At Hondo's suggestions, here is the Pre-War photo thread. Like the post war photo thread, it is intended to be a representation of members pre-war trains. Post a photo of any of your pre-war items. One item per post please. Please include the number of the items, and we'll see how much interesting material is hiding in the closets.

I have nothing to offer, so hopefully someone will kick it off with the first pre-war photo . . .

Its not Lionel, but this is my favorite engine from my childhood.

The American Flyer #429 0-gauge from about 1938 or 1939. It also could have the#4321. Note that the rear coupler on the tender is Lionel. This is the way I received it in 1947. I never had any Flyer cars for it so I never new that it was not Lionel.

This thing is a speed demon. Just the thing a 5 year old needed to keep him amused. I remember sitting Lincoln Logs on the track and blasting through them. Also set some track going up on some books and watch it fly through the air onto a pillow. Sometimes it didn't hit the pillow. The front sheetmetal steps are missing. I wonder why. I am surprised this engine survived as good as it did.

Hey, isn't this what kids are supposed to do with trains. HAVE FUN WITH THEM.

The engine was cast in 2 pieces. There is a split line down the center of the boiler on top.

Robert

I like that one! Prewar means prewar to me, not just Lionel. I am open to arguments on that, so feel free.



Lionel #715, just the way it came from the factory, except for insulated wheelsets. Even the flanges are untouched, and look at those couplers. From Beckers in Philadelphia, 1961, for fifteen bucks.

I have three of these neat cars - all restored with new decals, from the Underground - they look great, and are being hauled around my #2 loop by three 0-6-0s, along with about 14 other pre-war items.

Ives Standard gauge 3236 (MTH repro):



These engines were made during the "Transition Period" from 1929 to 1932 by Lionel (this was after Lionel took over the old Ives Corp.). These engines were actually hybrids: they had a Lionel No. 8 body on an Ives frame.

Somethin' tells me I'm going to enjoy this thread!

- Clint

P.S. I hope reproductions are okay, because that's all I own.

Cool, keep em commin. Clint, tell Frank to buy the torpedo set and post.

Done: http://modeltrainjournal.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8269&p=118659#p118659

What about your Flying Yankee set?

517 Caboose c.1929 w/red light on the back.

119 Brass Tunnel c.1920:

Type U 50 watt c.1932:

Since I can't afford some of the nicer prewar stuff, I bought cheap, beat up pieces in junk bins at shows and fixed them up. I learned alot about Lionel prewar stuff this way, and it was fun!!! My Dad used to do alot of standard gauge restorations in the 70's and early 80's and taught me much of what I know. That's how he got most of his postwar items, in trade for restorations.

First up to bat, some of my 800 series stuff.

812

813

814

815

816