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 |
| 6017 | Lionel Lines Caboose |
E+/OB | Yes | $ 25 | A sharp SP-type caboose from 1957-58: has a brown-painted body with white lettering with a chemically-blackened tab frame plus early AAR trucks with one operating coupler.
Photo of the other side. A scratch on one side plus a few minor scuffs and that's it for flaws! The body is very, very clean with nice vibrant paint and superb lettering! An "aerial" view. Photo of the box. Grade 6+ original box (missing the interior coupler flap; tears; creases). A few flaws but the box is clean, square and sturdy plus there is no tape anywhere. Another view of the box. This caboose was the "plain-Jane" model that came in many, many sets. The long-running 6017 was sold from 1951 to 1962; however the color of the caboose, the fact that it is a painted version, the truck style and "Late Classic" box all help to date this item as a 1957-58 piece. |
| 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 | $ 55 | Illuminated, tile red, Southern Pacific caboose from 1949-51.
Photo of the other side. Version with one brakewheel, no smokestack and staple-end trucks with single magnetic coupler. Photo of the roof. One paint chip on the cupola plus some minor paint loss on one end railing and that's about it for flaws! It is 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; glue residue; "aged" look). The box is very presentable: clean, complete, square and sturdy plus there is no tape anywhere! Another view of the box. We have had very few tile-red, early version "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 | Pennsylvania N5c Caboose |
E++/OB | Yes | $ 55 | An illuminated, Tuscan-painted, porthole caboose from 1954:
Photo of the other side. Has white heat-stamped lettering plus bar-end trucks with dual magnetic couplers. Photo of the roof. Minimal flaws! This caboose is very, very clean with crisp lettering, vibrant paint and intact original ends. In addition, there are no cracks -- and of course, it does light! Another view of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 6 original box (missing one interior coupler flap; tears; creases; track pin marks; writing; tape inside; glue residue; "aged" look). Some flaws but the box is clean, square and sturdy. Another view of the box. Gorgeous caboose in a presentable box! |
| 6417 | Pennsylvania N5c Caboose |
E- | Yes | $ 25 | An illuminated, Tuscan-painted, porthole caboose from 1954:
Photo of the other side. Has white heat-stamped lettering plus bar-end trucks with dual magnetic couplers. Photo of the roof. Has reproduction end railings plus a few paint chips and some glue residue on one side (visible in the above photo). Overall, this caboose is very clean with crisp lettering and nice vibrant paint. In addition, there are no cracks -- and of course, it does light! Lighted caboose that is perfect for a layout! |
| 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+++/OB | Yes | $110 | An all-original "Wrecking Car" from 1954 with gray plastic tool boxes and a gray plastic cab with black lettering plus 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. Just gorgeous! The caboose is completely intact and very, very clean with crisp lettering and nice vibrant paint! An "aerial" view. Photo of the box. Grade 8+ original "Middle-Classic" box (minor tears; creases; glue residue). Another view of the box. Has the INSERT (liner) and this box is SOLID -- clean, complete, square and sturdy! 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 (and engraved knuckles) all help to date this caboose as a 1954 item! A beautiful caboose in a brick-like box! The 6419 work caboose is fairly common but not in this condition! It is one of the nicest 6419 cabooses we have ever seen! If you are thinking about building the 736 Berkshire Work Train set from 1954 (outfit #2225WS), this item would be a fantastic start! |
| 6419 (-100) |
N & W Work Caboose |
E+ | Yes | $160 | The scarce Norfolk and Western work caboose from 1957-58:
Photo of the other side. Has the original un-painted gray cab with black, heat-stamped lettering and the original unpainted-gray tool boxes. The gray-painted die-cast frame has black lettering and bar-end trucks with dual operating tab couplers. An "aerial" view. A few light scratches and that's about it for flaws! This caboose is very, very clean with strong lettering -- both on the cab and on the frame! Catalogued by Lionel as "6419-100" but the cab is actually numbered "576419" -- it is one of the few work cabooses made by Lionel in the postwar era with a roadname other than D L & W. We have had very few Norfolk & Western Work Cabooses over the years as they are very hard to find in collector-quality condition. |
| Two different versions of the 6457 SP-type Caboose: | |||||
| 6457 | Lionel Caboose |
E+ | Yes | $ 60 | Illuminated, brown SP-type caboose from 1949 with matching, PAINTED-BROWN, die-cast smokestack: 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 additional deluxe features: interior light, battery boxes, ladders, two brakewheels and dual couplers. An "aerial" view. Scuff on the roof and a paint chip on one side and that is about it for flaws! The caboose is very, very clean with crisp lettering and nice vibrant paint -- and of course, it does light! Another "aerial" view. This premium caboose has long been a favorite with both collectors and operators. We have not had this version of the 6457 in many years -- it is much harder to find than the version with the black die-cast smokestack! |
| 6457 | Lionel Caboose |
E++/OB | Yes | $ 60 | 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 the roof. Minor paint loss on one of the end railings and that's about it for flaws! The caboose 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 box. Grade 7 original box (tears; creases; dirt; stains; writing; glue residue; tape inside). Another view of the box. Some flaws but the box is fairly clean, complete, square & sturdy! It is also the correct box for this version of the 6457. Photo of one of the large, long sides of the box showing the writing. 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. A high-quality caboose in a very presentable box! This premium caboose has long been a favorite with both collectors and operators. |
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| 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 | 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! |
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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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