Info on a Lionel 242 Steam Engine

[Anonymous]

I have a Lionel 242 Steam engine with it's tender. It's part of a set that was my Dad's. It has a brown flat car, a red flat car that launched something( whatever was launched from it has been lost), a red Van Camp's Pork and Beans box car, and a red caboose. We have the track and the transformer to run it and it works realy good. My brother and I have lots of fun with it. We would like to know how old it is. The best my Dad can tell me is it's from the early 60's. I think it's fairly common but would like to know more information about it. Anything anyone could tell me would be much appreciated. Thanks and Merry Christmas.font=Comic Sans MS][/font=Comic Sans MS]

[lionelsoni]

Check this out:
http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=242

[phillyreading]

Hello! I need more information before I can tell you you about that set, what are the numbers on the: side of the locomotive, bottom of the tender, sides or bottom of the freight cars. Without numbers or photos I have no way tell tell you anything!
you can email me at: [e-mail] or get back with me at the forum here.

[Jumijo]

If I'm not mistaken, the 242 was a plastic bodied Scout loco. Not very collectible/valuable monetarilly speaking, but as a keepsake from your dad's childhood, it is worth it's weight in gold. Have fun with your 242 set and pass it on to your kids someday.

Jim

[jschmid]

rickytickytavy,

The cars you have match the ones that came in train outfit 19142 or 19142-100 from 1962. This was a promotional outfit offered to Van Camp customers who sent in a Stokely Van Camp Pork and Beans label and $11.95 back in 1962. Lionel made a lot of these outfits and is a fairly common outfit.

The consists of these outfits were:

242 - Steam Engine $46
1060T - Tender
3309 - Turbo Missile car $50 (With 2 white missiles)
6406 - Flat with Auto $70 (with Red Auto)
6050 - Van Camp Car $45 (also listed as 638-2361)
6067 - Caboose $5

The value of each car is based on condition as listed in Greenbergs 2006 price guide, and is listed for Excellent condition above. If your cars are in worse shape, they would receive less. Also note, that Excellent implies that the cars are complete, i.e. with the red auto for the flat and the white turbo missiles for the 3309.

If you had the outfit box (brown stamped 19142 or 19142-100) that would bring a premium as you would then have the complete outfit.

Otherwise, I agree with jaabat...it likely has more setimental value and I'd probably hand on to it.

Hope that helps,

John
www.projectroar.com

[overall]

I have one of these. It was the first electric train I ever had. My parents ordered it using a label from a Van Camps pork and bean can label. This one started it all for me.

George