Thank you John! Late prewar and early to middle postwar is probably my favorite timeframe for Lionel.

Thanks! It was a great find. Just needed a little TLC

Thanks!

Go for it!

Awesome! I don't have a gun metal 224, but do have the 1666E in GM.

Many thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

That is most likely the case. Postwar track was cadmium plated from 1945 to 1949 and not nickel plated.

Thank you! 😁

I agree. They look great.

I feel the same way Chuck.

Absolutely! I was about to start a video of my recently acquired 2103W set with the 1946 224 engine, when it dawned on me that it might take me a few minutes to describe the differences with the prewar carryover engine.

We really do appreciate you and your knowledge. Outstanding video Al!

​@@TwistedMacGyversTrains Much appreciated for all your support. I have a deep appreciation for the quality and feel of these old Lionel trains and I like to share what I know and what I discovered along the way.

As you well know, Lionel was never inexpensive. This set was top of the line and one of the most expensive in 1925 or 1926. I was happy to find this set in nice shape a couple years back.

I guess it depends on how comfortable you are removing the engine shell and going through it? I wish I had a video for you, but I don't as yet and maybe I could do one for you in a few days. Is this an engine you have owned for a while or is it something you purchased recently? Does the headlight come on when power is applied? There can be different reasons for it not running and will list a few here. Dirty track, wheels, and pickups. E-unit is dirty, gummed up, or other issues. Check the protruding e-unit lever is all the way to one side, then check it again on the other side. Dirty and gummed up motor. Most of the time just cleaning the motor, e-unit, wheels and pickups might do the trick. Maybe give me a few more details of what you see or think is happening?

Thank you very much!

Thanks

All of these are described in detail on my channel. Just go to the channel and look for 763E, 226, semi-Scale cars, Congressional Set, etc. And I try to do a new video or two each week. Thanks for watching!

This video link is for you in regards to the differences of the 224 locomotives. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gJmJqduJquDRm4k.htmlfeature=shared

It is not too bad to work on. One Phillips head screw on top. One flat head screw on the side that locks the motor frame to the shell. And the two small Phillips head screws that hold the running gear to the side frame. No need to remove all the running gear from the shell. 1946 would be the last year for Lionel producing the 224 engine and most all of the cars. So it is quite possible he received it in 1946, or possibly as dealer left over stock in 1947. Let me know how it goes for you?

I did and subscribed!

It cleaned up better than I thought it would.

Thank you!

Yes indeed! Part of my favorite era

Thanks for the comments! I took like the early postwar trains. Lionel was really striving for realistic trains at the end of the prewar period and into the early postwar period. I find bringing a set like this back to life very rewarding.

I can't think of any engines I dislike from Lionel during the late prewar and early postwar period. I have a few gun metal gray engines to include a 1684, 1666, 238E, and 763E.

These have not been run for a long time. The engine runs but definitely needs servicing and a lube job. E-unit cycles, but occasionally sticks, so that needs to be cleaned and serviced as well. The tender only clicks when I tested that, so it needs a good cleaning and servicing. I'm starting to go through everything now. Fun project for sure.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to working on this set. I'm expecting to replace some wiring, but hopefully I won't find any hidden issues when I open up the engine and render.

I’m sure there’s many subscribers like myself that can’t wait to see that set ride the rails again.👍

Thanks! I'm looking forward to cleaning and servicing this set.

I'm hoping to start working on it this weekend, beginning with the engine.

I can't wait to get this one ready for the rails myself. I am hoping to test it and start working on it tomorrow.

That is why I bought it. It was a good deal, but will take a few hours cleaning up and re-wiring.

Thanks, hopefully it will clean up a little better.

Oh yea!

Thanks!

Thanks, and yes I should have mentioned the large vs small door baggage car, as well as, the channels added to the fluted sides for the labels used on the other road name cars. The large door baggage cars were early 1954 production and were changed to smaller doors to alleviate the integrity issues the larger doors created.

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. That must have been really neat working on train repairs at a young age. Most of my repairs have been self taught over the years with help from references and an older gentleman that has helped to mentor from time to time. I do get a lot of satisfaction bringing these old trains back to life.

Thanks! The early illuminated passenger sets have a charm all their own.

Thanks!

Thanks!

That was why I bought it, despite needing to be completely re-wired.

Thanks! The shelves are great and probably need to order another dozen of the 6 footers.

Thanks 👍

Interesting! I had not noticed that before.

Thank you! It was a fun and rewarding project to bring these back to life. Hard to believe the set is about 96 years old.

Thank you! It was rewarding for me to bring this set back to life and learn a little bit about when it was made.

I do admire the charm that these old trains have. An illuminated passenger train set was a lot to behold as a child from the 1920s. It also feels great to bring a train like this back to life. Glad you enjoyed the video. I probably have 30 or more videos of prewar Lionel trains running on the layout from a basic 1684 & 1666, to 225 & 226, to semi-scale B6 switchers (227 & 228), and the 763E Hudson.

I love and collect only prewar and postwar Lionel. I can only imagine how thrilled a child must have been to receive an illuminated passenger set during the 1920s. There is something about these old passenger sets that draw me in with their charm!

Thank you. It really is exciting for me to bring these old trains back to life.

Thanks! The video went longer than usual, but I wanted to get as much information in as I could on how the aluminum passenger cars were presented in the Lionel catalogs.