Lionel 6119 Caboose

[FooieJones]

Anyone ever see one in this color configuration? I've seen many on eBay and in train shows over the years, but none like this. To the best of my knowledge, my father purchased it new in the eraly 60's.

[Stourbridge Lion]

FooieJones - Welcome to Trains.com!

[TrainLarry]

 Your variation is 6119-100 made between 1957 and 1966 with either an unpainted red cab, or the more valuable painted red cab version.

Larry

[FooieJones]

It's the unpainted version.

Actually, it's the grey frame I was referring to. I've never seen one with a red cab. Maybe someone was kit-bashing back in the early 60's.

[TrainLarry]

Could be a rare variation, or maybe a dealer put one together from parts.

Larry

[teledoc]

Depending on where your father purchased this caboose, it is not rare at all.  If it came from a Hobby Store, or Lionel Dealer, it is actually a 6119-75 frame Type I or Type A which is San-Serif lettering on a gray frame.  The 6119-75 is the only one with a gray frame, and someone put a RED cab (6119-100) on the frame.  The Cab is actually mounted wrong, and should be turned around with roof overhang facing toward the back.  That is the clue that someone replaced the Gray Cab with a 6119-100 Red Cab.  If left alone, it is nothing more than a good conversation piece.  If you wanted to make it correct, you could purchase a correct Gray Cab, and make it a true 6119-75.

6119-25 Orange frame, box, cab

6119-50 Brown completely

6119-75 gray completely, rarity San Serif lettering common, close spaced Serif lettering rare

6119-100 Black frame, gray box, red cab with rarity in "Built by Lionel" stamped on cab

Hope this clears it up for you.

Teledoc (Jerry)

[FooieJones]

Good catch on the cab mounted backwards, Jerry! I actually like the way it looks.

I had  a feeling that it was not original. I have home movies from the early 60's of me running that caboose. For sentimental reasons, I'll probably leave it as it is.   

[lionelnut]

I have one like it but it has a black frame.  It is nice and lite weight so I use it with my burro crane.  Some day I would like to add a light and spoke unit to it.  We will see.

Harold