Lionel 45N Gateman

[KEN MASON]

My wife and I went out to some garage sales this past Saturday and one of our stops was at a local pawn shop storage warehouse where they were having a clearance sale. We found this all metal gateman with no price tag on it so I took a chance and made a $5.00 offer. They accepted it right away. I did not know very much about it at the time, but I liked it and even if it didn't work, it would be a neat addition to my small Lionel collection. When I got home I did some research to find out what it is. It has no markings on the top or bottom, but I still believe it to be a pre-war 45N Gateman. If anyone can tell me for sure or can tell me it is NOT a 45N, please let me know.

To top it off, it DOES work. Even the red bulb works that shines up from underneath to illuminate the lantern.

All in all, I think it was a good find for a rookie Lionel collector and model train enthuisiast.

Below are a few pictures of it.

 

[8ntruck]

Looks like an old one, all right.  However, the 'Railroad Crossing' sign being cross bucks rather than a diamond shaped sign mark it as being a little newer.  Might be late pre-war or early post-war.

Good find.

[Tootle]

Not a bad deal for five bucks.

Check out the following:

http://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_45n_acc.htm

 

[tinplatacis]

I would say probably a 45, because the 45N is a bit harder to find, but is almost identical

[Penny Trains]

The simplest way to tell them apart is all prewar gateman shacks had a chimney and postwar gatemen did not.  Since the roof on yours shows no sign of ever having had a chimney it's a valid clue.

But of course, roofs can be replaced very easily.  So here are a few short facts about prewar and early postwar gatemen.

Type

1. 1935, ivory shack,brass diamond sign on aluminum painted girder pole with either nickel or brass finial.
2. 1936 changes were made to sign lettering.
3. 1937 45 and O45 dropped in favor of 45N, girder pole replaced with solid pole painted gray.
4. 1938 pole changed from gray to aluminum.
5. 1939 die cast crossbuck replaces diamond sign, silver decal with "No. 45" in blue started to be affixed to coalbox lid.
6. 1940 pole changed back to gray, figure simplified to have only one swinging arm and less hand painting.
7. 1941 pole changed to aluminum, building changed to white, red door, black finial.
8. 1942 pole back to gray, white door, embossed coalbox lid, brass diamond sign returns (probably to use up old stock after wartime restrictions went into effect).
9. 1946-1949 white shack, red door, white crossbock, no chimney, no embossing or decal on coalbox lid.

The 1950 and beyond gatemen had a plastic shack and used the 309-29 plastic crossbuck with a die cast base in place of the much taller signs of the prewar years.

Source: The Standard Catalog of Lionel Trains 1900-1942 and 1945-1969 by David Doyle.

Becky

[KEN MASON]

After reading everyone's replys and looking at the links, I tend to think it is the post-war 1948 version. Of course I am happy with whatever year it is. Thanks to everyone for their comments and expertise.

 

[boiler47]

 

I picked up an automatic gateman several years ago at a train show.  Based on your chart Penny,  mine is the 1946-1949 version, Thank you for the information.

Michael