Looking for Vintage Locomotives at an Antique Store

Every year when I go down to Maine I like stopping by a couple antique stores in search of model trains. The selection is usually few and far between however this time I was able to find a couple locomotives I wanted and they turned out to be in good working order as well.

[@nordisk1874]

I knew you were going to pickup the spirit of 76.

[@SMTMainline]

Kinda predictable I guess haha

[@nordisk1874]

@@SMTMainline yes since you have so many!

[@popcat2214]

I used to watch his channel when it was only at 20K subscribers on my mom's phone. His channel has grown so much

[@SMTMainline]

It sure has grown. Thanks for sticking around!

[@williammcgeehan3424]

3:24. An interesting thing about that Bachmann full length dome car is that they were built by The Budd Company in 1954 for the Santa Fe. Only 14 were built. Upon the demise of passenger rail service on Santa Fe in 1971 all were sold to auto-train corporation except one. Twelve are still around today.

[@williammcgeehan3424]

@Kenneth Sooley Bachmann also made an excellent fully enclosed bi-level auto rack around the same time and based on a Canadian National prototype from the late 1950's that also went to auto-train in the early 1970's. About the only discrepancy on that model was the trucks.

[@tommurphy4307]

when does it get interesting?

[@devastatorsworld6148]

That Santa Fe locomotive is an Alco C628. I have a couple of them. A Model Power demonstrator unit and an IHC Southern Pacific. Nice locomotives that run well.

[@wildfire19861987]

Those were also offered by Life Like in the late 80's (around that time they had a few ex AHM items including the FP-45). Earlier this year I bought one of their Cannonball 88 sets which has this same locomotive.

[@michaelmorgan7893]

I believe the last ones that IHC made, had flywheels.

[@garysprandel1817]

Yep 2 rail O scale on the Pennsylvania F unit. The "wind up" one while I've not seen is very similar to some toys I had as a young boy and either battery or friction motor. As noted by another poster the Santa Fe is an Alco C628 as I have the Monon one. Ironically AHM offered the C628 in the Lehigh Valley snowbird livery as well and the Monon got their C628s in anticipation of running coal trains from barge transloading facilities on the Ohio River to power plants along Lake Michigan. The coal service never materialized and they tried using them in general freight service but were a bit too big for Monon's fairly light rail ( liked to turn the rail over underneath them) and so Monon traded them in to Alco on some high hood C420s to replace their aging F3 passenger fleet and low hood versions for freight service. Lehigh Valley picked up some very gently used C628s so AHM technically offered two different road names of the same locomotive.

[@mybrainmeatshurt]

Antique malls are great. Even when I don't find any model train things, there's usually something else that gets my attention. Here in PA, I'm seeing a trend of antique malls playing host to whole train stores. Not very big, but they do take up a couple stalls and they're often worth stopping for.

[@davidztog9011]

Lots of fun looking at everything in antique malls/stores. Don't forget to ask if they can do better on the price.

[@mybrainmeatshurt]

@@davidztog9011 Sometimes they're stiff on the price at antique malls. If I go to train shows, haggling becomes much more of an option.

[@ianmckinley5613]

The “wind up” Mountain Express loco at 3:49 is like one I had as a child, it is a friction motor toy and when running the little bells on the side move up and down. Good Memories from about 1960. I would have bought the “McKinley Explorer” car.

[@alanwbelcher]

Yes! I've visited both those stores when I go to the southern Maine coast! .......and the Downeaster....! Too funny.....

[@SMTMainline]

That's awesome, they're both great stores.

[@stephensalloum7763]

Good Video Of the Amtrak Downeaster!

[@boxcarthehusky420]

That one O scale locomotive was made for 2 rail operation, I would've scooped it up without a thought.

[@normanthidemann8310]

The O scale 2 rail PRR F unit is an "All Nation" unit. All Nation was made in Chicago (I think) and is still available on eBay, etc.

[@nicksmith3756]

Definitely one of my favorite KZbinrs seeing your videos keeps me motivated to work on my H.O. layout!

[@harperlarry49]

Great finds. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe!!

[@crh9919]

Thanks for showcasing the Lionel! It's my fav!

[@SantaFeBob]

Nice train finds. Obviously I love the Santa Fe AHM/Rivarossi engine.

[@crazyjoe4247]

Nice grab and Amtrak catch

[@irenecraggs6123]

nice c liner i have a few myself with different paint schemes

[@GSMRFan]

That century 430 oh my. I need to find one of those cuz I'm rebuilding my dad's 88 cannonball set and need that loco to replace broken one

[@SMTMainline]

It shouldn't be too hard to find.

[@IdahoRailfan]

On Monday After about a year sence I proposed the idea to My local model rr club. I got to see The Scale Trains Team on what they call their Road Trip! We got to see a lot of these new model and I even got one of my models signed by the founder of the company! And of course had a great time! Here in October I also going to have the chance to go to another train show!

[@RayBoebel]

Nice finds Harrison!

[@lynnzi3d]

Great finds 💪

[@davidstrainsandlego]

Nice stuff

[@RandomGamesProductions]

You definitely should have bought the UP overland that would have been awesome

[@agressive_cementbag]

Nice finds

[@CR7659]

Yes, DC F-units. Fairly rare. 4:00 I could use that Terraplane hubcap. lol Bachmann has made that 5 & 10 store since like 1950. I have some old Plasticville HO in the boxes and can't get $10 a shot for them. The new ones retail for more than twice that. The UP GP18 at about 5:40 could have been sold as Bachmann. I remember seeing them in Kay Bee Toys in the white Bachmann box and being surprised since it had been an AHM piece. Alco is a C628. it actually is 8 wheel drive, the inner axles by the fuel tank aren't powered. Amtrak set is Life-Like from originally Penn Line tooling The Spirit of '76 C-liner exists in two versions, one with the vertical armature motor most had, but they got updated to the same motor as the C628 with an 8 wheel gear drive using the same guts as the mehano GP18. RS11 and RS2. I do the antique mall once in a while, sometimes you find things they have no idea what it is and it's priced cheap.

[@davidztog9011]

Of course you bought the 1776 C-Liner, Harrison. Was there any doubt? Thought maybe the UP passenger cars as well, but I'm sure they were overpriced like most antique store model trains. Yes, most of the Lionel/Marx/American Flyer stuff is usually overpriced. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's worth a lot. That's why it's still there every time you visit. 🤣 Enjoyed the tours and Amtrak. Be sure to check out the ballast train I caught today -- so many locos. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍

[@MattKonsol]

And yes talk about that g scale and maybe z scale is pretty much being overly priced as well I think?

[@kaedenthecsxamtrakandthoma8318]

4:24 I love those locomotives

[@mr.pickles810]

Man I need to start check antique stores. I saw car craft mags love seeing those vintage stuff

[@hector.sully1234]

Yes, a new video

[@robn620]

Greet pickup Harrison, I got 2 of the Bicentennial C-Liners off eBay for a total of 11 U.S. dollars a few months ago. Love them!

[@SMTMainline]

Seems like a pretty good deal

[@engineerpat5290]

Loved the video and your purchases!

[@oldcarsaverjones5124]

I see the Union Pacific passenger set in the back ground. Nice buy!

[@mercuryoak2]

Ooo awesome antique stores, Plus nice finds there. There is a antique/fleamarket store in Palmer Mass you will find plenty of athearn blue box custom painted kit locomotives Passenger cars that are either Athen blue box or various other brands. Last time I was there I remember seeing a bathroom blue box band Drive Budd car . The vendor they also had some very small Lionel but otherwise had mostly HO scale. My favorite vendor though is near where I used to live mind you it's a big flea market but he's got some good deals. That vendor I'm talking about has Lionel postwar and pre-war, HO scale any Brands you can name off the top of your head, and scale, G scale which most of his stock changes randomly anyway. I looked up that town you were just off I-95 area near York Maine which I've been through because there's a terminal just north of there in beneford Maine. I got to get myself some time off like that I'm going to figure out a lot of number crunching fuel cost Etc.

[@tracynation2820]

I wish that the thrift stores here had trains. In the last six months, I have only seen one HO scale boxcar. 💙 T.E.N.

[@classicamericanflyertrains2423]

😮wow! I was surprised to see that American Flyer double transformer, I have one just like it, was my dad’s. My grandfather paid $19.95 for it brand new back in the late fifties. It was the most powerful transformer Flyer made. 350 watts total, 175 per each side.

[@railsofontario3029]

Nice tour! That AHM Santa Fe engine is actually a Alco C-628 and the make a warbonnet which I have.

[@jonathangreenlees4772]

I'm actually a little disappointed to see that the ALCo was a runner as I was hoping to see what a restoration of the drivetrain looks like.

[@Tankproduction2022]

Very cool

[@michaelmohrmann]

Thanks for posting another great video clip. Hope you have a great weekend, eh?

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks. I hope you have a great weekend there too eh.

[@mikediesel928]

I collected a Rivarossi USRA Heavy Pacific 4-6-2 Loco Santa Fe 3423 ho scale and it was from American biggest hobby it broke It would not run

[@Eliot935k3]

The spirit of 76 locomotives are very rare in my experience. I have never seen one in person before. Great video, SMT Mainline!

[@scrailwaylines8535]

That one O scale diesel shunter you picked up was a marx you can tell by scissor couplers and plate pickup I didn't know Marx made shelters like that

[@magform]

Being a long time Marx collector, Marx was great at economizing and using the same drives in multiple locomotives. You will find the same drive unit in their steam locomotives. Such tricks as flipping number boards 999 or 666 locos. My favorites tend to be the lithographed tin items. Opening up rolling stock or buildings often reveals a different item lithographed on the reverse side. Sometimes the scenery from the exterior of a Marx tunnel is found or, maybe one of the many playsets. As Louis Marx was in the toy business, maximum play value for the money was always his goal. There used to be a Marx museum in Erie PA, but like Roadside America, last I heard, it has closed.

[@williammcgeehan3424]

2:00 O Scale, 2 Rail.

[@antonbruce1241]

If you EVER find pre-war Lionel in an antique store....BUY IT!!!!! That equipment was not only built like tanks and will run basically the rest of your life, but being pre-war it is EXTREMELY VALUABLE!!!

[@AtomicVisionary]

I recently went to an antique shop and found an HO scale Amtrak Baggage-Sleeper car with a full interior, and possible pre-lighting, but I haven't tested it yet since I have yet to set up my HO scale layout.

[@christophermondone6864]

great buys on this one

[@MattKonsol]

Very neat ahm ho scale haul there! At 1:02 I did see alittle bit of prewar stuff in the first autique mall there which is like o gauge and standard gauge or something by Lionel but I’m not sure though. 2:00 Also that prr o scale 2 emd f7 loco is actually a 2 rail model not sure on the brand though. 1:00 I also have that same Lionel postwar Union Pacific yellow alco fa no 2023 from 1950. Runs pretty good for its age kinda sparks though. I’m thinking about getting a passenger set for those diesels and my grandpas friend who is a revrend also has these too with the passenger set as well. Big o gauger.

[@casstelles]

The O scale locomotives maybe from P&D Hobby Shop F7A. It seems like I remember the drive from old Model Railroader ads back in the day, but my research online still leaves me looking.

[@markwilliams2620]

P&D in Fraser, MI?

[@SMTMainline]

I've never seen such a thing before which is why I pointed them out. The search continues

[@williammcgeehan3424]

5:53 Alco Century 628.

[@williammcgeehan3424]

Santa Fe never had an Alco Century 628. Southern Pacific got 25 in the scarlet red and gray scheme, including the 4 Alco Demonstrators they repainted. The Alco Century 628 probably looked best in the Lehigh Valley " Snow Bird " paint scheme of black & white, ranking first in my opinion. A paint scheme that was difficult to keep clean.

[@williamsantangelo]

Nice Harrison great video and Thank You for sharing

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks

[@caboosech]

Santa Fe alco is a c628 six axle

[@shaunbarter1458]

this is cool. I go to Reeds myself, have been going for years. I have found some awesome ho scale locomotives. The vendor selection is really good. Glad to see someone else who knows about Reeds. At one point, I was known as the "train guy", because every time I went I there, all I did was shop for trains..

[@MozanaRN]

Love the AHM finds. Luckiiiiiiii!! :-)

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

1:26 That 2-6-2 engine has a template prewar tender

[@SMTMainline]

Bingo!

[@jebbohanan2626]

“C-LINER” Thanks man! I just got one put together from spare parts! I could not remember what it was called!!

[@SMTMainline]

No problem

[@bandkid386]

Nice picks

[@Hazy429]

4:53 train stamps, I’m giving you toy train tattoos.

[@joallawestervelt6918]

I knew you were going to buy the Santa Fe and was not too sure about the Spirit of 76 but was hoping you would. Both are really nice looking. Awesome that they were really good runners. Happy for you. Thanks for sharing.

[@csxrailfan632]

Those are some awesome things you found there, awesome!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks!

[@dbtech7914]

I like the AHM C-Liner. I never saw one with the blue on the bottom.

[@leverettrailfan5414]

It was neat to see the postwar Lionel HO in there. From personal experience, I can say that they're risky because replacement parts aren't available for the most part and the motors seem to be especially susceptible to getting fried. Either that or I've just had some bad luck. The ones with rubber band drive are a pain to re-band and you have to be very careful, but they're all pretty cool if they work. I own one of those Texas Special ALCos, the shop owner said it had a good motor but it had a blown winding. They made a powered version, number 0566, from 1959-1962. There was also a dummy A, 0586, but it was only offered in 1959. There was a matching B-Unit, 0576, which was cataloged until 1961. Interestingly, in 1959 and 1960 cataloged a passenger set that had two powered A units, with a dummy B in between. If you ever spot a Lionel ALCo decorated for the Alaska Railroad, those are well worth buying as they only produced them in 1959. There was a matching caboose too.

[@NotGavin]

Just visited the Reed’s Antiques last weekend, I found a Mantua 2-8-2 in excellent condition, still runs with the headlight! Unfortunately the sign outside the store said they were closing next weekend, but hopefully the vendors will move somewhere else. I also visited the BoMar hall and found a rivarossi passenger car for just one dollar! Pretty good find if i say so myself. Nice video Harrison!

[@SMTMainline]

It's too bad. Hopefully Antiques USA and BoMar Hall will take them

[@NotGavin]

@@SMTMainline Yeah that would be good. They had some really cool vendors especially for model trains.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

If you see a Lionel steam engine with a three-digit number AND an "e" with the number it's pre-war. The "e" indicates it's got what's called an e-unit, and electro-mechanical reversing unit. If it's got what you think is a decent price, grab it! Those things were built solid! A bit of advice for everyone, NEVER pass by an antique shop or antique mall and say "I'm not going in there, they NEVER have anything!" Sure as hell you'll probably miss something! All to often that's when they DO have something. Antique shows and flea markets can have some interesting things too, so don't pass those up. You never know. I found a K-Line Hershey's 100th Anniversary set that originally retailed for $350 at the DC Big Flea for $85! No, I didn't rip my pants getting the wallet out!

[@MMRails]

Very neat stuff. Something tells me I would have walked away with some Star Wars merch. Haha. Love the Santa Fe. Thanks for the tour.

[@michaelmorgan7893]

It's rare to ever, and I mean ever, find a Mehano Santa Fe C 620 or an SD40 with all their handrails intact. The handrails are always the weakest part of those, because they're brittle, and made of the same plastic as the deck/frame.

[@HoundstoothKid]

Here in Iowa we have loads of HO stuff in antique shops, as well as a lot of O scale.

[@SMTMainline]

You're lucky, it's kinda rare around here

[@russrh]

As an Australian with some O scale three rail, I love seeing it in antique stores! It never sold here

[@chrislangdon8182]

My grandpa had a centennial GP9 but when he passed I was offered it but turned it down because of it's condition, The shark nose centennial can be a hard find! Have you received my parcel yet, I've been excited to see your reaction after you go through the goodies inside! 😉

[@Benthetrainkid]

That AHM/Mehano ATSF ALCO is actually a C628/C630

[@SMTMainline]

Nice catch

[@Benthetrainkid]

Also, that "DC O Scale" F unit is one of these O Scale locomotives designed for 2-rail tracks

[@Benthetrainkid]

​@@SMTMainline And Lionel did produce DC O Gauge locomotives in the 1970s and 1980s

[@randallellison6421]

Good finds Harrison!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks

[@fmsteve1222]

i thought for sure you would have snagged the UP overland set to run behind the big boy...

[@SMTMainline]

It was temping but it wasn't cheap

[@Petemonster62]

SMT - The Pennsylvania O scale 2-rail diesels might be a product of a firm that had 2 names. One name is American Model Toys; the other name is Kusan Model Toys. They may date to the 1950s, the metal fixed coupler on the rear of the A unit looks like one I have seen from that company.

[@waynesmith896]

Did anybody notice the Lionel Santa Fe F units? Them jokers can can pull tree roots up, also the 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie card in the second store?

[@michaelmorgan7893]

My favorites of the Model Power/Mehano locomotives are their old RS11 in Santa Fe, even though Santa Fe never had those in real life. (The closest that Santa Fe had was the GP-7 and GP-9 )

[@n4pwx]

Thanks for the nice video.

[@badkittynomilktonight3334]

I have had surprising good luck at thrift stores and antique stores over the years, but it's been very hit or miss.. Antique stores are often priced way above their actual value. I just picked up a G scale trainset at a thrift store...$10!. I got an still in box LGB set for $50 at another thrift store. But as I said, it's been very hit or miss. I would have grabbed that New Haven car set!

[@johnathanlewis2049]

Great video. You have a nice collection of locomotives. I hope you have a good engine facility or roundhouse to store the locomotives in. Maybe a turntable with locomotives stored on the spikes around the turntable.

[@johnblair8146]

Antique store prices for postwar Lionel tend to be sky high. Having said that there were some decent pieces at a couple of the vendors in your video.

[@sergioarroyoguerrero5434]

O and HO scale trains in antique store. I gonna buy N scale trains, locomotives DC. Bachmann, Atlas and Life Like. Freight cars and passengers.

[@DowneastProductions211]

Nice video I could of meet you in wells!

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Cool 😎

[@mattomon1045]

That F unit might be #1 scale not O Scale

[@SMTMainline]

I'm confident it is, just not sure if it's DC or missing parts.

[@jamescopeland6107]

I would recommend collecting Tomix, Lionel, Bachmann and Hornby Thomas Projects. Thomas The Tank Engine is both for children and adults, although the Adult Fandom like myself prefers the Model Era from 1984-2007 until they did a CGI/Model Hybrid in 2008 and switched over to CGI in 2009 for budgetary reasons. I would also like to request some Maintenance Tutorials for Thomas Locomotives and Rolling Stock. Thanks!!!!!

[@SMTMainline]

I'm not on the lookout for any Thomas stuff. It's not that I don't like it, I just don't think it would fit in with the collection.

[@michaellindsey8769]

Man if I was with u I would clean up on the Lionel models engine and cars

[@rdrogel]

You should buy the EL GP35.

[@readingnorthernnorfolksout2336]

4:58 Jaws 2 cards on the left

[@NBRailfan]

The c liner to me looks like an Erie-built locomotive

[@georgegardei8074]

i miss riding the downeaster

[@SMTMainline]

Never been on it myself but I've seen it countless times

[@raymondleggs5508]

The alco is rivarossi!

[@robertzumwalt2540]

I wonder how many santa fe diesel locomotives and steam locomotives

[@SMTMainline]

I have no idea

[@brookspotts9312]

Unfortunately our antique stores are bone dry here in las vegas NV

[@SMTMainline]

They were better here too a couple years ago. No idea why

[@brookspotts9312]

@@SMTMainline I wonder if the holidays/covid might have anything to do with it? Maybe the closer to Christmas we get? Most people I know who don't do model railroading always associate it with a train around the tree.

[@tommurphy4307]

come on harrison- tear it APART!!

[@qwincyq6412]

Good finds. You seem to know what to look for. Are there any issues with CBS bringing the trains back over the border ?

[@tommurphy4307]

why? did they want to put him on the evening news?

[@qwincyq6412]

@@tommurphy4307 lol CBS is the acronym for Canadian Border Services, not a certain foreign broadcasting company!

[@betsymani2734]

That looks like some sd40-2 but its in good condition for what its age looks like(im talking about the engine in the thumbnail)

[@SMTMainline]

I'm pretty sure it's an Alco

[@betsymani2734]

Ok

[@EasternMaineRailfan]

Ayo sick

[@baileyjanssen8911]

I have that Santa Fe 6682

[@Top-Trains-1943]

Wow awesome video Harrison I knew that you were going to get that AHM C liner and plus it is a really cool locomotive. BTW did you weather up your Santa Fe c44-9w

[@SMTMainline]

It's a great addition to the collection. I did weather the c44, I'm no expert on it but I thought it came out alright.

[@Top-Trains-1943]

@@SMTMainline it looks really good in my opinion my weathering job on my es44 did it come out so well

[@zenithcoinsandhobbies]

That first transformer isn't by American Flyer, it was made by Jefferson Electric, a third party company.

[@SMTMainline]

Haven't heard of that brand before. Did they make trains too?

[@zenithcoinsandhobbies]

@@SMTMainline No, they only made transformers. They made quite a lot of them, and not all of them were for the model railroad market either. I think they made some for the radio industry as well.

[@jsherwood3577]

the diesel locomotive on the cover of the video i have and it is in almost perfect condition. the only problems with is are the had rail are broken off.

[@SMTMainline]

That's too bad

[@methias1990]

i like transe to

[@myvideosetc.8271]

I'm starting to get too jealous when I see analogic canadian and american train controllers, they are BIG and have big levers, nothing like this in europe, I wish i could buy this things In an antique store here. Good hunt anyways.

[@JBofBrisbane]

They probably handle a huge whack of current, particularly since the primary side is only 110V.

[@paulburns3788]

Hello smt main line how are you doing that Spirit of 76 c-liner that you bought I have the same engine it runs pretty all right I just put it away a couple weeks ago back in the box

[@SMTMainline]

They are good locomotives. Not the greatest runners but they seem to last an awful long time