How Old Is Your Oldest "Working" Locomotive?


M

Marlin338MX

Well-Known Member
Just curious to know how old some of your locomotives are that are still running. I always see some old "vintage" or "new old stock" locomotives for sale, and it seems that some of them are priced a little on the high end compared to a newly manufactured locomotive. I'm always hesitant to buy the older locomotives because of what I saw happen with my dad's NOS locomotives. Many of them either didn't run at all, or they ran so poorly that I couldn't get them to run properly. And on the other hand, some of his older NOS locos run great. In my limited experience, it doesn't seem to matter what brand the loco is. For example, I have 2 Bachmann Spectrum F40PH Amtrak locos from my dad's collection. One of them works great after sitting in storage for over 20 years. The other one didn't run at all, and needed a new motor and some other parts from Bachmann customer service, but it runs like new now.

Also, do you have any tips on maintaining them to keep them running reliably, to maybe pass them on to the next generation?

All of my dad's steam engines either don't run at all, or they run very poorly. My older Mantua F7 Union Pacific loco runs great, as well as several other older locos.
 
Marlin338MX said:
For example, I have 2 Bachmann Spectrum F40PH Amtrak locos from my dad's collection. One of them works great after sitting in storage for over 20 years. The other one didn't run at all, and needed a new motor and some other parts from Bachmann customer service, but it runs like new now.
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That could probably be due to the condition they were in before they were put into storage. Not necessarily the storage time itself.

My oldest running locomotive is the very first locomotive I ever got. An HO-scale AHM 4-4-0 from the 1967 I believe.

reno.jpg
 
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I have some Athearn Blue Box locomotives that are over 35 years old and still run. However they are no longer in active service; having been displaced by newer Genesis, Kato and ScaleTrains models. The old ones are on static display in various locations on the layout, but they still run. They reside on storage tracks at either the diesel repair complex; or the diesel servicing facility. The oldest are either GP50's or GP35's. They all have the flywheel drive and not the rubber band drives. The oldest regularly run locos are P2K from the late 90's.
 
santafewillie said:
I have some Athearn Blue Box locomotives that are over 35 years old and still run. However they are no longer in active service; having been displaced by newer Genesis, Kato and ScaleTrains models. The old ones are on static display in various locations on the layout, but they still run. They reside on storage tracks at either the diesel repair complex; or the diesel servicing facility. The oldest are either GP50's or GP35's. They all have the flywheel drive and not the rubber band drives. The oldest regularly run locos are P2K from the late 90's.
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Not running your Blue Boxes is a crime in many jurisdictions. lol
 
Even have some die cast Athern I believe, brands that I have and can think of
Penn line, OK Streem liners, Lionel,Marx, Varney, Red Ball,Athern,Roundhouse,Ambroid,Ye Old Huff&Puff,and I’m sure ones I’m forgetting Oh yes. Arbor models started in Syracuse NY or close to it. My grandfather helped build the display models that were sent out for display. I still have a bunch of nos parts for them
 
My Varney "Casey Jones" is the 1962 K shell upgrade with the newer stock motor, but the better solid wheels from a 1955 model. This is my main road locomotive.

My main switcher was made in 1992 by Walthers. It was purchased new old stock in 2019, runs very smooth. EMD SW-1.

I also run a Riverosi 0-6-0 tank loco, a dependable and smooth runner.
 
Many of my locomotives are far older than me. My oldest by far is a Bowser Challenger, circa 1948, still has the original motor and runs quite well. The next oldest locomotives are a brass Tetsudo NYC J1 4-6-4 from 1958 and a brass Continental Models SP E-27 class 4-4-0, also from 1958. The 4-4-0 was upgraded by a previous owner with a large Canon can motor. I also have a number of brass engines from the 1960s. All run quite well.
 
When I restarted the hobby in '18, I had nothing from any of my previous layouts. If I had any of that equipment I might not have built a European layout this time.

I have one locomotive from around 2010+/-, a Roco Br.111 850 Jahr München Anniversary Celebration billboard livery from Deutsche Bahn. It was a consignment sale from a Euro dealer near Chicago. All other locomotives and Triebwagens are newer products.
 
Marlin338MX said:
Just curious to know how old some of your locomotives are that are still running. I always see some old "vintage" or "new old stock" locomotives for sale, and it seems that some of them are priced a little on the high end compared to a newly manufactured locomotive. I'm always hesitant to buy the older locomotives because of what I saw happen with my dad's NOS locomotives. Many of them either didn't run at all, or they ran so poorly that I couldn't get them to run properly. And on the other hand, some of his older NOS locos run great. In my limited experience, it doesn't seem to matter what brand the loco is. For example, I have 2 Bachmann Spectrum F40PH Amtrak locos from my dad's collection. One of them works great after sitting in storage for over 20 years. The other one didn't run at all, and needed a new motor and some other parts from Bachmann customer service, but it runs like new now.

Also, do you have any tips on maintaining them to keep them running reliably, to maybe pass them on to the next generation?

All of my dad's steam engines either don't run at all, or they run very poorly. My older Mantua F7 Union Pacific loco runs great, as well as several other older locos.
Click to expand...
My oldest locomotive is a Lionel 2035 steamer from the 1940s
 
The oldest locomotive I have is my father’s brass challenger (second shelf from top). All of these locomotives run but they are all DC power and my switching layout is DCC. Plus it would look a little weird running an almost two foot locomotive on a main that is only seven feet. He bought it probably late 50’s early 60’s.

IMG_2296.jpeg
 
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