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PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2018 5:26 am 
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Posts: 286
A quick Flickr album https://www.flickr.com/photos/wolfencop ... 5882993966


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PostPosted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 6:43 am 
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Seeing that reminds me I need to run down a few of the small Lionel transformers. I've been wanting to put together some basic sets to hand out to various young nephews...got everything but a suitable power-pack. One can usually find these on eBay for just a few dollars (shipping often costs more than the transformer).

Paul II


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2020 7:53 am 
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Here's a Lionel 93 water tower I acquired many years ago:
Attachment:
File comment: Lionel 93 water tower
Lionel 93.jpg
Lionel 93.jpg [ 168.55 KiB | Viewed 13863 times ]
This accessory was manufactured first during the prewar era, produced in a number of color combinations. After WWII, it was again offered until 1950 in this aluminum/red scheme. This one is in as-found condition, with the exception of having replaced the "Lionel Lines" decal with a reproduction. The spout can be manually raised/lowered, but otherwise it's a scenery piece.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 31, 2021 8:23 am 
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MTH made a rather ornate "Operating Street Clock" for a few years, a piece that was original for them (not a reproduction of another manufacturer's production):
Attachment:
File comment: MTH "Operating Street Clock"
MTH Street Clock.jpg
MTH Street Clock.jpg [ 214.13 KiB | Viewed 13055 times ]
Since I don't typically wear a watch, having this on the layout is handy. Suitable for both O and Standard gauge, I think they made it in a few different colors. The battery, which it seems to burn through pretty quickly, is replaceable.


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PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2021 3:46 am 
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That is very cool!


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PostPosted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:51 am 
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Here's a Hornby semaphore I acquired many years ago:
Attachment:
File comment: Hornby prewar signal
Hornby signal.jpg
Hornby signal.jpg [ 144.6 KiB | Viewed 12207 times ]
It can be identified as prewar by its lattice-work center-post (postwar versions had no perforation/embossing). This has been repaired/modified by a previous owner, swapping the tall signal post for a second short one. It needs some additional work, i.e. a good cleaning, the ladder soldered back in position, replace a missing lens, and a rewire of the lights. It's an interesting piece, one we display on our layout.

Paul II


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PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2021 7:26 am 
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Hafner was a prewar manufacturer of toy trains of which I know very little. Much of their product line looks similar to that of Marx, and they seem to generally have priced their toys at the low end of the market. For most of the manufacturers, many of the less expensive items they sold didn't stand up well to years of hard play and use. If/when you find nice examples, they deserve a good look.

I found a few nice Hafner "survivors" recently, which I plan to use in a holiday table display. Here's one of them, a manual double-semaphore signal made sometime before WWII:
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File comment: Prewar Hafner semaphore
Hafner semaphore.jpg
Hafner semaphore.jpg [ 166.24 KiB | Viewed 12152 times ]
They made a single-semaphore version as well, which I understand is much more difficult to find. Originally sold in sets, they are nice sturdy little pieces, belying their down-market placement.

Paul II


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PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 3:39 pm 
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Certainly the centerpiece of my humble little layout, the Lionel 305 bridge:
Attachment:
File comment: Lionel 305 Hell Gate Bridge
Lionel 305.jpg
Lionel 305.jpg [ 230.68 KiB | Viewed 12099 times ]
This was a reissue of the Lionel 300 bridge from the prewar era, but with a few modifications. Chief among them was the dual O-gauge track capability, which required a slight widening from the original. It also included lighting, absent on the prewar version. Here it is seen in the early green/cream colors, but it was also offered in the later ivory/silver scheme. I use it as part of the "duck-under" for the layout, along with a postwar Korber truss bridge.

Paul II


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PostPosted: Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:13 am 
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Paul...
Your definition of "humble" is not the same as mine..(and probably a lot of other people's)...it's "impressive" in my eyes... :)
Howard...


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PostPosted: Fri Mar 05, 2021 11:08 am 
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Apparently being made today---Lionel gooseneck lamps https://www.allabouttoytrains.com/colle ... amp-2-pack


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