Big Indoor Trains

A recreation of Lionel set 1555WS (1956) was recently seen in the basement:



Original Lionel 2018 2-6-4 locomotive, 6362-125 NYC gondola, and a 6257-50 LL caboose; we filled in the gaps with modern era reissues (6026W tender, 6464-400 B&O box car, and a 3361 log dump car).

Runs terrific.

An American Flyer #3192 has the point on a short freight heading south off the Hell Gate Bridge (#305):



The 3192 and 3193 locomotive/tender combinations were American Flyer's 1930 return to electric O-gauge steam after nearly a decade-long absence. A cast iron locomotive and tender that, despite their small size, weigh a freakin' ton. According to the 1930 catalog, the freight set featured 8-wheel freights, but the guy I got this from at York had included a four-wheel flat and caboose. I added a four-wheel 3012 boxcar. The 3192 is one-direction only; the 3193 has a reversing unit; they basically look like electrified wind-ups (likely exactly what they are).

Flyer motor #3015 with a short string of passenger cars in tow (Flyer #3140/3141/3142):



Having passed a slow Lionel freight, it's seen headed south, clearing Bridge #305 to approach Heat Pump Pass.

A 2017 shot of the layout at The Train Shack, Burbank, California:



Photo courtesy of Kevin Dooley.

Flyer set #4001 from 1940 was spotted pulling into the platforms on the back straight a few days ago:



Rare outing for a classic set.

American Flyer S-gauge:



The Flyer Hudson was an iconic postwar locomotive, a far better "model" IMHO than any Hudson made by Lionel.

A locomotive I've been trying to decide what to do with, the Lionel 2036 on the point of a short freight clears Bridge #305:



This 2036 has been on and off the workbench a number of times, wondering whether to spend the time required to get it back into good running order. At some point it was dropped or otherwise damaged by a previous owner, knocking the motor frame askew. Only five of the six drivers make contact with the rails at any given moment. It runs, but lots of wheel slippage and only able to move 3-4 cars, at most. I've been thinking of just swapping the motor out of a really rough 2037 I have here; it would be any easy solution, but less than satisfying.

The tender is a 6466W, a correct match for the locomotive. The whistle works, but the wiring needs some help. All-in-all, the combination seems worthy of a repair.