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Lionel Centercab Lehigh Valley #625

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  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Loudonville, NY
  • 776 posts
Lionel Centercab Lehigh Valley #625
Posted by Benjamin Maggi on Sunday, September 3, 2006 5:44 PM

I don't have the engine in front of me, as it is still in my grandfather's possession, but I wanted to do some research on it. From what I have gathered from my grandparents, they purchased 2 identical train sets... one for my uncle, and one for a neighbor boy who later sold the set. I am sure that it was purchased as a set, and as my memory is correct what my grandfather has is a:

- #625 red Lehigh Valley centercab [maybe #627]

- black gondola with red round tank containers

- a white boxcar with rocket launcher with blue roof, lettered for USA.

From what I have read online, I don't think the rocket launcher car was part of the set and was probably purchased extra. I don't remember off hand what the other cars were. After reading a short article published online from Roger Carp [http://www.trains.com/ctt/default.aspx?c=a&id=579], I am now wondering if it was a number 627 engine. Before I read his article, I was sure it was 625.

Does anyone have an information on what cars were included with the centercab train sets from Lionel, or pictures from catalogs at the time. I don't know what year it was purchased, so it might have sat on the shelf for a couple of years. Also, I cannot guarentee that the rocket car was even purchased at the same time as the train set. Finally, the train set might have been made up by the train store owner himself, and not consist of an actual catalog set.

HELP, as any information would be great. And yes, I will be receiving the set in time, but hopefully not TOO soon.

Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Plymouth, MI
  • 1,615 posts
Posted by chuck on Sunday, September 3, 2006 5:57 PM
627 center cab switcher

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=627

When (approximately) were the sets purchased?

Minuteman Missile car was released in 1961.

There was a set released in 1956, set 1543, O-27 set, additional cars were 6121,6112, and 6017.

6121, sheet metal flat car with pipe load
6112, gondola (short), four "canisters"
6017, red Lionel Lines cupola caboose.
When everything else fails, play dead
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Loudonville, NY
  • 776 posts
Posted by Benjamin Maggi on Sunday, September 3, 2006 7:07 PM
Thanks, that's the set. I remember the flat car now, because it had weird pieces that held pipes [but by the time I was around to play with it the pipes were gone and I used to load an old other stuff on it] and the caboose sounds familiar too.

Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Loudonville, NY
  • 776 posts
Posted by Benjamin Maggi on Monday, April 5, 2010 8:32 AM

Yesterday, while visiting for Easter, I decided to check out the trains in the basement. GONE! My grandparents remember giving them to me... but unfortunately they did not. They were there a couple of years ago and now they are "missing." I am positive that my grandparents wouldn't have given them knowingly away to someone else, but other boxes of toys that were on those shelves are also gone. It was a very somber drive home. Perhaps they will show up in another portion of the basement...

Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/

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