Stuff I like – Postwar no. 1 (Lionel no. 6250 Seaboard Air Line NW2 switcher)

My no. 6250 ia literally a lifelong pal!

I had a terrific uncle. He was the manager of a store that originated as a tire shop, but eventually turned into a regional chain called Moore’s. It was branded as an automotive store, but by the time the chain folded in the 1970s, you could go in, buy a tire, a shotgun, a refrigerator, basic household electrical appliances, lawn furniture, and of course, at Christmastime, electric trains.

 He gave me my first train set in 1955 and added to it every year. Around 1967 (about the time Lionel was in its final years of production) his store stopped carrying O gauge trains and he was a little embarrassed to admit it to me. I told him that if he could just find me some more track, that would be great. And he did. From my perspective at the time, more would have been nice, but I had plenty of equipment t keep me busy! Besides, I was the only kid I knew with Lionel gear, everyone save for that Flyer guy, Marty Lakes, had HO.

 Make no doubt, the 6250 was the King of my railroad. The longest freights (about 10 cars) or the fastest passenger train (made up by my two 2400s and a caboose) always had this baby at the point. My Lionel no. 41 switcher or my trusty 2-6-4 handled routine freight.

 The striking (and strikingly unauthentic) orange and blue paint scheme really stood out. And the railroad was an air line? How crazy was that? It even had what I now know was a “factory error” – one of the Seaboard logos was partially torn when it was decorated. But hey, it didn’t matter to me. This bad boy could move the cargo!

Who knew I was playing with a factory error!?

 Around 1969 it all went into boxes, only seeing the light of day in the 80s and 90s when military contractors insisted on repacking them for this or that household goods move. When it came out of the box for the last time in the early 1990s, the radio antenna was still intact, but it sure looked like I had fun with it back in he day. I never remembered handling it that roughly. Oh, wait. It did punch through Lincoln Logs barricades more than once to deliver the goods. So maybe I did.

 After a twenty-year slumber, the first time I hit it with juice it was a bit sluggish, but it still moved! And I had a smile as broad as if I’d won a solid gold Hudson! – Bob

 P.S. Let me give a shout out to Rene, who Flarped the 6250 into presentable shape for this blog post!