Recent content by Mixed Freight

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  1. M

    TOFC Thursday

    Thanks! Glad you like it. Picked it up at a train show a handful of years ago. Wasn't even looking for anything like it, but after eyeballing it several times as I wandered up and down the aisles, something about it kept saying..........."take me home". I finally succumbed!😊 And you thought...
  2. M

    TOFC Thursday

    Here's a few items I currently have on my layout............... Got other items too, but they're stashed away somewhere, of course.
  3. M

    Can you convert Kusan 2-rail O gauge models to 3-rail operation?

    How about this idea for converting to 3-rail...................... K-Line Army Train Set I believe K-Line may have been the last big user of the old Kusan tooling. Here's one pic from the ad............. Notice any similarities to the Atomic Train?
  4. M

    Can you convert Kusan 2-rail O gauge models to 3-rail operation?

    The Kusan locos in your link pic's look to be spitting images of Lionel's postwar Alco FA1 locos. It may be possible just to buy some used Lionel FA1's and do a shell swap. Keep in mind, early postwar Lionel Alco's had cast metal frames, and their later postwar FA1's had stamped sheet metal...
  5. M

    How do you fill in the grooves for traction tires if you don't want them any more?

    Another possibility for ultra-cheap replacement of traction tires............... I recently fixed a guy's HO scale 4-axle diesel loco for him. He reported that it had recently started making a r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r sound while running down the tracks on his layout. Cracked gear(s), per chance...
  6. M

    Lionel What was I thinking?

    Great explanation, Louis! I just wanted to add for the benefit of other folks out there, virtually this same explanation holds true for 3-rail O-gauge too, where "O-scale" is more of a suggestion rather than an strict mandate.
  7. M

    Lionel What was I thinking?

    Absolutely! Right on the money! The bigger the radius, the better. No matter what scale you choose. And the same goes true for with switches (turnouts). The bigger the radius (or number) that you have room for, the better your trains will operate! Yes, that's the universal remote! Although...
  8. M

    Lionel What was I thinking?

    Hi Louis and Mr. Steve, I'm fairly confident that a Lionel Universal Remote will run everything that Steve has, seeing as how it appears to be all newer production (LionChief Plus 2.0 and later). At around $55.00~$65.00 or thereabouts price point, it would be more than affordable enough to...
  9. M

    Sawdust? What can I use for HO sawdust?

    You might try...................... A rectangular slab of pink foam to fit in each trailer. Carve the top of it to look like a pile of sawdust, then sand smooth with a fine grit sandpaper (say around 240 grit or so). Lastly, paint it with an appropriate sawdust color of cheap acrylic craft...
  10. M

    Conway Arkansas Train Show, August 22&23rd 2026

    Rats, a little too far away for me to attend. Some pic's and/or videos would be nice, if you or someone could swing it! 🙂👍
  11. M

    Decal source

    K4 Decals is good source. Lots of road names and scales available. I've purchased quite a few from them over the past several years. Matter of fact, I'm working on painting and decaling a Lionel Standard 'O' box car (true 1/48 scale) right now. K4 Decals Note for 3-rail O-gaugers: For...
  12. M

    Lionel 224 steam engine, questions on motor and tender

    Same here. In addition to re-facing the armature from my 1655 loco, I also ended up refurbishing the E-unit. The finger tips, while not bent, were darn near worn through right at their drum contact point. Every last finger on this particular unit! I cut some new tips from some .005" or .006"...
  13. M

    Lionel 224 steam engine, questions on motor and tender

    Glad you found your problem. Excellent E-unit repair video by Grampy's Lionel Trains. I like his videos, they're generally straight and to the point. In lieu of the pry bar shown in the video, I use a Mini 4" End Cutter-Nipper, which you should be able to find anywhere that sells tools...
  14. M

    Lionel 224 steam engine, questions on motor and tender

    Check the field coil (the windings on the motor frame) for continuity. Check the field coil wires where they are soldered to other wires or frame ground, to make sure they are making good contact. Also, make sure ALL the fingers on the E-unit are lightly touching the rotating drum. Be very...
  15. M

    Lionel 224 steam engine, questions on motor and tender

    Good points. I'm starting to think that with Blk6999's level of experience, your advice may be a far better route for him to take for now. Like you say, playing with wheel removal can wait for another day. A simple cleaning of the commutator faces and brush holders (tubes) should go a long...
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