Train questions

[Anonymous]

I need to find out how to identify what year, model and guage train I have.  I think it is a 1953 Lionel Train.  I don't know what gauge it is nor do I understand the lingo I have found on the internet. Need help in finding website that deals with my train. 

[laz 57]

NEW GUY,

   Best thing to do is post a picture on here and follow the directions above on posting those pics.  GIZ on here will probably tell you what you have.

laz57

[Roger Bielen]

new guy - welcome to the forum.  If the engine is Lionel there should be some type of Lionel identification on the under side.  As to a model, they may have still been using the number on the side of the engine as the model number back then.  As Laz said, post a picture, "a picture is worth a thousand words."

[csxt30]

to the forum Too !!  You can check the link out below, it is not 100 % accurate but will be helpful. Just scroll down & find your eng. # on the list.

 http://www.postwarlionel.com/steam.html

Hope this helps & if you need more help, let us know !

Thanks, John

[Anonymous]

thanks I will take pictures and post it.

[Anonymous]

Thank you.  One engine has 2046 and the other has a 2056.  Hey I just found a date on the caboose which says built 9-47. My dad bought this train new and I was thinking it was for me but must have been for my older bother. It is a Lionel.  The train cars have Lionel on them and the two engines have a plate that says Lionel Corporation NY.  OK everyone has been a big help.  I am trying to get the train running for my dad who is 85 now.  Funny how it takes 50 something years before you start playing trains with your dad. 

[laz 57]

Great JOB NEW GUY,  hope you and your DAD have lots o fun with them if you need any help let us know.

Enjoy.

laz57

[underworld]

Hello new guy! Welcome to the forum!!!

underworld

[martinden]

Welcome to the forum.  

The engine numbers establish dates pretty clearly. The 2056 was manufactured only in 1952; the 2046 was first offered in 1950; not offered in 1951 or 1952 (the 2056 substituted in '52), and then returned to the line in 1953, its last year. (In 1954 the engine was moved from "027" to the "O gauge" line, and given the number 646.) 

The 1950 version of the 2046 had a die-cast metal trailing truck (under the cab)-- this would be exactly like the one on the 2056 (assuming that nobody made any modifications over the years). The 1953 2046 usually had a different trailing truck, with a stamped sheet metal frame and plastic sideframes fastened to the sheet metal. (However, some 1953 2046s had the diecast truck.) As you've probably noticed, the 2046 and 2056 are practically identical. In 1952, Korean War shortages forced Lionel to axe "Magnetraction" (magnetized wheels) on steam engines; when the Magnetraction was dropped they changed the number to 2056. Then when shortages of the alloys used to make magnets ended, the loco returned to the original 2046 number.

The "9-47" built date on the caboose doesn't really mean anything -- Lionel generally created graphics the first year a car was introduced, and then continued using them more-or-less forever. There were cabooses made in the '60s with "Built 9-47" on them. (And, as a matter of fact, I have two 6357 cabooses that came in 1953 train sets -- that I got at the time -- which have "Built 9-47" on them.)

With some more info about the cars (numbers, mainly) it might be possible to pin down the year for a couple more items, but Lionel made most cars for several years (in some cases for 10 years or more). But it's likely that your 1953 recollection is pretty much on the mark.

[Chris F]

I like my 2056 so much I keep it on my desk.

This website contains service information that you might find helpful: http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/library.htm