Trains.com

Is this a 1950/1951 Lionel set?

7535 views
15 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2012
  • 301 posts
Is this a 1950/1951 Lionel set?
Posted by rrswede on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 1:23 PM

I obtained a box of Lionel train items that might be a complete 1950/1951 set, but am unsure. Based on the following information and photos could you please offer your opinion?

Photo 1: Lionel 2035 locomotive with magnetraction, smoke and lamp, and 6466W whistle tender

Photo 2: Lionel 3472 operational milk car, and 6462 New York Central gondola car.

Photo 3: Lionel 6466 Lehigh Valley hopper car, 6465 Sunoco tanker and 6357 lighted Southern Pacific caboose.

Not photographed, but included were a Lionel 1033 90 watt transformer, 6462P milk car platform, a couple lock-ons, a controller for the milk car and 23 pieces of 027 track.

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/021064537615/media/83624399421/medium/1514315763445/enhance

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/021064537615/media/83624409002/medium/1514315450/enhance

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/021064537615/media/83624419170/medium/1514315652/enhance

Thank you, swede

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 32 posts
Posted by Rescuedtrains on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 2:11 PM

You are close to a set from1951. That is a 1481WS, it came with the following: loco#2035, tender#6466W, operating box car #3464, tank car #6465, gondola #6462, caboose #6357, milk car #3472, platform #6462X, 1033 transformer, track, 8 curves, 7 straights and one remote, along with a lock on, lube, smoke pellets and instructions. The hopper car was not part of the set.Hope this helps.

Steve

  • Member since
    January 2012
  • 301 posts
Posted by rrswede on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 6:40 PM

Thanks, Steve. Close, but no cigar.

Wonder why the Lehigh hopper is there and the operating box car isn't. Wish it was so it could be resold as an official set, if that would actually make a difference.  

No boxes were included with the sale but there was a partially used tube of Lionel grease and smoke pellets. I don't think this set had much use. I did replace the pick up wiring on the tender, milk car and caboose since it was cracking, but all the wiring of the locomotive is still original and in great shape. Once serviced and cleaned, everything functions beautifully.  

Wonder if my wife will let me keep this if I promise (once again) to sell something else.

Thanks, again, swede

 

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 7:08 PM

I think it's more likely that it's one of these two with the milk car that was added later.

1469WS: 1951: O27 4 car freight.  2035, 6466W, 6462, 6465, 6456 maroon, 6257.  Using that number, it's only the caboose that isn't exactly as advertised besides the added milk car.

1469WS: 1950: O27 4 car freight.  2035, 6466W, 6462, 6465, 6456 black, 6257.  If you go with the 1951 version you have 2 cars wrong plus the added milk car.

The book, "Standard Catalog of Lionel Trains 1945-1969" by David Doyle 2004 printing says that "The 1950 (2035) can be identified by the eccentric crank being held in proper quarter with a 'half-moon' boss on the base of the eccentric crank."  And "In 1951, the 'half-moon' eccentric crank was replaced with the traditional 'two-pin' eccentric crank."  What all that means I have no idea.  Big Smile

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: South Carolina
  • 9,713 posts
Posted by rtraincollector on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 7:48 PM

I brieb my wife with telling her she can get a purse or pair of shoes or something 

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 8:05 PM

I don't know enough about post-war Lionel to tell you what kind of set you've got or even if it's complete, but brother, what you DO have is choice!

Buddy, ya done good!

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • From: Ohio Valley
  • 706 posts
Posted by LL675 on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 8:48 AM

stores were known to swap cars to please customers...especially at this time of year, maybe this happened.

Dave

It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody  from Toy Story)

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • 1,786 posts
Posted by cwburfle on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 12:09 PM

The book, "Standard Catalog of Lionel Trains 1945-1969" by David Doyle 2004 printing says that "The 1950 (2035) can be identified by the eccentric crank being held in proper quarter with a 'half-moon' boss on the base of the eccentric crank."  And "In 1951, the 'half-moon' eccentric crank was replaced with the traditional 'two-pin' eccentric crank."  What all that means I have no idea.  Big Smile

 

You have to remove the eccentric crank to check.
Look at the end of the eccentric crank that goes up against the wheel.
Either there will be two pins sticking up that go into matching slots on the wheel,
Or there will be a half-moon shaped protrusion that goes into a matching depression on the wheel.

Sometimes a good part of the pins is worn away. But usually there is enough to keep the eccentric crank in proper position.

  • Member since
    January 2012
  • 301 posts
Posted by rrswede on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 2:13 PM

Thank you all for the additional information. After Steve and Becky's posts, I started to look for information pertaining to each car and think Dave's response may be correct. My grouping certainly does not fit the set numbers provided by Steve or Becky. More for interest than anything, I am listing specifics regarding each piece.

1) 2035 Locomotive: Produced only in 1950 and 1951. Since it has the two pins at the base of the crank, it is a 1951 model.

2) 6466W Tender: The 2035 only came with the 6466W tender. Probably is a 1951 model.

3) 3472 Milk Car (not 6462 as indicated in my original post): Offered starting in 1949, replaced in 1954. Variation C with bar-end trucks. Could have been sold in 1951 with the locomotive.

4) 6462 NYC Gondola: Black, no brake wheels, no side steps, N of NYC in second panel, two lines of data, with bar end trucks offered first in 1951. Good bet it is a 1951 model.

5) 6456 Lehigh Valley Hopper: Maroon, usually sold in sets, staple end trucks, magnetic couplers, variation F, therefore a 1951 model.

6) 6465 Sunoco Tanker: Two dome, magnetic couplers, staple end trucks, the word "Tank" in included in the data, type 4 frame, therefore an early 1950's model. 

7) 6357 SP Caboose: No smoke stack, red, staple end trucks, magnetic couplers, lighted, variation B, circa 1951.

I am going with the idea this was a one time purchase back in 1951 with some swapping done at the local hobby shop.

If anyone has other info or comments, please post them.

Thank you, again, swede

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 6:38 PM

Firelock76
I don't know enough about post-war Lionel

Neither do I, but I know where to look!  Wink

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 8:53 PM

Penny Trains
 
Firelock76
I don't know enough about post-war Lionel

 

Neither do I, but I know where to look!  Wink

 

Wow.

I need a bigger magazine rack in the the master bathroom. 

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • From: Ohio Valley
  • 706 posts
Posted by LL675 on Thursday, December 28, 2017 9:54 AM
you and me both!

Dave

It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody  from Toy Story)

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Thursday, December 28, 2017 6:17 PM

Only 2 of 4, and they're not on the same wall.  The other 2 hold DVD's, CD's and VHS tapes.

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Friday, December 29, 2017 10:29 PM

Say Becky, I just took another look at your reference library and is that the A&E series "Titanic- Death Of A Dream" narrated by David McCallum with the other videos?

Great show, I've got it myself.  One of the best, if not THE best "Titanic" documentarys ever done! 

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Saturday, December 30, 2017 6:27 PM

Firelock76

Say Becky, I just took another look at your reference library and is that the A&E series "Titanic- Death Of A Dream" narrated by David McCallum with the other videos?

Great show, I've got it myself.  One of the best, if not THE best "Titanic" documentarys ever done! 

 

Yes it is!  There are also 4 versions of the National Geographic special and numerous docs taped off PBS over the years.  The shelf is about 50/50 rail and Titanic videos.  The bottom shelf houses most of the Titanic, Lusitania and Lost Liners book collection.  The Disney collection is second from the bottom.

Did I ever show you what was on my layout?

 

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, December 30, 2017 6:40 PM

Good Lord, if there's only one funnel showing that thing must be huge!

If the Titanic didn't make it to New York, it sure made it to Parma Heights!

Daniel Allen Butler (who wrote a history of the Titanic called "Unsinkable," and a good book by the way) said it best...

"Once you let Titanic into your life, she never leaves."

Hey guess what?  My grandmother was from Parma Heights!  Well sort of, she was from the province of Parma in the heights of Italy!

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month