This page contains our current inventory of Postwar Lionel cabooses and work cabooses.
* * * Click on "Yes" in the Photo column to see a picture.
* * * Click on "Grade" in the 3rd column heading for an explanation of grading.
| Postwar Lionel Cabooses and Work Cabooses | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalog # | Item | Grade | Photo | Price | Description & More Information |
| 2472 | Pennsylvania N5 Caboose |
E++/OB | Yes | $ 95 SOLD |
Old-fashioned, red, tinplate caboose from late 1946: has white lettering plus staple-end trucks with single coil coupler. Version with "EASTERN DIV." on the sides.
Photo of the other side. Minor paint loss and discoloration on the end railings and that's it for flaws! The caboose is sharp: very, very clean with beautiful lettering and nice vibrant paint! An "aerial" view. The "2472" numbering is clearly visible on the frame underside. Another "aerial" view. Photo of the box. Grade 8 original box (tears; creases; minor scuffs; "aged" look). Another view of the box. Has the insert (liner) and this brick-like box is solid: clean, complete, square & sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere! Photo of the box insert. The 2472 was sold in 1946 and 1947; however, the combination of the closed-base coil couplers and box style (without the Toy Logo) all help to date this piece as a late 1946 item! These early postwar items are getting harder and harder to find in collector-quality condition but this one is very, very nice and it's in a very strong box! |
| 6167 | Lionel Lines Caboose |
E++ | Yes | $ 15 | The traditional "little old red caboose" -- unpainted red body with white lettering and a galvanized tab frame with late AAR trucks plus one operating coupler and one fixed coupler.
Photo of the other side. Minimal flaws! The body is all intact and very, very clean with superb lettering! An "aerial" view. This SP-type Caboose was sold in 1963 & 1964. It was the "plain Jane" of its era with no deluxe features (other than the one operating coupler). |
| 6357 | S P Caboose | E++/OB | Yes | $ 35 SOLD |
A gorgeous illuminated, tile red, Southern Pacific caboose from 1952-53.
Photo of the other side. Version with one brakewheel, no smokestack and bar-end trucks with single magnetic coupler. Photo of the roof. The caboose is sharp: very, very clean with crisp lettering and nice vibrant paint -- and of course, it does light! Another view of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 7 original box (tears; creases; tape; tape residue; glue residue). Some flaws but the box is fairly clean, complete, square and sturdy. Another view of the box. We have had very few tile-red, "S P" 6357 cabooses over the years as they are much harder to find than the later "LIONEL" 6357 cabooses that were sold from 1953 to 1961. |
| 6417 (-1) | Pennsylvania N5c Caboose |
E++/OB | Yes | $375 | The very scarce Pennsylvania porthole caboose without "New York Zone" on the sides! Sold only in 1957, this illuminated, Tuscan-painted caboose has white heat-stamped lettering plus bar-end trucks with dual tab couplers.
Photo of the other side. The caboose is sharp: very, very clean and completely intact with nice lettering and vibrant paint plus it has the original end railings -- and of course, it does light! An "aerial" view. Photo of the box. Grade 7+ original box (missing a small piece of one end flap; tears; some stains; "aged" look). A few flaws but this box is fairly clean, square & sturdy -- and there is no tape anywhere! It is also the correct "-1" box for the no "New York Zone" caboose. Another view of the box. An unusual and high-quality caboose in the right box! It is also one of the hardest postwar cabooses to find. |
| 6417-25 | Lionel Lines N5c Caboose |
E+/OB | Yes | $110 | An illuminated, Tuscan-painted, porthole caboose from 1954 only: has white, heat-stamped lettering plus bar-end trucks with dual magnetic couplers. Catalogued by Lionel as "6417-25" although the caboose is actually numbered "64173" on the sides.
Photo of the other side. Small chip on the bottom of one side and that's about it for flaws! It is very, very clean with crisp lettering and nice, vibrant paint plus it has original end railings -- and of course, it does light! Two views of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 8 original box (tears; creases; glue residue). The box is SOLID: clean, complete, square and sturdy plus there is no tape anywhere! It is also the correct "6417-25" box for this version of the 6417 caboose. Another view of the box. A sharp caboose! The one-year-only 6417-25 is much harder to find than the 6417 Pennsylvania caboose or the 6427 Lionel Lines caboose! |
| 6419 | =========== D. L. & W. Work Caboose =========== |
====== E+++ Un-run OB ====== |
Yes | $110 | An all-original "Wrecking Car" from 1953 that was NEVER USED! Has light-gray painted tool boxes and a light-gray painted cab with black lettering and a tall smokestack. Has a painted-gray die-cast frame with black heat-stamped, serif lettering plus bar-end trucks with dual magnetic couplers. This deluxe work caboose also has steps, handrails, brakewheels and a ladder.
Photo of the other side. A gorgeous piece! The caboose is all intact and very, very clean with beautiful lettering and nice vibrant paint! Two "aerial" views. Photo of the box. Grade 7 original "Middle-Classic" box (tears; creases; lots of tape inside; glue residue; "aged" look). Another view of the box. Has the INSERT (liner) and this box is solid -- complete, clean, square and sturdy! Has the original inspection slip! Photo of the box insert and the inspection slip. The 6419 was sold from 1948 to 1950 (with staple-end trucks) and then again from 1952 to 1955 but the "Middle Classic" box plus the bar-end trucks with magnetic couplers all help to date this caboose as a 1953 item! A nice-looking caboose in a brick-like box! The 6419 work caboose is not rare but one that was never run is very unusual! It is only the second unrun 6419 we have ever had! |
| 6457 | Lionel Caboose |
E++/OB | Yes | $ 75 SOLD |
Illuminated, brown-painted SP-type caboose from 1950-51: has white heat-stamped lettering plus staple-end trucks with magnetic couplers.
Photo of the other side. The 6457 was the top-of-the-line Lionel caboose during its time and has these deluxe features: interior light, die-cast smokestack, battery boxes, ladders, two brakewheels and dual couplers. Photo of both ends. Minor paint loss on one of the end railings and that's about it for flaws! Hardly any marks on either the wheels or the pickup roller so the caboose looks like it made one lap around the Christmas tree and was then put away! It is completely intact and very, very clean with crisp lettering and nice vibrant paint plus a nice rust-free frame -- and of course, it does light! Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 8 original box (tears; creases; puncture). The box is clean, complete, square & sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere! It is also the correct box for this version of the 6457. Another view of the box. The 6457 caboose was sold from 1949-1952 but the black smokestack, staple-end trucks and "Middle Classic" box all help to identify this caboose as a 1950-51 item. The 6457 brown Caboose is common -- but not in this condition! It is a high-quality caboose in a very strong box! This premium caboose has long been a favorite with both collectors and operators. |
| Two different versions of the 6517 Lionel Lines Bay Window Caboose: | |||||
| ======== (6517-75) ======== |
Erie Bay Window Caboose |
E++ | Yes | $650 | A sharp "ERIE C301" Bay Window caboose from 1966 only! Has a medium-red body with white rubber-stamped lettering.
Photo of the other side. Has all of the deluxe features of the "LIONEL LINES" version (illuminated, window insert, shades, die-cast smokestack, ladders, fancy passenger car-type trucks and dual operating couplers) but has the more desirable roadname. It is the only caboose produced by Lionel in the postwar era to have the Erie roadname. Catalogued by Lionel as "6517-75" but that number does not appear on the body of the caboose. Two views of the roof. Minor box rub and that's about it for flaws! The caboose is very, very clean and all intact with crisp lettering, sharp graphics and nice vibrant paint -- and of course, it does light! This one-year-only caboose is an elusive, high-quality piece that will enhance anyone's train collection! |
| 6517 | Bay Window Caboose |
E++/OB | Yes | $ 95 | Large illuminated, LIONEL LINES caboose: has a red-painted body with white rubber-stamped lettering plus metal trucks; it is the later version from 1956-59 with no "Built Date" underscoring.
Photo of the other side. Minimal flaws -- the caboose is completely intact and very, very clean with beautiful lettering & graphics, nice even paint and a nice rust-free frame -- and of course, the caboose does light! Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 6 original box (tears; creases; stains; mildly distorted). A few flaws but the box is complete, fairly square and sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere! Another view of the box. The Bay Window caboose was the largest caboose offered by Lionel in the postwar era. It only came as a deluxe model with interior lighting, fancy passenger car-type trucks, operating couplers, ladders & a die-cast smokestack. The 6517 caboose was made from 1955 to 1959 but the "Late Classic" box and the lack of underscoring on the car body date this piece as a 1956-59 item. |
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| 6557 | Smoke Caboose | E++/OB | Yes | $295 | The illuminated, Tuscan-painted "LIONEL" SP-type smoking caboose from 1958-59: has white, heat-stamped lettering (with number on left) and the original smoke deflector plus bar-end trucks with single operating tab coupler.
Photo of the other side. Minor box rub on the front edge of the cupola and that's about it for flaws! Photo of the roof. The caboose is sharp: completely intact and very, very clean with crisp lettering and nice vibrant paint. It lights and smokes well and it is one of the nicest smoke cabooses we have ever had! Another view of the roof. Has the original instruction sheet #6557-18, dated 8/58 (creases & wrinkled). Photo of the instruction sheet. Photo of the box. Grade 6+ original box (missing one interior coupler flap; tears; creases; minor stains; tape inside; glue residue). A few flaws but the box is clean, square and sturdy. Another view of the box. A great-looking caboose in a very presentable box -- the 6557 is always a great layout piece! |
| 6657 | Rio Grande Caboose | E++ | Yes | $195 SOLD |
Illuminated, Rio Grande (SP-type) caboose from 1957-58: has a yellow-painted body with a silver-painted lower stripe on each side plus a silver-painted roof.
Photo of the other side of this very-photogenic caboose. Additional features include black striping, black heat-stamped lettering and decals with the Rio Grande logo plus a die-cast smokestack. The chemically-blackened frame has end railings with single brakewheel plus metal, bar-end trucks with single tab coupler. photo of the roof. Minimal flaws! The caboose is very, very clean with crisp lettering, gorgeous striping, nice shiny silver and intact decals -- and it does light! Another view of the roof. With its unusual silver & yellow paint scheme and colorful logos, it is arguably the most attractive caboose produced by Lionel in the postwar era. This 6657 is sharp! |
| 6814 | Rescue Work Caboose |
VG | Yes | $ 45 | A military caboose from 1959-61: also known as the "First Aid Medical Caboose," this item from the "Space & Military" series has a painted white cab and painted white tool bin with red lettering and graphics. Has early AAR trucks with single operating coupler and a gray-painted, sheet-metal frame with black heat-stamped, serif lettering.
Photo of the other side. The roof has a few scratches and the tray has some discoloration but both are completely intact and fairly clean with very nice lettering and graphics. The frame has some rust spots and paint chips but the lettering is sharp. Two "aerial" views. Missing the control panel insert, oxygen tanks, stretchers & man (note that repro parts are available in the marketplace). The 6814 caboose is not an easy item to find and we have had very few for sale over the years! |
| (6824-50) | Rescue Work Caboose |
E+ | Yes | $185 | A "First Aid Medical Caboose" from 1964-65: uncatalogued item from the "Space & Military" series with white cab, white tool bin and red lettering. Has AAR trucks and a BLACK-painted, sheet-metal frame with heat-stamped, sans-serif lettering.
Photo of the other side. Small scuffs and some box rub on the roof of the cab and tool bin and that's about it for flaws! It is clean overall with crisp lettering, nice graphics and vibrant paint! An "aerial" view. The frame is also very clean with beautiful lettering -- and there is no paint loss on the steps! Another "aerial" view. Note: this item represents another one of Lionel's oddities -- the number on the side of the caboose is "6814" (as the company used parts from the more common catalogued Rescue Caboose with that number) but the Lionel catalog number for this item is 6824-50! It appeared in only five Sears & Roebuck promotional outfits (one in 1964 & four in 1965) and never came with a component box. This caboose is complete as described; it is essentially the "plain Jane" version of the 6814 and the Sears Rescue Caboose differs from the more common 6814 Rescue Caboose in two ways: it has a black frame (not gray) and it did not come with any accessories (crewman, tool compartment insert, stretchers or oxygen tanks). It is a tough item to find in collector-quality condition and this 6824-50 is one of the nicest black-frame versions we have ever had for sale! |
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Everyone knows what a Caboose is, but did you know that it has many colorful nicknames? Some of these affectionate terms include buggy, brain-box, crummy, hack, and monkey cage plus some that are not printable here. Did you know that the Conductor (who is the boss of the train) actually runs the train from the Caboose?
Lionel made various styles of Cabooses in the Postwar era including the SP-type, bay-window, porthole (N5c), work cabooses with either tool boxes or an open bin, and even one that smoked. Some were lighted inside, some had a searchlight, some were made of metal, some had a real roadname (many said Lionel Lines) and some were plain while others were very attractive.
Your freight train needs a Caboose. Your work train needs a Caboose as well.
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