Model Train Journal

A recent purchase from our favorite online auction site, a Lionel 629 Pullman:



The copper journals, which could stand a good cleaning, dates it to 1931-1932. Cement the mottled inserts back into the "clerestory" windows and its good to go. I'll add this to the 248/629/630 set that I have.

Verry Nice! Thanks for sharing.

Yup, it's the nicest of the four pieces I have now. The others are well-worn, to say the least. I picked up the 248 box-cab probably close to 20 years ago, partially disassembled, tossed in a box on a table at one of the meets Lorne Strickler used to run at the Porters, Pa., fire hall. A previous owner had re-wheeled it, and then apparently gave up on it. It has a nasty ding in the top of the body and it's pretty scuffed up. I recall having my daughter with me at the time and she thought it looked neat, being red. There were a few bits missing, the whistle, the pantograph, a couple of the grab irons, and the screws that hold the body onto the sheet-metal frame. It runs well, I just need to rewire the cast headlamp. We added the cars later to make a set (can't recall the number).



There was a time I would have stripped the shell and repainted it, but I've come to appreciate the dings and scratches on these things now. I don't fool myself into thinking they are nicked up by some kid; maybe, but more likely they've had the hell beaten out of them being carted from train meet to train meet.

If you want it ti look like new there are plenty of reproductions made over the years.

It's a toy and it looks like a well used one. Clean it up, maybe touch up scratches where there could be some rust. Otherwise, enjoy it as it is.

healey36 wrote:Yup, it's the nicest of the four pieces I have now. The others are well-worn, to say the least. ...snip...

More like "well-played with".

Do I understand that the above 629 has original paint? It has not been redone?
It's 2 or 3 years0lder than me. Wish I was in that kind of condition !

Yup, original paint. I checked all of the tabs and none of them have been straightened for disassembly. The insert tabs often break off when you attempt to bend them.