Lionel Postwar Train Instructions

I have taken possession of the family Lionel trains, mostly dating from the mid-1950s. I ran these as a kid and am happy that they have survived. Lionel is not my area of expertise, but I very much enjoy tinkering with the trains and talking with collectors and operators at train shows.

I was reading some of Lionel's instructional literature from that era and am impressed at how well it was written. Lionel assumed that its customers were educated, competent, able to use basic hand tools and could perform math. I contrast Lionel's period work with what's seen in general-use consumer products today and the difference is saddening. Today's consumer products instructions are dominated by liability protection, warnings, Toll Free numbers and wordless illustrations.

It sure is nice to read a 60 Year Old set of instructions that are so easily understood. Hats off to Lionel's authors from a past generation.

 

the MOST important item on any old Lionel (and if it doesn't have one, it doesn't apply) is the armature at the brushplate bearing.
NEVER take something that has been in storage for half a century (or even 5 years) and just put it on the track and apply power.

 

Thanks Scalecraft. I'm being very careful with the trains and thankfully most of them seem to be willing to run. I need to read up on E-Units. I am absolutely amazed at the enormous array of Lionel replacement parts available at train shows and at the affordability of them, and the Vendors are so helpful.

Unfortunately our F Unit has suffered a common problem when the horn's D Call was left in the unit and leaked. Body shell is fine and it runs fine, but corrosion has taken some toll on the frame. :-(

 

Yeah...but if the frame is too far gone, might be time to search for another one.
What is the number of the loco? Look on the number boards. That's the catalog number.
A quick check is screen vents is 2333/2343, also horizontal armature shafts. Louvers are later, vertical motor shafts. Makes a difference.

 

I looked more closely and the frame is not too badly damaged actually. The corrosion is light and is evident only on the underside of the fuel tank, both inside and out. Numbered 2383. I see lighted black numberboards, blocked portholes with no porthole lenses. There's a powered unit and a dummy, both AT&SF. I'm thinking they date from about 1958 or so.

 

Silver frame, black sideframes on the trucks.

Here is what I would do if it was mine:
Tear it down. Remove motors, e-unit, light, trucks, etc.

Locate a machine shop locally that will either let you use their glass bead blaster, or do it for you, paying special attention to the corroded areas.
Take it home, wash it in warm soapy water, rinse, and allow to dry.
Inspect the corroded areas, decide your skill level, and either use JB Quick or Bondo. Fill, allow to dry, file and sand until you're happy, prime (and re-sand areas as needed), paint with silver spray paint, re-assemble.
Make sure you clean the area where the motor/trucks pivot on frame to allow good electrical ground.

 

The issue is.....at some point they stuck the horn (and battery) in the dummy. I cannot recall which versions had that. And sometimes the frames (other than the freeze plug in the battery hole) are interchangeable, some versions are not.