Lionel Clear Plastic Tender

[Russ D]

I recently picked up a Lionel PW 6020W tender at a train show.The Lionel Lines had been blacked out with some flat black paint and I attempted to use some brake fluid to get to the original black factory finish.Well I must have been a little too aggressive with my toothbrush and cut thru the factory black paint.Lo and behold this is a clear plastic tender.Does anyone know the history or reasoning behind the clear plastic production.I have heard of tank cars and the like but was there ever a clear shell production of any PW pieces cataloged or uncataloged.

[Anonymous]

Russ,

         That's actually common to find an item molded in clear plastic.  Most 3656 cattle cars for example are clear under their orange paint.

[TRAINCAT]

Many post war pieces were molded in clear, and many other mixes of colors. I have a tender here too that was molded in clear. I have seen complete train sets, with the exception of the engine, molded in clear. Generally, someone stripped the paint off them.

Roger

[rtraincollector]

My 2454 PRR Baby ruth boxcar also has a clear shell painted orange.