Will it Run? Creepy 1939 Varney HO Steam Locomotive - Sitting for Decades

Around a year ago I was going through some boxes at a train store and I ended up finding a 1939 brass Varney Berkshire 2-8-4 steam locomotive which clearly hadn't been run in years. I bought it and after testing it there were some signs that it might run again but it certainly wasn't great. This time it didn't move at all but after cleaning the contacts the motor started working again. The engine now runs amazing for something made 70 years ago

[@DarthSantaFe]

These things sure were built to last! Varney sold these without the tender, so the builder would buy one separate to fit the railroad being modeled. They also sold it in multiple configurations with the top-end version having a fully sprung and equalized chassis and 7-pole V-2 motor. This is the “value” version, but that’s still worth about 3 or 4 times what you paid even in that condition!

[@SMTMainline]

That's good to hear. I purchased a locomotive at the same store for $15 which happened to have the Lindsay super motor. I had no idea they were somewhat rare

[@normancoreyBuildingTrains]

@SMTMainline why Is everyone calling it Creepy ? I think is cool not creepy.

[@animalyze7120]

@@normancoreyBuildingTrains Because to modern folks everything and I mean everything is creepy or awkward.

[@JB-yb4wn]

@@normancoreyBuildingTrains It's a ghost train come back from the dead. 👻

[@normancoreyBuildingTrains]

@@JB-yb4wn ok I can see that

[@QuebecGamer20]

That engine runs way too good, I think it absolutely deserves a full restoration

[@briandonovan9560]

Welcome to the world of brass! Bet when that open frame motor warmed up it evoked smells of a time when quality mattered.

[@williammcgeehan3424]

👉 DC -71 open frame 12v motor. The standard motor for model trains for many years. Bowser, Penn Line, Varney early Alco Models brass etc.

[@SMTMainline]

Not very efficient motors but they do seem to last.

[@qwincyq6412]

Varney are built like tanks. I have a Varney flat car kit made of metal and wood that is waiting for me to put together. You did a great job getting that castaway back into running condition.

[@michaelphilo3525]

What a fun video to watch. I have a very old Varney Berkshire kit - complete and unstarted. It came in a metal box. You don't see that very often.

[@VenusVenitorium]

Oooooo!, I remember that engine from awhile ago!, Glad to see it again!! It still looks awesome!!!

[@SMTMainline]

It may have taken a while but I'm glad to see it running again.

[@LarsPW]

Isn't there a bogie missing in the rear part?

[@timothytrump9002]

Watching your videos brings back memories. My grandpa had a model train layout in his basement. After he passed my grandma and uncle that lived with her used it as storage space. I have always wanted to get into this hobby and build my own.

[@SMTMainline]

Do you still have any of the trains, maybe you could get it up and running again.

[@BRZrails]

It always amazes me how you fix it everytime

[@SMTMainline]

I've failed many times but 95% of the time things are fixable.

[@David-yo5re]

That's why I call him Dr. Trainkenstein. He can bring anything to life with a little work.

[@JB-yb4wn]

@@David-yo5re It's alive! 🚂

[@David-yo5re]

Great job Harrison. That's a great looking old locomotive. All it needs is the trailing truck.

[@elleryparsons2433]

I Agree As I was Looking At it asking is It a 2-8-2?

[@meliketrains7]

@@elleryparsons2433 i know some1 with an original and it is supposed to have a trailing truck

[@elleryparsons2433]

Is It A Trailer with 2 Or 4?

[@meliketrains7]

@@elleryparsons2433 it usualy has 2

[@misterflibble6601]

Built like a tank. runs like a top! Not bad for an 84 year old!

[@distanthelicopter32]

What a wonderful train to be running once more very nice

[@trainfan998]

That model is about as old as WWII and it runs better than some high end Bachmann models I have.

[@MartinSBrown-tp9ji]

Plastic will never replace metal products in model railroading. My plastic engines deteriorated in 20 years of running them in my life. I am 80 years in the hobby

[@ALECKCHRISTMAN]

Harrison: Absoluty no power to the engine Also Harrison: * AGRESSIVLY PICKS UP CABLE CAR FOR A TRACK TEST*

[@Captain_Trint]

True true

[@SMTMainline]

Gotta know if the issue is with the track and not the locomotive.

[@dannyrailfan]

Nice work bringing that old locomotive back to life. That loco is going to run for another 50 years. Great video. 👍

[@TwoRailfans]

Nice job on the repair. It's good to see a classic engine running again.

[@SMTMainline]

More to come!

[@adamspender6595]

That was excellent. Loved it. Well done. You're an inspiration mate, thank you.

[@cmdrflake]

I’m willing to say that if you can find one, the trailing truck likely will aid it’s performance. Consider learning CAD so you can then make your own parts, possibly a whole model! It models a Western Maryland engine BTW

[@SMTMainline]

I'm looking for a good 3D printer, I can't decide which one.

[@cmdrflake]

Good! Take your time and get a good one and learn how to use it properly and, more importantly, well.

[@TheEerieMaster]

This is probably one of my favorite models you've brought back to life

[@theguildofthetranquilpine5360]

You always find a way to please us every video ❤

[@lotsatrains]

Wow what a fantastic old locomotive and great job getting that to run so well 👌

[@johnsterling7420]

The wizard strikes again, great job Harrison.😇👌👍

[@casstelles]

Looks great. As far as a rear trailing truck, Bowser may have one that will fit the locomotive, but I never tried it for a Varney steamer. On the subject of the tender, Cal-Scale may have detail parts for steps, ladders, and about everything else for most steam engines. This would only leave a nice coat of black paint to finish it off. Overall, it was nice to see it get this far.

[@melmen2379]

Berkshire locomotives are one of my favorites. They where BEASTS! back in their day and still hold up now.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

I always enjoy watching and seeing vintage trains returned to operating condition. Thanks for the upload.

[@keithgilham9438]

Great job love watching you get these going, I’m in the uk and I’ve just started collecting old triang OO non runners and the pleasure I get servicing and watching them come back to life if massive keep it up sir

[@sdrc92126]

Nylon was only invented 4 years earlier

[@SMTMainline]

It must have made this a futuristic locomotive for the time.

[@jasper2185]

@@SMTMainline ha yea

[@MannoulaZ]

@@jasper2185whos nylon

[@MarkHamilton1927]

The best part about restoring an old locomotive is not looking at the final product, yet it is the happiness to see the front( or whatever) lights start to work. It's magical

[@daviddorrell8390]

I see you use brake cleaner. I use WD40 contact cleaner and it seems more plastic friendly. Got this idea from 00Bill who restores British outline locos and is worth a watch. A lot of early Hornby Dublo and Triang had weaker magnets and need re-magnetizing which I do with a magnetizer I bought. I don't know if early US manufacturers had the same problem but this seems strong. I now re-magetize as a matter of course even if the magnet seems strong - it will still reduce the current by 10-15 %. You can halve the current in a weak magnet machine with a re-mag.

[@ta22stcoupe]

Curious to know if you'll be looking into finding or building the '4' in the 2-8-4. I'd love to see this thing completed at some point.

[@rayhuntermusic]

I continue to be amazed at your ability to diagnose and repair issues. Well done!!

[@BeerWineandShine]

The nylon screw that goes into the moter mount is a modification necessary to convert a loco to DCC. Also, looks to be an insulator spacer under the motor to isolate from the chassis. I suspect that at one time, it was DCC, then decoder removed when they sold it.

[@Kongman492]

I was dying laughing at the fact that you were complimenting of how much of a tank the engine is, then the side rod blowing out right after! Much love!

[@SMTMainline]

It is a tank, It didn't break the rod lol

[@jasonthomsen4349]

So cool SMT working your magic again mate

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks

[@briankistner4331]

Bringing back the dead!! Really nice job! I always loved these kind of projects. My best friend once bought a "junk box" of N-Scale engines for like $20. He knew I could get most of them to run and I succeeded with 12 of the 16 in the box. I used parts from the other 4 to repair the other 12.

[@callmebigpapa]

Light looks great. Could you track down Gordon Varney's kids or grandkids and do a Zoom/Facetime interview and put together a list of good questions about him and the company. I think that would add to the hobby greatly and make your channel and that video a reference for future generations.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

Too late the grandchildren and the relatives are mostly all dead now they might remember visiting they would not be able to tell you too much if they were here for you to. Interview. So much model railroading history has been lost because of all of the founders of today's model railroading are all gone.

[@johnrakes7597]

Great running engine. Hope you can find a good 2 axle trailing truck for it. Really enjoy watching you bring engines back to life!

[@johnsterling7420]

The Wizard does it again, great job Harrison.😇👌👍

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

I just bought my first brass locomotive a few weeks ago. It was a Mantua HO scale Western Maryland I-2 class 2-10-0. I bought it from a model train show as scrap for $15 USD.

[@SMTMainline]

Very nice!

[@diegolafuente2308]

Indestructible varney. These are my favorite videos. Congrats Harrison.

[@onionhat9141]

top tier quality for a ho model dating back almost 100 years ago

[@sebastianthecat69]

I really really really love trians

[@CSXFan5496]

Awesome video

[@zanderraymond7570]

Hello I have my grandpa's dcc train it's been sitting our shed for 20 years but it still runs great

[@johnellick7778]

Great job getting that old Varney running back on the tracks again. 👍

[@normancoreyBuildingTrains]

Really nice job getting that Gem up and running.

[@johnnycee5179]

Look at that, ya did it again, good job my man.

[@Rustyrailhead]

Ha, I find it funny that when trying to work on the bulb it at the top of the screen and as it on the edge I am trying to look higher bending my head back when in reality there is nothing that can be done to see over the top.Gee, so much fun with an 80 year old loco.

[@SFCRambo60]

I think you would've been better off using blue Lockite on the screw than CT Glue. But that's my opinion. The glue will break down where the Lockite is made for being around oils and grease.

[@APS_Inc]

Pretty neat to see it just work like that once you cleaned out the contacts. I also like that MR A4 class you have parked on your layout.

[@markwilliams2620]

Blue Loctite. It will hold the threads in place and still allow you to remove the screw if needed. I had to do the same on the Bowser 4-8-2 I bought from Maine Modelworks.

[@dbtech7914]

Really nice engine, and good job on the repair!

[@gregcameron9953]

Awesome layout and love the older engines as well. I still have all my childhood engines and car's from when I first started when I was 8 and 46 now. Got into my teenage year's and inquired antiques then. Unfortunately my hole set is stored for now. One day soon will be starting a new layout and of course invole all my oldies cause we'll they rock lol

[@Guccimanny]

sick!😊

[@dennishagans6339]

The fact that it is running so well after several decades of use and sitting up is a testament to how things were made back then, they were made to last, they were engineered with slide rulers and drafting paper, long before personal computers and cad-cam. Back then people and companies took pride intheir products and work, but back in 1978 when I went to trade school, the instructor told us then, that appliances would only last about 7 years, enter the age of built-in or planned obsolescence where things are literally made to fail 2 days after the warranty goes out. And yes with all of the testing of materials and how they hold up over time it is possible to make stuff last to within days of the warenty running out. the companies brought in younger people to pilot them and they got greedy and wanted a quicker turn around on their sales, and with everyone doing it, brand loyalty is kind of a thing of the past, as switching brands won't help when they are all doing built-in or planned obsolescence. Your new loco runs today because it was engineered to last for a long time, kinda like the old Timex commercial, "Timex takes a licking and keeps on ticking" I went on a service call some years ago, the 5 year old small chest freezer had quit, it was the compressor relay, ah but the 1950s chest freezer on the other wall had never given a minutes trouble, it had rounded corners rather than the newer square blockey corners of the modern junk, imagine that a chest freezer from the 1950s in 1980 something never touched by a service tech. That tells you that before the computer age they could engineer good stuff that would last literally a lifetime, as many of the old appliances were made to last a life time. And because built-in obsolescence is so pervasive today, finding stuff that will last is hard, about the only path there is commercial or industrial You want a washer and dryer to last, go out and by commercial ones made for laundromats, same with refrigerators and freezers, if you want them to last go get commercial ones made for restaurants. yes you will pay out the nose, but they will outlast what you can buy for home use.

[@SMTMainline]

My grandmother has a chest freezer from 1965 and it's still running - It hasn't been serviced once. From what I can tell the over use of plastic and computer parts has made everything junk. Thanks for the tip on buying commercial grade equipment, it's good hear there is still one quality option.

[@kaedenthecsxamtrakandthoma8318]

Thanks for restoring that

[@drosselvonflugel4886]

SMT bringing old stuff back to life.

[@tracksidemike]

Awesome SMT glad you got the locomotive working great👍🏻 excellent video 🚂👍🏻 Enjoy your day today 😎🫵

[@jameskerner7782]

Once again thank you for another interesting video. I know I'm a little late Happy Canada Day!

[@cadenberry]

When’s the next update on the family friend layout???

[@SMTMainline]

Soon, parts and materials have been purchased for it.

[@franksabatine9075]

That is a very kool locomotive , i love the look of it

[@sgtshultz13]

Got to love the old iron. They were built to last.

[@antonbruce1241]

Those old Varney locos were TANKS!!! You could run them into a wall and they'd STILL run like crazy. Harrison - another darned fine re-work to get her going again!!!! And she is QUITE THE PULLER!!!!

[@SMTMainline]

They're pretty solid, I can imagine at the time they must have been second to non.

[@antonbruce1241]

@@SMTMainline I don't have any Varney in my collection, but I have seen them in the collections of others. And those people swear by them.

[@MygrandpasTrain]

That looks anything but creepy! Beautiful running locomotive! Just did a similar Mantua from1948 and it runs just as good! Would you consider painting it?

[@StealthFB22]

Most things made back in the day were built to last! Spare no expense.

[@SMTMainline]

For sure. I'm still amazed that rod didn't bend under the impact of stopping the entire train.

[@randydobson1863]

hello smt mainline its is randy and i like yours is cool thanks and super cool creepy 1939 varney ho locomotive thanks friends randy

[@brand-x7049]

If you can find it, CRC Lectra-Motive cleaner is safe for most plastics and electrical bits.

[@beare55]

Have two of these, love them.

[@ginaklein8964]

Really enjoyed those "rail fanning" shots!!!

[@RichardBough-yk2ei]

Watching from Australia very interesting good job

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for watching

[@elleryparsons2433]

You do Awsome At that Harrison Don’t stop Doing What you are Doing.👍

[@elleryparsons2433]

Keep up your Passion with Model Railroading👍👍👍👍.

[@erikthepirate8068]

Wow! Awesome Steam Locomotive!

[@ddyodaman5515]

Nothing like the non throw away products of days gone by!

[@railfanjeremiah8654]

Nice locomotive 👍

[@oskarvalance3041]

Impressive. Most impressive. Another runner.

[@kaedenthecsxamtrakandthoma8318]

That looks so cool it will be good in a live stream

[@pavil58yt]

That's a good looking engine.

[@mynx_uk]

stunning.

[@Hernik_der_Herzhaft]

Great Video! loved the revival

[@frugalterrier8124]

The old Berk sounds like the box cab electrics that used to pull commuter trains on the Montreal-Deux Montanges line!

[@alanwbelcher]

Another great save, Harrison!

[@MattKonsol]

Very nice review and restoration on it I’ll tell you it is definitely a runner plus Ill called this an awesome success for a 1939 ho scale Berkshire steam locomotive even though the rod had come loose sadly it’s still kickin as I said and Anyways serenity!!

[@clemenssokob1892]

Hi . Good Job. Lokomotive Missing the Back to Achsel Boogie. All In all a nice old Steam engine. Could bei a Challenger class. Greetings Front Clemens in Vienna Austria.

[@markharrison3445]

I don't even run HO but I love watching your videos. Keep it up!!

[@SMTMainline]

Glad you like them!

[@jesikebiking]

Being that old of an engine =it's probably a 3 pole motor seems to run pretty good the make being the reason it runs so good

[@carolynmarshall5435]

Amazing work next project may be cleaning the shell and add back boogey wheel

[@mercuryoak2]

What a beautiful model. I bet that will come out of more freight cars than the 13 you have. The quality reminds me of Mantua Pacifics and mikados that I have. The Pacific's can haul as advertised 15 freight cars but they can haul more than that. I used about 21 myself and that's on semi level track. I think on level track it could haul at least 30 freight cars and the Mikado locomotive could do at least 30-40 on level track which is estimated. The varney brand I have yet to have except I think I have a freight car that is varney. Awesome restoration

[@strobson1]

Great video Harrison with aloha

[@jcure]

Hey Harrison, this is going to be a weird message but. Our Pal P. Waco was on a fishing trip in the channel Islands off the Calif. coast and the boat sank! Yes everyone is OK, another fishing boat and the US coast guard came quickly to the rescue. Anyway I wanted to let you know. There is a vid on his channel. I can't share a link but it's the most recent one. Put up today (thurs) just has #329 He got banged up as they struck a rock hard, you might drop him a note wishing him well/glad he's oK. I know it would cheer the sucker up! Anyway, have a good one. Just passing that along. Hope this isn't an over-share lol

[@SMTMainline]

That must have been pretty scary, I'll be sure to send him a message

[@jorgef.abrillt.2541]

Felicitaciones, que buen trabajo, la locomotora espectacular, saludos desde Arequipa, Perú 🇵🇪

[@CBUS_RR_KING]

yeesh, she's in bad shape but a cool locomotive!

[@w.rustylane5650]

I would have taken the time to switch the incandescent bulb to LED with a dropping (ballast) resistor. Serenity! We have a runner! Cheers from eastern TN

[@SMTMainline]

They never look right on older locomotives, I know they get the light closer each year but it's still not the same.

[@amyreynolds3619]

Welcome to the high end brass owner

[@thomasmoroney4993]

Always wanted a brass train..but couldn’t afford it…pretty cool!

[@patrickwamsley3284]

I have a pair of both varney B&O C16 docksiders and (technically) SP T31 ten wheelers for projects. I'm converting the two ten wheelers into NKP P2 class engines. They're noisy runners but still quite reliable runners. I have NWSL repower kits for them.

[@kaedenthecsxamtrakandthoma8318]

2:16 that trolley looks so cute

[@SMTMainline]

It was $20 bucks and has been great for the money.

[@snowdiddley7390]

What beauty.

[@zhaolaogong]

I got my first Varney in 1957. I can’t find where varney made a Berkshire, but your locomotive could be an L & N Mikado 2-8-2

[@charamspaint]

Might as well, just for kicks, make it a 2-8-6 (if you can, of course)

[@charlesbard2331]

The 284 locomotives were called mountains but the new York Central 284s Were called mohawks....