1960 Lionel 1055 Alco FA diesel - This version is their worst performing Alco - let's rebuild it

Well, this is the grungiest loco I've worked on yet. But it turned out well. It can only pull a few lightweight cars due to no Magnatraction, No traction tires, and no extra weight.
The channels I mention in the video are
-Chuck's Lionel and Marx trains / @chiconian49
Here's his Alco FA video • Lionel Postwar Alcos, ...
-RailChief 74 / @railchief74
Check out my other channel @pinballmayhem

[@TomzTrainzandAccessories]

Excellent video once again Jeremy! I love to see Lionel trains left for the junk pile brought back to life like this. As inexpensive as they were, they’re still part of the Lionel history. Giving it a little love like you did, goes a long way for many more years on the rails. I was kind of hoping it would have pulled those 3 green Postwar Pullmans. It looks to be the perfect looking Christmas train with the red and green colors. LOL Actually, it probably could have if it had the weight inside it, and that’s my next point. I actually use CK Auto 1 oz Grey, Adhesive Stick on Wheel Weights, Easy Peel Tape, 72 oz box, in my MPC era slope back tenders to give them more weight to stay on the track better when reversing with freight cars, and I also add them inside some of the plastic frame, lightweight boxcars, gondolas, etc. The needlepoint bearings still roll well, but I have much better adhesion to the track. Adding the weights is so easy, and makes a huge difference. Your #1055 might benefit by adding some additional weight inside it! There’s plenty of space inside that shell. Then you should be able to pull those green Pullmans no problem. Tom

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thank you for the awesome comment Tom. I may add some weight in the future. I really like how sporty it runs around the track when it's not hauling any cars

[@chiconian49]

Great upload. Thanks for the shout-out and the copy to my link.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

You're most welcome Chuck

[@castrovalley7]

Hi Jeremy, Thanks for doing what you do online. Your tutoring has been excellent! Bob

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Glad I could help.

[@91_C4_FL]

Thanks for posting this video! My Dad had a 1055 from his childhood set and for as long as I could remember, it never ran smoothly. I opened it up and noticed the contacts that go into the top of the brushes weren't in the groves. I put them in (not sure if it matters), oiled the motor, and lubed the gears and it runs as good as new now. I'll take out the armature and clean it like you did eventually, but this video inspired me to get it running.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks for the awesome comment Garrett These motors are designed to be maintained and they do require frequent cleaning for best operation. Congrats on getting that 1055 running smoothly

[@paulbervid1610]

Great work. Tandem is an awesome resource. With plastic cars that would be respectable.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks, I have to thank Google for finding them.

[@Northcoastrails]

It's good to see a old engine bring back to life 😊

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

For sure! Plus no E-unit to clean 🤣

[@bradkorando]

Nice work on the 1055 Alco Jeremy. It's no match for the match for the higher-end locos from the era, but it wasn't build to compete against them. I think it's a decent engine for someone on a budget and offers the opportunity to learn how to work on old trains without breaking the bank. Thanks for another informative video!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks Brad. I'm so thankful that this was not my first postwar Lionel 😁 But it was a rewarding project.

[@TheCreativeMind]

Ive never seen an engine that basic before. Still great to see these have lots of life left. Nice work Jeremy.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thank you so much. It's a real zippy performer when it's not pulling any cars 😁

[@w.rustylane5650]

I have one of those Lionel Texas Special F-3 engines that has a cutout for the reversing lever but the engine only goes forward as does yours. Mine is an 027 engine and I filled in the cutout for the reversing lever with super glue and baking soda and sanded it down and repainted the patch with some acrylic that I mixed to match the original color. Came out very nice and I repainted the chassis and added a 5mm LED for the headlight. I believe my engine will pull 5 of the Sucoco tanker cars as I do have 5 of them that I refurbished (repainted the chassis on all of 'em) and gave 'em all a good cleaning. Cheers from eastern TN

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

5 cars? I'm jealous 😎

[@w.rustylane5650]

@@TooManyHobbiesJeremy Yep, I've got 5 of those when I bought out a guy at a flea market. I think I gave him $150.00 and got 5 engines and a bunch of rolling stock and a coal elevator. Cheers from eastern TN

[@davidballoid2118]

You could always add weight over top of the powered trucks for more downward force for traction, I'd use sticky wheel weights mounted on the chassis behind the center-line of the kingpin. Great video, Great save, Cheers!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

An excellent idea ❤️ Glad you liked the video.

[@darius7760]

Good evening Jeremy, great work on your Lionel 1055. I have never soldered before does not look difficult to do. I like the Alco's too for a few reasons, the style of different colors they come in and more simple too work on, different variations fun to collect and run. I recently got two of the 1055 both run but the other one runs sluggish and erratic maybe needs lubrication the gears look pretty dry but in good condition I think I paid $47 for the pair plus shipping from eBay

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Congrats on the 2 1055s and thank you so much, glad you liked the video. Soldering is easy, after you do it for a bit. Keys to good soldering are, high quality solder (60/40 led based rosin core), hot enough Iron, clean iron tip, clean wire, and a clean surface to solder too.

[@stevesoscaletrainchannel.1901]

Very well done. I enjoyed watching.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thank you, I have a hard time cutting down a video. I'm glad the longer ones are going over well.

[@MygrandpasTrain]

The plastic polish is a good idea. I thought you would have to repaint that for sure! Not a bad little engine. Adding some weights would do it good I think

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

One nice advantage of this polish is the model is still paintable because there's no wax in it. Extra weight would go a long way. But I certainly like how it scoots around when it's not pulling any cars 😁

[@user-tl1mf1fu6x]

Nice layout love the videos

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks for watching Brandon. For a temporary layout, it has worked great.

[@billintex001]

This was a budget loco for a set specially produced to compete against Marx. It was uncatalogued and only avalable a couple of years, 60 and 61 I believe. It was marketed with one Airex box car, one Lionel Lines 2 dome tanker, one Lionel Lines gondola and one Lionel Lines caboose. All cars had plastic trucks and fixed couplers, as few metal parts as possible to reduce weight. The caboose had no interior lighting or railings or ladders. Cheap and lightweight to keep production costs down. Your locomotive, unless it was an early production one, should have had a rather large traction weight mounted on the inside rear of the shell near where you mentioned it was broken. This loco was never meant to pull the heavy postwar cars or negotiate grades but rather pull lightweight short consits endlessly around a level circular loop. That's why the MPC cars faired better. MPC starter set freight cars, about 4 including caboose, would be what the designers intended. Needless to say, this wasn't one of Lionel's better received sets.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Wow, great comment ❤️ I always appreciate learning more about the stuff I work on.

[@billintex001]

@TooManyHobbiesJeremy there were actually two versions of this set. Yours is set number #1105. First year issue. In an ongoing effort to keep costs down, Lionel deleted the tanker from the second year's run and renumbered the set as #1107. Occasionally you do see them pop up on eBay. Prices are all over the place but your purchase price was definitely one of the better deals I've personally seen.

[@williamsantangelo]

Thank You

[@MHRRR54]

Another great video!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Glad you liked it ❤️

[@lotsatrains]

Great little engine 👍 I would put a little weight inside it and probably would help it quite a bit 👌

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thank you, I'm surprised it runs so good for being so worn out.

[@lotsatrains]

@@TooManyHobbiesJeremy yes very true and sometimes models like this one are more special to you and often become favorites because of the situation 👍

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Agreed, I get a great sense of satisfaction repairing something that is so beat down.

[@izzynutz2000]

You can add some rubber tires to that and it would pull everything that you have

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Very true

[@billharvey9836]

My Texas Special has a weight inside the shell which is attached to the shell its a round weight

[@scpvrr]

I have this one’s stable mate - the Rio Grande 222. They are definitely “posers”, as the front-on view of these Alcos without front couplers looks oddly aggressive. I love your “how much can it (not) pull” test. I’ll have to do the pull test with mine. I recently got 2 die cast K-Line reefers that weigh over 2 1/2 pounds each. Bet I can make the “Triple Deuce” cry.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks for the great comment. I have a 222 buried in the project pile. Tandem associates website said the 222 has 1 traction tire? (haven't looked at mine). Those refers sound really neat. Let me know how it performs 😁

[@billharvey9836]

I have that train set with the Texas Special locomotive and car's I haven't had any problems with it my set is from 1959

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Excellent. I really like these Alco FA locos

[@billharvey9836]

My 1055 is pulling 6 post war car's with no problem

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I'm certainly jealous of that ❤️

[@raysrails2164]

👍👍

[@davidkoehler136]

you can add weight , but its still not worth the price of its parts

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Haha, true! I'm glad this was not my first postwar Lionel diesel.

[@stringsattached67]

A little bullfrog snot and it'll pull much better.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

This engine would certainly benefit from it.

[@cliffordkiehl3959]

It's probably good to practice on an inexpensive piece, but if you are into fixing stuff you would be better off working on something of value.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Yep! Good thing I got it for a low price.