Can We Fix this 1940s HO Smoking Varney Locomotive?

[@adrianmoreno3064]

Hey SMT! Well I’ll be darned, the Chesapeake and On-fire runs! Congrats on getting it to run! I have an explanation about why there was such a large gap between the manufacturing of parts of the loco. As you may know, 1939-1945 was the Second World War. During the war, all industries and factories were being used to support the war effort. A lot of die cast metals used for cars, trains, toys, etc. were melted for use in the production of artillery and heavy machinery for the frontlines. So, the main body of the locomotive might have been the first batch of production. However, production was cut short to support the war. After the war, and countries were rebuilding and industries were rebuilding, train manufacturers like Varney started up again. The new part from 1946 shows this restart in production of locomotives from Varney. That’s why there is such a large gap in manufacture years, all due to the war effort. Anyway, great video as always!

[@tjprptchable]

That is very intresting.

[@erikhilsinger9421]

I suspect Varney started with the FT as the target model and left the roof piece separate to be able to make custom roof sections representing other models with the same bodywork. This is what Highliners did with their more recent kit. In the US the War Production Act put a federal board in control of production, and hobby manufacturers like Varney, Mantua, Lionel, and Walthers were put to work making defense products. Canada as part of the commonwealth likely went into war mode earlier. Nice job with the restoration and good info Adrian!

[@trainboi]

SMT : smoking is for steam engines. Alco : am I a joke to u?

[@murdoch9879]

Lol😂😂😂

[@slr_393p]

XD

[@tjprptchable]

The Alco was like iv seen trbines start up.

[@williamrathwell766]

So true I was given a 2-8-0 with 3 heavy weight passenger cars. HO scale I need to find space to setup a layout. I find your channel great. I really liked the SMT clubhouse.

[@TG-cf6qb]

LOL!

[@seanspennywisemiserrr]

A nice runner for its age Harrison. They certainly dont build em like that any more. Good on ya for calling out the seller and showing the video.

[@callmebigpapa]

I love these since they are so heavy they make a cool sound when running! Great video!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

The dates in the castings are most likely from when the casting dies themselves were created not when the parts were actually cast. But very cool to see an F unit casting that old!

[@shipbuilding1000]

Great to see you get that ancient F3 operating. Having been on both sides I can understand an eBay seller's dilemma especially if they run a storefront and get a large volume of refund requests, but you were in a unique situation having made your video. Nicely done

[@jackrabbit2688]

WooHoo! I love that loco. (I model the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road. I also like the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail Road too) Almost was late to this video. Almost about to go to bed. Nice Video SMT. P.S. At least the engine didn't catch your layout on fire.

[@mercuryoak2]

Well Harrison that's awesome she runs. I did notice she has a diesel noise for a motor. Not bad for 73 years old . my steamers are 50 to 45 years of age I'm surprised . amazing how well the older locos run very good . great video to fix this one.

[@OttawaModelRailFan]

Great Video! Good to see it acting like a diesel loco again and not a steamer

[@MattKonsol]

Ottawa Model Rail Fan probably an alco show for some reason who knows?

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

Incredible runner for 1940, I love how simple, but effective that belt drive system is! Something I find really fascinating about the model being from 1940 is how new the real locomotive would have been at the time. I think the FTs came out in 1938(?), so this would've been the peak of full size railroad technology when the model was made. Funny to think that even Lionel wouldn't make a single diesel until the mid 50s!

[@SMTMainline]

It must have been pretty remarkable, I am still impressed by it's work today.

[@leverettrailfan5414]

Lionel's first diesels hit the catalog in 1948, with the EMD F3. An NW2 and an ALCo FA joined the line by 1950. They weren't nearly as fast to jump on the trend of the diesel, but they were producing diesels for a few years by the time it was the mid-50s.

[@Elfnetdesigns]

The difference in part dates could be due to the metal drives and retooling of factories during WW2, maybe the factory put model trains on hold to build plane or tank parts or something?

[@robertnielsen2461]

The date on the frame is also the mold number.During WW2 modeling supplies were in short supply because of the war.Companies were impressed into the production of those materials and items to be used in the war effort.

[@johnphillips4342]

From early 1942 to 1946 Lionel stop model train production to make items needed for the war so parts and partially made train items sat waiting for the war to end. Early items when production restarted were still using pre-war tin plate construction, but that soon changed over to the new material..........plastic!

[@markshogan2642]

John Phillips Lionel made helmets for IS troops during the war.

[@the.porter.productions]

Awesome video my friend! Not long ago I started to get more into restoring locomotives and generally working on them. In storage I have 2 Varney f unit shells. Apparently my grandfather owned them when he was young and repainted them. I don’t have the chassie or anything else they came with, and I never thought they were that old before I went through em! - JP

[@haroldalexis4200]

Glad this F unit C&O has a happy ending! Good job SMT!👍

[@markvittorini5163]

Wow, a 1940 / 1946 Varney C&O, how cool. Now I'll have to subscribe to find out what you do with this adding better magnets!

[@aaronsadowski1691]

Ahhh, yes I love it when my locomotives almost burn down my house!!!!

[@srenchin]

Good video SMT but I would like to make a couple corrections... First your model represents an EMD F3 locomotive, a design which was mass produced by General Motors from July 1945 to February 1949 with a total of 1107 units delivered in the USA and four delivered in Canada. I suspect the numbers you found in the shells are actually part numbers, it would be impossible for Varney to create tooling in 1940 for a prototype that wouldn't exist for another 5 years. Second, I did a little research on you model by looking through back issues of Model Railroader magazine and found the first advertisement introducing this model in the December 1947 issue, that makes you model about 74 years old at the most. Excellent video otherwise, keep up the good work!

[@robertschemonia5617]

The spaces between the commutator bars is insulated with mica. On bigger brushed motors there is usually a spec on the depth that hou should undercut the mica. It is generally a ratio of diameter of the commutator, length and width of the bars, and voltage/current. Great job on this one man. Keep it up!

[@cbgadget4740]

Awesome Harrison, I agree with you that it’s amazing to be running at all. It’s body shell looks like it may have considerable “mileage on it”. I’m impressed, that locomotive is older than me 😂😂😂 Thanks for sharing 👍👍👍😎😎😎 Cary

[@MMRails]

Just think, some of that dirt you cleaned out could have been 80 years old. Great job as always.

[@tadheath5856]

That was a great view at the end when the loco was coming toward the controller.(as u would call it backwards on the layout)...get better shots that way....that bridge in the background looked really cool!!!!👍👍👍

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you very much!

[@hexxoid9263]

Nice job, great to see her running again!

[@robertnielsen2461]

During WW2 kids still wanted toys at Christmas.Lionel was making binnacles for instance.They also provided trains printed on heavy cardstock that you had to assemble. Also there were toys made from wood etc.It was all part of the war effort and patriotism led the way.With surrender of Japan in 45 Manufacturers quickly retooled for civilian products and lionel,not to be outdone had trains for Christmas 45 in very limited supply and very high demand. Hobby shops did a land office business by 46 as things began to be back to normal and new products began to hit the market so you have a piece memorabilia from that time,congrats.

[@alcopower5710]

Nice save......glad to see the old girl up and running

[@shockstrains5077]

Nothing like the smell of burning locomotive in the morning really wakes you up

[@raoulcruz4404]

I think those numbers might be casting numbers and not necessarily production dates. The horns are part number: 1950. Grab irons are p/n: 1907.

[@VintageRenewed]

An Ho locomotive that is older than a lot of my postwar Lionel o gauge stuff, kind of amazed

[@antonbruce1241]

"it's doing a much better speed than it was"...."It's running much better!" Yes! And it isn't catching on fire!!!! SERENITY!!!!

[@mosincat5075]

Can we have a compilation of every time you have said “Well Folks”

[@lowcountryplanespotter2816]

It would be hours long

[@mosincat5075]

Silver Collector I know

[@SMTMainline]

I think someone is working on that.

[@antonbruce1241]

Well, folks...maybe we'll see. Right???

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

nice to see you got it working.

[@timpriddy349]

Nice they gave the option of torque vs speed on that unit from what you discovered

[@davidstrainsandlego]

I really love the paint scheme on that engine

[@phoenicianlocal2363]

Just glad to see that thing run without smoking like a cigar! Lol 😅👍😎

[@dalelatham4241]

The first prototype F3's were built in 1945 and the model is definitely an F3. Raised number boards, 3 port holes, chicken wire grill were all signs of a F3. So the 1946 stamp on the individual roof part probably applies to the entire loco as the entire loco is based on a post war prototype.

[@Petemonster62]

You are probably right about the age difference in the locomotive body parts. The War Production Board forbade the manufacture of model trains from May 1942 to September 1945. The locomotive also doesn't have a operating headlight, but there probably was not a small enough bulb at the time. Plus the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration did not require locomotives to have their headlight on at all times until 1954. You can find photos of steam & early diesel locomotives with their headlight off during the daytime.

[@SMTMainline]

Fascinating history. I have some other varney diesels of a similar era thet have bulbs and they're massive so it probably would have been tricky to fit one in with the motor.

[@tjprptchable]

Wow 1940 I didint even know that Diesel engins like that in real life were invented back in the 40s. Great video smt.

[@davidztog9011]

Check out the links in my comment. Good to know information. 👍

[@tjprptchable]

@@davidztog9011 thank you

[@antonbruce1241]

Ten minutes and no detonation? Good job!!!

[@edwardwerick2420]

I love the prototypical sound.

[@themadcoachman]

Glad you got the loco going

[@williamrathwell766]

Glad to see the locomotive works. I need repair a n scale smoker from eBay.

[@HL4EHalfLife]

I just got one of those in an ebay auction, but mine has a 3-stage pulley on the motor and another on the other shaft but in reverse so depending on what v-groove you bot the m etal belt in you can either have low speed and lots of pulling power, medium speed and medium pulling power, or high speed and low pulling power.

[@edwardjackowski2701]

You are very correct about the date

[@IsaacAmadeo]

The first F units rolled off the assembly line in 1939. Assuming this is an early 40s model those MFGs were really on the ball!

[@anthonyj.adventures9736]

About the wide gap in mfg dates. I used to collect hot wheel and matchbox cars. Each model was modelled in a certain year and the mold usually has a stamp to reflect when the mold itself was created. So the shell saying 1940 and the engine hood saying 1946 is normal. Its the makers mark date on the mold. The mold for the body was made in 40 the mold for the hood was made 46 so that locomotive has both dates. I would guess it was built no earlier then 46 with that being most recent makers mark on a part. I learned

[@Mr.StayPuft]

I would guess the age gap in the parts is most likely either a repair, or the body was made just before WW2 and thus sat on a shelf as the factory would have been pressed into wartime production ( sort of odd they didn’t melt it for scrap steel ) then paired with a part made after the war and finally put out for sale, but that’s just a theory A TRAIN THEORY!!!

[@mannyfernandez2921]

Love your channel!

[@nicholastrainssd75m45]

Cool looking engine

[@nicholastrainssd75m45]

@@BNbrett1376 hi how are you

[@ralphgreenwood5857]

Definitely a Classic Runner!!

[@deropol05]

You are lucky...there are so many d- bags selling ( and buying ) on Ebay now.... I always take video and post to yt as proof of condition.

[@soontobesopwith_production4705]

Wow this loco Has a great story to tell his shelf mates Loco1: hey we heard you almost caught fire Loco2: yea are you okay? Chessie: yea I did but that kid fixed me Loco3: yea no matter what he fixes us all even the acella Chessie: who is that? Somewhere on a different shelf: HE SENT ME FLYING OFF OF THE TRACK AND ON TO THE FLOOR

[@animalyze7120]

Uncertain as to why an old collectible like this would not be thoroughly cleaned before running. That motor was filthy from almost 80 years of grime. Great video glad to see she's still a runner but man please tell me you are cleaning that hing lol.

[@callmebigpapa]

Can you do a video of you replacing/upgrading the magnets that would be a great how to!

[@TF47]

That's awesome!! I'm glad you were able to get it working again! I do have two questions, what brand is the round house at 10:00 and have you made a video on it? I'd love to see it!

[@SMTMainline]

It's a rivarossi, I made a video of building it a while back.

[@yambo59]

It also looked like that spring/band drive setup had different pulleys down below it could be set to for different speeds??

[@ericzerkle5214]

1940s!!!! Very early HO! Oldest i have is a 1962 brass 262. It kinda runs, but sounds like a coffee grinder...

[@crudecaboose8382]

Nice fix dude

[@stephanieross3089]

That looks like a nice loco for how old it is. Could use a paint job though! Thanks for the content.

[@user-hy7nb1lk7x]

99

[@SMTMainline]

The paint isn't in perfect shape but it does have character and it looks good to me.

[@Lambo.Hobbies]

Good work SMT! :)

[@Captain_Char]

it almost has that distinct roar that the UK old diesels had

[@scottvalleyproductions]

Great job on 10k

[@choochoocharlie9388]

My oldest train I own is from the 60s Tyco Petticoat junction. Unfortunately it doesn't run anymore but its great train to look at

[@ericzerkle5214]

I have a brass steamer from 1962 so thats the oldest i have. It still runs but is super loud....

[@Adamingraham885]

That sure has the potential to be a beautiful train, just need to touch up the shell.

[@paulstitz7954]

Nice Loco,good job

[@ericzerkle5214]

Back in the early 1980s i had a Tyco steam loco that actually caught fire. The tender motor literally smoked. It was the end of that...

[@SolidCold]

Nice varney F unit I wish I had one!

[@stupidsmart-phone6911]

1940? I told you Indiana Jones had his foot on the brake! Like Springsteen sang, Sprung from cages on Highway 9, chrome-wheeled, fuel-injected, and stepping out over the line...baby we were born to run.

[@garysprandel1817]

Main F style body cast in 1940 maybe as an FT or F2/early phase F3.seems Varney thought ahead maybe after seeing major changes to that area of the roof on F units so when they went back into production after the war that section was modular and could order parts to make various F unit models and phases

[@fairportrails107]

That is a awesome locomotive

[@FuzionHyperX]

Great job Smt

[@MattKonsol]

Oh yeah Chesapeake and Ohio is back on the track! I have a question I have a Union Pacific little diesel switcher from the 1960s made by Lionel ho giving by my grandpa it created a smoke show back between 2007 and 2008 could it be the combinator going bad because I looks at the armature I didn’t see any burnt marks could’ve been the plates where too dirty? Also I have a good name for your engine Chesapeake and I’m tired.

[@SMTMainline]

If the coils on the armature are looking okay then I suspect it would be the commutator just as it was on this loco.

[@MattKonsol]

@@SMTMainline i see i appreciate it i cleaned it already and i think there was grease oil or old lubicants on the brass gear and alot of dirt on the wheels i might check again someday to see if the combinator is okay i think thats where it smoke but i tested today and it runs! I might post a video on that tonight!

[@patrickwamsley3284]

Tis as I thought. A dirty comutator. If you haven't still done so, definitely clean it with alcohol and a qtip and the power draw will drop significantly. I love those Pittman five poles are just a peach of a motor. My 50s tyco Pacific, brass Nickel Plate Road Hudson and Bowser Mountain all use that same motor and they run with very little power draw. A comutator may look clean at a glance but I can assure you a qtip will be black with the first cleaning.

[@SMTMainline]

I took a carbon fibre pencil over it off camera so I think it should be pretty clean.

[@davidztog9011]

That particular motor was not very efficient.

[@patrickwamsley3284]

Something else you can try, which I have done with my mantua and both of my older Pittman motors is use a very fine sand paper and ans the brushes flat. That too decreases current draw. My Pittman equipped Pacific had a very bad chirping sound I had thought was the gearbox and it turned out to be the brushes. I sanded them flat and the engine was silent, and current draw significantly dropped.

[@mistermadmachine6311]

😮what an easy fix Also could you possibly use a cotton swab to clean an engine like you did

[@SMTMainline]

It doesn't really matter just as long as you get the carbon out. I wouldn't use sharp stuff though as it might damage the metal.

[@mistermadmachine6311]

Ok thanks 😊👍

[@michaelmckinnon7314]

It's probably been restored at some point hence the difference between the making of parts which wasn't uncommon.

[@blueberrytigerfox7699]

I did an experiment on a DC motor and I tell you it did not end well I wanted to test how long can it run the motor overheated and the plastic melted and it started to smoke and the motor and I touch the motor and it burnt me

[@carlwegert691]

You know that Alco PA A-B unit you have, i have the same thing but mine runs super slow, how do I fix that?

[@carlwegert691]

The SP one

[@sort187]

Wait, that’s an AlCo, right? AlCo diesels were born to smoke. SEND IT!!!! 😁

[@henryandhistrains9849]

Please tell me what speed controller you use

[@chasengipson3798]

Buy a Nathan K5LA, put it on something to rest, Then get all of your Locomotives, put the horn on top of the locomotives, *Mini loud thingy*

[@darrenharvey6084]

Hi that loco is an f3 which were first built in 1946. So that model could not have been made in 1940 .

[@SMTMainline]

Others seem to think the loco is an EMD FT which was made in 1939 so it's not impossible?

[@srenchin]

@@SMTMainline All FT locomotives have four closely spaced portholes centered above the fuel tank, your model has three widely spaced portholes, a feature found only on F2 and early production F3 locomotives. I highly recommend that you get a copy of "The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide" written by Jerry A. Pinkepank and published by Kalmbach Publishing Company. This book has all the info you need to identify the different types of first and early second generation North American diesel locomotives.

[@josephwood1607]

I have a mantua 4 6 2 that has the same motor and I can't get it to run. It pulls the power from the power pack and shuts it all down. It was a kit and never been assembled before. Maybe you can help me..if you can..you seem to be the only person that can work on locomotive s that are older. I wanna learn from you if possible.

[@SMTMainline]

Did you clean up any flashing while putting the loco together? Also has it been lubricated?

[@josephwood1607]

@@SMTMainline I lubricated it and there was very little flashing. The deal is that my light on my power supply goes dim or off when I put the loco on the track. I take it off and the light comes on. Then I take my fingers and rotate the motor inside the housing and the light flickers. No smoke or sparks. The motor seems brand new.

[@northerncountryrailroad8939]

Nice!

[@antonbruce1241]

Another thing you might want to do is get a can of compressed air (look at electronic shops - we in I.T. use it to blow the crud and dust out of computers and keyboards), and hit the motor with some of that. It should blow some of that yuck right outta there.

[@chrisgurney2467]

Cool, went from ALCO to EMD XD

[@jamesstuart3346]

Yo SMT where did you get the double decker GO cars? I have spent years of my life on the real ones

[@user-hy7nb1lk7x]

Nice metal body on the f unit at least I think it's a f unit

[@nicholaskurta]

A theory I have is since the part from 1940 was made then and the other was in 1946 may of been part of the war effort depending on when it was made. The factory might of stopped making trains and started making things that would help the military during WWII and they picked up where they started after the war explaining the different dates

[@SMTMainline]

That must be what happened. It also may explain why some people think this is an F3. The Shell was made prior to them existing but not the roof.

[@shipbuilding1000]

@@SMTMainline I stand corrected on the previous comment. This model would be an F2. EMD was temporarily unable to produce higher capacity generators and other components required for the "true F3" build during the war, so they came out with the somewhat rare F2, basically FT components inside the carbody designed for the F3.

[@MeigsCountyRR]

From 40 to 45 there was a war on. Not too much demand for toy trains.

[@Petemonster62]

Meigs County R.R. - The War Production Board did not allow toy or model trains to be made from May 1942 to September 1945.

[@martensiersma3304]

There was a demand. They just weren't being made.

[@garysprandel1817]

@@Petemonster62 paper/cardstock Lionel set during the war.

[@jennifergauthier3014]

So classic

[@gerardtrigo380]

I am surprised you did not check for the coils shorted to ground with a multimeter. The difference in dates for the parts was provably due to the war. Metals and manufacturing would have been redirected to military needs.

[@trainssker]

Can I make a suggestion? Get an air compressor to use to blow out your motors and other places dirt and dust collect. :0)

[@stet_and_query_central_1]

Can you put fake flames on it so it is "Chesapeake and on fire"

[@casstelles]

You may consider to change the belt on this unit. I can see a crack in it. If you don't change it, it will eventually break.

[@deannwatkins2161]

the top piece was used on a couple different models

[@drgwproductions8866]

When are you gonna do another livestream with Dan?

[@SMTMainline]

I'm not sure, we don't really plan them.

[@drgwproductions8866]

SMT Mainline Ok👌👌

[@ohiovalleyrailfan]

I was watching this when my tyco motor burned out... Coincidence? I think not!

[@ItsTrainFun]

Can we fit is! Yes we can!!!!

[@308V8HZ]

NO. 4047 has a fitting ring to it if it hasn't been allocated one yet .

[@fernsnyder7072]

A Pittman DC60 motor. Good motor!

[@farmerdave7965]

The prototype F3 was first produced in 1946 so I don't think that model dates to 1940. I think that zero is actually a six.

[@SMTMainline]

I guess it must be but it doesn't look like a 0.

[@SMTMainline]

After reading some of the other comments, many seem to think it's an EMD FT from 1939.

[@farmerdave7965]

@@SMTMainline Three portholes indicates that it is either an F2 or a phase 1 F3.

[@angryrailfan5711]

Now the Chesapeake and on Fire is back and my oldest train is probably my O-Scale American Flyer 0-6-0 from the 1920s to 30s I don’t really know.

[@slr_393p]

Hello SMT~!

[@SMTMainline]

Hi