I'm hoping someone might be able to help me identify a train set I picked up at an estate sale today. The locomotive is a 1060 Scout, with a 1050T tender. As for the rolling stock, it has a 3409 flatcar WITH the helicopter, a 6042 gondola, the 6050 boxcar bank (The red Swift one), and the 6017 caboose (maroon colored, instead of red).
I initially thought it was a 1961 set, since the 3409 flatcar was only put out in 1961. However, from what I've read, the red Swift boxcar came out in 1962, and the 6042 blue gondola first came out in 1962 as well. I've been digging around on Google, but haven't been able to find anything showing a set with that particular combination of stock. So this makes me think it was some set that wasn't cataloged. If anyone can identify this set, I would be most grateful.
how about the helo car was added later to the set and the set only had the 1060 and 1060T, 6042 Gondola, 6050 boxcar, and the 6017 caboose and probably a set for like swift to sell as a promotional thing like so many lables/boxtops of swith items and $19.95 you get the set. just a guess but thats the type of set it sounds to me. It probably would of had like 8 curve and 2 or 4 straight track and a small transformer
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
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The set that you have with those components is Set No. X-686, manufactured for "Swift's", with an initial order of 3800 sets. The factory order date listed was Oct. 23, 1961, and the set is listed as a 1961 set. Included were eight curved track (1013-8) and two 1018-10 straight track; 1026-25 25-watt transformer, 5 billboards (310-2), D61-50 Accessory Catalog, instructions, and 1103-12 Envelope packet (lockon,wire etc.).
Of note on the Swift car 6050-50 RED car was issued with Archbar trucks, which is the key factor to date the set to 1961. The info is from "Authoritative Guide to Promotional sets, John W. Schmid.
Teledoc, thanks! Unfortunately mine was missing the billboards, as well as the related paperwork, and actually had 4 pieces of straight track. I noticed that Lionel seems to have used that number for a couple of different promotional sets, based on what I was able to find on Google. I did find my particular set listed on an auction site and noticed that the caboose included was the plain red unmarked one, whereas mine's a maroon colored one and has markings. ( I also noticed some of the other X-686 sets have the plain red caboose as well.)
While I wish mine was complete, for the shape it's in and the fact that I only paid $10 for it, I'm not going to complain too much. Thanks again for the info.
Bill, There are NO OTHER X-686 sets, just the one you have. John W. Schmid and his father bought all of the Lionel records from former Lionel CEO Richard Kughn, who was CEO of Lionel 1986-1995, when the company was referred to as the LTI period (Lionel Trains Incorporated). Schmid wrote the "Authoritative Guide to Lionel Promotional Sets" using actual Lionel documents, which are in John Schmid's possession, and not hearsay documentation. Lionel would change out certain items, if a particular item was not available, but would place a like item into the set. In the case of the color of the caboose, it was common stock, but came in many colors, Red;Maroon, etc. It doesn't affect the value at all, as long as ALL the proposed items are accounted for, when it was assembled.
All of the pieces that comprise this set, are still available and can be purchased to replace a damaged or missing piece, including the billboard set. The value is if you have all the boxes for the cars, if it came that way, and the SET BOX, being the critical item. Any other set that you found with Google, that show different items, listed as the X-686, are nothing more than someone putting items together, to make a SET, and not the true X-686, as listed in the Schmid book.
It is rare Lionel will use a set number more than once normally maybe for a different year and a change in a car as in 2163WS the tank car was changed. there is a couple other reasons also they did it with a different road name on the same engine as in 1467W One is UP the other is Erie AA's Frieght sets.
It had a 6017 caboose???
Yes, that set had a 6017 SP style caboose. The 6017 style was mass produced in various colors.
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