I can see from the Patnina that this set is original and well cared for. The boiler shell on this engine ran this way through 52 . Magnatraction took over in 1950-1951 at that time the drive wheels pilot trucks and trailing truck was changed and the nickel rims were removed . In addition number 675 was discontinued and 2035 replaced 2025 . I favor the 47-49 these may not have the grip on the track but are more attractive. For 52 Magnatraction was temporarily discontinued on Lionel steam engines due to the Korean War and a shortage of materials.This was the final year for this design engine for Lionel .It lacked Magnatraction but missing also were the Baldwin disc drive wheels with nickel rims ,and more deluxe cast pilot and trailing trucks. You have a real nice set there.
I love these old trains so much, they’re made so much better and they will last forever since they are all metal and all mechanical, I’m 16 and I bought a locomotive just like it at a train show when I was 15 for about $70 with the tender. At my grand dads house I had so much fun that night running it around for hrs forward and backward until the E-unit quit and it got stuck in fwd and I have yet to fix it 1yr later. But I’m gonna buy another one of em so I have 2. But since I’m 16 I had to sell all my new stuff, but I refused to sell my old KW transformer along with my other diesel Texas special to get money for my truck I bought that needed the work. So I’ve got the two engines in a box in a corner waiting to be used, but mine is new enough that it has the newer liquid smoke so I don’t need to convert it, yay.
Michael, Lionel and Marx trains first got me interested in mechanics and electronics by hands on experience. I learned how relays in E-units (reversing units) and how electric motors worked and how to repair and maintain my trains. In high school I took shop classes, and learned about electronics. To my father's surprise I was able to repair his car. I was working for a company in San Francisco at 20 which sold, installed, and repaired juke boxes, pin ball, and arcade video games. I went on from there to work for another company which sold and rebuilt centrifuges. I never had a boring day, so long as I had something to keep my brain and hands occupied. Good luck with your future and thanks for comment.
I received a Marx set as a boy. It had a Pacific-style loco and streamlined passenger cars (which I still have..) In an alley, I found a wood top of a packing crate, aprox 4X4 and a light bulb came on. I used it for the Marx train/Christmas tree. I later donated the set, still mounted, to the Ozanam Home for Boys in Kansas City. Great setup and trains!
I have this engine with the unpainted stack. It's my absolute favorite, the casting detail is great too. It's perfect for an under the tree layout pulling the tuscan brown metal passenger cars.
An absolutely beautiful locomotive. I can relate as well my sister and my mom hate the smell of the Lionel smoke which is bad considering I have a Pennsylvania turbine which is an excellent smoker and can easily smoke up the whole upstairs of my house all by itself
Thanks, As I run so many tinplate pre-war Marx trains I keep the layout looking toy like. I just added a Yoda. Parents bring kids over for their birthdays. The get to put on the engineer's cap and run the trains.
You trains are well cared for and maintained. It is wonderful that you still have your first set. I have been able to replace my long ago sold first set.
I enjoyed your postwar Lionel train set Chuck. It is in great shape. The all metal caboose is really special. The train ran smooth and I was surprised at how good the whistle sounds. Excellent video. Al
Hi Charlie , I also was born in 1949 and still have and run my Gilbert American Flyer train I received for Christmas 1952. It was the start of my love for the toy train hobby. Your set was well cared for and it looks and runs great.
One guy put some of his wife's perfume into a smoke unit on one of his locomotives. Get made the whole house smell like Chanel Number 5 and all the sudden his wife and three daughters didn't care if he ran the smoke anymore.
O Yea The Baldwin Drivers Cool Wheels. they brought them wheels back for a Wabash 700 Steam Engine, Richard Kughn Issue, i will get that engine one day, dummy me i could have had it i bought a MTH Rail King, (No Sound) Model, It Was Cheaper. Nice Engine, But Its Not Lionel.
The Baldwin disc drivers were non magnetic while those drivers with magnatraction are sintered steel pressure molded not pouredthis method was used because for Lionels needs it better suited.
The 2025 why is a nice little scale proportions engine. A lot of the older wood box cars. Metal sheeting to stand their lifespan. The smaller o27 cars fit right in with it without looking too small. I'd rather have a small locomotive full-scale sized dad a great big locomotives that's been scrunched and order to fit 031 curve
Love your laugh Charlie. There is a 1947 set like yours on Ebay but the loco is numbered 675. It also has an aluminum stack like yours. Do you know why 2 different numbers?
There is no difference between the two mechanically or electricly.the numbers are different because the 675 came O gauge sets the 2025 with 0-27.If purchased separately the 2025 cost about 50cents less than the 675.Lionel used this no.system on several locomotives over time,the 2046 and the 646 for example.
