765-take care of that Wabash, buyers like that engine, it’s a favorite.
I’m a newbie to this discussion forum and no expert at train repairs. However, I keep reading excellent discussions about cleaning, lubricating, and working on your trains, especially removing the accumulation of 5 decades of dirt and lubricant crud, dog hair, tinsel, etc.
At the risk of stating the obvious to the veterans out there, some tools I find particularly useful, most of which come from the medical and dental professions:
1.) Plastic disposable syringes, especially pediatric: toothpicks or commercial lubricants (like Lionel) with narrow tips and extensions can’t get into the tightest spots and deliver with precision (less is more). One of my friends is diabetic, and I got some of these from him. Less oil subsequently spraying onto the tracks too. Saves a lot of time since there is no excess oil in hard to reach places that require post lubricating wiping.
2.) Surgical grade ratchet locking hemostats: these hold those tiniest of screws to access the tight places and enable you to position the screws correctly, holding them until you can get them started. Especially good after drinking too much (booze or coffee where your hands are less than perfectly steady and you find yourself dropping the screw into an inaccesible place a half dozen times). Good for precisely holding wire when tinning and soldering. Can be purchased at medical and surgical outlets and can be reasonably priced if the packaging has been compromised. Stainless floor grade finishes are cheaper than matt finishes. Can be purchased with angled tips. Better yet, your doctor or dentist may have some laying around she/he doesn’t want any more.
3.) Surgical tweezers: much narrower stems than any you get at the pharmacy to get into tightest places, and they come to an extremely fine point (true needle nose). Sharp enough for the most intri
I have the lionel Cannonball set with the ATSF 8300, it is a nice puller but it is loud. The engine is not a perfect performer, but the set was bought for 30 bucks in the early 70’s (this is the set i could buy for that inflated https://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/lionel-trains/Lionel+Train+Sets/lionel-1923130-the-polar-express-trolley-set/ ) So it was a cheap set. the whole set box weighs…3 to 5 pounds (just an estimate)