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Original Boxes
This Web Page Last Updated: January 26, 2023 |
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This page contains our current inventory of Postwar Lionel original boxes. It includes component boxes, master cartons and set boxes.
* * * Grading Summary: A "grade 10" is Spectacular! A "grade 1" is downright ugly.
* * * Click on "Grade" in the 4th column heading for a full explanation of grading.
Postwar Lionel Original Boxes | |||||
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Postwar Lionel Original Set ("Outfit") Boxes: | |||||
# | Description | Style | Grade | Price | Details |
1589WS | Set Box | Corr | 6 | $ 60 | Photo of two sides including the numbered end.
A St. Joe (Kraft) Paper Co. corrugated box for a 9-piece freight set sold in 1957: the outfit was headed up by a 2037 Steam Engine and was sold with "027" track. Photo of the other two sides. The box is the two-tier version measuring 6 1/4 inches high, 17 1/2 inches wide & 12 1/2 inches deep. Photo of the top flaps. Flaws: creases, tears, missing pieces of the top layer, tape. Even with the flaws, this basket-weave style box is presentable as it is fairly clean, mostly square and very sturdy! The set that it goes to is an easy one to build as all of the pieces are relatively easy to find in collector-quality condition; this box would be the hardest item to find in decent shape! It was also a long train by Lionel standards as seven pieces of rolling stock accompanied the engine & tender -- including an "O" gauge boxcar! Photo of the bottom. Original contents included: 2037 Steam Engine, 6026W Square ("coffin") Tender, 6464-450 Great Northern Boxcar, 6424 Flatcar with Automobiles, 6024 Nabisco Boxcar, 6025 Gulf 1-dome Tank Car, 6111 Flatcar with Logs, 6112 Gondola with Canisters and 6017 SP-type Caboose. The engine and cars are all fairly easy to locate but the set box is much harder to find, and of course, will be the key for anyone trying to build this unusual set. |
2541W | Set Box | Corr | 8 | $275 | Photo of two sides.
A Star Corrugated Box Company box from 1959 for the very desirable Santa Fe F3 "Super O" freight set. Photo of the other two sides. The box measures 14 3/4 inches wide by 16 3/4 inches long by 7 1/2 inches high. Photo of the top. The box has tears and creases plus some dirt. In addition, the original price is writing in the top corner of the numbered side. This yellow-corrugated box is quite presentable: it is complete, square and sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere! Photo of the bottom. The original contents included the following: the powerful 2383 Santa Fe F3 AA units, the 3356 Operating Santa Fe Horse Car, the 3512 Fireman & Ladder Car, the 6519 Allis Chalmers Condenser Car, the 6816 Flatcar with Bulldozer and the 6427 Lionel Lines illuminated Caboose -- truly a "super" set! This box is for a very interesting and colorful set offering lots of "play value" with two action cars! The 2541W "Super Chief" set also came with a couple of very desirable cars but they can be found; the set box rarely shows up for sale. It's a $4,800 set but not without the set box! If a collector has any hope of completing this set, the set box will be the key. |
Postwar Lionel Original Component Boxes: | |||||
# | Description | Style | Grade | Price | Details |
50 | Gang Car | ORANGE Corr |
7 | $ 15 | Photo.
An orange corrugated box for the 50 Section Gang Car sold in the '60s. Another view. Flaws: scrapes, dents on two corners, tears, tape, stains inside. It has the integrated liner (insert) and even with the imperfections it is a solid box: fairly clean, complete, square & sturdy. The orange corrugated box was the last one used for the 50 gang car and it is much harder to find than the brown corrugated version. |
51 | Navy Yard Switcher |
Late Classic | 8 | $ 75 | A box for the "NAVY YARD" Vulcan Switcher from 1956-57:
Photo. Flaws: minor tears, creases, some discoloration, no insert. A solid box as it has both end flaps and all four inner flaps plus it is fairly clean, square and sturdy -- and there is no tape anywhere! Another view. This is the first 51 Navy Yard box we have ever had available for separate sale! It will represent an upgrade for most collectors. Note that reproduction inserts are available in the marketplace. |
154 | Highway Signal | Window | 6 | $ 15 | A box from 1966 for the Highway Crossing Signal:
Photo. Flaws: tears, creases, writing, mildly distorted, window partially separated, no insert. Another view. Some flaws but the box has both end flaps and all four inner flaps plus there is no tape anywhere. Photo of the front. This is the first 154 window box we have ever had available for separate sale! It is not an easy one to find! |
249 | Steam Engine | Corr | 7+ | $ 20 | A "National Container Corporation" corrugated box for the 2-4-2 Scout locomotive from 1958 only:
Photo. Flaws: tears, tape residue, "aged" look. Another view. This box is solid: clean, complete, square and sturdy! Photo of the manufacturer's data & identification. Only the second 249 box we have ever had available for separate sale -- it is not an easy one to find! |
465 | Sound Dispatching Station | Corr | 7 | $ 32 SOLD |
Photo.
A box for the Sound Dispatching Station sold in 1956 and 1957: Another view. Flaws: tears, creases, discolored, no inserts. The box is solid: clean, square and sturdy -- plus there is no un-original tape anywhere! Photo of the top. This corrugated box was made by the National Container Corporation and 465-52 is the Lionel part number. Photo of the bottom showing the manufacturer's information. Only the second 465 Sound dispatching Station box we have ever had available for separate sale! |
601 | Seaboard Diesel Switcher |
Late Classic | 6 | $ 75 | A seldom seen box for the Seaboard NW2 Diesel Yard Switcher sold only in 1956:
Photo. Flaws: tears, creases, writing, scrapes, tape, glue residue, somewhat dirty, "aged" look, no coupler inserts. Another view. Even with the imperfections this box is decent as it has all of its flaps plus it is square & sturdy! Check your collection! This box is scarce -- as are most of these later 600-series switcher boxes! Only the second 601 box we have ever had available for separate sale! |
1872 | Steamer | C Perf | 9 | $ 75 On HOLD |
Photo.
Here's a box that we have not had available for separate sale before: a "Mead Containers, Inc." box for the "General" Steam Locomotive sold from 1959-62! Another view. Some minor dirt and that's about it for flaws! This brick-like box is SOLID: clean overall, complete, square and sturdy -- plus there is no un-original tape anywhere! Close-up of the manufacturer's data and identification. If you have a high-quality 1872 General Locomotive, it deserves a box like this one! |
The following boxes (and original instruction sheet) are for the 2016 Steamer and 6026W Square Tender from 1955 and are being sold as a package: | |||||
2016 | Steamer | Corr | 8 | | | \ / |
A red-lettered corrugated box AND the original instruction sheet for the obscure 2-6-4 Prairie-type Steamer sold in 1955 and 1956!
Photo of the box. Flaws: tears, creases, minor stains. Another view of the box. The box is solid: clean, complete, square and sturdy -- and there is no un-original tape anywhere! Photo of the side with the manufacturer's information. A very hard box to find for a seldom-seen engine! Only the second 2016 box that we have ever had available for separate sale! Photo of the instruction sheet. The very specific instruction sheet (#2016-6, dated 4/55) has some tears, creases, stains and is discolored. |
6026W | Whistling (Square) Tender |
Middle Classic | 8 | | | \ / |
A nice box for the earlier "coffin" tender:
Photo. Flaws: tears, creases. Another view. The box is solid: clean, complete, square & sturdy -- and there is no tape anywhere! It is also the correct "Middle Classic" box (with interior coupler flaps and no insert) for a tender from 1955. |
Price: $65 plus shipping for both boxes & instruction sheet described above.
If you have the 2016/6026W loco/tender combination in nice shape but missing these items, here is an opportunity to bring those train pieces up to collector value! | |||||
2240C | Wabash F3 "B" unit |
Late Classic | 6 | $135 | A box for the Wabash F3 dummy "B" unit sold in 1956 only:
Photo. Flaws: tears, creases, tape inside, tape reside; glue residue, writing, scrapes, punctures, some dirt, no insert. Another view. Even with the imperfections, the box is decent as it is fairly clean, square and sturdy but adding an insert (a repro or one from the more common 2243C Santa Fe box) will make this box more useful and presentable. This is a very, very difficult box to find and it represents the first 2240C Wabash box we have ever had available for separate sale! |
2243P | Santa Fe F3 Power A unit |
Corr | 8+ | $ 60 | A corrugated box for the single-motor 2243 Santa Fe Power A unit sold in 1955:
Photo. Flaws: light stains. Another view. Made by the Express Container Corp. (part #2243-15) which dates this item as a 1955 box. (Lionel used Allcraft Container Corp. boxes for the 1956 version of the single-motor Santa Fe.) Photo showing the manufacturer's identification and technical data. The box is SOLID: fairly clean, complete, square & sturdy -- plus there is no un-original tape anywhere. |
2350 | New Haven EP5 |
Corr | 7+ | $ 75 | Photo.
An Express Container Corp. corrugated box (2350-12 is the part number) for the New Haven EP5 Electric sold from 1956-58: Another view. Flaws: stains, small creases, some dirt, minor tears, "aged" look. Photo of the manufacturer's data & identification. This box is solid: complete, square & sturdy -- plus there is no un-original tape anywhere! |
2354P | New York Central F3 Power A unit |
Corr | 8+ | $ 75 | A very nice box for the 2354 NYC F3 Power A unit from 1953:
Photo of the open end. This corrugated box was made by the St. Joe Paper Co. (part #2354-25) and has the year (designated as "3") preprinted on one of the long sides of the box. Photo showing the manufacturer's identification, technical data and year documentation. Flaws: tears, creases, punctures, minor stains. Photo of the sealed end. Has the insert (liner) and this box is SOLID: clean, complete, square and sturdy -- plus there is no un-original tape anywhere! Photo of the box insert. Nicest 2354P box we have ever had! |
2356P | Southern Railways Power A |
Corr | 8+ | $110 | A box for the 2356 Southern Railways F3 Power A unit:
Photo of the sealed end of the box. Flaws: tears, creases, punctures, stains. Another view. This St. Joe Paper Company box is fairly clean, square and sturdy! Photo of the open end of the box. Nice SOLID box -- a virtual brick! Photo showing the manufacturer's identification, technical data and year documentation. Has the insert (missing three of the tuck flaps). Photo of the box insert. |
2383P | Santa Fe F3 Power A unit |
Corr | 6+ | $ 35 | A box for the 2383 Santa Fe F3 Power A unit from 1959:
Photo. This corrugated box was made by the Star Corrugated Box Company and the part number is 2383-11. (1959 was the only year that Lionel used the Star Company box for the Santa Fe F3s.) Photo showing the manufacturer's identification and technical data. Flaws: amateur repairs made to one end, tears, creases, tape, "aged" look. Overall, this box is very presentable as it is clean, complete, square and sturdy! Another view of the box. This is the first 2383P Santa Fe box from 1959 we have ever had available for separate sale! |
2430 | Pullman Car | Art Deco | 5+ | $ 25 | A uncommon box for the teal-blue metal sleeper car with silver rubber-stamped lettering and with open "flying-shoe" trucks sold in 1946:
Photo. Flaws: missing both interior coupler flaps, missing a small piece of one corner, missing the top layer of two small sections, tears, creases, tape, tape residue, glue residue, amateur repairs, "aged" look. Another view. Lots of issues but the box has both end flaps and all four inner flaps plus it is fairly clean, square & sturdy. A third photo showing the damaged areas of the box. This is first 2430 box from 1946 we have ever had available for separate sale! It is a very hard box to find! |
3451 | Automatic Lumber Car |
Art Deco Classic |
6+ | $ 20 | A box for the operating Lumber Car: this is the larger (10 1/4 by 4 1/2 by 3 5/8 inch) box indicating that the piece was a separate sale item that also came with a #160 unloading bin.
Photo. Version from 1946 without the Toy Logo. (The 3451 Log Dump Car sold in 1947 and 1948 utilized the Art Deco box with the Toy Logo on it.) Another view. Flaws: tears, creases, tape, tape residue, glue residue, scrapes. Photo of the insert. Has the elaborate insert and this box is very presentable as it is fairly clean, complete, square and sturdy! Another view of the insert. Not an easy box to find! |
3461-25 | Automatic Lumber Car |
Middle Classic | 7+ | $ 60 | A box for the operating green Lumber Car sold in 1954 and 1955:
Photo. This is the larger (10 1/2 by 3 3/4 by 3 5/8 inch) box indicating that the piece was a separate sale item that also came with a #160 unloading bin. Another view. Flaws: tears, stains, writing, discoloration from a price sticker removal, tape inside, "aged" look. Photo of the insert. Has the elaborate insert and this box is very presentable as it is fairly clean, complete, square and sturdy! Another view of the insert. This is the first 3461-25 box we have ever had available for separate sale! It is not easy to find this nice! |
3461X-25 | Automatic Lumber Car |
Middle Classic | 6 | $ 25 | A box for the green Log Dump sold in 1954 & 1955:
Photo. Flaws: missing one interior coupler flap and a small piece of the other one, tears, creases, scrapes, tape, "aged" look. Another view. The smaller-style box with no liner (insert) and the "3461X" on the end flaps & sides indicate that this box housed a car was originally part of a set -- not a separate sale item. A decent box even with the flaws as it has both end flaps plus it is fairly clean, square and sturdy. Only the second time we have ever had a 3461-25 box available for separate sale. |
3530 | GM Generator Car |
Late Classic | 6 | $ 25 | A box for the 3530 operating GM Generator Car sold from 1956-58:
Photo. Flaws: tears, creases, small section of the top layer missing on one end, amateur repairs with tape both inside and out, no insert. Another view. Various flaws but the box is clean, square and sturdy. |
3559 | Automatic Dump Car |
Early Classic | 7+ | $ 60 | A box for the operating 3559 Coal Dump sold in 1948:
Photo. Flaws: tears, creases, some discoloration, no insert. Another view. A strong box: fairly clean, square and sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere! First Early Classic 3559 box we have ever had available for separate sale! It is not an easy box to find! |
6357 | Caboose | Middle Classic | 7 | $ 15 | A box for the illuminated SP-type caboose sold from 1949-55:
Photo. Flaws: tears, creases, scrapes, tape inside, minor dirt. Some imperfections but the box is fairly clean, complete, square and sturdy. Another view. This is the first 6357 "Middle Classic" box we have ever had available for separate sale! |
6464-475 | Boston & Maine Boxcar | Late Classic | 8 | $ 60 | A nice box for the earlier (1957-58) version of the 6464-475 B & M boxcar.
Photo. Flaws: tears, small dent, minor stains. It is complete, clean, square and sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere! Another view. Only the second 6464-475 Late Classic box we have ever had available for separate sale! |
6555 | Tank Car | Middle Classic | 6+ | $ 25 | A box for the single-dome "S.U.N.X." Tank Car sold in 1949 and 1950:
Photo. Flaws: tears, creases, tape. Another view. A very presentable box as it is clean, complete, square & sturdy! |
Two different versions of the Original Box used for the 6572 Railway Express Car: | |||||
6572 | Railway Express Car | Late Classic | 6 | $ 55 | A box for the dark-green (early version) REA Refrigerator Car sold from 1958-59.
Photo. Flaws: the "5" was made into a "6" on each end flap as the box was used for a 6672 Santa Fe reefer at some point, additional writing, missing one interior coupler flap, small punctures; tape inside, "aged" look. Another view. Some imperfections but the box is fairly clean, square and sturdy! Photo of the part number tuck showing that the box is indeed for a 6572 Reefer. Not an easy box to find! |
6572 | Railway Express Car | Picture | 7 | $ 30 | A box for the light-green (later version) REA Refrigerator Car from 1963:
Photo. Flaws: tears, creases, scuffs, minor stains, tape inside, glue residue. Another view. A solid box even with the imperfections as it is fairly clean, complete, square and sturdy! |
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Box Types | ||||
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Abbreviation | Description | ~~~ | Abbreviation | Description |
Art Deco | Orange & blue; bold blue lettering | ~~~ | Hagers | Hagerstown |
Early Classic | Orange & Blue w/ San Francisco | ~~~ | Hills | Hillside |
Middle Classic | Numbers on all sides; no San Fran | ~~~ | O Corr | Orange Corrugated |
OPS Classic | Preprinted OPS stamp on side | ~~~ | Perf | Orange & White Perforated Panel |
Late Classic | Numbers only on end flaps | ~~~ | Pic | Orange & White Picture |
Bold Classic | Much bolder print on end flaps | ~~~ | W Corr | White Corrugated |
Glossy | Later Coated stock | ~~~ | Win | Window |
Corr | Brown Corrugated | ~~~ | Y Corr | Yellow Corrugated |
C Perf | Corrugated; Perforated Panel | ~~~ | FO | Factory Overstamped |
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