Starting in the September 1994 issue of CTT's, Michael Connor wrote a series on "cheap " collectible classics. The first issue focused on 027 single dome tank cars. This was followed in proceeding issues by scout 8" long box cars, short hoppers & gondolas, and ending with cabooses. I've just got one tank car to go to complete this series (no it's not the 16114 Hooker). This has been great fun and mostly "cheap". Can't wait to move onto the the box cars.
Thanks Mike for having written this series. It's added immensely to my "having fun with trains".
Papa-D
24 March 2013 I'm adding this summary to assist anyone interested in collecting this series of "cheap" classic 8" single dome tank cars. The original “cheap” classic article consists of the following 9 single dome tank cars:
9050 Sunoco Yellow ’70, ‘71
9051 Firestone White ’74, ’75, ‘78
9036 Mobilgas White ’78 – ‘82
9039 Mobilgas Red (U) ’78, ‘80
6308 Alaska Blue ’82, ‘83
16108 Racing Fuel Yellow (U) ‘89
16111 Alaska White ’90, ‘91
16114 Hooker Black ‘91
16129 Alaska Black ’93, ‘94
The following two are un-catalogued items are not included in the original article but I’ve included in this thread:
16147 Clearly Canadian White (U) ‘94
16149 ZEP Yellow (U) ‘95
Lastly the following is also un-catalogued but based on price is excluded from the “cheap” classic category:
52029 Ford Black (U) ‘94
Photo's if you please...
No point in bragging about your treasures if you don't show them to us...
Railroad Crossings: Thinning the gene pool daily!
Green Streak RR Photo's if you please... No point in bragging about your treasures if you don't show them to us...
bragging about your treasures ????
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Papa_D ... The first issue focused on 027 single dome tank cars.... I've just got one tank car to go to complete this series (no it's not the 9051 Hooker).
... The first issue focused on 027 single dome tank cars....
I've just got one tank car to go to complete this series (no it's not the 9051 Hooker).
I'm into "cheap classic's" myself & don't have deep pockets to buy the "Collector" cars, so
"cheap Classic's" are" treasure's" to me. I would love to see Papa_D's collection...
My reply was""tongue in cheek".. or did you miss the wink smiley?
I love the "scout" series cars, especially the "plug door" boxcars. Somehow smaller engines like a 2018 or 2036 look so much more massive with a string of shorter cars behind them. They're a great size for small layouts. And I remember the series of articles, I was sad to see it end!
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
First time at posting photos, hope this works.
I'll start with the 9050 Sunoco tank car. It was the first one released in the modren era in 1970. Other than the plastic frame, it is very similar to the post-war 6015 Sunoco Tank Car. In the Sept '94 CTT article its price is listed as $20 in mint condition. It is fairly common and can still be purchased for about the same price. Remember part of collecting cheap classics is not over paying!
The next two are the Mobilgas tank cars released in 1978; numbers 9036 and 9039. From my experience these are the most common of the modern era 027 single dome tank cars. They can still be found for $15 to $20, only a little more than the price back in '94. Both have black end caps. They are often found without the brake wheel which is the same as used on box cars so they're inexpensive to replaced.
Good evening all,
Thank you Papa_D, for remembering the articles and posting the pictures. This does bring back memories. I would have loved to have done a sequel to the series, but shortly after they were published, Lionel stopped making several of the types I wrote about. The two bay hoppers were one of the items that were and are being produced, but they have made so many and several of them were in sets so I stopped collecting them. The new Scout set features the one dome tank car and the plug door box car in an expansion set so there is hope some more of those types will be made.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
It is great that readers of Classic Toy Trains are still getting value from Mike Connor's terrific series of "Cheap Classics." I enjoyed working with Mike on those articles--he is one of the nicest and most helpful fellows you'll meet in the toy train hobby--with a wonderful wife Maryellen--and have maintained a friendship ever since that has enriched my years in toy trains.
I hope everyone reading this thread will keep searching for those modern-era Lionel cars and have fun with them.
Roger Carp
Senior Editor
I also think it is great that the magazine is not solely dedicated to hobbyists that can afford the latest four figure engine offerings. That article, which I still remember, helps to underline the fact that the hobby is for anyone who enjoys O/O27 trains.
Papa_D,
Thanks for posting the photo's. I really like those Mobilgas Tank Cars. I'm looking forward to future photo's of you newly acquired "Cheap Classic's"
Shown is the 16114 Hooker tank car released in 1991. I think this is one of the best looking ones in the group. It was by far the most difficult for me to find. It was only offered for one year as part of a low end set (Santa Fe 11729). Back in '94 the article noted that the price for this car didn't reflect its rarity. This remains true today. My 2008 Greenbery price guide shows a price of $13 in excellent condition. I paid $30 and it is in very good but not excellent condition. I've continued to look for another one but without success thus far; part of the fun of collecting Cheap Classics.
Here are the three Alaska single dome tank cars, numbers 6308, 16111, and 16129 released in '82, 93, and 94, respectively. I think the Mobilgas tank cars have more appealing graphics, but just the word "Alaska" somehow commands a higher price. The price for these tend to be all over the place with the blue 6308 generally averaging the highest, with a guide price of $27 in excellent condition. The guide price for the other two is ~$22 each in excellent condition.There are currently 3 of each for sale on ebay with a high price of $57 for the 16129 and a low of $32 for the 16111 and a spread of prices in-between. If you're patient you can buy each for about $22 total.
The last two from the '94 article are the Racing Fuel (16108) and Firestone (9051) released in '89/'92 and '75, respectively. The one I'm missing is the Firestone. I had oppoutunities to buy serveral at around $20 but spent my train budget at the time on what I thought were better buys. Recently there was a Firestone 027 tank car listed on ebay under "Buy It Now" that totalled $115 with shipping. Needless to say it didn't sell.
I love this kinda stuff. CTT -- please do more of it!
now i made a new list of things to get haha....sigh i only have a yellow sonoco :( ha
After the '94 article was written, until recently only two additional 8" single dome tank cars were released; Clearly Canadian (16147) in '94 and ZEP Chemical (16149) in '95. Guide price for either is in the mid $40 range. The Clearly Canadian is very attractive with graphics on the end caps. The only such one in the series.
What made collecting these tank cars attractive to me was the relative small number made it both cost and display space feasible.
In 2010 Lionel released an expansion pack that included a LINEX Gasoline Tank Car (6035X) and a 8" Airex Box Car (6014X). Each can be bought on ebay for about $42 including shipping. Not sure I want to buy either. I think I'll define "classic" as something 10 year old or older. This will give me something to look forward to collecting in 2020.
Once I acquire the Firestone tank car, I'll complete this thread with a photo of it and the entire series on my display shelving. After that unless someone starts it first I'll move on to the Box Cars.
Writing this threat has been fun for me. Thanks to "Green Streak RR" for the nudge on posting photos. It forced me to learn how to do this (not hard). This should further add to my enjoyment of this forum in the future.
This gets the Buckeye award. I'm seeing things I've never seen before.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Nice post guys! I also greatly enjoyed Mike C's articles. Good stuff!
Regards, Roy
Great thread. Great photos.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
I agree. Great thread!
After seeing this I decided to start my own collection. I should be receiving my 9039 mobile gas and my 16108 racing fuel cars this week. Paid less than $15 each for them.
Think they will look good behind my Beeps!
PAPA_D,
I'll have to get a photo of the 6035 I found..
This series of "cheap classics" is focused on the modern era 8" single dome tank car. Having said this, the first tank car of this type in the postwar time period is the gray 1005 Sunoco (not shown) produced from '48 to '50. It has scout type couplers. Next came the gray 6035 Sunoco produced in '52 & '53 followed by the yellow 6015 Sunoco produced in '54 & 55.
The 6025 Gulf was the last postwar version of this style tank car, produced in ’56 & ’57. It came in black, orange, and gray (not shown). These tank cars are also “cheap” classics unless you chase some of the scarce variations.
My favorite in this series is the yellow 6015 Sunoco. Shown is my “unit” train using these tank cars. Motive power is an AT&SF 623 NW2 from ’54. This is my second favorite engine after my 2035 steam engines. Very smooth running and a great puller.
I finally found & bought the 9051 Firestone (released '74, '75 & '78) to complete my "cheap" classic collection of 8" single dome tank cars built prior to 2003. Paid $12.99 + $5.75 shipping. Searching for a particular car can be somewhat hit or miss even if it is "common". This car is an example of this. In January there were several listed on eBay, then there was a drought except for one that was way over priced (it's up for sale again with a reduced but still too high total price). In the coming months several reasonably priced 9051's most likely will appear at shows and on eBay. So again, if you're collecting "cheap" classics be patient; it's part of the fun.
I'm adding a summary of the "cheap" classics in this series to my first post for the convenience of anyone else that decides to collect this series.
Again, I'd like to acknowledge Mike Connor for having written the article in the Sept '94 issue of CTT on which this thread is based. It's easy to follow but more difficult to lead. He recognized that of the 176 tank cars produced between '70 and '03 (I stretched it past '94) only 8 were catalogued 8" single dome tanks cars with another 4 un-catalogued.
I picked up a 9038 Chessie Hopper (short style) at a show on Saturday -- new and in the box. I also just bought two mid-70s starter sets from Joe Grzyboski for $125 each, both brand new : one is the "Thunderball" featuring the 8300 plastic 2-4-0 steam loco & Pennsy tender with GN blue hopper, UP staked flatcar, SP short gondola and caboose. The second is the "Cannonball" set with the same loco with ATSF livery and switcher tender plus Nickel Plate short gondola and C&O staked flatcar and caboose. Lubed the engines and they run like crazy after nearly 40 years in the box.
Real fun!
Anyone notice the MPC scout boxcar frame was the same used for the tank car?
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month