Need info on a lionel 50 gang car

[Locomotive681]

Just want to know if they are worth it and Iam looking for one if any of you guys has one for sale I would be intersed.
Thanks for your time.
Lcocomotive681

[mitchelr]

Locomotive681

I have one (not for sale). I picked it up at a train show for about $25. It is pretty cool and runs well. It is pretty noisy but fun to watch bouncing back and forth between the bumpers.

Mitch[swg]

[Anonymous]

The #50 gang car is the postwar version. It is rugged, reliable, easily serviced, and noisy. Most but-not-all parts, including the bumpers and crew are readily available. I have painted the figures a little to make them a tad more realistic, but they are never going to be "hi-rail."

Kids love them. For adults, I think they are most "effective" when one runs them on spur tracks that end inside a tunnel, roundhouse, factory, or the like; that is, where the bump-and-reverse action is not visible. Even more so if one can set it up to cut the power (automatically?) immediately after the reversal so that the car disappears and doesn't reappear right away.

One could even rig it so the car stops when it get next to another gang of figures who are "working on the railroad" and then continues on in the same direction after a while. A ratio of three of the "travelling supervisors" to two actual workers would probably be prototypically correct. [:)]

I have no experience with the modern versions -- Lionel # 18417, 18465 and 18485.

The # 50's show up frequently at train shows and the well-known online auction house, in various states of disrepair, and are fun to re-hab.

Edited slightly in response to iguanaman3's correction below. Thank you, Neil.

wolverine49

[iguanaman3]

I have no experiene with the modern versions* -- Lionel # 18417, 18465 and 18485. Strictly speaking they are not reissues bcause the motors are entirely different. The newer can motors may be quieter.

I have the NYC gang car reissue and it has the same pulmor motor as the originals. It seems a bit smoother than the #50, probably because of the set screw on top of the armature that keeps the gears meshed better. The figures are fully painted and look amazing compared to the old ones.

Neil

[Frank53]

I like em myself. I still have teh one I had when I was seven or so. And it boogies. I just picked up another one as part of teh collection I bought - haven't tried to run it yet though.

[jpelosi2002]

When I was a kid we used to run two at a time on a loop in opposite directions. When they collided they would go in opposite directions and collide again into each other. Of course the pattern continued non-stop, automatically until we got bored. I still do it for my stepson.
Jim

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

Locomotive681, The Doctor is in !!! Are you still looking for a #50 Gang car ??? I have one that I will let go for $40.00 +shipping. It needs two men, but the rotating man is there. If you want it, Email me and I will lube and tweek it to make sure all is well.
Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble Yet Strangly Evil Doctor!!![}:)]

[mitchelr]

Locomotive681
Check out this item on eBay


http://cgi.ebay.com/LIONEL-50-GANG-CAR_W0QQitemZ6065264194QQihZ009QQcategoryZ4146QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Mitch

[Frank53]

Here's the one I picked up a few weeks ago.

Missing the two stationery men, but it runs very nicely, the blue rubber bumpers are in good shape and it comes with the original box, minus a flap or two.

$30.00 plus shipping.