Large Scale Central

Salvation Army Find

General Discussion
#1
OK I have to admit, the Salvation Army near me has had more than its share of model railroad finds, including a very nice Athearn HO passenger train set, a great Lot of Lionel O gauge (both that I sold off on Ebay)and more than a few New Bright and Scientific G sets, but last night my wife calls to tell me theres a couple of train sets there one was smaller (turned out to a Lionel O set) but the other was a G set there and that if I was interested to stop by and check it out on the way home. I did and it looked like it had never been run, the caboose does have railing damage but otherwise it looked pristine, but there was no way to test it and besides everything they sell is as-is. So I look at the price ...$199 asking, Hmmm, now my wife said something about "Dont buy it till Friday" so I inquire, 50% of entire store Friday only....O....K.... at Lunch today I head up fully expecting it to be loooong gone, but there it was...$99 bucks... and here it is:
 
 
I'll test it tonight ( I know these engines have gear issues) but if anything I can always sell the stuff in the set I dont need piecemeal (track, caboose, ?) and use the funds for something else, but I plan to keep the loco for the harbor layout, after I convert it to a 0-4-0. 
 
PS the lionel set was loooong gone, it was an all plastic set but at the %50 price of $25 I wasn't surprised by that. 
#2

Good find Vic. I’m sure with your talents you will have many great models to present to us.

#3

Wow Vic, your wife must like you

#4

NICE ONE!!

GOOD ON YA"!!

#5

Mark Dash said:

Wow Vic, your wife must like you

I think she is expecting me to sell off most of it like I did with the Lionel stuff …we’ll see …

#6

Sweet! I’ve never seen any G stuff at any of our local thrift stores. Very rarely if ever have I seen any other kind of model RR stuff, and then it was always beat up, cheapo junk.

#7

Salvation Army… I will have to consider that. I just bought a box of LGB 48" track of Shop Goodwill for less than half of the normal market value.

#8

There are people looking for the 4 axle trucks on these short cars.

I would guess you could recoup your $$ by selling the track and 2 cars.

If you limit the amount of cars you pull with that engine, it will last a long time.

#9

Salvation Army shop?

That’s a new one on me. I don’t bleeve I’ve ever seen one in my life, let alone one that sells model trains.

tac

#10

There are a few in South Devon Tac. They are the ‘charity shop’ type of thing - you know empty shop etc. etc. Modellers here seem to browse them as there are chains from necklaces and all other bits of junk. I look in them to see if there is anything that will make a load or a small building. Not all would have things that are ‘electrical’ in any way as the regs regarding second hand and the need to certify testing are pretty strict.

#11

Never know what you will find at the thrift shops if you can get it before the workers buy it. One of the members of our club stopped at Goodwill or Salvation Army and got a LGB starter set for $50.
LAO

#12

Great find, Vi… Gears should be available… Might try Barry Dedore…

[email protected]

#13

No Joy …doesn’t run. Hmmmm closer examination show some damage (broken coupler tender, missing railings caboose )<br may be something off in the engine. Will have to find a diagram.

Thanks for the link Stan. Looks like I’ll need it.

#14

Vic,

always start with the obvuious and check the switch on the backhead. Hardwire the track and motor connections to check.

As regards spare parts, GOOD LUCK!!! In their wisdom (considering this loco was the new Stainz in the LGB range), LGBoA were reluctant to import spares. Many have been the cries from those wanting gears for these drives.

A Bachmann Big Hauler hook can be easily adapted to fit.

#15

Hosana! It runs!

Took a little while without any instruction documents, as it wouldn’t run out of the box, but the box says DCC ready, so I started looking around for any switches and found one 4-position switch in the cab. I figured out the switch in the cab also controlled the track power option! I thought it was just for the smoke unit, but position 3 of 4 and it started running off track power! Growled a bit, so I popped the bottom plate and gave the gears a liberal dosing on HD Labells. At least it runs, for now.

Live and learn I guess.

:slight_smile:

#16

tac Foley said:

Salvation Army shop?

That’s a new one on me. I don’t bleeve I’ve ever seen one in my life, let alone one that sells model trains.

tac

Tac,

I guess you need to get out more. :wink:

There are several different names “thrift shops” around here and they all have trains sometimes of various kinds.

#17

Vic, the switch positions are as follows:

0 - everything off

1 - lights/smoke on

2 - motor on

3 - sound on (if applicable–obviously not for starter sets)

The only weird issues I’ve had with mine are the power pickups–there’s a stiff metal wire (not insulated–I’m talking metal rod here, not electrical wire) that press fits up into the motor block. This touches the track pickups from pressure from a bend in the wire; so if the bent wire gradually unbends towards straight, the pickups no longer function. Oops.

I haven’t had gearing issues with mine, despite towing 10-12 car trains. Your mileage may vary. I have had trouble keeping it lubricated, so you’re not the only one there.

I’ll let you know if I think of anything else particular to the 2-4-0–I’ve converted mine for future battery operation and have a fair idea of how the thing’s put together.

EDIT: I just realized you said you used Labelle oil (I think). I’ve been using Teflon gear grease in mine and it’s seemed to be pretty good.

#18

Joe Zullo said:

tac Foley said:

Salvation Army shop?

That’s a new one on me. I don’t bleeve I’ve ever seen one in my life, let alone one that sells model trains.

tac

Tac,

I guess you need to get out more. :wink:

There are several different names “thrift shops” around here and they all have trains sometimes of various kinds.

Ah, Joe, I live in UK - we don’t have Salvation Army shops here. We DO have Heart Foundation, Scope [cerebral palsey], Marie Curie [cancer], Oxfam, that’s about it.

tac

#19

Thanks Robbie, yes that’s what I figured the positions were. This is the first LGB engine I have that has the switch. This will be used on the harbor layout so 2 -3 cars max, slow speeds, but I have to cut back the pilot nose into an 0-4-0 and add a working coupler. Thinking of a way to do this by keeping the stock parts in a bag so I can convert it back to stock 2-4-0 if i ever decide to sell it.

#20

tac Foley said:

Joe Zullo said:

tac Foley said:

Salvation Army shop?

That’s a new one on me. I don’t bleeve I’ve ever seen one in my life, let alone one that sells model trains.

tac

Tac,

I guess you need to get out more. :wink:

There are several different names “thrift shops” around here and they all have trains sometimes of various kinds.

Ah, Joe, I live in UK - we don’t have Salvation Army shops here. We DO have Heart Foundation, Scope [cerebral palsey], Marie Curie [cancer], Oxfam, that’s about it.

tac

How about Oregon, like your avatar location says?

I don’t know where in the UK you reside, but the Salvation Army does have shops in England.

Find the nearest one on this UK website…http://www.wear2bank.co.uk/Charity-shops/locations/