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 |
| 400 | ============= Baltimore & Ohio RDC-1 Budd Powered Passenger Car ============= |
E+/OB | Yes | $325 | A B & O motorized Rail Diesel Car (RDC) from 1956-58: this powered commuter car has a silver body with fluted sides and blue heat-stamped lettering.
Photo of the other side. Has Magnetraction, an operating horn and operating couplers plus passenger silhouettes in the windows and three interior lights providing nice, realistic illumination. A close-up of one side showing the clean silver & crisp lettering. Some discoloration in parts of the roof ribbing and that's about it for flaws! The cab is very, very clean with nice bright silver and crisp lettering! Photo of one end. The chassis is equally as nice: the frame is very, very clean and rust free plus there is no battery damage! Photo of the other end. This very-low-mileage unit was serviced and it lights and runs great -- plus the horn works! Two "aerial" views. Has the correct original instruction sheet #400-29, dated 5/56 (some stains). Photo of the instruction sheet. Includes the sheet of original Lionel wrapping paper that was provided by the company to help protect the piece inside its box. Photo of the Lionel wrapping paper. Photo of the open end of the box. Grade 8 original (Robert Gair Co. corrugated) box. Photo of the sealed end of the box. The box has some minor stains plus some tape. Close-up of the manufacturer's data. Has the elaborate box insert and this box is SOLID: clean, complete, square and sturdy Photo of the box insert. We have had very few 400 Budd Cars in collector-quality condition over the years but this one is nice and it's in a very, very strong box! This prototypical-looking Budd Car will look great on a shelf or in a display cabinet but it is also a smooth runner and it is ready for a layout. |
| 404 | ============== Baltimore & Ohio RDC-4 Budd Powered Mail-Baggage Car ============== |
====== E++ Un-run OB ====== |
Yes | $525 | B & O motorized Rail Diesel Car (RDC) from 1957-58 that was NEVER USED! This powered "RAILWAY POST OFFICE" Budd car has a silver body with blue heat-stamped lettering.
Photo of the other side. Has Magnetraction, an operating horn and operating couplers plus passenger silhouettes in the windows and three interior lights that provide nice, even illumination. A close-up of one side showing the clean silver & crisp lettering. Has a small scratch by one of the decorative horns and a light scuff on the other end of the roof and that's about it for flaws! Photo of one end. The unit is very, very clean with bright silver and with nice, crisp lettering! The chassis is equally as clean with a nice, rust-free frame and there is no battery damage! Photo of the other end. We "bench tested" its functions and everything works -- including the horn! Two views of the roof. Has the correct original instruction sheet #404-8, dated 5/57 (creases, discolored). Photo of the instruction sheet. Includes the sheet of original Lionel wrapping paper that was provided by the company to help protect the piece inside its box. Photo of the Lionel wrapping paper. Photo of the open end of the box. Grade 8 original box (tears; creases; minor stains; scrapes; writing). Photo of the sealed end of the box. This corrugated box was made by the St. Joe Paper Co. -- and shows the year (indicated by "7") on one side. Close-up of the manufacturer's data & date. Has the elaborate box insert and this box is SOLID: clean, complete, square and sturdy -- plus there is no un-original tape anywhere! Photo of the box insert. The 404 Mail-baggage Car is much harder to find than the 400 RDC Passenger Car and we have had very, very few 404 Budd Cars in collector-quality condition over the years. Finding an unused locomotive of any kind is very, very unusual and this is the first unrun 404 we have ever had! |
| 1866 | Western & Atlantic Baggage Car |
VG | Yes | $ 55 SOLD |
A Civil War style, simulated wood-sided W. & A.R.R. U.S. Mail Car from 1959-62: has a yellow body with brown roof & brown, heat-stamped lettering, American eagle & flag decals, opaque window panes, simulated truss rods made of wire plus arch-bar trucks with fixed couplers.
Photo of the other side. Some box rub, paint chips and dirt in the ribbings plus the arrows under the eagle on one side are rubbed off. In addition, the truss rods are tarnished. Some flaws but the car is still presentable as the paint is vibrant and the lettering is very nice! In addition, nothing is broken or missing. Two views of the roof. A car that is not often available as a separate-sale item. |
| 2436 | Mooseheart Observation Car |
E+/OB | Yes | $135 | The silver-painted, red-lettered Mooseheart "Lounge" car -- a lighted Observation Car from 1957-58: This "tail" car has silhouetted window strips plus fancy passenger trucks and a single operating coupler.
Photo of the other side. A few light scratches on the roof plus the normal imperfections associated with silver paint (discoloration and evidence of handling). Photo of the observation deck. The car is very, very clean with crisp lettering and nice even silver -- plus it does light. The tail section is completely intact -- never rear-ended or involved in a crash. The window strips, roof and finials are all original. Two views of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 8 original box (tears; small piece of the top layer on one end flap missing -- probably from removing a price sticker; creases; tiny bit of writing on each end flap). The box is solid: clean, complete, square and sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere! Another view of the box. Nice car; nice box! The Mooseheart is much harder to find than the 2436 Summit Observation Car. Two catalogued sets from 1957 included either the Summit or the Mooseheart. However, the Mooseheart is the correct observation car for two catalogued sets from 1958 -- outfit #1600 (which was headed up by the 216 Burlington Alco) and outfit #1608W (which was headed up by the 209 New Haven Alco AA units) plus one promotional set -- outfit #X-572NA from 1960. In addition, the Mooseheart was offered as a separate sale item in 1959. Our Archives Page has information on the passenger car series that included this car. |
| 2530 | REA Baggage Car |
E++ | Yes | $175 | A 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 plates on one side. Minimal flaws. The car is all-original and very, very clean with shiny silver and nice lettering. Two views of the roof. 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 good-looking car! |
| 2550 | =============== Baltimore and Ohio Budd "Dummy" Baggage Car =============== |
VG | Yes | $275 | A B&O RDC Budd Commuter non-powered baggage/mail unit from 1957-58:
Photo of the other side. Has ornamental horns, silhouetted window strips and operating couplers. A close-up of one side showing the weakest of the lettering. Has three interior lights which provide nice, even illumination. Photo of one end. There are various scratches (mostly on one side) and paint chips plus some discoloration in the ribbing on one side of the roof (usual imperfections associated with silver paint). Photo of the other end. In addition, there is a scuff on the top of one vestibule and the nearby decorative horn is discolored. An "aerial" view. However, the flaws are not hideous and this car is still very presentable as it is clean overall with decent silver and crisp lettering on one side -- and of course, the lights do work. Another "aerial" view. A prototypical-looking (and VERY RARE) car. Only the second 2550 Budd Car we have ever had available for sale on our website! If you need a 2550 box, we have one available for separate sale right now! Click here to go to our Original Boxes Page to read about a strong original 2550 box. |
| 2559 | =============== Baltimore and Ohio Budd "Dummy" Passenger Car =============== |
E++/OB | Yes | $375 | A sharp B & O RDC Budd Commuter non-powered passenger unit from 1957-58:
Photo of the other side. Has ornamental horns, silhouetted window strips and operating couplers. A close-up of the center of one side showing the clean silver & crisp lettering. Has three interior lights which provide nice, even illumination. Photo of one end. Scuffs on the roof of both vestibules and that's about it for flaws! Photo of the other end. The car is very, very clean with very nice silver and crisp lettering -- and of course, the lights work! Two "aerial" views. Photo of the box. Grade 5 original box (missing one interior coupler flap; tears; creases; punctures; scrapes; stains; glue residue; tape; amateur repairs; discolored). Another view of the box. Various imperfections but the box has both end flaps and it is square and sturdy. Photo of the large, long side that has the small scrapes. Great-looking, prototypical car with minimal run time! |
| Nice Canadian Pacific Passenger Cars from 1957 only: | |||||
| Each of these extruded-aluminum cars have a ribbed roof and ribbed sides plus decorative brown striping with gold lettering. Each car has interior lighting, silhouette inserts and fancy, passenger-service trucks with magnetic couplers. | |||||
| 2551 | Banff Park Observation Car |
E+ | Yes | | | \ / |
The CP "Lounge" car:
Photo of the other side. Some discoloration of the silver in spots plus some minor scratches and small burrs and that's about it for flaws! Close-up of the lettering on one side. Has crisp lettering and nice shiny silver overall plus a nice rust-free chassis. Photo of the observation deck. The tail section (observation deck) is all original and completely intact! Two "aerial" views. A very nice car with ORIGINAL striping! |
| 2552 | Skyline 500 Vista Dome |
E++ | Yes | | | \ / |
The CP "Viewing" car:
Photo of the other side. Has small stains in places plus some box rub and that's about it for flaws! Close-up of the lettering on one side. Has crisp lettering, sharp striping and nice shiny silver overall plus a nice rust-free chassis. Two "aerial" views. A very nice car with ORIGINAL striping! |
| 2553 | Blair Manor Pullman |
E+ | Yes | | | \ / |
A CP extruded-aluminum "Coach" (the first of two add-ons available from Lionel):
Photo of the other side. Minor amount of dirt in spots and that's about it for flaws! Close-up of the lettering on one side. Clean silver with sharp striping & crisp lettering plus a nice rust-free chassis. Two "aerial" views. A very nice car with ORIGINAL striping -- one that is very, very hard to find! |
| ===> | ===> | ===> | Yes | $895 | Price for the three all-original Canadian Pacific Passenger cars described above. |
| 2554 | Craig Manor Pullman |
Ex. | Yes | $225 | A CP extruded-aluminum "Coach" (the second of two add-ons available from Lionel):
Photo of the other side. Has reproduction striping (lettering is a little lighter and not quite centered vertically in the channel on one side) plus a minor amount of dirt in spots and that's about it for flaws! Close-up of the lettering on one side. Clean silver overall with crisp lettering plus a nice rust-free chassis. Two "aerial" views. A very presentable looking car -- one that is very, very hard to find! |
| The aluminum passenger car outfits were among the nicest passenger sets produced by Lionel in the postwar era. Each car measures 16 1/2 inches long; they are very sturdy and they look realistic. The cars will look great on a shelf but will also provide enjoyment on your layout as all lights and couplers work! | |||||
| Price for all four Canadian Pacific Cars: $950 plus shipping -- a discount of $170! | |||||
| Passenger Sets: | |||||
| Illuminated Santa Fe Passenger Cars from 1961: three silver-painted cars with blue lettering and wide blue stripes. | |||||
| 2412 | Santa Fe Vista Dome |
Ex./OB | Yes | | | \ / |
The "Viewing" car: a lighted Vista Dome with original silhouetted window strips, original roof and original finials:
Photo of the other side. Has some long scratches on both sides. The car is very clean overall with crisp lettering & gorgeous striping plus nice bright silver! An "aerial" view. Photo of the box. Grade 6+ original "Perforated Panel" box (tears; creases; scrapes; tape inside; glue residue; "period" price stamping). Another view of the box. Even with the flaws, this box is decent as it is: clean, complete, square and sturdy! Photo of the front of the box. A good-looking car! |
| 2414 | Santa Fe Pullman |
E-/OB | Yes | | | \ / |
The very-elusive "Coach" -- a lighted Pullman with original silhouetted window strips, original roof and original finials:
Photo of the other side. Has some long scratches on the right side plus a few scuffs on the roof. The car is very clean overall with crisp lettering & gorgeous striping plus nice bright silver! An "aerial" view. Photo of the box. Grade 6 original "Perforated Panel" box (missing one interior coupler flap; tears; creases; lots of tape inside; glue residue; panel partially separated; missing the "PUSH" tab). Another view of the box. Even with the flaws, this box is decent as it is: clean, square and sturdy! Photo of the front of the box. A good-looking car! The 2414 is the hardest car of this series to find and the prize in this set! |
| 2416 | Santa Fe Observation Car |
Ex./OB | Yes | | | \ / |
The "Lounge" car -- a lighted Observation Car with original silhouetted window strips, original roof and original finials:
Photo of the other side. Has a couple of small scratches on the left side plus some long scratches on the right side. The car is very clean overall with crisp lettering & gorgeous striping plus nice bright silver! Photo of the observation area. The tail section is completely intact -- never rear-ended or involved in a crash. An "aerial" view. Photo of the box. Grade 7 original "Picture" box (tears; creases; tape inside). Another view of the box. A solid box: clean, complete, square and sturdy! Photo of the front of the box. A good-looking car! |
| ===> | ===> | ===> | Yes | $360 | Price for the three-car Passenger Set described above. |
| This is a very presentable 61-year-old set. The mixed box styles indicate that these cars were sold in 1961 as the 2412-14-16 cars were carry-over items. The cars will look great on a shelf or on a layout -- the set is ready to enjoy as the window inserts are nice and all lights and couplers work! | |||||
| Price without the boxes: $300 plus shipping. | |||||
| A rare Passenger Car Set from 1959-60 -- four nice extruded aluminum cars (the Baggage Car & three Santa Fe Red-striped cars): | |||||
| 2561 | VISTA VALLEY Observation Car |
E+/OB | Yes | | | \ / |
The "Lounge" car -- a lighted boat-tail Observation Car with original silhouetted window strips:
Photo of the other side. Minor flaws: the normal glue residue showing in spots, some light scratches on the roof and some box rub. Close-up of the lettering and striping on one side. The car is sharp: nice striping, shiny silver and a clean chassis plus it is COMPLETELY ORIGINAL! Photo of the observation area. The tail section (observation deck) is completely intact -- never rear-ended or involved in a crash. Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 5 original box (missing part of one end flap; small hole; tears; creases; panel partially separated; amateur repairs using lots of tape). Another view of the box. Lots of flaws but this box is clean, square and fairly sturdy -- it will protect the car in shipping and in storage. Photo of the front panel. |
| 2562 | REGAL PASS Vista Dome |
E+/OB | Yes | | | \ / |
The "Viewing" car: a lighted Vista Dome with original silhouetted window strips:
Photo of the other side. Common original glue residue showing in spots (especially on one side), some light scratches and a few small burrs. Close-up of the lettering and striping on one side. The car is sharp: nice striping, shiny silver and a clean chassis plus it is COMPLETELY ORIGINAL! Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 5 original box (missing most of one end flap and that end is taped shut; tears; creases; scuffs; panel partially separated; amateur repairs using lots of tape). Another view of the box. Lots of flaws but this box is clean, fairly square and sturdy! Photo of the front panel. |
| 2563 | INDIAN FALLS Pullman |
E+/OB | Yes | | | \ / |
The "Coach" -- a lighted Pullman with original silhouetted window strips:
Photo of the other side. Minor flaws: the normal original glue residue showing in spots, some light scratches and a few small burrs. Close-up of the lettering and striping on one side. The car is sharp: nice striping, shiny silver and a clean chassis plus it is COMPLETELY ORIGINAL! The car appears to be unrun or test run only! Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 6 original box (missing a small piece of one inside coupler flap; tears; creases; scuffs; panel partially separated; amateur repairs; tape). Another view of the box. A few flaws but this box is clean, square and sturdy! Photo of the front panel. |
| 2530 | REA Baggage Car |
E++/OB | Yes | | | \ / |
The Railway Express Agency small-door Baggage Car:
Photo of the other side. A few small scratches, some burrs and a little box rub and that's it for flaws!. Close-up of the nameplates on one side. The car is all-original and very, very clean with crisp lettering and a clean chassis. Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 6 original box (missing one interior coupler flap; tears; creases; scuffs; panel partially separated; tape inside). Another view of the box. A few flaws but this box is clean, square and sturdy! Photo of the front panel. The barely-decorated baggage car is actually "the prize" of this set! It is the correct version (which is somewhat shinier than its predecessors) and it comes in the correct (and very rare) box which is even harder to find than the 2561-2-3 boxes which are extremely difficult to find in any condition!!! This is the only perforated panel 2530 box we have ever had! |
| ===> | ===> | ===> | Yes | $1,450 SOLD |
Price for the four-car Passenger Set described above. |
| The aluminum passenger car outfits were among the nicest passenger sets produced by Lionel in the
postwar era. These particular cars came in outfit #2544W -- the rare "Super Chief" Streamliner set, which was the top-of-the-line passenger outfit
for both 1959 and 1960! We have never had the cars from that set available for sale before. It is both an interesting collector's outfit as well as
a very useful operator's item -- great for your display case as the cars are real eye-catchers and great for a layout as all lights and couplers
work! One guidebook notes that outfit #2544W is "one of the premier postwar sets, rivaling the more notable 2296W Canadian Pacific set." The 2383
Santa Fe diesels (which pulled these cars) would make this set complete and they are relatively easy to find compared to these four cars!
Each one of these impressive and realistic-looking, fluted streamlined cars measures 16 1/2 inches coupler to coupler and if mated to a pair of Santa Fe F3 AA units, the total length would equal 7 feet, 7 inches! Lionel noted on page 35 of their 1959 consumer catalog that the real "Super Chief" was the ". . . train preferred by celebrities!" while on page 30 of their 1960 consumer catalog, Lionel noted that the "Santa Fe is the choice of those who insist on the very best in railroading luxury" and that "modern designing gives it a sleek and regal appearance." We agree! | |||||
| Rare illuminated SANTA FE Passenger Cars from 1959-61: two nice extruded aluminum cars with decorative red-striping and silhouette inserts: | |||||
| 2562 | REGAL PASS Vista Dome |
E+ | Yes | | | \ / |
The "Viewing" car: a lighted Vista Dome with original silhouetted window strips:
Photo of the other side. Has a few scratches and small burrs plus the normal original glue residue showing around the striping in a few spots. Close-up of the lettering and striping on one side. Very, very nice overall with a clean chassis and it is all original! Two "aerial" views. A reproduction box is provided to help protect the car in shipping and in storage. Photo of the reproduction box. Note that the car is nicer looking than what the photos show. |
| 2563 | INDIAN FALLS Pullman |
E+ | Yes | | | \ / |
The "Coach" -- a lighted Pullman with original silhouetted window strips:
Photo of the other side. Has a few scratches and small burrs plus the normal original glue residue showing around the striping in a few spots. Close-up of the lettering and striping on one side. Very, very nice overall with a clean chassis and it is all original! Two "aerial" views. A reproduction box is provided to help protect the car in shipping and in storage. Photo of the reproduction box. Note that the car is nicer looking than what the photos show. |
| ===> | ===> | ===> | ===> | $ 575 | Price for both Santa Fe Passenger Cars described above. |
| (Note: The aluminum passenger car outfits were among the nicest passenger sets produced by Lionel in the postwar era. This is the first time we have ever had loose cars available for separate sale. Adding additional cars to an existing set makes that set even more impressive. Each car measures 16 1/2 inches long; they are very sturdy and they look realistic. All lights and couplers work and they are ready for a display shelf or a layout!) | |||||
| Tinplate, brown, illuminated Passenger Car Set from 1949 ONLY: | |||||
| The cars have white, heat-stamped lettering plus gray doors & gray window frames; each car has interior lighting & staple-end trucks with magnetic couplers. | |||||
| 6442 | Pullman | E++/OB | Yes | | | \ / |
The first Coach:
Photo of the other side. A few small paint chips and that's it for flaws! The car is sharp: rust-free and very, very clean with nice bright paint and crisp lettering! No interior window strips. Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 7 original box (tears; creases; writing; tape inside). The box is clean, square and sturdy! Another view of the box. |
| 6442 | Pullman | E+/OB | Yes | | | \ / |
The second Coach:
Photo of the other side. The roof has one scratch and a few paint chips and that's it for flaws! The car is sharp: rust-free and very, very clean with nice bright paint and crisp lettering! No interior window strips. Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 7 original box (missing one inside coupler flap; tears; creases; writing; tape inside). The box is clean, square and sturdy! Another view of the box. |
| 6443 | Observation Car | E+++/OB | Yes | | | \ / |
The Lounge car (the end car with a viewing platform):
Photo of the other side. A few minor paint chips and that's it for flaws! The car is sharp: rust-free and very, very clean with nice bright paint and crisp lettering! No interior window strips. Photo of the observation deck. The observation deck is equally as nice: rust free and very, very clean with original, intact marker lights. Photo of the roof. Photo of the box. Grade 6+ original box (missing both inside coupler flaps; tears; creases; writing; scrapes; tape inside; glue residue). Some flaws but the box is clean, square and sturdy! Another view of the box. |
| ===> | ===> | ===> | ===> | $460 | <=== Price for the three-car Passenger Set described above.
Photo of all three cars & the boxes. |
| This is a very-high quality, 73-year-old set that was certainly taken care of by its former owner! It will look great on a shelf plus it is a very useful operator's item as all lights and couplers work! This is only the second boxed 6442-42-43 set we have ever offered for sale as it is much harder to find than the earlier 2442-42-43 brown sets; it is also one of the nicest tinplate sets we have ever had! The cars will represent an upgrade for many collectors and the boxes will be a major upgrade for the vast majority of collectors! | |||||
| Hints for buying Passenger Cars (We will bring you back) |
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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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