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 |
| 2420 | D. L. & W. Work Caboose |
E+ | Yes | $ 90 | The deluxe wrecking caboose with searchlight, die-cast frame, handrails, ladder, die-cast smokestack and staple-end trucks with dual coil couplers. Dark-gray frame with heat-stamped, serif lettering. Version from 1947 with reinforced squares on the underside of the frame.
Photo of the other side. Original cab is dark gray with black, heat-stamped, serif lettering; the original tool boxes are also dark gray. An "aerial" view. A few paint chips plus some rust on the metal ladder and that's about it for flaws. The caboose is very clean with nice, crisp lettering both on the cab and on the frame plus all four frame steps are intact -- and of course, it does light! The 2420 caboose is very difficult to locate with all original parts and in collector-quality condition. This good-looking "Searchlight Wrecking Car" is a useful piece that would be a nice addition to any work train on a layout to provide illumination to clear night-time wrecks. |
| 2457 | Pennsylvania N5 Caboose | E+/OB | Yes | $160 SOLD |
Old-fashioned, tinplate, LIGHTED P.R.R. caboose from late 1946 with staple-end trucks and dual coil couplers. Version with red body and red smokestack plus black window frames and without "EASTERN DIV." on the sides. Has white lettering plus single steps at each of the corners. The 2457 is a deluxe caboose with die-cast smokestack, battery box, air pump, end rails with ladders and a brakestand at each end.
Photo of the other side. Some paint loss on one window frame plus some minor stains in the paint and that's about it for flaws! It is sharp: very, very clean with beautiful lettering and nice vibrant paint! Photo of the underside of the chassis. Minor paint loss on the frame underside but the chassis is very, very clean with the "2457" numbering clearly visible on the frame underside. The collector assembly roller was replaced at some point in the caboose's life. Photo of the roof. The 2457 is a much harder caboose to find than the non-lighted 2472. Another view of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 8 original box (tears; "aged" look). Another view of the box. Has the insert (liner) and this box is SOLID: clean, complete, square and sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere! Photo of the elaborate box insert. The 2457 was sold from 1945 to 1947; however, the combination of the single steps, closed-base coil couplers and box style (without the Toy Logo) all help to date this piece as a late 1946 item! A nicely-detailed caboose that is loaded with just about every top-of-the-line feature offered by Lionel in that era -- plus it comes in one of the strongest 2457 boxes we have ever had! Great for the display shelf or for an operating layout as the light and coupler work! These early postwar items (which are essentially prewar carry-over designs) are getting harder and harder to find in collector-quality condition but this one is sharp! |
| 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. |
| 6017 (-200) |
U. S. Navy Caboose |
E++ | Yes | $295 SOLD |
A light-blue painted, SP-type United States Navy caboose with white, heat-stamped lettering and Navy logo from 1960 only:
Photo of the other side. Has the correct chemically-blackened tab frame with early AAR trucks and one operating coupler. Catalogued by Lionel as "6017-200" but only "6017" appears on the sides. An "aerial" view. Minimal flaws! It is a very nice piece: all intact and very, very clean with crisp lettering, sharp graphics and nice vibrant paint! The frame is also very, very clean and rust free. The 1-year-only Navy caboose has become one of the hardest items to find in collector-quality condition. It has been over two years since we have had a Navy caboose for sale! |
| 6059 | M & St L Caboose | Ex. | Yes | $ 35 | A Minneapolis & St. Louis (SP-type) caboose -- the earlier production, painted-red version from 1961 only!
Photo of the other side. Has white, heat-stamped lettering plus a black, tab frame with early AAR trucks and one operating coupler. Photo of the roof. Has box rub on the cupola catwalk as well as on other high spots on the roof and edges of the steps plus the metal frame tabs have paint loss. Another view of the roof. The caboose is sharp as it is completely intact and very clean with nice vibrant paint and crisp lettering! Photo of both ends. We have not had a painted 6059 for sale in over seven years as it is a very difficult item to find. |
| 6119 (-50) | D. L. & W. Work Caboose |
E+/OB | Yes | $ 85 | A nice work caboose from 1956 only: all-original with brown cab, brown tool bin and brown-painted sheet-metal frame with white, serif lettering. Has bar-end trucks with single tab coupler. Catalogued by Lionel as "6119-50" but only "6119" appears on the sides.
Photo of the other side. A small part of one roof panel is discolored (common stress mark) and that's about it for flaws on the cab; the frame has a few small scratches plus the usual paint loss on the metal steps. Nothing is cracked or broken and the caboose is very clean with nice lettering on both the cab and the frame. An "aerial" view. Photo of the box. Grade 7 original box (tears; creases; stain; no insert). A few flaws but the box is fairly clean overall, square and sturdy. It is also the correct "-50" box for the brown work caboose. Another view of the box. A good-looking, 1-year-only caboose in a very presentable box. |
| 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! |
| 6417-25 | Lionel Lines N5c Caboose |
E++/OB | Yes | $125 | 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. Minimal flaws! It is completely intact and 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 7+ original box (tears; creases; a few letters on one long side were distorted in the printing process; "aged" look). 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 (-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. |
| 6420 | D. L. & W. Searchlight Work Caboose |
E++/OB | Yes | $175 SOLD |
The deluxe wrecking caboose with searchlight, die-cast frame, handrails, ladder, smokestack and staple-end trucks with dual magnetic couplers. Has a dark-gray die-cast frame with black heat-stamped, serif lettering.
Photo of the other side. Original cab is dark gray with black, heat-stamped, serif lettering; original tool boxes are dark gray. Two "aerial" views. Some box rub on one of the toolboxes and that is about it for flaws! The caboose is completely intact and very, very clean with crisp lettering and nice paint -- plus of course, it does light! Photo of the box. Grade 8 original "Middle Classic" box (one end flap is a little faded plus it has writing and a store sticker; tears). Another view of the box. Has the elaborate insert and this box is SOLID: clean, complete, square and sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere! Photo of the box insert. A very nice caboose in a very nice box! The 6420 caboose is very difficult to locate with all original parts and in collector-quality condition. This sharp "Searchlight Wrecking Car" from 1949-50 is a useful piece that would be a nice addition to any work train on a layout to provide illumination to clear night-time wrecks. |
| 6427 | Lionel Lines N5c Caboose |
E++/OB | Yes | $ 95 | An illuminated, Tuscan-painted, porthole caboose from 1954: has white heat-stamped lettering plus metal, bar-end trucks with a single magnetic coupler.
Photo of the other side. Common box rub on the roof and that's about it for flaws! The caboose is very, very clean with beautiful lettering and nice vibrant paint -- and of course, it does light! The end railings are original and all intact! Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 6+ original box (missing one interior coupler flap; tears; creases; scrapes; store price stampings). Photo of the front of the box. A store label on the box provides a little history of this item: the car was originally sold by UNEEDA TRAIN TOWN, a store that was once located at 2973 Blvd. in Jersey City, New Jersey! Another view of the box. Some flaws but the box is clean, square and sturdy! The "6427" box (in contrast to the later "6427-1" box) is also a very, very hard box to find! A sharp caboose in only the second 6427 box we have ever had! The 6427 Lionel Lines caboose was sold from 1954 to 1960 but the magnetic coupler and "Middle Classic" box help to date this piece as having been made in 1954. If you are trying to build either the Texas Special Set #1517W or the 2065 Steam Engine Set #1519WS, this is the right caboose AND the right box! |
| 6437 | Pennsylvania N5c Caboose |
====== E+++ Un-run OB ====== |
Yes | $ 85 | A sharp, illuminated, Tuscan, porthole caboose from 1964-65 that was NEVER USED! Has white, heat-stamped lettering plus AAR trucks with a single operating coupler.
Photo of the other side. Just stunning! It is completely intact and very, very clean with spectacular lettering and nice vibrant paint! The end railings are original and all intact! We "bench tested" the caboose and it does light! Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 8 original "Picture" box (tears; creases). Another view of the box. A solid box: clean, complete, square and sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere! It is one of the nicest 6437 boxes we have ever had! The 6437 Caboose was sold from 1961 to 1968 but the trucks style and box help to date this item as a 1964-65 piece. Just a beautiful caboose in a very strong box! Our Archives Page has more information about 6437 Pennsylvania Cabooses. |
| 6457 | Lionel Caboose | E+ | Yes | $ 60 | Illuminated, brown-painted SP-type caboose (on a very unusual orange mold) from late 1949 with matching, painted-brown, PLASTIC smokestack!
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, battery boxes, ladders, two brakewheels and dual magnetic couplers. Photo of the roof. Some box rub (showing the interesting mold color) plus a small hairline stress mark by the stack and that's about it for flaws! It is very clean with very strong lettering and nice vibrant paint and of course, it does light! Another view of the roof. The 6457 Caboose was sold from 1949 to 1952 but the staple-end trucks and the plastic smokestack help to date this piece as a 1949 item. A very nice caboose that rarely appears in the marketplace in collector-quality condition. |
| 6814 | Rescue Work Caboose |
VG+ | Yes | $125 | 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 cab has a scratch on one side; the roof has some discoloration and scuff marks plus a hairline crack by the ladder opening (no loss of plastic). The cab and tool bin are clean overall with nice lettering and graphics. The frame is clean overall with very sharp lettering and nice vibrant paint. An "aerial" view of the tool bin and the contents. ORIGINAL control panel insert (some discoloration), oxygen tanks, stretchers & man -- and they are all intact! A very attractive military piece; the 6814 caboose is not an easy item to find and we have not had one for sale in almost five years! |
| Hints for buying a Caboose (We will bring you back) |
How can we help? |
~~~ Ready to Order? ~~~ Click here to Place an Order |
|---|
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.
Postwar Lionel Diesels & Electrics Steamers Passenger Cars Railroad Work Cars Freight Cars Space & Military Cars Cabooses Accessories Sets Original Boxes Other Paper ~ Unique Reference Charts ~
Home
Site Map
Postwar Lionel
Soviet Trains
Train Shows
Contact Us