This page contains our current inventory of Postwar Passenger Cars including RDC Budd Commuter Cars (both motorized and "dummy" units) and Trolleys.
* * * 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 Passenger Cars | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalog # | Item | Grade | Photo | Price | Details |
| Motorized Passenger Units: | |||||
| 60 | Trolley | E+/OB | Yes | $195 | The 4-wheel, Birney-style, illuminated "RAPID TRANSIT" Trolley from 1956: yellow with blue lettering and a red roof. Harder-to-find version with solid bumpers.
Photo of the other side. A couple of light scratches and that's about it for flaws. Nothing is cracked or broken and overall, it is very clean with nice lettering. Has the original roof but the pole may be a repro. An "aerial" view. Photo of the box. Grade 9 original box (writing; minor stains; tape inside; missing the separate roof insert but has the "built-in" insert. Another view of the box. Has the original instruction sheet #60-103 dated 2/56 (tears; tape; insect nibbles). Photo of the instruction sheet. A sharp piece in a solid, brick-like box -- plus it was tested and it lights and runs great! |
| Passenger Sets: | |||||
| Illuminated, green Passenger Car Set from 1948-49 (white lettering, yellow stripes and gray roofs): | |||||
| 2400 | Maplewood Pullman |
VG+ | Yes | | | \ / |
Lighted coach with coil couplers:
Photo of the other side. Roof: one chipped ladder rung plus some scratches and a few paint chips; body: small melt mark underneath (car must be turned upside down to see it), small crack on one end (looks like a small scratch) and some paint chips and scratches on the sides. An "aerial" view. The window inserts are not original but they are nice -- clean and clear! Has the original roof and original finials. Even with the flaws, the car is very presentable as none of the blemishes are hideous and overall the car is very clean with crisp lettering, strong striping and nice vibrant paint! |
| 2401 | Hillside Observation Car | E+ | Yes | | | \ / |
Lighted "end car" with single coil coupler:
Photo of the other side. Roof: some paint chips along the rack and along the edges; body: just a few small paint chips. Photo of the observation deck. Tail section (observation deck) is clean and all intact! An "aerial" view. The window inserts are not original but they are nice -- clean and clear! Has the original roof and original finials. A sharp car: very clean with crisp lettering, strong striping and nice vibrant paint! |
| 2402 | Chatham Pullman |
Ex. | Yes | | | \ / |
Lighted coach with coil couplers:
Photo of the other side. Roof: a few small scratches; body: a few paint chips and some worn striping either from box rub or handling. An "aerial" view. The window inserts are not original but they are nice -- clean and clear! Has the original roof and original finials. A good-looking car: very clean with crisp lettering, decent striping and nice vibrant paint! |
| ===> | ===> | ===> | Yes | $425 SOLD |
Price for the three-car Passenger Set described above. |
| A very presentable 60-year-old set! The cars will look great on a shelf or on a layout -- the set is ready to enjoy as all lights and couplers work! | |||||
| Individual Passenger Cars: | |||||
| 1875W | Western & Atlantic Coach |
E+/OB | Yes | $325 | A Civil War style, simulated wood-sided Passenger Car with whistle: has a yellow body with brown roof & brown, heat-stamped lettering, simulated truss rods made of wire plus arch-bar trucks with operating couplers.
Photo of the other side. Very clean with nice lettering and minimal flaws! It lights and has a nice-sounding whistle! Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 7+ original box (panel partially separated; tears; creases; some stains & discoloration; "period" writing; a few "bump outs"). Another view of the box. A solid box: complete, square & sturdy plus there is no tape anywhere. Photo of the front panel. The car is rather uncommon but the box is really scarce because the 1875W most often came unboxed as a set component in one of Lionel's "Super O" General Sets. We have never had a boxed 1875W for sale separately before! This coach is sharp and it comes in a very strong box! |
| 2530 | REA Baggage Car |
E++/OB | Yes | $275 | A very nice Railway Express Agency extruded-aluminum, small-door Baggage Car from 1954-55:
Photo of the other side. Impressive and realistic-looking, fluted streamlined car measuring 16 1/2 inches coupler to coupler. Close-up of the lettering on one side. Minimal flaws -- it is a very, very clean, all-original car with crisp lettering. Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 7 original box (missing the tuck on one end and that end is taped shut; un-original inner flaps; tears; creases; scuffs; heavily taped). Another view of the box. Has the insert and despite the numerous flaws, the box is still a plus as it is clean, square and sturdy; it will protect the car in shipping and in storage. Photo of the box insert. The 2530 came in five catalogued sets but was also sold separately as an "add-on" car to make an aluminum passenger set complete; this prototypical piece is a very sharp-looking car! |
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A wagonmaker by the name of Webster Wagner is credited with developing successful early Passenger Cars in the 1850's. However, a native New Yorker -- George Pullman - designed and built far superior sleeping cars and dining cars and made travel by rail in America comfortable. From 1890 until 1941, when the impact of World War II was felt, Americans enjoyed luxury in rail travel equal to the finest hotels in the world.
Lionel manufactured six distinct styles of Passenger Cars in the Postwar era, including one that was a carryover design from the Prewar era -- the somewhat primitive 2000 series sheet-metal cars, which came in three different colors. The others were the elegant "Madison" cars, eight different color schemes of the "027" 2400-series molded plastic cars, the 1800 General-type cars, the sturdy 2500 extruded aluminum series and the more modern Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDC). The Budd Cars came powered (and with a horn) and non-powered. Most of the postwar passenger cars were illuminated and one (the 1875W General-type simulated-wood coach) even had a whistle.
Savor the golden era of rail travel and add Passenger Car service to your layout.
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