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 |
| Individual Passenger Cars: | |||||
| 2530 | REA Baggage Car |
Ex./OB | Yes | $650 SOLD |
One of the rarest postwar passenger cars: the LARGE DOOR Railway Express Agency extruded-aluminum Baggage Car from 1954 only.
Photo of the other side. Impressive and realistic-looking, fluted streamlined car measures 16 1/2 inches coupler to coupler. Photo of the roof. One door has some paint bubbles plus the roof & body have the typical flaws associated with aluminum cars -- a few light scratches plus a little dirt in the ribs. Overall, the car is clean with strong lettering on the nameplates. File photo showing the doors on a Large-door 2530 & the doors on a Small-door version. Photo of the box. Grade 6 original box (missing the tuck on one end flap and that end is taped shut; tears; creases; tape residue; scrapes; discoloration; old price sticker). Another view of the box. The box has lots of flaws but it also has the insert thus making it square and sturdy. It is also the correct "Middle Classic" box for this early 2530. Photo of the box insert. The "large door" version of the 2530 Baggage Car reflects early 1954 production as Lionel quickly made a construction change to strengthen the car sides by making the door openings smaller. It is a SCARCE item and the correct box is a major plus! |
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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.
| Postwar Lionel | ||
|---|---|---|
| Diesels & Electrics | Steamers | Passenger Cars |
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