1955

[railfanespee4449]

I am writing a fiction paper for my teacher about a boy in 1955. What Lionel trains came out in 1955?
P.S. Visit my website thru the link marked "Web"

[railfanespee4449]

come on- NO-ONE here knows any Lionel products introduced in 1955??

[lionelsoni]

2243, 2363

[nblum]

Most of us don't have the Lionel catalog from 1955 at work, don't have the information at our fingertips, and don't have the time to instantaneously respond in the time you allowed. Give it a day or so.

[ben10ben]

I pulled out and dusted off the January 2003 issue of CTT, and came up with the following:
The Wabash and Illinois Central F-3s, as Bob mentioned above
The 2340 Tuscan GG-1 pulling the 3 cars of the Congressional set
The GP-7, in PRR(2028), Burlington(2328), and Milwaukee(2338)
The 2331 Virginian Trainmaster, pulling a 6464-275, 6414, 3359, 3562-50, and 6517
Rolling stock introduced also included the 3662, 6362, 6418, 3494-1, and 3361

There were other sets and items listed in the article which I can provide if you should so desire. Keep in mind, also, that a good many items were carried over from the previous years.

[railfanespee4449]

thanks

[lionelsoni]

The 2243 is the one-vertical-motor Santa Fe.

[Buckeye Riveter]

In 1955, us poor folks owned Marx and it still runs.

[Anonymous]

Here's the contents of the 1955 Lionel catalog page by page.

1. Cover GG1 Congressional set, 736 Berkshire Freight set, 2331 Virginian Freight set, 2065 "hudson" Freight set, 2362 Illinois Central A-B F3 Freight set.
2. and 3. 736, 6250, 2321, 2353 loco line-up with opening catalog information.
4. 600 MKT and 610 Erie SW1 switchers.
5. 6014 Baby Ruth boxcar, 6035 metal Log car, 6017 Caboose, 6012 Gondola, 6015 Sunoco oil car, 1014 Transformer.
6. 6311 Log car, 6462 Gondola, 6560 Crane car, 6112 Work Caboose, 1615 Steam switcher w/ slope-back tender.
7. 2028 Pennsy GP7 loco, 1014 transformer
8. 2016 loco w/whistle, 2037 loco w/smoke and magne-traction
9. 1033 transformer, 1043 transformer, 6015 Sunoco oil car, 6014 Baby Ruth boxcar, 6017 Caboose, 6012 Gondola.
10. 2328 Burlington GP7 loco.
11. 1033 transformer, 6367 Caboose, 6465 Sunoco oil car, 6452 Gondola, 6456 Hopper, 2436 Observation, 2432 Dome, 2437 Coach.
12. 6357 Caboose, 6465 Sunoco oil car, 6436 Hopper, 3562 Barrel car.
13. 2055 Steam loco w/ magne-traction, smoke and whistle.
14. 2240 A-B Santa Fe F3 loco w/ horn and magne-traction.
15. 2620 Searchlight car, 6560 Crane car, 6419 work Caboose, 6446 Cement Hopper, 6561 Cable Reel car 1033 transformer.
16. 2065 4-6-4 Steam loco w/ whistle, smoke, magne-trtaction.
17. 3562 Barrel car, 6464-275 State of Maine boxcar, 3469 Dump car, 6357 Caboose,
2435 Coach, 2434 Coach, 2432 Dome, 2436 Observation, 3482 Milk car, 6415 Sunoco oil car, 6464-125 NYC box car, 3361 Log car, 6417 Port Hole Caboose.
18. 2338 Milwaukee GP7 loco w/ freight cars.
19. 682 Pennsy steam turbine loco w/ freight cars.
20. 665 "Hudson" loco. 646 4-6-4 steam loco. both w/ whistle, smoke, magne-traction.
21. 6464-275 box car, 3359 twin dump car, 6415 Sunoco oil car, 3620 Searchlight car, 3562 Barrel car, 6417 Port Hole Caboose, 6446 Cement Hopper.
22. 2367 Wabash A-B F3 loco, 2363 Illinois Central A-B F3 loco.
23. 6672 Reefer, 6517 Bay Window Caboose, 6414 Evans Auto Loader, 3361 Log car, 6464-125 NYC box car, 3662 Milk car, 2531 Observation, 2533 Coach, 2530 Baggage.
24. 736 Berkshire steam loco w/ whistle smoke, magne-traction.
25. 6464-175 State of Maine box car, 3562 Barrel car, 6414 Evans Auto loader, 3359 Twin dump car, 6517 Bay Window Caboose.
26. 2321 Lackawanna GP7 loco, 2331 Virginian GP7 loco.
27. 6464-175 State of Maine box car, 3562 Barrel car, 6464 Rutland box car, 6517 Bay Window Caboose, 3662 Milk Car, 6511 Flat car, 3359 Twin dump car, 6414 Evans Auto Loader.
28. 2340 Pennsy GG1 loco.
29. "Molly Pitcher" coach, "William Penn" coach, "Betsy Ross" dome, "Alexander Hamilton" observation (Congressional Set), 6417 Port Hole Caboose, 6464 Rutland box car, 6414 Evans Auto Loader, 3361 Log car,
30. LW transformer, TW transformer, KW transformer, ZW tranformer.
31. 60 Trolley, 41 US Army turbine loco, 2353 Santa Fe A-B F3, 2354 NYC A-B F3, 2356 Southern A-B F3 locos, 50 Gang car, 6250 Seaboard SW1 loco, extra B units for F3s.
32. 6560 Crane car, 3359 Twin dump car, 3361 Log car, 3662 Milk car, 3494 NYC box car (all operating).
33. 6464-175 Sate of Maine box car, 6464-300 Rutland box car, 6414 Evans Auto Loader, 6362 Railway Truck car w/ 3 wheelsets, 6418 machinery car w/ bridge plates, 6436 Hopper car, 6517 Bay Window Caboose., 2531 Observation, 2532 Vista Dome, 2530 Baggage, 2533 Pullman, 2534 Pullman.
34. 6464-225 SP box car, 6464-100 WP boxcar, 6464-150 MoPac box car, 6464-125 NYC box car, 6464-175 Rock Island box car, 6464-50 Minn & St.Louis box car, 6464-200 Pennsy box car, 6468 Automobile box car, 6417 N5C Caboose, 2434 Pullman, 2435 Pullman, 2436 Observation, 2432 Vista Dome.
35. 3456 Hopper, 3620 Searchlight car, 3562 Barrel car, 3656 Cattle car, 6462 Gondola, 6561 Cable Reel car, 6511 flat car w/ pipes, 6672 Reefer, 6419 work Caboose, 6446 Cement Hopper, 6415 3-dome Sunoco oil car, 6356 Stock car.
36. 6427 Port Hole Caboose, 6119 work Caboose, 6465 2-dome Sunoco oil car, 6012 Gondola, 3482 Milk car, 6357 Caboose, 6311 flat car w/pipes, 6456 Hopper, 6015 single-dome Lionel/Sunoco oil car, 3469 Single dump car, 6111flat car w/logs, 6257 Caboose, 6014 Baby Ruth box car, 6017 Caboose, 3461 log car. Track diagrams.
37. 110 trestle set, 415 Diesel fueling station, 155 blinking signal light and bell, 460 Piggy Back transportation set, 352 Ice depot.
38. 450 operating signal bridge, 145 automatic gateman, 125 whistling station, 252 automatinc crossing gate, 364 lumber conveyor, 310 billboard set, 494 operating beacon, 456 operating coal ramp set, 397 coal loader, 193 water tower w/ blinking light, 309 yard sign set.
39. 282 gantry crane, 50 section gang car, 140 banjo signal, 138 water tank.
40. 362 operating barrel loader, 356 operating freight station, 157 station platform, 214 girder bridge.
41. 395 floodlight tower, 497 operating coaling station, 132 automatic station, 445 switch tower, 317 trestle bridge.
42. 020X O gauge crossing, 1023 027 crossing, 927 lubricating kit, 925 lubricant tube, 022 O gauge switches 042 Ogauge manual switches, curved and straight track sections, 020 90Deg crossing, UCS O gauge track section, 260 bumper, LTC illuminated lockon.
43. 1122 027 switches, 1022 027 manual switches, o27 track sections, 1020 027 90 degree crossing, 6019 027 remote control section, 260 bumper, CTC lockon, list of Lionel replacement barrels, lamps, car loads smoke pellets, etc., 40 hookup wire, 919 grass, 206 coal, 480-25 conversion couplers for scout sets.
44. Back cover. Airex spinning tackle sets, Airex spinning line, Airex spinning lures, All-in-one Airex spinning outfit, Airex Larchmont spinning reel, Airex Spinster Mark V reel, Airex Apache Reel, Airex spinning rods.

WHEW! I hope that was/is helpful. This is all copied from the ORIGINAL 1955 Lionel catalog. Page-by-page.

[lionelsoni]

I started to make such a list, Paul, but gave up. You have more stamina than I.

Note that what Lionel called an "SW1" is actually an NW2.

[Anonymous]

Bob;

Yes, I've seen the same designation differences in collector
guides. As I recall, the NW2 model came after (much after)
the SW1. The two locos look very similar, though, so I guess
it's a flip of the coin when you look at it that way. I have the 621
Jersey Central loco and it is listed as a SW1 as well. I got it
in 1956 and I have that catalog as well.

As for the list, I hope he doesn't want the 1956 catalog soon
as I need to rest my fingers! (HAR!) Hope he found the list
useful. I wonder if anyone has any of that Airex fishing tackle
nowadays? THAT would be some interesting collectors items!

[SPFan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChesBchRy

Bob;

Yes, I've seen the same designation differences in collector
guides. As I recall, the NW2 model came after (much after)
the SW1. The two locos look very similar, though, so I guess
it's a flip of the coin when you look at it that way. I have the 621
Jersey Central loco and it is listed as a SW1 as well. I got it
in 1956 and I have that catalog as well.

As Bob points out the post war Lionel switcher was always an NW2 but was mistakenly called SW1. A SW1 has only one stack and the hood is shortened by a few feet at the front with a (tool?)box filling that space. Here are some pics:
http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/emd/sw1/sw1.html

[Anonymous]

Thoughts on "Rivet Counting".

I know that my "SW1" is really an NW2. I know the difference
between a Berkshire, Hudson, Pacific, etc. I know the differ-
rence between a BiPolar, GG1, S1, etc.

But as far as my trains go, I enjoy them in the light that I received
them when I was young. A "Switcher is a Switchter is a Switcher".
A "Streamliner is a Streamliner, etc., etc.".

The reason there is so much "hate and discontent" is that what
was once a realm of the imagination and a means to escape
the everyday world has become an arena for nit-picking, classism,
and criticism. It no longer is the "hobby" it used to be. I think
that is one reason why young people today escape into their
worlds of video games. They truly are masters of their "own
little worlds". Once upon a time, we were those very same young
people, and all we cared about was that we got ANY train at all!

Our "empires" usually consisted of cardboard tunnels, plastic kit
houses, (if you were fortunate) and even repainted "army men" for
people! But it was REAL for us! There seems to be no more
IMAGINATION left. Everything has to be PRECISE or it is rejected
out of hand. If someone has an engine that has the wrong typeface
lettering, then he/she is "lesser" in the eyes of other "hobbyists". If
he/she refers to a piece of rolling stock in the same terminology that
the manufacturer used and it happens to be in error, they seem to
be "not true hobbyists".

As I have been visiting several forums, I have seen criticism of people
who run "unique" consists because they were/are not "prototypical".
I have seen criticism of people who repaint/reletter locos with "unique"
paint schemes, I have seen people chased off forums because they
DARE to run "toy" (027, Marx, etc.) trains! It goes on and on. This is a
shame! A "hobby" is meant to be a form of self-expression and relaxation.
There is entirely TOO MUCH pressure on people to be CORRECT and
PRECISE! What happened to the enjoyment, fellowship, relaxation,
escapism and FUN of this hobby?! If I want to be precise then I will go
to my REAL shortline railroad group that I belong to and work under
PRECISE, IRONCLAD, SPECIFICATIONS, RULES and STANDARDS
that are set down by OSHA, FRA, CFR, ASE, etc. Some people enjoy
that, as I do when the occasion is right. But you know what? Even the
REAL WORLD sometimes doesn't CONFORM to the norm. Our little
shortline uses an EMD Model-40 to pull a consist of a Pullman Troop
Sleeper, Two LIRR Commuter coaches and an ex Wabash Caboose!

To us our Model-40 is our "Mainline Power"! Hardly prototypical!
How about a Davenport side-rod gas-mechanical industrial switcher
pulling an open gondola and a LIRR coach with the same caboose!
Again it was a mainline consist for many years and is still used.
The "Rivet Counters" and "Correct Practices" nuts would have a fit!

Back in the day...the folks at Lionel, when making up their catalog copy
took what is known (sic) as "poetic license" with many of their items
and descriptions when manufacturing and marketing to their customers.
We didn't care then and we shouldn't care now. All we should care
about is the FUN FACTOR. For years I ran my "SW1" pulling a string of
2400-series of passenger cars. It looks great and it was all I could
afford. To me it was realistic and FUN. When I got my Alco A unit I
knew it was "not scale" and not the proper designation, but all I cared
about was that I finally had a "real road engine" for my passenger train!

THAT, folks is what the hobby USED to be about and what it should
still be. My imagination takes care of any inconsistencies and mistakes.
We need more imagination in today's world. It's what makes one
actually THINK! It makes one be CREATIVE!

Another person used to have a signature line that said "They're just TOYS".
We need to get back to that.
I'm not angry, or upset at any one person here. No flames are intended.
I'm more SAD that children today (young and old) no longer have that
special place where they can go and escape criticism, reality, and
pressure and enjoy themselves on their own terms. I think that the
older "train guys" like J.L. Cowen, A.C. Gilbert, and Louis Marx were
more in touch with their "customer base" and the "hobby" than any
of us "tech heads" will ever be. Their "poetic license" allowed many
a child (and adult) to let their imaginations dictate the "specifications"
of their "empires" and, thus, make their enjoyment pure and pressure-
free.

'Nuff said.

I'm gonna go and run my ELECTRIC TRAINS and run my Big Steamers
and Streamliners and Geeps long-hood forward and have a heck of a
fun time. Later today I'm going to a local museum and finish working
on our CORRECT SCALE MODEL RAILROAD and still have fun!

The 1950s were good for us "hobbyists" we were more concerned with
RUNNING trains than counting hatches, toolboxes, rivets, etc. We were
more concerned with "switchers" switching "peddler freights" and
"heavy steamers" running hotshot passenger trains than what the
steamer's production number was or whether the train's consist was
correct for the "era". Even Lionel and Flyer didn't worry about this.

To me that is why this should ALWAYS be a place for Classic TOY Trains.

Thanks for allowing me to say this.

[lionelsoni]

Well, that's a first. I've never been called a rivet counter before. I didn't mean to promote any hate or discontent, Paul, just to clarify for Joey that the two designations referred to the same locomotive type, in case he didn't already know that.

[daan]

To be precise about rivet counting.. Even 072 trackwork is tramrails in reality. The trains on almost every layout owned by people in this forum are shiny and in brandnew conditions. I've even seen a huge bigboy pressing itself through 027 curves and a hobo camp which looks soo fantastic that even I would enjoy myself there.. People using the most fantastic cars on their layouts, bears sneeking in to a toilet scaring the man sitting there. A layout with hundreds of organ pipes to transport, and a snow covered mountain of 3 feet high with trees from the summer valley sticking above the snowborder with leaves on it..
Rivet counting doesn't excist here, if you look in the CTT and on this forum there is an enormous amount of fantasy.. Even the rivetcounters can't escape their fantasy with the same train coming by every 5 minutes heading in the same direction on the same track..
But, if you pay $800 plus for a nice machine, you probably want it to look like the real one.. The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys, fantasy will stil be needed however..

[Anonymous]

No offense taken. Just trying to explain my outlook. And everyone
is entitled to their own opinion. That's why it is a hobby. 'daan' has
a great view of the hobby as well. I was just afraid that there might
be some influx of nit-picking here. As 'daan' says, we should keep
the 'fantasy' here. My point was just a general statement and not
directed at any one person. I hope we are all still friends here.

[3railguy]

55 had some 54 carryovers along with new paint schemes such as the virginian trainmaster, IC F3's and Pennsy gg1 set. They introduced the GP-7/GP-9 that year. The cheapening process also began with the NW switcher (stamped frame and cheaper plastic), 0-4-0 steam switcher (plastic tender with no bell).

[daan]

It's one of the thing I love in toytrains. Where in other scale's they intend to make everything as realistic as possible with dirty machines and wide curves, running toytrains allowes that you run more then factory clean engines, use rails being completely off scale and use the radius the trains can handle, and not the ones they use in reality. It gives the excuse to drive 110 different roadnames on the same trackoval and it doesn't matter if your caboose is from the same railway company.
If I like the sound of a gp9 in my f3, I can use it (emd 2 strokes are not the nicest sounding diesels) and if I want to combine my switcher with a fast express passengertrain its okay too.
Besides that you can combine almost everything in the landscaping and make it be the land you want to be king of.
On my layout I'm planning "dragon's cave" where an ancient dragon lives to scare the passengers their budds out.. Emagine that on a code 70 h0 railroad..

[postwarman1959]

HELLO I NEED A LITTLE HELP I JUST PICKED UP  A PAIR OF POSTWAR #2354 NYC F-3s ONE POWER A UNIT AND ONE DUMMY A UNIT THE LAST ONWER SAID THERE FROM 1955 I SEEN THAT THE 2354 F-3 WAS MADE FROM 1953 TO 1955 THE 1953 SET WAS SET BOX #2209W & 1954 SET BOX WAS #2229W BUT THATS THE ONLY INFO I CAN FIND ON THEM NOTHING FOR THE 1955 SET I WANT TO MAKE THE SET AGAIN WHAT I NEED TO KNOW WHAT WAS THE SET BOX NUMBER FOR THEM IN 1955 THEN I SOULD BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT EVERYTHING CAME WITH IN THE SET BOX THAT YEAR IN 1955 AND ANYBODY HELP ME ON THIS TAKE YOUR TIME LOOKING IT UP ANYTHING YOU CAN HELP ME WITH WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU CAN IM MOSTLY ON YOU TUBE AND HAVE SOME VIDEOS POSTED OF MY LIONEL TRAIN SETS PREWAR POSTWAR AND MODEN IS WHAT I HAVE MY YOUTUBE NAME IS GRIZZLEYBEARZ282004 YOU CAN FIND ME THERE AND SEND ME ANY INFO THAT CAN HELP ME ON THIS THANK YOU!!!

[lionelsoni]

The only F3s in the 1955 catalog are the 2243 Santa Fe and 2245 Texas Special single-motor AB sets and the 2363 Illinois Central and 2367 Wabash two-motor AB sets.

[AF53]

Here's what that boy really wanted!

http://www.myflyertrains.org/AF_Catalogs/D1782/AF_catalog_index1.htm

Ray

[balidas]

hahahaha, I wasn't even borne yet!

When you're done with your story, perhaps you would post it for us. I'd like to read it!

Buckeye Riveter

In 1955, us poor folks owned Marx and it still runs.

[martinden]

lionelsoni

The only F3s in the 1955 catalog are the 2243 Santa Fe and 2245 Texas Special single-motor AB sets and the 2363 Illinois Central and 2367 Wabash two-motor AB sets.

The 2353 SF, 2354 NYC, and the 2356 Southern were also in the 1955 catalog for separate sale (not in any sets) -- the SF pictured with the other two listed, but not shown, on page 31. B-units also listed, with the Southern pictured.

Also note that in ChesBchRy's long listing of items in the 1955 catalog, he shows the 2353-4-6 as A-B sets, but they were in fact A-As, with the Bs offered separately.

Martin

[lionelsoni]

How could I have missed those, Martin?   Sorry about that.

[martinden]

Bob -- I tend to forget about them, too -- don't feel bad. They're like the tail on the dog, no doubt listed just to get rid of items in stock. Maybe a few were assembled from parts they had around just to complete some orders.

And BTW, the 2356 Southern (but not the SF or NYC) was carried over and shown (for separate sale) yet again in 1956, along with the IC and Wabash A-Bs. Little tiny listing in the back part of the catalog with little tiny pictures of the Southern and the IC; the Wabash didn't even get a picture at all.

Martin