Bill - Great you finally found one. What is your special attraction to it?

Very nice.

Congratulations, Bill.

Thanks for all the great comments!

seatrains- You are right, I wanted to make sure that it didn't have damage in the areas that I can't fix: body and paint.

I've also got the 350's covered! I have 351-354 cars to put along side it in the display case. Although I might sell them to fund for more buying!

Thanks,
Bill

Hi Bill,
Nice one!
I know, as I have just completed re-assembly of two of them, including a VK version (like yours)
Looks like you are missing a couple of springs under the bogie(s) and I am not sure (from the pics) it has the manual reversing handle .
Looks like the motor (looking at the position of the brush holders) might not be 100% seated right.
Also this version had blackened brush holder AFAIK
In any case Ritter does have the replacement parts, including wheels (excellent quality, believe me)
If you have difficulties getting parts from Ritter (they are slow and do not respond quickly to emails, if ever)let me know: I am a regular customer of theirs, that helps!
Ever since I have started visiting, they have done a great job for me!
Marklinistically,

Very nice collection, Bill.

Hi Bill,
In fact it could be the motor assembly that doesn't sit completely tight and square on the chassis (Fahrwerk).
The gears might not mesh correctly either.
The manufacturing tolerances were not as tight in those days and the material has a tendency to swell (I am not kidding) while absorbing humidity from the ambience and creates small cristals inside (zinc and aluminum sulfate) that take more space than the metal grains.
After trying to seal off the surface, one can attempt to correct the small dimensional doscrepancies with careful filing etc.
After many years of trial and errors (mostly the latter...[B)]) I think now it is possible to restore almost all of them to cosmetic and mechanical conformity.
After working on my clients' loks for many years, I am now concentrating on my own pile of old stuff and give it a new life, getting close to the full content of the 1949 HO catalog
(Bill you *must* know what that means )
My restored oldies in the display case are all in full functional condition.
My next projet is a T800 with a pulverized body, shot wheels and missing drive rods...
Will keep you guys and girls posted!
Marklin-obsessionally yours[:p]

Hi nev,
That is absolutely right.
It was a big stress to know that my stuff was somewhere on the Atlantic during hurricane season...
The only carry-on that I kept with me at all time was my precious RE 800 in its original box.
Thank God all is here, nothing was lost nor damaged.
I guess I'll take some of the credit: it took me three months to carefully pack and inventorize everything!
The house here is being remodelled, essentially to accomodate more display cases and build my dream layout, so only a small fraction of the collection is in the display case at any time.
I rotate the objects on a regular basis...just for the enjoyment of manipulating them.
If anyone is interested I can post pics of the current exhibits.
Yes, I *am* obsessed with my trains!
BTW if anyone is ever in the area, there is always a cold beer in the fridge for Marklinisten!
Just if you wonder "What's he doing in his free time?" here's the answer:



Steamin' all along

OK, I'll start a new topic to post some pics of the current "exhibits"
While I upload the pics, here are two views from the SK800 VK that I just finished restoring




And it runs like a Swiss watch....

Wow!

Thanks for the pictures! You have a very nice collection! I felt like I was looking at the 1950 D catalog!

Amazing! You own every train I have and many more! We have very similar interests.

I like most your 354 J and HS 800.


Thanks,
Bill

Very good, jvuye.