Post-War Lionel Gallery

Post by **paulrace** » Fri Dec 18, 2015 8:03 pm

The expansion set looks like it uses the original molds; is that you're impression? Great photo, by the way!

winced36 · Post by **winced36** » Fri Dec 18, 2015 9:20 pm

Yup, it's the same basic set of postwar O-27 passenger cars Lionel has been flogging for sixty years or so. Williams (now Williams-by-Bachmann) makes a similar set. They are the classic postwar small passenger cars. The next step up would be the extruded aluminum cars, but they won't handle O-27 curves.

These North Pole Central cars have elves in the windows...I never noticed that until one of the kids from our neighborhood pointed that out. Who says they're not paying attention?

Paul II

Post by **paulrace** » Sun Dec 20, 2015 7:17 am

I think the North Pole Expansion set was in development at least before the recent recession, but Lionel has come out of the recession with a vengeance, lots of new starter sets and a few very nice individual locomotives, etc. Still I like seeing the old molds used for new things.

javinda · Post by **javinda** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 5:23 am

Hi-- a friend of mine is converting old transparencies to real photos--here's a nice closeup of a 1950's Lionel train with Plasticville accessories https://www.flickr.com/photos/39527581@N07/23615437080/

winced36 · Post by **winced36** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:38 pm

Very nice Javinda...love the fencing. I'd like to find some nice fencing for an around-the-tree layout. My grandfather had some nice cast-iron fence he used around his garden...not sure whatever happened to that.

My kid, the nuclear engineer, gave me this for Christmas:

This is the 2002 re-issue of the 1960-61 Lionel 3535 AEC security caboose. Now with a glow-in-the-dark cab, can't wait to get this on the track.

Hope you guys all had a great Christmas!

Paul II

Post by **paulrace** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 2:05 pm

Thanks, Paul, the Races did! Happy New Year to you!

winced36 · Post by **winced36** » Tue May 17, 2016 9:59 am

A lot of folks over the years devote a segment of their collection to a specific item or type of item. Lionel's 6464-series boxcars is one of those items that people find interesting. Lots of variations, lots of bright colors, they are a fun item to chase. They are so popular that Lionel reintroduced the series back over the last twenty-five years or so, now with updated trucks/wheels and freshened colors/graphics.

Here's a nice example of the recent production, a 6464-275 State of Maine I picked up from Catoctin Mountain Trains a few years before they closed:

The 6464-275 was originally manufactured in 1955 and again between 1957-1959. Both the postwar originals and the newer updates are readily available, and most of the original postwar versions can, with a few exceptions, be found at reasonable prices.

They look great on the track, but can be even more impressive up on the shelf en masse.

Paul II

winced36 · Post by **winced36** » Tue May 24, 2016 4:13 pm

The Lionel 6473 Operating Horse-Transport car (1962-1966, 1969) is a favorite with the kids. It has a pair of white horses and a pair of brown horses whose heads bob back and forth out the side openings. A really simple, ingenious device. This one has an operating coupler at one end and a fixed non-operating coupler at the other end. Even as things wound down Lionel could still muster a bit of fun from the catalog.

Paul II

Post by **paulrace** » Wed Jun 08, 2016 7:40 am

My kids' favorite action car was the mail car, not because it worked, but because trying to find the "mail bag" after it was thrown across the room was sort of a game. Thanks for posting, Paul

- Paul

winced36 · Post by **winced36** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 3:18 pm

My favorite operating car, hands down, is the American Flyer baggage/RPO car...picks up a mail-bag and kicks one out, every time, rarely if ever misses. I remember watching that car for hours. Lionel never quite seemed to replicate that level of operational reliability (neither did the post office, come to think of it)...

Lionel must have made ten bzillion of the Lehigh Valley two-bay hoppers in black...here's one from the 1960's in red:

An operating coupler on on end and a fixed coupler at the other.

Paul II