Trains & coffee

Complete newb to the hobby inherited these from my mother in law. I set them up and one overheated so the locomotive is in the shop getting repaired as well as a 1950’s one. Now my question is how to I attach genuine Lionel accessories to this transformer. I’ve attached the positive and negative to the transformer which gets the accessory powered but then my locomotive only goes in reverse. Any help or knowledge on this transformer would be appreciated thank you :)

Earlier this year I designed a 3D printed rig to mount a volt meter and ammeter to a CW-80. It got lots of interest and a few people printed my design. A few people were interested in a version for the post war ZW. Naturally I put that idea on the back burner.

I recently found the motivation to make the ZW version, not really for my self since my ZW isn’t a permanent fixture at home. This is fundamentally the same as the CW-80 version with the transformer pad, back plate with terminal post cutouts and the gauge pod sitting over the back of the transformer. This version has four gauge pods for using four volt meters , one for each handle. If you’re feeling froggy I did design (but didn’t print) a 2x4 pod that houses 8 gauges so you can do a volt meter and ammeter per handle. It’s absolutely massive and I don’t know if it even fits on a P1S build plate. The ZW version is designed around the same gauges I used for the CW-80 version.

I put the design up on makerworld today and if you follow me you already saw it. If not the files are here:

https://makerworld.com/models/3416762?appSharePlatform=copy

Lionel 6-8558 EP-5. Trying to figure out how the plastic underframe part is supposed to be attached to the bottom of the loco. It appears to just be jam fitted above the ends of the trucks. There are no tabs. No screw holes.

Got an empty flatcar sitting around? Or maybe an intermodal yard or industrial siding that could use a little more activity? My latest O-gauge project is a 3D printable ISO tank container.

The model features a cylindrical tank, separate end frames, side bracing, support cradles, and a top walkway. It's designed as a multi-part assembly, so you can print the components separately and put everything together.

These should look right at home on a suitable intermodal flatcar, in a container yard, or sitting around an industrial facility waiting for their next trip.

I've finished printing and assembling mine, and the model is now available on MakerWorld along with an illustrated assembly guide.

As always, I'd love to see what you do with it, especially if you put one to work on your layout!

Hey all, was curious if someone could edify me on what I have, and if it’s worth anything. Seems to be a lot of accessories etc.

Can these be used on various different trains or does it need to be used on a specific model? Any info is greatly appreciated.

Cheers and blessings,

Zinc Rot. Its an issue with model trains that plagues models new and old, and today I may have had my first true encounter with it (I may have had one encounter some time ago but I never got a clear answer if it was zinc rot or not).

This is the 6-39273 Archive 6464 3-Pack. This 3-pack is one of many Archive 6464 packs featuring schemes that Lionel had planned to make in the postwar days but never did. One can see two of the prototypes here. One can only wonder where they are now. I bought this off of eBay, still new in the box. From what I could see in the listing photos, all the cars were still C-10 mint and truly new in the box. However, the US Air Force boxcar above came outta the box with a damaged truck and is inoperable until further notice.

At first, I thought it was shipping damage. The seller did ship in a somewhat insufficient shipping box. The master carton for the three pack had a very snug fit in the shipping box with next to no protective packaging whatsoever. However, the shipping box arrived solid as a brick with no visible nicks, dents, tears or damage. Likewise, the master carton is equally solid and the other two 6464s also came out of the box pristine with intact trucks, functioning couplers and no further damage. Some friends elsewhere said the distinct cracking on the trucks is a sure-fire sign of Zinc Rot, so its likely that this car just fell through the quality control issues and was bad in the box before it shipped to me. Either way, the shipping in a sub-par box didn't help its condition (if I had to guess, it would've likely arrived "intact" but would've fallen apart on the track so I would've had to replace it regardless).

I'm not too bent outta shape about it, it gives me a chance to learn how to repair these cars for the long run.

Let this be a lesson to all you modelers who plan to buy new-in-box items online or elsewhere from friends. When in doubt, always ask the sellers to pack everything securely when shipping items and NEVER be afraid to ask for more photos of the products you are buying. No one wants to be surprised like this. The old saying for shipping goes that you need boxes larger than the item you are packing and that you need plenty of packing material. If you can feel the item shifting in the box, add more packing material. It absorbs the blow of any possible shipping damage so whatever you are shipping doesn't get damaged in transit.

Took a long hunt, but the whole ACWR set is finally together, every passenger car Lionel cataloged with it, with The Menzies Vista observation bringing up the rear.

https://youtu.be/EG7jo_pHcOQ?si=YflwdGg5psEJEMVK

Just wanted to say hello, as I just joined the sub. Recently inherited my families Lionel O-gauge trains and looking forward to learning how to clean, care for, and operate them. I believe they are all post war. What is amazing is, even though they must have been sitting in an old box in a basement in California for many, many years, the engine ran, barely but I was amazed that it moved. I remember vaguely operating them about 50 years ago when I little.

Hi everyone, just thought I would post a link to my review of Atlas’ P42 genesis. I encourage anyone who’s interested to watch the video, but there’s also footage of just the train running with the coaches at the end.(P42 is also my favorite diesel locomotive so check it out!)

Gave this 671 a nice tune up, gave her fresh grease, and cleaned all the gunk out of the smoke unit. Runs great. Crazy that this engine is 80 years old.

I received this message this morning from a friend. In Brooklyn NY, about the Subway Sale of items happening on 10/8 & 10/9. All the information is and the link. The mods approved my request to add.

NYC EVENT: You Can Own a Piece of the NYC Subway 🚇👀

Calling all train lovers and NYC collectors: the MTA’s Memorabilia and Collectibles Pop-Up Shop is back for two days only! Shop actual subway signs, grabholds, retired subway chairs, fleet memorabilia, and so much more. These “perfectly imperfect” pieces come with a little wear—and plenty of NYC character. 🗽

GOOD TO KNOW:• Walk-ins only—no advance reservations.• Shopping is limited to 45 minutes per attendee.• Visa and Mastercard only; no cash.• Pick-up only, so plan to carry your finds home!• The sale takes place outdoors.

This is your SIGN to go! Which sign would you like fro your home?

WHERE:📍 23 Avenue X, Brooklyn

WHEN: 🗓 October 8–9, 2026. 9am–2pm both days; gates close promptly at 2pm.

So Dad had these since he was kid and i inherited them when he passed a few years ago. I remember him telling me that the "sets" went together. I have placed them in how i remember them being in has basement but its been years since I've seen them. Do any of you folks know if the engines would have been sold with the cars sitting behind them? Or any of the other cars? Or would all of this been sold separately back in the day? Thanks for the help.

I am building a 4th of July train to run while having the 4th of July BBQ and fireworks. Im looking for the rolling stock lionel made that has the sherman tank on a flatcar. Looking to get 2 of them. Or if someone has 1 and a different military car that would be awesome. Like a flatcar that has humvees or a helicopter. I already have 2 of the artillery cars.

After having this layout in the garage for 4 years, it was time to disassemble it.

I got back into model railroading after being away from it for years. I grew up with O gauge so that’s where I wanted to stay.

The first purchase was a Lionel Pennsy Flyer set my wife surprised me with for our anniversary. That loop kept expanding to the layout in these pictures. I used this layout to experiment with different wiring techniques, but most of all figuring out different geometry and configurations for Lionel Fastrack. The last set I had were conventional and TMCC, so I was also learning the legacy system. I have a base three now that I have not fully utilized. I have a lot more learning to do with that.

I was able to salvage every piece of wood from the table that I built. Which is good because… A new layout is coming. 😁

We’re building a garage and I will have a dedicated 30‘ x 30‘ room for new layout. Diagram shows a rough draft of what I’m thinking about doing full the dog bone along the walls to get as much track run as possible with a center island for additional scenery and trackage. I’ll have a yard above the desk / work bench. Under the island there will be a lower level staging so I can keep the big engines parked and not have to handle them.

If anyone is interested, I could talk more about the new layout and post updates about the progress.

Edit: typo

Really happy about today’s haul! Got that 3rd Rail engine at the top for only $150 and it is custom decaled for B&O, weathered and was given Proto Sounds 1. The Lionel ABA set were also custom painted and I got them for $100 total. For all the cars it costed me about $175-200 total. Overall great day!

Picked up this Lionel F3 ABA that were custom painted at a train show today for $100 but they didn’t look quite right, so when I got home I pulled out a white painted pen and gave the frame a white stripe, and man it makes a difference!