What Class Numbers For Lionel Cabooses:

[Train-O]

Hi, Everyone,

Please, can anyone give me the class numbers of the following Lionel cabooses:

1-C&O, Chessie System Extended/Wide Vision, Center Cupola C&O-Chessie System cab #6-17639;

2-C&O, Center Cupola cab #6-36560?

I would appreciate any help.

Thank You,

Ralph

[dbaker48]

Sorry, but I'm not sure what you meant, "classification numbers", I did a google using the Lionel numbers you posted and did get a couple of pictures.  The classification number same as the car number?

[phillyreading]

If you are looking for what I think you are, try going to the official web site for the C&O railroad, or a historical society as I think that the C&O went into Conrail some years ago.

Lee F.

[Bob Keller]

C&O is the C in Chessie System and CSX.

I'd be surprised if there was an actual official C&O RR classification for the cars, since firms tend to made a particular car and then run a variety of road names for lines that may or may not have had one of that type. Check the car closely to see if a class number is listed on the side (usually very small lettering) such as "N5c."

[Train-O]

Gentlemen,

Thank you, for your responses.

I have checked the web site found an official site for C.&.O., but it's a fan club and so far no class numbers and I'm awaiting Lionel to get back to me.

I'll have to find the car's builder, maybe I can get a number from them, unless the railroad changed the car's class number, when and if they reconfigured the car, upon ownership.

Lionel's catalogs, for the most part, give no references to the class numbers, other than their item number, price number and railroad's identifying car number.

Lionel, in the past gave classification numbers for their following cabooses: 'SP' C-40-1; 'PRR' N5C and now their lates 'AT&SF' Ce-2. 

Again, that's why I tried this forum, due to the vast knowledge of it's members.

Ralph

[phillyreading]

Now that I know what you are getting at by class number, there have been many cabooses made for model railroads. At times some companies made the models after actual cabooses, other times a company made a model of a caboose because they had the tooling on hand and renamed a caboose for a differant railroad. An example I can think of is with Williams, not sure if real cabooses had round windows on them or not, but Williams cabooses in O gauge had round windows on some of their cabooses.

With FEC railroad I have heard that they only used a wide vision caboose during the days before cabooses went out.

Lee F.

[fifedog]

Train-O - Tellya what.  Post a couple pics or links for these cabooses, and I might be able to help ya...

[3railguy]

phillyreading

An example I can think of is with Williams, not sure if real cabooses had round windows on them or not, but Williams cabooses in O gauge had round windows on some of their cabooses.

The Williams model with round windows is a Pennsy N5C class and like you say, given a rainbow of roadnames that didn't really own them. The round windows were for structural strength under helper service where other caboose designs would collapse. This was part of the reason for class numbers so railroads knew how to assign them.

The Lionel cabooses he owns were most likely modeled after a specific road class with some artist liscence thrown in. It would be interesting to know specifically what they were modeled after whether it be C&O or whatever. There may be someone out there who knows and will post.

[Train-O]

John,

I thought the same thing, as you say in that the model could be part of an artist's concept, besides being modeled after an actual caboose.

These particular two cabooses, in question, do not have class numbers, only the car numbers and are recently made, as one other of Lionel's newer caboose, an AT&SF which has 'Ce-2' on it's sides, in addition to the car # 999471, I believe it to be an actual cab no.

Thank You,

Ralph

[Train-O]

fifedog,

I don't have a digital camera, the only link is Lionel's web. site, on they're 'Product Finder' post, then under; "Freight Cars", and finally under"Cabooses" and as you scroll through the pages you'll see the two cabs I gave Lionel item #'s for, as above.

Thank You,

Ralph  

[Train-O]

phillyreading,

Thank You for your response.

Ralph

[Train-O]

fifedog,

Have you looked at Lionel's Product Finder to see the cabooses I'm talking about?

Thank You,

Ralph

[Train-O]

Bob and John,

Tonight I searched the internet and came across a web. site which gave me one half of my answer to one of Lionel's models, item #17693 C&O Chessie System Ext./Wide Vision Center Cupola Cab. 'Actual #3322', as on the O scale model and the class is 'C-25'.

The web. site is: "C&OHS MAILBAG Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Find...", this has an article which describes the new color scheme of the 1972 "Chessie System, the cab. type, number, class, builder and year built.

The photos show the same type class and road names on the caboose, with number 3322, as Lionel's scale model.

Also, Lionel modeled a U30C Diesel locomotive, item #6-18292, #3312, after an actual C&O Chessie System engine, same number and is the mate to the forementioned Lionel item #6-17693-cab. #3322.

So, actually these two units were modeled by Lionel for their Standard O-scale model trains.

Ralph  

[fifedog]

6-17693 : Chessie Extended Vision caboose

               Class C-25 Series 3260-3314 Blt 1970

6-36560 : C & O center cupola caboose

                Class C-8 Series 90800-90899 Blt 1937

*Source - Chesapeake and Ohio Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment (Hickcox/Morning Sun Books Inc)

[Eriediamond]

 check out www.rr-fallenflags.org  A wealth of pics and info here. Ken

[Train-O]

fifedog,

Yu Da MAN!

I thank you very much.

I've asked Lionel, but they have a personnel shortage, I looked on the internet and only got some info. on the Ex./Vision cab., but not as much, as you gave and I was unable to obtain the class on the C & O steam era  cab.

That's why I ask you forum members, because you folks have been at this much longer than I and you're more experienced and reply quicker.

You not only gave me class numbers on both cabs., but also the actual ownership road number series of each.

Again, Thank You,

Ralph

[Train-O]

Eriediamond,

Thank You,

I now have another source of information to enjoy while searching.

Ralph

[fifedog]

You are most welcome, Ralph.  Actually, you're kinda lucky that LIONEL actually used the proper numbering on both those samples.  A decade ago they would have been given whatever series number (not even close to the prototype) that LIONEL was using at the time.

When it comes to Chessie (which I model) and her predecessors (B&O-C&O-WM), I've collected a pretty good volume of source material over 20 years.  Always glad to share.

[Train-O]

fifedog,

Again, Thank You,

All railroading and model railroading interest me, now that I'm retired, I have more time to be more involved.

In the early seventies, my wife bought me the two piece locomotive and tender which MPC/Lionel produced, "The Mighty Sound Of Steam" #6-8142, it did not come with a caboose.

There was, by the same manufacturer "The Mighty Allegheny" train set which had the same motive power, freght cars, track, lock-on, wire, transformer and a yellow body 'C&O', ( Not 'Chessie System', Then), 'S.P. R.R.' type of C-40-1, off center cupola of mostly western railways, caboose with blue markings/number and without a vermilion stripe-which would later be used with the 'Chessie System', as you know .

I never bought a caboose for this two piece set and I don't even know if the yellow caboose, just mentioned, was for seperate sale, back then.   I don't know if this was the proper locomotive-Atlantic 4-4-2, tender-clearview eight wheels, coal/water and caboose for the 'C&O'?

The engine's numbers are in gold and on the tender's sides, in gold, are: "Chesapeake And Ohio For Progress".

This is what started my search, now a days, for a caboose to complement the motive power, then searching Lionel's latest catalogs I found the Caboose/Target red, steam era #6-36560, 'C&O'-'Chesapeake And Ohio For  Progress' #90876.

Now, I am going to ask you: Which of all that I described are/is prototypical.

I still like the red caboose better than the yellow and the motive power, if not prototypical.

Thank You,

Take Care,

Ralph 

[Train-O]

fifedog,

Again, Thank You,

All railroading and model railroading interest me, now that I'm retired I have more time to be more involved.

In the early seventies, my wife bought me the two piece locomotive and tender which MPC/Lionel produced, "The Mighty Sound Of Steam" #6-8142, it did not come with a caboose.

There was, by the same manufacturer "The Mighty Allegheny" train set which had the same motive power, freght cars, track, lock-on, wire, transformer and a yellow body 'C&O', ( Not 'Chessie System', Then), 'S.P. R.R.' type of C-40-1, off center cupola of mostly western railways, caboose with blue markings/number and without a vermilion stripe-which would later be used with the 'Chessie System', as you know .

I never bought a caboose for this two piece set and I don't even know if the yellow caboose, just mentioned, was for seperate sale, back then.   I don't know if this was the proper locomotive-Atlantic 4-4-2, tender-clearview eight wheels, coal/water and caboose for the 'C&O'?

The engine's numbers are in gold and on the tender's sides, in gold, are: "Chesapeake And Ohio For Progress".

This is what started my search, now a days, for a caboose to complement the motive power, then searching Lionel's latest catalogs I found the Caboose/Target red, steam era #6-36560, 'C&O'-'Chesapeake And Ohio For  Progress' #90876.

Now, I am going to ask you: Which of all that I described are/is prototypical.

I still like the red caboose better than the yellow and the motive power, if not prototypical.

Thank You,

Take Care,

Ralph 

[fifedog]

My money would go on the red C-8 caboose.  Besides, some C&O red cabooses survived well into the 70's.  Just can't go wrong there, prototypically wise.  It's numbered/painted correctly.

[Train-O]

fifedog,

I'm happy with your answer of the C-8 red caboose.

Thank You,

Ralph

[Train-O]

fifedog,

I'm sorry, my mistake on the Lionel caboose, it should be #6-17639, C & O, Chessie System #3322, A yellow body, silver roof, blue markings and numbers and with the vermilion striping.

What I found was an internet color photo. of the C-25 Ext.vision, center cupola-( Eastern Railway type), caboose built in 1972, with the same road name(s) and number, as what I have.

I guess with these latest items, which Lionel produced, it wasn't feasible for them to give a full description, after putting in so much detailed craftwork and making as close to an exact model which is quite expensive.  Lionel could have, at least, given a more detailed description and history of this premium item, but I still like their products and I will still buy more.

Now, I have to get!   You've geussed it a C&O Chessie System locomotive and the one which would go with this caboose is #6-18292 a U30C, Chessie's actual number 3312, Lionel's list price $429.95.

When my wife finds out---I'll have to hop onboard with my other trains and my drums.

Well, a guy can dream!

Take Care,

Ralph