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3435 Traveling Aquarium Car (1959 - 1962)

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About This Freight Car

The 3435 operating Aquarium Car was introduced by Lionel in 1959 and was sold for four years (through 1962). The most common 3435 came with a green-painted body with yellow rubber-stamped lettering. Two clear plastic windows on each side of the car allow the viewer to see into the simulated fish tanks and observe the colorful "swimming" fish. The fish are actually on a film-like material which is driven by a motor and sprocket assembly in a continuous loop. Inside there is another piece of decorated plastic which serves as an aquarium-like backdrop thus giving the appearance that the fish are swimming in different tanks. The operation of the car is controlled by an on/off lever on the bottom of the car. Simulated, ornate, stage-like curtains on the top of the windows are molded into the body thus providing additional decoration. The car also has interior lighting.

Photo of the 3435 Aquarium Car
Photo of a 3435 Aquarium Car

Additional Details

Other variations of this car include one which has gold heat-stamped lettering, another with gold lettering and each tank labeled ("Tank 1" & "Tank 2") and finally another that has gold lettering, numbered tanks and a gold circle around the large "L" that is part of the body. All three of those variations are extremely hard to find. The 3435 Aquarium Car always came with AAR trucks.

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This page is an information document only; nothing on this web page is being offered for sale. This page and all of the other pages from Our Archives were developed to assist you in understanding differences in variations of engines, rolling stock, cabooses, passenger cars, and accessories sold by Lionel in the postwar era. We have used pictures from our old files and personal collection to construct this area of our website to show the characteristics of collectible variations. If you are interested in buying something, please go to one of our inventory listings to see what we currently have for sale.

This web page was last updated on September 6, 2005. If you have suggestions for improving this page or if you see any errors, please contact us.

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