348 Lionel Manual Culvert Unloader

[cbtrainman]

Hi fellow fun seekers -

Does anyone know if the 348 Culvert Unloader was part of a set?  The 346 was part of several Sears sets, but, I can't find information about whether the 348 was part of any set.  It is supposedly identical to the 346 except for packing and the box number.

thanks for your help.

scatter joy!

Dave

[BigAl 956]

The 346/348 are identical except for the numbers and the 348 included the car in the same box as the loader. The 348 is more collectable but only if you have the instructions and the box as the actual loader is the same and marked 345. Lionel made the 346 culvert loader sans vibroter for Sears. The last Sears catalog listing of a Lionel set with the culvert loader appears to be in 1964 but the catalog does not say what number you are getting. The 348 was made thru 1969 and appears to be the Lionel version. I'm guessing Lionel had unsold inventory from cancelled Sears orders and renumbered and repackaged them for sale through it's own dealers. I do not recall any Lionel factory sets including the hand-crank culvert loader but perhaps someone else can chime in.

[cbtrainman]

Hi Big Al,

Thanks for the information, and the hypothesis.  Sounds logical to me.  Appreciate your time and input.

Dave