Huge 1950s Lionel Train Collection Unboxing - Hasn't Run in 50 Years!

Recently some friends let me know they were cleaning out their attic and that they found an old collection of Lionel O scale model trains that hadn't been run since the late 1960s.
I brought the set home too see what kind of condition everything was in, most of the locomotives were tricky to turn over and many wheel sets were the same due to sitting over 55 years.
After some cleaning and a couple drops of oil everything started to come back to life and run again.

[@maverick4045]

One thing you will learn as you collect O gauge is that marx engines WILL NOT DIE. My old marx set got damaged in a flood and was absolutely disgusting. I cleaned of the contact shoe and it fired right up like nothing happened. It's epic to see you collect O gauge. Might send a gift :)

[@user-biggest1]

i have a marx 666 that still wont die!

[@ChessieKev]

Same

[@maverick4045]

@user-biggest1 That's what mine is!

[@chicagolandrailroader]

The only rare Marx train is one that doesn't run :)

[@maverick4045]

@chicagolandrailroader that's what my coworker who repairs o gauge says lol

[@MattMorgan-mt9st]

I love seeing these types of videos where you restore old locos. Always puts a smile on my face :)

[@MygrandpasTrain]

Though I don’t collect Lionel myself, there’s nothing quite like digging through a box of old trains, and you found a gold mine! I also love the look of the orange black Milwaukee Road

[@SMTMainline]

I think the Milwaukee Road color scheme is really cool too.

[@az80311]

I had an O set a few years ago and ran it on my dining room table from Thanskgiving to After new years eve. I had it set up for several tears before I gave it away to my son. I really enjoyed this set as it was the only one I had had. Not being an super enthusiast like you Harrison, but I loved having this temp set upwith buildings, houses and all. Your video brought back many many memories of that time. I will be 80 on Jan second 2025 but in my brain and heart I am still a young man in love with trains. Thank you Harrison for your fantastic videos and your knowledge of these awesome train sets.

[@DJBREIT]

Just something to remember, most O gauge transformers run on AC, not DC. So switching the wires will not change how the engine works like it does on HO. Nice haul. 👍

[@SMTMainline]

Good catch! I'll keep that in mind for future videos.

[@gordonlong3095]

What a very beautiful set of equipment (even if some cleanup is needed!) So exciting to see it up and running. Thanks for the video and thanks to your friend Andy for the find! Congrats on doing it again!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, I'm so happy with how it turned out.

[@asquithmainlines699]

When I was a young boy my friend had an O gauge Lionels set. That is a testament to how things were built back then. I had a HO set and my stuff is packed away in boxes that have not seen the light of day for around 40 to 50 years itself.

[@Morganstein-Railroad]

Absolutely amazing. Great to see these old trains running after 55 years. I have an old Bachmann N gauge F9 that my Father bought in 1973 as part of a lot he got from a work colleague. It was one of two American Locos in a box of about ten that were mainly UK outline, which was what he was after, and Dad never used those two. The F9 had been owned by the Work buddy for about Ten Years at the time, And he hadn't run it for about six of those years as he also was a UK modeller. It has had a change of Bodyshell from the original Pennsylvania to a Santa Fe Red Warbonnet shell, but the innards have not been changed in any way . I have lubed it with PTFE grease and oiled all the bearings and now it runs my Supercheif with a dummy unit behind it. It's a fair runner, considering it's probably about 60 odd years old. The other loco is a Rivarossi E8 in Santa fe Warbonnet that has never run at all, but that Bachmann! Amazing Runner. Alan.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for sharing.

[@markshogan2642]

Old Lionel from the 40s- 60s are practically indestructible. I’ve picked out dried grease and shag carpet from the worm gears of diesels and lubricated them they, with rare exceptions run very well. E units can usually be repaired, and rollers can be replaced. Couplers can also be replaced. I’d recommend cleaning the crud off of the freight car wheels. They pick up a thick dried grease- like crud up from the track. I take a dremel with a wire brush to the wheels to clean them. Clean and grease the worm gear on the motors too. I’d recommend replacing the brushes on the motors as well as cleaning the commutators too. Because Lionel uses AC voltage, the arcing from the brushes on the commutator makes a lot of dirt, which is mostly non conducive. I’ve serviced many, many of these diesels. That GP 9 or GP7 is a nice one. It looks like late 50s or very early 60s. Enjoy them.

[@gmaneis]

This sure was fun to watch! Thanks for sharing your lucky find!

[@ColbysProjectBin]

Even though I don't consider myself an O gauge/scale guy, it is nice to see more of it on the channel again. It's amazing what just a bit of oil can do to some old equipment. The bit with the Oldsmobile light bulb was a fun bit, and it's nice to see that Nerf Cat is doing well!

[@SMTMainline]

For sure, it's a testament to how tough these things are.

[@NoahDutkewycz]

The switch on the top is a switch to either lock the locomotive in forward when closest to the front and can go multi direction when flipped towards the back.

[@RailfanKnexified]

That is so cool! Makes a good addition to your O scale collection!

[@stevenbills217]

That was super cool. Toy trains out of the woodwork and getting attention once again

[@MichaelBarber-z8f]

I love old classic train sets and engines. I have a old engine left,but I don't know if it still works or not 😢. Have not used it in a long time. I don't have a track yet😢. Hope to be able to afford one.one day hopefully. A great video 💯. Thank you so very much for sharing this wonderful video and God bless 🙏

[@johncloar1692]

Thanks for the video Harrison. Nice seeing the old trains run.

[@yogistanu55]

Lionel bult these great Locomotives to last with their engineering and no matter how long they sit the thrill of seeing them run again is terrific. 50 yrs of being stashed in an Attic...there are more treasures out there in Barns, Attics, and Basements. Congrats on a great gift from your friend and whoever had it took great care of it!!

[@SMTMainline]

For sure!

[@mercuryoak2]

Very nice. What amazes me is they run practically quiet

[@grahamogden8749]

Great video as usual. It's fantastic to see these locomotives run after such a long time laying idle. Keep making the videos.

[@BrockRuby]

Really amazing that those engines ran after 50+years!! This was a great vid Harrison!! Hope to see a follow up with cleaning.

[@JerseyBill-x9r]

Well, that was a fun ride, and I would have bet against all the locomotives running. Nice video, Jersey Bill

[@richardking2762]

Timken makes roller bearings. In the post war era railroads were changing from friction bearings to roller bearings. The Timken cars were rolling demonstrators so railroads could try them under road conditions

[@Rick-remlrp]

Yep! I live a half hour south of the Timken Company. That was a treat to see!

[@josephschuster1494]

Great info! Thanks! 🚂

[@w.rustylane5650]

Serenity! We have multiple runners. Nice Lionel haul. Wish I could get that lucky. Cheers from eastern TN

[@plunkervillerr1529]

Timken was a ball bearing manufacture, Marx guy here, their motors are bullet proof.

[@paulbervid1610]

Those are fantastic acquisitions. Great video.

[@tomvarano3283]

Wow that is great the old Lionel Ian a fantastic. Also love the Oldsmobile 98 Regency

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, the olds has been a good learning experience for me.

[@therandomtransformersanima6236]

I love Ho scale because the trains are affordable and all small and cute but the tactile quality and sheer chunk of O scale is amazing too

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the info!

[@CarmenFiala]

those old Lionels are unstoppable. i have a 226E from the late 30s that belonged to my grandfather and was *not* taken care of as well as it should've been over the years (stored in a busted plastic bin over damp dirty basement steps for a cool decade or two since my dad got it,and pretty sure the bin it was in had a good fall, and that's not even telling how it was stored when my grandfather had it) but without much maintenance at all it always fires right up

[@johnnydeville5701]

Fun video! I recently got a Lionel set for free too! I'll probably be rewatching this video! Timken makes bearings. Great quality and they're still in business! Love the EMD diesels (Especially the Milwaukee Road GP!)! Again fun video! Love the 80s GM big body! I too love model railroading and am the proud owner of a GM big body! Big Momma, my '90 Cadillac Brougham d' Elegance 5.7V8!

[@Arjay1127]

My experience says that Lionel trains from that era are pretty much bulletproof. Had customers bring in boxes of old Lionel trains to the hobby shop I was working at, thinking that they were completely junked because they wouldn't run. I think that out of around 100 locomotives that were brought in, only one was completely dead. They usually just needed a good washout with WD-40 to get the congealed grease loose. Glad to see that you got things to work!

[@alanwbelcher]

Congratulations on getting them running again! Nice collection.

[@alienrefugee51]

That's awesome man. O27 was my childhood. Congrats on the new additions.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks!

[@rishithkunar7907]

Hey SMT mainline great video incredible to sync that these locomotives started up just like that after sitting for 50 years since 1969 all you can say is serenity. It’s actually really really great that these trains are running. Thank you so much for the video. I always enjoy watching you Run model trains and maintain them. once again, great video, thank you very much.🚄🚅🚈🚂🚆🚇 😊

[@SMTMainline]

I was amazed how well they ran after sitting that long.

[@Frecciarossa-wk1rk]

Hy, Harrison! Awesome video and nice found! That's really unbelievable how those trains fired up right now after about 60 years! I'm not really impressed however, because also old Lima's train from the past are so reliable. Back in 2016 I've received two Lima train sets from the 70's by a family friend and, like yours, they fired up instantly. Greetings from Italy. Carlo.

[@aksyoutube9082]

What and awesome train set! That Also FA1 and GP7/9 is so cool!

[@XBOXShawn12thman]

I will be 54 years old next week ........... Thats just crazy to think that train has been sitting in a box my entire life!!!!! 😳

[@arielfilmsinc1926]

ALL the trains a\there are over SIXTY years old the bumper is prewar

[@XBOXShawn12thman]

@arielfilmsinc1926 he said they've been sitting in a box for 54 years .... I know they are older than 54 years they've just been boxed for 54 years

[@XBOXShawn12thman]

@arielfilmsinc1926 I was pointing out that they have been stored in a box my entire life 😳

[@SMTMainline]

Apparently it was late 1968, my dad wasn't even born yet lol

[@XBOXShawn12thman]

@@SMTMainline I was born in November 1970 .... Its crazy to think it was in a box for soooo long!!!! I am glad it got into the right hands, Good Job Harrison!!! 👍

[@RailRide]

One persistent maintenance item you will find in Lionel postwar rolling stock is, since the wheelsets are not fixed to their axles (in order to accommodate differences in travel distance between inner and outer rails on sharp curves), there is a lot of friction in the wheel-axle interface and thus must be oiled on a semi-regular basis. Owing to this design, best results come from applying oil to the flange side of the wheels rather than behind the truck sideframe since the axle itself doesn't do much rotation. Oiling them this time enabled one locomotive to pull the consist (possibly one of the longest trains you've run in that basement in terms of car count). Depending on much time passes, their next run may need another shot of oil. I'd inspect them prior to upcoming livestreams in case you get requests to run them :D Oh, and for the inevitable maintenance session with these locomotives, be sure to clean out the old grease...Lionel's preferred lubricant of the era had a tendency to solidify during long-term storage. My preferred go-to for loco grease would be a synthetic lube gel offered by 'Super Lube' (the tube itself says 'Synco Lube') available on Amazon. For everything else regarding postwar Lionel maintenance and repair, look for a hardcopy book _"Greenberg's Repair & Operating Manual for Lionel Trains"_

[@SMTMainline]

That's really helpful advice, thanks!

[@chicagolandrailroader]

The paint scheme on that ATSF ALCo is fantastic.

[@andyfrank6078]

Nice find Harrison, when i bougt my house 17 years ago i found a pre war set in the attic which looked in bad shape. Gave it a little love and low and behold it ran . Cars and engine need some paint but will get to them soon. Again nice find

[@SMTMainline]

It's awesome that you found a set like that. Sometimes the best stuff is hidden away for decades.

[@dbtech7914]

Harrison is officially into repairing O gauge! I'm impressed that all three of those engines ran.

[@SMTMainline]

Good old American made quality for you there. Sits for 55 years and 2/3 come out of storage as if they were run yesterday, the last with just a bit of help.

[@raymondleggs5508]

Hopper car be like "Two step and let your shoulder lean" 🎶 🎶 😆

[@jeffreybelko3383]

Heck ya wife’s mom gave me her dad’s old Lionel trains. From the mid 60’s. Throws sparks but runs!

[@SMTMainline]

That's awesome, those 60s era ones are tanks!

[@DashaDmitrieva-ti3pb]

That energy is unreal, absolutely amazing.

[@cec_oregon]

Bot

[@Trainsaregreat365]

Get the hell out of here you nsfw bot you are making people probably think crap of smt mainlines fans you stupid bot

[@SMTMainline]

I don't understand where these things keep coming from. Last month they kept posting random names of people

[@Trainsaregreat365]

@SMTMainline yea they are nasty probably rigged of promotions

[@davidmorris7696]

Love that Milwaukee Road!!! If you wanna rid yourself of it, here I am!! Great collection!

[@rainman7992]

nice score...love that last engine...sweet.

[@juliangerardcascio1111]

😮😊 Great set of Trains 🚆 👌 👍 !!!!

[@bz3020]

Love the old Lionel blend of toy and prototype, and Nerf approved!

[@MasonMcCurdy86]

Watching this video reminds me of my great grandpa he had a 20 ft long layout in O scale. And he was a CRAZY lionel fan

[@SMTMainline]

Sounds like a really cool set up!

[@andrewferguson5653]

I personally don't know much about Lionel because I've always been an HO modeler. But it's amazing to see these old trains running again! And hello, Nerf cat!

[@SMTMainline]

I'm pretty well with you on that, they are interesting though.

[@greenchevy5764]

All the locomotives in this lot both Lionel and Marx are built like tanks. The only issues I really ever have with them are with the E units. Sometimes zinc pest but that’s less common in postwar locos. Glad to see these happy units operating again under their own power! 😊

[@OldLow1361]

That system on top of the Santa Fe alco Locks the E unit in one direction, O gauge companies do that if you want to doublehead trains

[@randydobson1863]

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

[@andrewaugustyniak2765]

Lionel trains was working. I liked your 1979 Delta 98? Clean Car!!

[@SMTMainline]

Good eye, it is a 79 but a Regency 98. The body is pretty rust free for a Canadian driven car.

[@engineerpat5290]

DUDE! THIS IS GREAT! The MLW 2338 is a GP7 , The ATSF UNIT is an Alco PA. Most of the older cars are good runners! The Tanker car and the bosco boxcar can use some new trucks. Get the 6-14078 trucks from lionel and drill the riviots out and install the new trucks and they will be good to go. I did a video on that. Lionel items are built like tanks! The piece of track with 4 wires is a remote control track section for the Automatic dump car to dump the coal! That is a really fun piece to operate! Keep up the fine work!

[@ErickC]

The ATSF unit is an FA.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the great information!

[@engineerpat5290]

@ you bet!!

[@NJCNWFAN]

Lets Go new SMT vid Harrison i have been watching your videos since 2020 and Harrison i hope you see this comment i am from the USA and have been into trains since i was a baby and really enjoy your videos and have a good day FOR CANADA 🇨🇦 🇺🇸

[@seeber563]

Great video SMT!

[@ChessieKev]

Man do I just love o scale

[@sonic23233]

Reminds of my Dad's old trains

[@badkittynomilktonight3334]

I got a dust covered Marx set that had to be pre-war, all I did was clean it, lube it, and put it on the track. Worked beautifully.

[@davydigger708]

YAY!!! SOME O GAUGE ON THE CHANNEL!!!!!!!

[@thomassinbruno2612]

these old trains are very strong!!!!!! hello from France!!👍

[@SMTMainline]

Salut!

[@thomassinbruno2612]

hello!!!

[@PatrickESpecht]

The windows on the B unit ends are for a Hustler Cab. Some B Units had cab stands in the ends so they could be operated at low speeds in yards even if they aren't hooked up to an A Unit.

[@brandonshaw2978]

That timken 6464 boxcar is a score all on its own

[@RailroadRailfan500]

Greetings from Wisconsin! What a fun find! Timken roller bearings replaced the old solid bearings (often incorrectly called "friction bearings") on freight cars in about a 30 year period; about 1955-1985. The last solid bearing truck equipped freight cars were banned from interchange after 1995. Always fun to see what you find, Harrison.

[@SMTMainline]

That's really interesting to know, I didn't realize the change was that gradual.

[@dannyhilarious]

Real treasure! Hope I'll stumble upon some day some Märklin 0 stuff.

[@3rdTrickGang]

Gotta train show coming up in Hamburg NY this weekend Nov 23-24. Don't think it's too far from you. Ran by the western New York railroad historical Society there's usually hundreds of vendors it's the only one we have around here for the year. Looking forward to it. Great Video Harrison! Got some nice stuff there !

[@crh2373]

It's amazing that you actually got two Lionel Locomotives to run in tandem. Every time I've tried that, each loco runs faster than the other. I've never seen two Lionel loco's run at the same speed on the same track without command control.

[@SMTMainline]

That was lucky. I guess them being the same age, with a similar amount of wear probably helped.

[@jackcurran1122]

I got a 2332 GG-1 and a 2460 six-wheeled crane from a dealer covered in soot from a fire but not damaged by the fire, I was selling a few HO kits that I built. He got the kits and I agreed to take the 2 Lionel pieces . To my surprise both cleaned up well and the GG-1 runs flawlessly, you would not know how they looked when the trade was done 35 years ago.

[@Raul_MP]

Though I'm not a big fan of O scale, I must say I've always liked the postwar stuff due to their charm and playability, great video as always, those things are tanks (Maybe more than the Athearn Bluebox stuff, who knows?) I found it funny that the bulb for the car worked perfectly on the train, oh sweet standarization.

[@Banjomanofcripplecreek]

I love my Lionel

[@oskarvalance3041]

You've got the Midas touch. Good video. From Texas

[@Hudsonstrainspotting]

Nice Video SMT Mainline

[@BrandonGreen-g6h]

Very nice engines the gp7 I got the same engine I did the same oil and lubricant it now it's running like a champ

[@Quince828]

This takes me back to my brothers’ Marx train that we played with in the basement. I have an old Lionel set that was gifted to me. The sparks really fly when you get it up to speed! I was told by the owner of the Lionel store who turned his nose up at it, that it was sold by Texaco gas stations as a promotion of some kind. My biggest issue is that there’s two different types of couplers on the cars. Btw the switch on the top of the locomotive is to change directions.

[@SMTMainline]

That's really cool! I've never heard of those being sold by gas stations but they do make some neat promotional stuff.

[@harrisonsimpson7784]

I'm quite impressed.😁😁😁😁😁

[@tjprptchable]

Fixing lionel postwar locomotives is always fun!

[@SMTMainline]

For sure, they are solid!

[@kaikuklik9748]

Hi Harrison 🤗 Awesome lot 🤩 Those odd looking black cars you were wondering about are tipper-cars. They come for one- or two-sided unloading. Yours are onesided ones. Those cars are mainly used for sand, minerals, coal, slag, ore and other bulk materials. Can often be seen in coal mines, steel works or even at huge construction yards. Other than hoppers or gondolas they do not need costly unloading facilities. Digging a trench some feet deep alongside the unloading track and a powerful wheel loader is all you need 💪🏻😉 And be careful to NOT turn your train around or you cannot unload it to the right side 😂 Your customer will not be very pleased 🤯 Speaking of experience with certain sweeping loop track arrangements 🤭 Best wishes, Kai

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the info!

[@MattKonsol]

Very nice Lionel o gauge addition you got! That Milwaukee road 2338 is a emd gp7 locomotive and as you noticed that silver circle thing is actually the horn for it and it does take a d cell battery under the fuel tank to operate it. I just want to give you a information on it. My wabash 2337 also has that as well.

[@RailRide]

It's most likely a D-cell battery. Postwar-era diesel horns were actually a 1.5v electric bicycle horn.

[@MattKonsol]

@@RailRide oh yes sorry about that

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the info

[@DavidJeggo]

Great video…who da thunk these would run again…

[@carldebellis7310]

O gauge is great! Sometimes all it takes is a good cleaning to get a seized motor turning like the day it came home!

[@4everdc302]

Canadian subsidiary of Timken bearing was in the Railway City St Thomas Ontario until 2012😢. Making large bearing, including railway bearing🚂🍁

[@SMTMainline]

I wasn't aware of that, I wish it was still there though.

[@Awhittlefan491]

"BABE WAKE UP SMT MAINLINE POSTED" "babe go to sleep... It 3 am..."

[@Lv-sl3rm]

Of the 6464 Boxcar series, the 500 Timken is a pretty rare one so that's a good score alone. Edit: The Milkwakee Road Geep is a GP-7. In the postwar era Lionel made the GP-7s without the dynamic brake fans and the GP-9s with them as a way of telling them apart.

[@SMTMainline]

I wasn't aware of that, thanks for the info!

[@PokéAlastor]

Nice job SMT

[@Ohiorailfan205]

Nice locomotives

[@jandsmarineservicejimfromd4994]

Nice work

[@Railman1225]

1:48 "Big Tim" animation intensifies. For those not in the know, Big Tim is an animation made on behalf of the Timken roller bearing company by the UPA(United Productions of America). It's sole purpose was to show how and why roller bearings were better than traditional friction bearings. I guess the "Roller Freight", which was also featured in the cartoon, was part of that campaign. Highly suggest it, it's a great watch.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the info.

[@Signal_Box_Studios]

A thing about Lionel diesels, they use worm gears so the wheel will not turn and don’t force them because it could break gears. Lionel and Marx 3 rail runs on AC so switching the terminals will do nothing. If an engine is stuck in one direction, cut the power and give it a good smack on the top.

[@SMTMainline]

It turns out the jeep could be manually turned over after running, everything was just too stiff from sitting so long.

[@adamspender6595]

Love it. We'll done.

[@PiercesTrains716]

The GP9 has a horn one of the very neat things about some postwar diesel

[@user-MotoTrains1974]

That was so cool SMT

[@RJCormanRailfan]

I can't believe that those Marx locomotives are running THAT good in spite of them being in storage for so long!

[@SMTMainline]

They are so simple so I guess if it isn't locked in place that isn't much of an issue.

[@AlexTrain5249]

Timken Roller Freight was Timken’s advertisement for putting roller bearing trucks on freight cars.

[@manuelazevedo1949]

Very Very cool👏👏👏👏

[@juniorfarm3003]

Love the video smt keep up the great work❤

[@thatairplaneguy]

What a beautiful Oldsmobile

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you!

[@VirginianRailway]

that timken boxcar is rare...nice

[@americansaxon2101]

Timken was an Akron Ohio based company. The Roller Freights were the first North American freight trains to use modern methods of rolling to avoid hotbox problems with breaking.

[@SMTMainline]

I wasn't aware of that, thanks for sharing!

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

Harrison I think I need to see if my Marx train still works, got it for Christmas in 1963, might need some cleaning, great video, still working trains cool stuff

[@SMTMainline]

I bet it will, those things are tough as nails.

[@tomstarr1779]

The SILVER Switch on top is actually A FORWARD and REVERSE switch .