Creating a Working Lionel

[@angeloavanti2538]

I do that stuff all the time. Great one.

[@johnschimmel2607]

Great video and an awesome job. I love a good rescue. Bringing old abandoned locomotives and accessories back to life is my favorite part of the hobby

[@scpvrr]

It is definitely worthwhile! The project of cobbling something together from the scrap bin is always very rewarding.

[@MattKonsol]

Nice job at this! I also have a Union Pacific 2023 set but mine is a non runner and it’ll need a new motor and a new horn relay for it. So it’ll be a project someday.

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

There is never an end to "projects". 😁

[@MattKonsol]

@@CloverdaleTransitAuthority agreed

[@joepirrone1003]

Did the silver powered unit have. A more silver frame than the yellow shell?

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

It pretty much looks the same. Patina may have made it look different. Lionel has used this frame on other units.

[@brianturner8477]

If you will notice, the mechanicals can be easily swapped from the silver UP into the other yellow Union Pacific frame. There is additional red striping that makes a better match with the other dummy.

[@johnsefko6481]

Definitely worthwhile I did that to create a Snow White boxcar (which cost $400 back in the day) Picked up a shell for $25 and got an MPC SP boxcar for $10 and put the Snowy shell on the SP base and for $35 I had a $400 item.

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

Magic!

[@KarnageKamikaze]

While I am more an “originalist”, it definitely makes sense to build a set if the originals aren’t best condition (and have sat on shelves for years and years). Nice on bringing these back and running

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

Agree!

[@rennethjarrett4580]

I have not gotten back to it but I have a Weaver chain drive diesel that had problems, I bought it for parts for other chin drive Weaver set I had. After removing the parts I needed, after looking at it I got to thinking and if it works out it will have a K-line base dual motor power system when it is done. Maybe next year I'll have that done.

[@momatmach1]

Lionel definitely painted the frames differently, it’s really not just patina, the silver Alco is the nicest of the three, just run the three together? They would look good as a lash up and you wouldn’t lose the originality of any of them ? Thanks for sharing the video

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

I have everything marked so they can go back to their original places. Really, these just sit on the shelf with the other ALCOs.

[@railfan475productions3]

I have 2 2023 powered units that are wired in an AA setup, both are custom painted in PRR brunswick green

[@nscaledivision2336]

Thats very cool to see this and I would do the same what u did as well and I saw ur street looks like bricks I miss the sound when u drive down the brick road

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

Brick streets are great unless it's in the winter!

[@rennethjarrett4580]

Speaking of dummy engines, I wonder why no one has never made a dummy steam engine? Running the diesel dummy in the front has one possible advantage if your dummy is to light like the HO ones on a tight curve with a lot of rail cars it might tip over. Now with the Lionel like yours, pushing it in front of the power unit there might be a possible derailment at high speeds, or over switches if the switches are not perfectly over the whole way.

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

I don't think I have ever seen a "dummy" steamer either. Hmmm So far so good on pushing this unit. Of course I am just on this little test circle. We may set up a bigger floor track this weekend. I am still trying to get one of the rooms in the basement cleared out and repainted. Not sure what to do with all of this stuff! My plan is to at least pick up one of those free ping pong tables I always see on Facebook Market Place and just get some track down.

[@chiconian49]

74 yo Lionel operator here. The Lionel 1950 UP 2023 hump was indeed caused by motor overheating on a light plastic shell. Lionel corrected this problem. 1950 was the first year of the Alco PA's by 1951, it was corrected. They never said how? It took me years to find a 2023 set without an extreme warped roof.

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

I understand what you're saying. I'm just curious as to why they had melting on the dummy engines which didn't have a motor in it. Therein lies the real mystery. 😁

[@Petemonster62]

I have wondered why Lionel offered a silver Union Pacific locomotive. Lionel should have decorated then for the Burlington Route!

[@trainmasterdave]

Lionel did make a silver Burlington ALCO! Number 216.

[@raysrails2164]

I hear you and i cant stand the hump !!!

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

I still can't figure out how these things are generating that much heat. Other similar locomotives don't have this problem. It's just this 2023 set.

[@genemanno1533]

@@CloverdaleTransitAuthorityThere is no way the warpage is from motor heat. This is due to the age and type of plastic. If you recall Lionel in the following 2031 and 2033 do not have the hump issue because they changed molding process and material. Stress relief of the plastic forming the hump is not preventable nor rectifiable in the 2023 because of built in stress that even heat can’t fix. Dummy engines with out motors as well as powered engines exhibit this hump.

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

@@genemanno1533 interesting. That's the first time I have heard that. Makes more sense than what everyone has talked about.

[@CloverdaleTransitAuthority]

@@genemanno1533 everyone I have seen show the same problem in the same spot. Everyone I have talked to at shows or read comments from all talk about a heat problem. As I was working on this I still kept asking myself, how is this creating so much heat. I even ran and ran it but couldn't really sense any unusual temperature. Do you have a source where Lionel talked about this stress? It would be an interesting read.

[@genemanno1533]

The set created is not right. The yellow 2023 s/b green/gray frame with red stripe not silver. The frames can switched by removing stainless front truck mounts and switching them from dummy to driven mounting everything else is same except round battery plug.