accepted them as they were, as I look over the cars, 803 is a Coal Car/Hopper, 806 is a Cattle Car, 807 is a Caboose, 831 is a Flat Cat with a Lumber Load, 805 is a Box Car, and 804 is a Tank Car. All of these cars and tender have Latch Couplers, in fact if done carefully one car could be backed into another and engage the couplers automatically.
As I look at these cars 65 years later, I am impressed with the complexity of design, each one made from many smaller #8220;Stamped#8221; steel sheet parts, some with punched thru holes, windows in the Caboose, slotted openings in the Cattle Car. These parts have tabs that mate with slots in other parts to secure the smaller parts into a finished model. In the guide books these items are referred to as Four-Wheel Enameled Series Freight Cars. The steel I measured on these cars is 0.020 thick, the Latch Couplers were made from 0.050 thick steel with some type of plating. In addition to the enameled steel parts, there are many smaller items, Brake Wheels, Ladders, Wheel Journals, Door Handles and Hand rails, these parts have a Brass or Nickel Color.
The PRR Torpedo Engine is a #8220;Die-Cast#8221; boiler-cab, the model I have is a #8220;2-4-2#8221; , not sure what material it is, but most likely a zinc alloy. This engine still works, as conventional control, of course back in 1940 there was only coventional control, but I didn#8217;t even know that.
The Transformer I still have, #8220;T-Type#8221; is a steel box design, almost a cube, the Selector Arm moves across 5 contacts to provide increase voltage in steps of 2.0 Volts and a choice of 3 Ranges,
2 to 10 Volts, 10 to 18 Volts and 17
Sounds Great! Nice to know you’ve been able to keep it all these years.
Enjoy!
Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter!!!
underworld
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Look the movies and enjoy!!!
Andre.
http://www.jlmtrains.com/layoutvideos.htm