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How to Care for a Lionel Train

The Lionel-branded trains owe their longevity to an all-metal construction and attention to detail that is not found in the train sets sold today. You can care for a Lionel train, such as a locomotive, by keeping it thoroughly clean and properly lubricated. You will need a few cleaning supplies from a hobby store, but no mechanical skills to keep the Lionel locomotive in good, running condition. The hours that spent using the Lionel locomotive in your model railroad will be all the reward needed for taking care of it on a regular basis.

Things You'll Need

Soft cloth
Mixing bowl
Distilled water
Measuring cup
Spoon
Dishwashing liquid
Lint-free cloths
Lionel lubricant
Train cleaner fluid
Train lubricant

Instructions

- 1
  Set a soft cloth on a work surface. Put the Lionel locomotive on the soft cloth right side up.
- 2
  Measure eight ounces of distilled water into a mixing bowl and add two drops of dishwashing liquid. Stir the mixture.
- 3
  Moisten an edge of a lint-free cloth in the mixing bowl. Wipe off the sides, front and back of the Lionel locomotive with the moistened edge of the lint-free cloth.
- 4
  Moisten a dry edge of the lint-free cloth with Lionel lubricant. Wipe the top of the Lionel locomotive with the moistened edge of the lint-free cloth. Do the same for the bottom of the locomotive.
- 5
  Moisten a dry edge of the lint-free cloth with the Lionel lubricant. Wipe off the sides, front and back of the Lionel locomotive.
- 6
  Let the Lionel locomotive dry off for an hour. Dispose of the lint-free cloth.
- 7
  Moisten a cotton swab in the Lionel lubricant. Swirl the moistened cotton swab inside of the Lionel locomotive̵7;s smokestack. Dispose of the cotton swab.
- 8
  Set the Lionel locomotive on its side on the soft cloth. Moisten the edge of a lint-free cloth with train cleaner fluid. Wipe off the electrical contacts on the bottom of the Lionel locomotive with the moistened edge of the lint free cloth. Let the Lionel locomotive dry off for 10 minutes.
- 9
  Stand the Lionel locomotive bottom up on the soft cloth. Apply drops of train lubricant to all of the exposed moving parts on the bottom of the Lionel locomotive. Wait 10 minutes.
- 10
  Stand the Lionel locomotive right side up on the soft cloth. Cover the Lionel locomotive with a lint free cloth to keep dust off of it. Leave the Lionel locomotive alone until you want to use it again.

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