Disgusting & Seized 1950s HO Locomotive - Will it Run Again?

[@stevearcher3921]

I used to work for an airplane engine rebuilder. One thing that was a golden rule and considered unbreakable was to take TONS OF STILL PICTURES on dismantling. That way we had a reference to see where the parts went back on reassembly. Our dismantler was a builder in training and failure to take photos would get him in major trouble. This might help you when working with unfamiliar equipment.

[@kevo05s]

Best suggestion out there, but I think SMT is one step ahead by filming himself dismantling, as he can see what he did on top of where it went

[@stevearcher3921]

@@kevo05s Hes way ahead if he can go frame by frame with his videos

[@SMTMainline]

Usually I can do it by memory but there have been a few times where its saved my bacon 😅

[@ginaklein8964]

Loved your Gilbert restoration video...enjoyable and informative. I never get tired of watching these!!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you very much!

[@johnclapperton5556]

I love when you get one of these old trains running. This was some little person's ( or older person ) pride and joy.

[@SMTMainline]

At some point I'm sure it meant a lot to someone.

[@DHodgson]

Hi Harrison, greetings from England, I've been a subscriber for several years now, but this is the first time I've been able to comment, another brilliant resurrection and what a beautiful locomotive, I have the same one in B&O Livery. Keep up the great videos, I always look forward to them to cheer my day up.

[@SMTMainline]

Many thanks!

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

I always enjoy your repair videos. As you can tell from my channel, I am a big fan of Gilbert pre and post war American Flyer in O, S, and HO so I always appreciate when you get any of that brand back into running condition. Thanks for showing.

[@captandysir8670]

WOW! Great repair. Good looking consist. Nice to get a tour of "the mountain". Track work continues to improve. Fewer snakes and wiggles. Trackside video now a real treat. Well done!

[@SMTMainline]

I've been trying my best to straighten and level it out. One discovery I made was that one of the supports had a broken bracket which make the table itself uneven. I fixed it and the track followed suit.

[@Petemonster62]

You are right SMT - DO NOT USE STEEL WOOL TO CLEAN TRACK!!!! Any type of metal rail should have the oxidation cleaned off by using a track cleaning block like a "Bright Boy" or a new nylon scrub pad. Just rub enough to make the rail look shiny.

[@useruser-oc8xn]

I have a cheap engine I hot melt a piece of green scrubby on the bottom, run it around a few times then I tie a strip of cotton cloth around/over ithe scrubby and run it around again. It may be ghetto, but it seems to work well.

[@mikeparker3865]

I just love seeing something bound for the dumpster given new life. Great job!

[@Tractors101]

I believe I mentioned it on that other video but that is in fact a Varney locomotive. Gilbert contracted a few manufacturers for their HO scale line, with Varney being a major one. They produced various freight cars for Gilbert as well as these F units.

[@SMTMainline]

That tracks - many of the parts in this locomotive were labeled as Varney.

[@hyacinthlynch843]

Love the paint scheme on these old Lackawanna f3 locos. Also, the drive system on this model is very similar to the 1950's Marx design. Great work as always, Harrison. ❤

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the info!

[@w.rustylane5650]

Serenity, we finally have a runner! Cheers from eastern TN

[@TheFloridaRailfan]

Its always nice to see you bring a loco back to life.

[@Xpyburnt_ndz]

GR8 to see your entire payout in use Harrison!!! Very nice repair and run!!!

[@SMTMainline]

Now that its all connected I don't see why not. It can even take full size passenger cars now.

[@Loki-tc3fi]

Once again the guru of the rails has done it again!! Great job!

[@SMTMainline]

Glad you like them!

[@MozanaRN]

From dumpster to riding the rail once again. Excellent video! I like the final shots of this vintage locomotive running. Especially the sound of the mechanism. Thank you and best wishes.

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you very much, I'm glad it worked out.

[@magnuswettermark8293]

That old Gilbert looks awesome. Great job👍😁

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks 👍

[@gabemiller4882]

Great job , Harrison 👍👍👍😍 in fixing/ cleaning the locomotive and getting it running on the track again ! I've never seen a locomotive from 1950's ! This was actually found in a dumpster😢😢? I love your videos 😍😍😍!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks 👍

[@modelrailroader5619]

Great repair, layout is looking good!

[@joezuccardo3245]

Hello Harrison, I been a collector of Gilbert American Flyer for many years, The engine you have was by Varney for Gilbert in 1955- 1956 they made a B unit for it as well, Varney also made F-3 Diesels in B&O, Northern pacific, and a Southern pacific A unit, Varney also made hopper cars, tank cars cement cars and a cattle car in 1955 & 56, in 1963 Varney made Missouri pacific F3 shell to fit Gilberts pike-master frame , This pike-master frame was a copy of Marx. Hope this helps with the history of Varney & Gilbert

[@lotsatrains]

Excellent work 👍That is a really nicely built model and a gem of a locomotive 👌

[@ruagoof2]

Another grand video Harrison... Nice to see your operating more on the mountain side of your layout too... Rich...

[@SMTMainline]

It's about time that side of the layout got some attention. It seems to be working a lot better with the new track.

[@williamsantangelo]

Thank You Harrison another great fix, luv them vintage HO's

[@SMTMainline]

They are great locomotives to fix up.

[@dannyhilarious]

Good job, nice restoration! I myself also enjoy the restoration of old Märklin rollingstock, cos it's so easy to work on them and also these models have their very own charme.

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you very much!

[@alanwbelcher]

Great save once again Harrison. I see the mall/shopping center has been removed. Layout is looking good these days. Carry on!

[@SMTMainline]

The Mall was removed since I want to build a more authentic model of the real thing.

[@hz7984]

Nice! Glad that you saved yet another one.

[@mercuryoak2]

That's really cool that you got this locomotive running. I myself seen AC Gilbert or similar drive types and for some reason I passed them by. I do however have a diesel that has a similar drive system but it's a Japanese brand tenshono or something and they took a Tyco f unit and git the bofy on it. I got that a bunch of other locomotives from my uncle last year or something. There is a couple athearn unpowered switchers I plan on getting them runnin and custom paint/decal. As the season is getting colder I got to stop procrastinating and fix up the two locomotives I was going to paint this summer. I've been working a lot and also working on my desktop PC. Good job

[@sjwhitney]

Back in MY youth, those F-3 shells were worth their weight in gold because those and Varney shells would fit the 1980 era Athearn frames just fine. They are still sought after by us old-hats who still run DC. That motor is a very easy one to get still, I believe. The fact that it is an A.C. Gilbert makes it a cool find.

[@SMTMainline]

I've seen plenty of Pittman motors myself so I think you're correct.

[@sjwhitney]

@@SMTMainline - Yes, they are everywhere and dirt cheap as a rule. The STRANGEST place I ever saw them used (this goes WAY back to when I worked in an electronics store 45 years ago) was when my employer used to sell the teardrop red or blue "Fireball" lamps for volunteer fire department members. Those motors were what was used in the lamps and even had the same worm on them as Mantua locos. To replace one from Fireball cost about $50!!! I pointed out to the boss that we could get them for about $4 each. Yes, we made good bank!!

[@SMTMainline]

@@sjwhitney I never would have guessed. Thanks for sharing that story~

[@yambo59]

From what I remember thats about as good as any of those old Gilberts ran even when new, shes got years of life left in her thanks to you.

[@SMTMainline]

I find one consistency with locomotives from the 50s and 60s is that they don't usually perform great in terms of noise reduction and efficiency but with a bit of maintenance they run virtually forever. Judging by the condition of the parts this one has a lot more to give~

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

Success ,, another cool locomotive ready to ride the rails again , excellent repair Harrison

[@andrewferguson5653]

Great repair, SMT! I was appalled when I saw all that grease and gunk.

[@SMTMainline]

It was pretty bad

[@garysprandel1817]

Phoebe Snow her dress so white rides The Road Of Anthracite. Nice job Harrison. I've come across some pretty grungy basket cases I've saved from oblivion in my day but that one was about the grungiest,Mike Rowe worthy locomotive I've seen. IIRC Gilbert was fairly high end for it's day.

[@SMTMainline]

I like the design, simple and over engineered.

[@rusty.ramrod]

That was fourteen minutes and eight seconds I needed this morning... ...something relaxing and mesmerizing about the fixer uppers like sitting by a campfire... ...or watching Bob Ross create mountains and trees

[@SMTMainline]

I appreciate hearing that, I'm a huge fan of Bob Ross.

[@jessenoklahoma]

Another Harrison masterpiece 😊 great job 👍

[@claird8991]

Great restoration video. I enjoyed that. I think it's even more fun when I can get an engine for free or at least dirt cheap that someone else has tossed away because they think it doesn't work anymore. It's an interesting challenge to see if I can diagnose its problem(s) and fix it and make it run again. Instead of soldering wires to components, I like to put eyelet connectors on the ends of them so they can be removed for disassembly and put back together again for reassembly easily for later maintenance and repair.

[@SMTMainline]

Exactly. I generally prefer to find stuff in non working order and repair it.

[@ColbysProjectBin]

Nice job getting that thing running again. I’ve wanted a Gilbert locomotive to repair of my channel for quite some time, but they’re hard to come across now. The drive system in the thing also looks pretty interesting.

[@SMTMainline]

Varney, marx, revelle and even older life-like locomotives are nearly identical mechanically so maybe you could look for one of those.

[@ralphgreenwood5857]

Excellent Overhaul!! I knew that You added on to the layout-but WOW!!😮 😊👍

[@SMTMainline]

There have been some major upgrades to the track work etc.

[@ralphgreenwood5857]

@@SMTMainline Looks Awesome! I know you did a vid on it. I will find it. Thanks!👍

[@charcoal5091]

Jay's new big boy video was great

[@SMTMainline]

I liked that a lot.

[@randydobson1863]

Hi SMT Mainline & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks STM Mainline & Friends Randy

[@mikewilliams8510]

Sometimes i think the noisy ones are more fun. Another good one.

[@antonbruce1241]

Love the work! Now me...I would have replaced the light bulb with an LED and resistor set. They might be brighter, and certainly would last a good long time. Also, having a magnetic screwdriver for those little screws/bolts in tight places. That being said, sir....this video has been a GREAT "how to" as far as taking a loco apart, cleaning it, servicing it, and getting it back together. My compliments!!!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, I'm happy with the results.

[@oskarvalance3041]

Like a skilled surgeon. You da man. From Texas

[@johnecklund8556]

Nice save of a piece of ho scale history. Funny thought that when that was made sound came built in too them.

[@SMTMainline]

Yep, no need for a $150 sound board installation in this one.

[@newhavenrails1234]

Good job on the realiving!

[@xlthecoolguy-lz7uh]

Good job on getting that diesel running again. That engine was literally from the waste dump, and yet, somehow, you got it to work.

[@SMTMainline]

It was in the bin yet not beyond salvageable.

[@houseofrandomness]

Job well done, sir! The ultrasonic cleaner makes things a lot easier. A trick I use for it is to get a jar and fill it with cleaner and put the parts in the jar. Fill the cleaner with water and put the jar in the basket. Saves on cleaner use.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the info!

[@LJRLowevilleJunctionRailroad]

Great project, good to know how these things work! 🙂

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks Linda!

[@normancoreyBuildingTrains]

Another junker saved. Nice work.

[@SMTMainline]

Yes, thanks

[@dbtech7914]

Nice job! I fixed one or two of those. They are a little noisy, but powerful enough.

[@crsrdash-840b5]

wow a lots changed on your layout since i saw it last. im amazing to see the sub sections linked to the mainline and operating. those track plans really helped it seems. good work!

[@SMTMainline]

Yeah, there have been some major upgrades over the last three years. The new lines connecting the mountain layout are proving to be very helpful.

[@carlbentley80]

That is a really nice looking loco, a very satisfying video.

[@MattKonsol]

Nice restoration work on this American flyer/Gilbert Lackawanna emd f unit Harrison and your right never ever clean your track with steel wool!

[@Blake4625kHz]

Great vid! Have a 1946 Varney F3 I got off ebay. Was claimed to “run well”. I mentioned said loco on you other vid. Still havent had time to do it, but what it needs is a thorough go through as you’ve done. In preliminary assumptions was kinda already blowing off contact wires as they appeared connected well, but maybe not. It was in a turn when stopped working so could be a bad connection in conjunction w dirty commutator . No smoke so hopefully coils not fried. Rewinding the motor sounds like a good time.. for someone else to have🤣

[@SMTMainline]

Yeah, I find most locomotives from this era have never been serviced. The issue with the contact wires is that they were touching the wheels but when the locomotive was running the contact was so light that it would loose power and shut off.

[@tomcrutcher3045]

Wow! That engine is very happy to be alive again!

[@keepamericayisraelgreat5708]

Thanks again SMT, I sure like watching your channel sometimes over again on some videos I might be working on a look-alike Locomotive, anyway, Hah... thanks.

[@SMTMainline]

I really appreciate your viewership and supportive comments 🙂

[@XDFRailRoadCooler]

Ive probably said this before. But I'll say it again. Nice layout. I wish I had a layout like yours!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you!

[@JerseyBill-x9r]

Sometimes you just have to investigate and eventually reroute how things are run. All those types of drives are noisy and there is nothing you can do about it without changing everything, lol. The motor may have benefited from a jolt with a remagnetizer or a neodymium replacement but in the end, it is a good runner and not worth the Invesment of time or money. You already spent more time than you wanted by the sounds of it, but time well spent. I do have to say I like the look of the thing. Great video and repair, Jersey Bill

[@SMTMainline]

I sure did spend more time than I was hoping to on this one but I'm glad it paid off in the end.

[@beaverc2884]

Put your parts in a small plastic jars, then fill the jar completely full with what ever strength and type of cleaner you want, then only fill the Ultra sonic machine with water. This way you're minimizing the amount and costs of cleaner, keep several plastic jars with different cleaners and strengths. If you do it this way it will save you lots of time cleaning out the entire machine between cleanings and chemical changes, plus this way allows you a lower cost way to try different cleaners. 😊

[@aksyoutube9082]

I have three of these and two B units in Florida East Coast livery. One F unit is completely destroyed and will be weathered and parked on a siding with its B unit. The other two Fs and B are in really good condition and I just tested the power unit tonight and it runs like a champ!

[@SMTMainline]

That's awesome, it's great to hear many are still around.

[@aksyoutube9082]

I bought the first A/B set knowing they don’t run to use for props. Then I thought they were a pretty cool old model. They had the metal frame. The A/B/A set I found by chance and snagged it up. It has plastic internals but the same body and livery as the others. They seem to be working fine when given power. I’m still setting up my tracks before I can really run it properly. I definitely want to keep them going. Nice models for the time.

[@Michael-t3b5b]

Pulling the pax cars is fine but that Lackawanna paint job was the freight paint used for a few years in the late 40s before the railroad decided to use just one paint scheme for all the locos

[@WaffleDragon]

The shell looks really similar to a Marx New Haven A-B set I have. It was in a lot at an antique store that I convinced my parents to buy for me about 15 years ago.

[@SMTMainline]

I think they shared parts or stole designs from each other.

[@TheSuperCam29]

Another day, another locomotive saved from death!

[@sergioarroyoguerrero5434]

Nice locomotive in HO scale. F3. I haved 2 F3 Santa Fe Model Power in HO scale. Good job in fix you F3 locomotive. You cat is friend of my dog Scooby Doo.

[@lawnmowermanTX]

“SMT, is the place to be, to get your locomotive 🚂 back on track!” (Little jingle for SMT) I forget to take photos of my little repairs.

[@SMTMainline]

I like it, what do you think of "You don't need to know that it's train time, when you're watching Smt Mainline" ??

[@lawnmowermanTX]

@@SMTMainline I like it! 👍👍

[@jacksnavely559]

Gilbert made lots of hobby stuff ,,I have some model airplane engines they made or had made ,apparently they did both and Gilbert engines are real fun ones too play around with 😊 , LIKE THESE REPAIRS VIDEOS ❤❤

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks

[@KLM747_Fan]

Theres no way im this early to one pf your videos! (Hello from philippines)

[@williammcgeehan3424]

Acutally, it sounds better at top speed with no sound than a lot of new models with sound. Not too far from what an old EMD covered wagon sounded like at speed.

[@Frecciarossa-wk1rk]

Hi, Harrison. Very nice video and really cool savage for a loco that has been founded in a dumpster. I really like the F-units loco design and I hope one day to own one of them in my collection... Greetings from Italy. Carlo.

[@SMTMainline]

They aren't too rare so I suspect you should be able to find one easily online.

[@Frecciarossa-wk1rk]

@@SMTMainline Yes, you're right... but they will cost me a lot due to the shipping fees to Italy in Europe, and so, unless I bought one of them directly by myself in a trainstore (if I will ever found an F-unit in Europe), I would never had one of them...

[@Benthetrainkid]

This DL&W F3 was a Varney tooling produced under license by AC Gilbert/American Flyer

[@WaffleDragon]

Were they affiliated with Marx? I have a New Haven set that looks very similar.

[@csxns]

All I can say is that loco runs great and can pull.

[@AlexTrain5249]

Now I know who made the Rock Island F Unit I have. They are easily the most simple design I have ever seen.

[@SMTMainline]

I'm gonna take a guess and say it's probably a Marx product. It used a pretty similar drive to this.

[@norfolksouthernes44acgevo40]

I almost ended up with a Gilbert F3 a year ago

[@tonny4175]

Another amazing save Have you ever ran into a locomotive that you gave up on haha Keep those videos coming

[@SMTMainline]

It's happened several times before. At a certain point some things just aren't worth dumping anymore time or money into.

[@SA-oz8ms]

Well one impressive runner

[@ROBERTNABORNEY]

By the cooling fans and dynamic brake vents this a late EMD F3.

[@lexluthermiester]

@SMTMainline Nice work! That loco still has some go in it and had no issues pulling around a full set of cars. Even for it's age it looks good and runs well. EDIT: Have you thought about an LED kit for that headlight? That would be a nice upgrade for it.

[@SMTMainline]

I usually just use regular bulbs since you don't need a resistor.

[@TomLuTon]

looks like a model of an early F3 or even an F2

[@randallfawc7501]

Cool stuff!!!

[@hankz7510]

Wow nice find

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

That 'HO' scale locomotive is in reality a Varney product made to Gilbert specifications, Also, They even contracted with Mantua/Tyco to make their 'HO' sets under the Gilbert banner as well.

[@SMTMainline]

Many of the parts were Labeled Varney.

[@brucegibbs2118]

Good job

[@WWE_trainsandmore]

This looks exciting

[@peterwoodley7473]

These videos are handy when I need to dismantle an item

[@SMTMainline]

I'm glad to hear that

[@talosofavalon1]

It is amazing to me what people throw away seeing no value in repairing or even basic mantanence

[@SMTMainline]

For sure. If someone had stayed on top of oil changes and cleaning this never would have happened.

[@JohnJohnson-cn9fh]

nice one,layout looks great too harrison..........................jpj

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks 👍

[@jimorlando5700]

What kind of switch machines are you using? Thanks for another great video!

[@SMTMainline]

The Rapido "Rail crew" ones. I haven't had one hooked up for a while but it did work nicely when I did.

[@4everdc302]

I'm not sure if we got a Gilbert chapter of the SMT Manual? There is one now👨‍🔧🚂🇨🇦

[@western-m1a2]

Got here early can't wait to buy a athearn emd sd80mac soon good video

[@SMTMainline]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@sparky107107]

yep. that was a little dirty

[@SMTMainline]

For sure!

[@randallfawc7501]

I have a couple Kato HO SD70 locos that could use some of your repair/refresh work!!

[@Rebecca_The_Dragon]

So is your layout 2 4x8's or 3 of them? hard to tell

[@Hoscaletrains447]

Hey smt another great video there’s a train show on the 28 of September in Peterborough Ontario and I think you should check it out

[@JessicaBarney-r8s]

Hi Harrison i wanted to ask. hat is your favorite locomotive.

[@onpointmetaldetecting2158]

Great work getting that running so well, just a quick question what did you use on the wheels when you were running it on the bench to clean them up?

[@SMTMainline]

It's part of a track bright which I cut off.

[@RayBoebel]

Those old coffee/meat grinder setups always bothered me because the open gears can sling oil/grease everywhere. I have a couple that are Life-Like. I run them sparingly.

[@SMTMainline]

They let the grease out and yet let dust, hair and other junk to get into the drivetrain. Sealed gear cases are so much more reliable.

[@elleryparsons2433]

What Engines Are Next?

[@dylanmatros5877]

I like your Videos SMT.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@MichaelHardeman-j6k]

I heard sandpaper is supposed to clean ho scale track. That is what i used to clean my bachmann ez-track. It worked sometimes but not great. Any other situations from more hobbyists would be appreciated.

[@SMTMainline]

I've heard sandpaper isn't the best. Get yourself a Peco track bright or a scotch bright (not one made with steel wool).

[@rickmiller4202]

Nice work.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks!

[@MosriteCharlie]

Replace the wiring. Cloth wiring over time breaks down.

[@SamuelMcCurry-s6t]

SMT Mainline what is your favorite model train?.

[@SMTMainline]

Rivarossi Hiawatha.

[@SamuelMcCurry-s6t]

@@SMTMainline Very impressive, beautiful model train.