[Blk69]

Got my 2026 lionel engine and smoke unit working well now. Checked out some images on net and I am missing a few things. It looks like exterior small silver rails were supposed to flank the body (simulated piping??). I have the holes in the cow catcher so they were there at one time. There is no evidence of any eyelets on the body to hold them (maybe ground down). Is this fixable or should I just paint the whole thing with a new coat of black paint and fill in the holes of the cow catcher???

One of the jews is missing on the grill. I have replacement. Are they glued in or was there a mechanical mounting (prong or something)? If glued, what should I use???

 

[Boston&Maine]

Those are the handrails... It is easily repairable... They and the stanchions show up on eBay every now and then... Any ones made to fit one of Lionel's Prairie steamers would work... Or you could get them from Olsens, but it sounds like you would need to bend them yourself (easy)...

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com//proddetail.htm?sku=045SS
http://pictures.olsenstoy.com//proddetail.htm?sku=1666-11

 

[T-Man]

I used elmers glue.
You can use copper wire or a wire with insulation for color.
Do you have holes on the sides of the engine?
The rails are held in with a smaller piece of wire looped and bent back on the insides.
Don't fill the holes, just plant some flags in them. Tooth picks and a printer!!!
Or just use a red marker.
I used a 1/16th drill for the shell holes. I divet first with a dremel bit or the drill will dance everywhere. Three holes to the side at the tiny circles.
I dab these holes with black acrylic to hide the shine.

I am glad it is up and running. It just goes to tell that you need to look them over first. Tampering errors can be hard to find. Now that you have one engine you have a good example. With my age I always keep another close for reference.

 

[tjcruiser]

... Or you could get them from Olsens ...

Oohhh ... Olsen's ??? ... I didn't know about them. Looks like a great source for hard-to-find parts. I've added them to my Favorites!

Thanks B&M!

TJ

 

[Boston&Maine]

Just make sure that you do not order small individual things from them, because shipping is a minimum of $8.00

They also sell on eBay... Their name is mathaios1... They refuse to combine shipping

 

[Blk69]

I had good results from the "Train Tender". Min shipping in the $4 range I think.

 

[Blk69]

back to the engine. No I do not have any holes on the body? It is just a cotter pin the holds the handrails in place? What kinda paint are you all using to repaint your bodies. My girls want to paint the engine pink. We have compermised and are painting some box cars pink and such...engine to remain black.

 

[Reckers]

A man who will paint any part of his train pink to please his girls has my respect. Trains are great---kids are even better. Great choice of color!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Reckers]

Care for a pic, with handrails?

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=2026

 

[tjcruiser]

Pink? You've all heard the Lionel #2037 story from 1957, I'm sure. Lionel thought they'd have a new market with girls, so they issued the #2037 (and tender, set) in hot pink, thinking they'd make a new fortune. Complete disaster. None sold. Not to girls, not to boys, nobody. The dealers were left holding the lot, and many of them resprayed the (brand new) locos in black, trying to sell them off. Flash forward to today ... Those remaining hot pink locos are worth a small fortune ... I'd sacrifice a little testosterone to own one!

TJ

 

[RichT]

Care for a pic, with handrails?

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=2026

There is two versions of this engine... The one showed above was made in 1948 & 49 and it had handrails, and another run of the same model number was made in 1951 - 53. This later model did not have handrails....

http://www.postwarlionel.com/images/2026late.jpg

You will note that the catchers were the same so the holes would have been in both model runs.... the big difference was the older model was a 2-6-2, and the newer was a 2-6-4. There was also differences in the drive linkage and overall engine casting, one of which was the elimination of the holes for the handrail. The newer one also didn't have the simulated brass Whistle on top

 

[Stillakid]

Rich, I've got 3-2026's(will get 2 finished engines) that I'm restoring. What do you think about drilling out for rails? It sure would make them look a whole lot nicer I do have the 1 shell that's really bad. maybe I'll give it a try!

T-Man, I received a, "Parts" 2026 today. When I took it apart, there were more "Fur Balls" in the engine compartment than on a cat! Took the screws holding the e-unit off, pulled it away from the engine, and the whole thing dismantled in my hands. Good news is, drum, contacts and plunger were perfect. Good thing I have a box of e-units waiting to be restored

 

[RichT]

What do you think about drilling out for rails? It sure would make them look a whole lot nicer I do have the 1 shell that's really bad. maybe I'll give it a try!

It really matters more what you feel up to.... Remember its more then just the 3 holes on the sides.... its the 4th hole into the cab to insert the end of the rail. can't tell from photo if its already there or not, but that's going to be a tough angle to drill.... The parts should be cheep enough, and as T-man said you should be able to fabricate the whole thing from wire obtained from local sources. After all, customization is one of the many perked in this hobby.

 

[T-Man]

GO for Oil Drill Drill Drill

set the shell in a firm cradle.
USe a 1/16h drill. Use a pin punch or dremel bit.
I have a drill press the low rpm's help with added pressure.
High speed drills really dull the bits fast. My press was under 40 bucks at VIP on sale.
The cab is drilled from the inside. You do not have to drill it just bend the rail down in the last hole.
Touch the holes up with black paint to remove the shine.
Instead of a cotter pin just bend a fine piece of wire in half.
Make sure it is bent all the way back.
Wire touching the frame in certain areas is not good.
I now add rails to all my steamers.

 

[Reckers]

Pink? You've all heard the Lionel #2037 story from 1957, I'm sure. Lionel thought they'd have a new market with girls, so they issued the #2037 (and tender, set) in hot pink, thinking they'd make a new fortune. Complete disaster. None sold. Not to girls, not to boys, nobody. The dealers were left holding the lot, and many of them resprayed the (brand new) locos in black, trying to sell them off. Flash forward to today ... Those remaining hot pink locos are worth a small fortune ... I'd sacrifice a little testosterone to own one!

TJ

TJ, I KNOW I just saw a pink Lionel train somewhere, recently---it looked brand new. Might have been my LHS??? Seems like it was engine, tender, and some passenger cars.

 

[T-Man]

They have a recent reissue of the girls train.
Black is common. It is nice to use a different color.

 

[Stillakid]

T-Man/Rich, thanks for the heads-up on how to install rails. My 2035 has them and it adds to it.

I noticed that there are 3 holes in the catcher. 2 of them look even with where the rails would be if they extended down. Is the other for a flag?

I do have a bench top drill press, so all I need to figure out is a secure way to steady the engine in that position for the cab holes.

 

[RichT]

I do have a bench top drill press, so all I need to figure out is a secure way to steady the engine in that position for the cab holes.

There are several ways.... you can get a wood block and cut a "V" notch in it and put a cloth pad over it to protect the paint.... Or a block of foam with a "V" notch cut in it.... Or get 3 small bits of wood and make an elongated "C" and put cloth padding in it.... A miter box might work if you line it with cloth.

The important thing is to protect the paint.... also don't press to hard with the drill so you don't crack or overheat the casting

 

[T-Man]

I just spread the jaws of the drill vise and use a old dish cloth. I still hold on to balance it. I x the spot to drill with a tungsten carbide cutter.I use a new drill for best results.