600 series vs 800 series?

[Michael6268]

Can someone tell me the difference between the 600 series freight cars and the 800 series freight cars? They all look almost the same.

[pennytrains]

Size.  There are 3.  The 810 series are A LOT bigger than both the 800's and the 600's.  In fact, there's some conjecture among historians that the Standard Gauge #8 locomotive shell may originally have been intended to be used in both the Standard Gauge line and also as the O Gauge #256.  The final 256 is quite large, but still smaller than the 8 which was paired with 500 series freight and 300 series passenger cars.

The 800 series on the other hand, ARE the same size as the 600's except they only have 4, frame mounted wheels where the 600's have trucks.  The 800's were used in Lionel Junior and O27 sets aimed at the budget conscious consumer.  While the 810's were used in Lionel's best and most expensive O Gauge sets.

[pennytrains]

PS the third size Lionel cars in the prewar era were the Ives derived 1600 and 2600 series freights.

[Michael6268]

Thanks Penny !