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Railroad Work Cars

This Web Page Last Updated: February 24, 2024

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This page contains our current inventory of Postwar Lionel railroad work cars. Included here are inspection cars, ballast tampers, burro cranes, fire cars, gang cars, maintenance cars, tie-jectors, track cleaner cars, snow plows, crane cars, searchlight cars, log dumps, coal dumps and barrel cars plus other specialized pieces of rolling stock that are used for railroad maintenance and upkeep. Boxcars, refrigerator cars, stock cars, most flatcars, gondolas, hoppers, tank cars and vat cars are located on our Freight Cars web page. Cars from the "Space & Military" Series are shown on our Space & Military Cars web page and all cabooses and work cabooses are located on our Cabooses web page.

* * * Click on "Yes" in the Photo column to see a picture. Hit your browser's back button to return.
* * * Click on "Grade" in the 3rd column heading for an explanation of grading.

Postwar Lionel Railroad Work Cars
Catalog #ItemGradePhotoPriceDescription & More Information
52 Fire Car ======
E++
Un-run
OB
======
Yes $260 A very colorful, all original motorized unit from 1958-61 that was NEVER USED!
Photo of the Fire Car.
Has a red-painted body with white lettering plus a gold ornamental bell, retractable hose assembly, gray compressor, two retractable white outriggers, rubberized bumpers and a red warning light.
Photo of the other side.
Minor box rub in spots and that's about it for flaws!
Photo of one end.
This rust-free car is all original and very, very clean with nice graphics plus nothing is broken or cracked. All of the window struts are intact and there are no melt marks! It is one of the nicest 52 Fire Cars we have ever seen!
Photo of the other end.
"Bench" tested and this unit lights and runs great!
An "aerial" view.
Includes the original instruction sheet #52-43X, dated 9/58 (creases & a little discolored).
Photo of the instruction sheet.

Photo of the box.
Grade 7 original box (tears; creases; writing; tape residue; discolored; no insert).
Another view of the box.
A few flaws but this Express Container Corp. corrugated box is fairly clean, square & sturdy!
Photo of the wrapping paper.
Has the original wrapping provided by Lionel to reduce box rub.

AKA the "Fire Fighting Car," it is a very colorful and interesting piece -- one that we seldom have as they are hard to find nice. Only the third unused Fire Car we have ever had!
53 Rio Grande
Snowplow
E++/OB Yes $435 A gorgeous yellow and black Rio Grande Snowplow from 1957:
Photo of the other side.
This one is the more common version with the backwards "a" on the sides.
Photo of the front of the unit.
Has a small amount of paint loss on one of the metal railings and that's about it for flaws on the cab! It is very, very clean with sharp graphics and nice vibrant paint! There are no screw cracks and the window struts are perfect!
Photo of the back of the unit.
The chassis is equally as nice -- very clean with nice side rods! Serviced and this peppy low-mileage motorized unit runs great!
An "aerial" view.
The 53 Snowplow was sold from 1957 to 1960, but the instruction sheet helps to date this piece as a 1957 item.
Another "aerial" view.
Has the original instruction sheet #53-18 dated 7/57 (tears, creases, insect nibbles, discolored).
Photo of the instruction sheet.

Photo of the box.
Grade 6+ original box (missing a small piece of one end flap; tears; creases; tape; tore price sticker).
Another view of the box.
Has the original insert (liner) and this box is decent: clean, square and sturdy!
Photo of the box insert.

One of the nicest 53 Snowplows we have ever had! It is a great, all-original motorized unit designed to pull a few cars while cleaning off the snow on your layout. The 53 is one item that we rarely get in collector-quality condition. This one is sharp and in a very presentable box!
Click here to go to Our Archives Page to read more about 53 Snowplows.
Two different versions of the 2560 Crane Car:
2560 Crane Car Ex./OB Yes $185 A sharp-looking, all-original, metal crane car from 1946: has a cream colored cab with black lettering and a red roof plus a black frame with steps and staple-end trucks with coil couplers.
Photo of the other side with the crane car ready for a work detail.
Version with the earlier-style green boom and correct, offset hook.
Photo of the lettering on the back of the cab.
Some paint loss and scratches on the decking of the frame; minimal flaws on the cab! The car is completely intact and very, very clean with very, very nice lettering!
An "aerial" view showing the cab roof and frame decking.

Photo of the box.
Grade 6 original box (missing a small section near one end flap with repairs made to that area; tears; creases; "dig" marks; tape).
Another view of the box.
Has the insert (liner) and despite the flaws, this box is decent as it is clean, square and sturdy!
Photo showing the area of the box that was taped.
It is also the correct "Art Deco" box from 1946 (without the Toy Logo on the side).
Photo of the box insert.

This primitive-looking, early postwar car with a prewar-carryover design is getting harder and harder to find in nice shape. We have had very few 2560 Crane Cars in collector-quality condition over the years.
2560 Crane Car E+/OB Yes $185 A good-looking, metal crane car from 1947 only: has a cream colored cab with black lettering and a red roof; black frame has steps and staple-end trucks with coil couplers. Has the same-style black boom used on the 2460 crane car.
Photo of the other side showing the crane car ready for a work detail.
Has the correct, offset hook.
An "aerial" view.
A few small paint chips on the cab plus a couple of scratches on the frame. The car is very, very clean with nice, vibrant paint and beautiful lettering!
Photo of the lettering on the back of the cab.

Photo of the box.
Grade 7+ original ("Art Deco") box (tears; creases; scuffs; tape).
Another view of the box.
Has the insert (liner) and this box is solid: clean, complete, square and sturdy!
Photo of the insert.
It is also the correct "Art Deco" box from 1947 (with the Toy Logo on the side).

This primitive-looking, early postwar car with prewar-carryover design is getting harder and harder to find in collector-quality condition. Only the second 2560 from 1947 we have ever had and it is in a very, very strong box!
=
3359 Operating
Twin Bin
Coal Dump Car
E++/OB Yes $135 A very nice Twin Bin coal dump from 1956:
Photo of the car.
The car body and doors are gray molded plastic with black heat-stamped lettering; the chassis has a metal frame with an unpainted-red motor housing plus metal bar-end trucks with tab couplers.
Photo of the other side.
Minimal flaws! The car is all intact and very, very clean with sharp lettering!
An "aerial" view.

Has the #207 original (nearly full) bag of coal plus the proper (for this car) original #160 bin. (The bin is 8 1/2 inches long and is made of flexible injection-molded plastic NOT Bakelite.)
Photo of the bin, bag of coal and hardware.
Has all of the original hardware: the #90C controller, two OTC contactors & the four adjusting clips plus the paperwork: the correct original instruction sheet #3359-79 (dated 12/55) and the packing envelope, part #3359-78 (torn & wrinkled). Includes the original unused (still coiled) green connecting wires.
Photo of the paperwork.

Photo of the box.
Grade 6+ original box (stains; scuffs; tears; writing; tape inside).
Another view of the box.
Has the original insert and even with the flaws, this box is solid as it is complete, square & sturdy!
Photo of the box insert.

A very clever car -- it operates by means of a rotating cam that alternately raises and lowers each of the bins in sequence. A twin-body automatic air dump car built by the Magor Car Corporation (and used by the City of New York) is the prototype for this item. We have had very few 3359 dump cars in collector quality condition over the years! The box is not easy to find intact either. This car is nice, it works perfectly -- and the box is decent!
3459 GREEN
Operating
Coal Dump Car
Ex./OB Yes $195
SOLD
An all-metal, automatic dumping ore car from 1948 only: has a green-painted tray with white heat-stamped lettering, a black die-cast frame and staple-end trucks with coil couplers.
Photo of the dumping side of the car.
Has some minor paint loss on the top and bottom edges of the tray on the "dumping side" where the door hits the frame and that's about it for flaws!.
Photo of the other side of the car.
The car is very, very clean with nice vibrant paint and very strong lettering -- plus it works great!
Two "aerial" views of the car.
Has the correct original (7-inch) #160 Bakelite dumping bin (E+++) & a 90% full bag of original #207 coal.

Photo of the box.
Grade 6 original box (missing a small piece near one of the end flaps; tears; creases; some dirt; tape inside; glue residue; "aged" look).
Photo of the nicer end of the box.
Has the insert (liner) and this box is very presentable as it is fairly clean, square and sturdy -- and it is also the correct "Art Deco" style box with Toy Logo for a 1948 coal dump.
Photo of the box insert.

One of the nicest 3459 green Coal Dump Cars we have ever had! It is much harder to find than the black coal dumps and although fewer of the silver ore dump cars were made, the green ore dump car is almost as hard to find in collector-quality condition.

Still thinking about this car? A recent Kalmbach Books (Classic Toy Trains) publication just listed the 3459 as one of the TOP 100 postwar Lionel collectible items! See page 90 of the book "Collectible Lionel Classics" for author Roger Carp's depiction of the Coal Dump Car's provenance including its design, development and history and in particular, the story of the green version.
3461
(-25)
Operating
Log Dump Car

with
GREEN frame
E+/OB Yes $110
On
HOLD
All-metal log dump car from 1954-55: has white heat-stamped lettering on a green frame with bar-end trucks and magnetic couplers. Catalogued as "3461-25" by Lionel but only "3461" appears on the car.
Photo of the unloading side of the car.
Correct load of five (5) original stained logs and the original #160 (Bakelite) unloading bin (E+++).
Photo of the other side of the car.
A couple of muted (but very readable) letters and that's about it for flaws! The car is very, very clean with strong lettering overall, nice vibrant paint and a rust-free tray!
Photo of the logs and the car's tilting tray.
The dumping mechanism works perfectly!
Photo of the instruction sheet, logs and the bin.
Comes with an original instruction sheet #3461-11 dated 2/52 (technically incorrect as it should have a 1954 date).

Photo of the box.
Correct, original "-25" box -- grade 7+ (tears; creases; writing; glue residue; "aged" look). It is the larger (separate sale) box which accommodates the unloading bin.
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 box insert.

A good-looking car in a somewhat hard-to-find box!
3520 Operating
Searchlight Car
E++/OB Yes $ 75 A revolving searchlight car from 1953 with remote-control "ON/OFF" switch mechanism has an orange generator, gray-painted, die-cast frame with black (sans-serif) lettering, steps on the frame and bar-end trucks with magnetic couplers.
Photo of the other side.
Searchlight housing is tarnished and that's about it for flaws! The car is sharp: very clean with strong lettering plus it lights, rotates properly and the "ON/OFF" switch works perfectly!
An "aerial" view.
Includes the original instruction sheet #3520-33, dated 6/53 (tears, creases, "aged" look).
Photo of the instruction sheet.

Photo of the box.
Grade 6+ original box (missing one interior coupler flap; tears; creases; scuffs; no insert). A few flaws but this box is very presentable: clean, square and sturdy.
Another view of the box.

A good-looking car that will add plenty of action and light to your layout!
3562-1 ==========
Operating
A. T. & S. F.
Barrel Car
==========
E++/OBs Yes $425 The scarce BLACK-painted A. T. S. F. barrel car from 1954 only:
Photo of the car.
Has white, heat-stamped lettering plus bar-end (metal) trucks with magnetic couplers and it is the earlier version with the more attractive yellow trough.
Photo of the other side of the car.
The car is all intact and very, very clean with nice crisp lettering. It is rust free and has no significant flaws.
Close-up of some of the lettering on one side.
The car works very well and very quietly! Has the correct original man!
Photo of the barrels and an "aerial" view showing the trough.

Has the original envelope (tears; creases; tape) #3562-53 containing the correct original instruction sheet #3562-54 dated 6/54, 96C controller, OTC lockon with 2 auxiliary rail clips, two unused (still-coiled) connecting wires, track spacers, the platform extension (bridge) for use in operating this car with the 362 Barrel Loader.
Photo of the envelope, instructions, barrels, barrel box, bin and hardware.
Has the correct load of six (6) original barrels (with correct "Middle Classic" 362-78 component box -- which is a grade 8 (tears; creases; tape inside) and the correct #160 black (polystyrene) unloading bin!

Photo of the box.
Grade 6 original box (tears; creases; punctures; tape; glue residue; mildly distorted; no insert).
Another view of the box.
A few flaws but the box has both end flaps and all four inner flaps plus it is the correct (no suffix) original "Middle Classic" box for the black barrel car!

A very hard car to find in collector-quality condition with a very, very hard box to find!

An operating barrel car is the perfect companion to the #362 barrel loader but it is also a great stand-alone action car. This all-original 3562-1 looks good, works great and is ready for your display shelf or layout.
3562-75 Operating
A. T. & S. F.

Barrel Car
E++/OB Yes $165 Orange barrel car from 1957-58: has black, heat-stamped lettering, a black trough and bar-end trucks with tab couplers. Has the correct load of six (6) original barrels plus the correct original (larger) man with painted hands and face.
Photo of the other side of the car.
Minimal flaws! It is a very, very clean and rust-free car with crisp lettering! The car works perfectly!
Close-up of some of the lettering on one side.
Has the correct #160 black polystyrene unloading bin.
Photo of the unloading bin and an "aerial" view of the car.

Photo of the box.
Grade 6 original box (creases; tears; writing; stains; tape inside; no insert). Even with the flaws, the box is decent as all of the flaps are there and the box is square -- and it is not an easy box to find in any condition.
Another view of the box.

Photo of the envelope, instruction sheet, controller, lockon, rail clips, track spacers, wires and platform extension.
Has the correct #90 controller plus the correct original #3562-73 packing envelope containing the correct original instruction sheet #3562-54 (dated 5/57), an OTC lockon with two rail clips, two track spacers, two unused (still coiled) green connecting wires and the small metal platform extension to use when operating this car with the 362 Barrel Loader.
Photo of the component box and barrels.
Has a grade 6 original "Middle-Classic" 362-78 component box for the barrels (missing the tuck on one end flap and that end is taped shut; scuffs and technically incorrect as it should be a "Late Classic" box for this version of the barrel car).

One of the nicest orange barrel cars that we have ever had -- and in a presentable box! An operating barrel car is the perfect companion to the #362 barrel loader but it is also a great stand-alone action car.
3620 Searchlight Car E+/OB Yes $ 75 A good-looking revolving searchlight car from early 1956: has a gray-painted, die-cast frame with black (sans-serif) lettering, orange generator, steps on the frame and bar-end trucks with tab couplers. Version with unpainted gray searchlight housing cap and thin lettering on the frame.
Photo of the other side.
A couple of muted (but very readable) numbers on one side and that's about it for flaws! The car is very, very clean with nice vibrant paint and strong lettering overall plus all four corner steps are intact -- and the car lights and works very, very well!
An "aerial" view.

Photo of the box.
Grade 6 original box (missing one interior coupler flap; tears; creases; tape residue; "aged" look; no insert).
Another view of the box.
Some flaws but this box is decent as it is fairly clean, square and sturdy. It is also the correct ("Late Classic") box for this version of the 3620.

A very useful car that will add some action and light to your layout!
3927 Track Cleaning Car E+/OB Yes $ 35 An operating Track Cleaning Car from 1957-60: this interesting non-self-propelled-motorized unit has an unpainted orange cab with black heat-stamped lettering plus a heavy die-cast frame. Has a reproduction washing sponge and three reproduction wiping cylinders.
Photo of the other side.
The front of the frame has some paint missing and that's about it for flaws! The car is all intact and very, very clean with crisp lettering!
Photo of the front.
Has both ORIGINAL plastic squeeze bottles (little or no fluid left). The bottles are sharp: clean with beautiful lettering!
An "aerial" view showing the car in its cleaning mode with the wiping carriage down.
Fully functional and the cleaning mechanism works as designed! Note that this unit must be pulled by a locomotive as the motor inside is strictly for the cleaning action.
Photo of the lettering on the front and back of the bottles.
Has the original instruction sheet #3927-44 dated 5/57.
Photo of the instruction sheet.

Photo of the box.
Grade 5 original box (missing the tuck of one end flap and missing a nearby section of the box; tears; creases; lots of tape; amateur repairs; writing; no inserts). The box will not win any beauty contests but it is clean, square and sturdy. It will protect the unit in shipping and in storage.
Another view of the box.

Great piece that will provide some "play" value to a layout!
6262 Wheel Car Load: Unused

Car:
E+++

OB
Yes $ 90 Black flatcar with white, heat-stamped lettering and a gray superstructure (rack): this car from 1956-57 has bar-end trucks with tab couplers and the correct count of six unused wheel sets.
Photo of the other side.
Minimal flaws! The car is gorgeous: very, very clean with nice crisp lettering!
An "aerial" view.

Photo of the box.
Grade 7 original box (tears; creases; writing; punctures; tape inside; price sticker residue). A few imperfections but this box is clean, complete, square & sturdy! The 6262 box is very hard to find nice; usually the box is ripped apart from the inside because of the weight of the wheel sets, the steps catching and the trucks turning while trying to remove the car.
Another view of the box.

A sharp, prototypical car in a very presentable box!
6460 Operating
Crane Car
E+/OB Yes $160 A good-looking black Bucyrus Erie Crane Car from 1952: has a die-cast frame, white lettering, bar-end (metal) trucks with magnetic couplers plus open cranks and the correct offset hook.
Photo of the other side with the crane ready for a work detail.
Version with thin lettering & no hyphens on the frame.
Close-up of some of the beautiful lettering on both the cab and on the frame.
Some box rub on the cab plus some paint chips on the frame but nothing severe. The car is very, very clean with nice vibrant paint and crisp lettering!
An "aerial" view of the car.

Photo of the box.
Grade 8+ original ("OPS") box (tears; creases; "aged" look); the box has BOTH INSERTS and it is SOLID: complete, clean, square, rather brick-like and there is no tape anywhere!
Another view of the box.
One of the nicest 6460 boxes we have ever had!
Photo of the elaborate and seldom-seen inserts plus a photo of the OPS data.

The 6460 black Crane Car is fairly common but not with a box like this one! It is a good-looking car in a very, very strong box!
(6502-50) Flatcar
with
Girder
Load:
E+++

Car:
E++
Yes $ 50 Unmarked, unpainted blue flatcar from 1963-65 with the correct ORIGINAL (orange) "LIONEL" Girder. Flat has mold #6511-2 plus early AAR trucks with fixed couplers. Listed by Lionel in their service manuals as the "6502 Steel Girder Transport Car" although recent research shows internal Lionel documentation listing this car as "6502-50" reflecting the blue color of the flat, the lack of a brakewheel plus the truck & coupler combination.
Photo of the other side.
A few very light scuffs on the decking from the girder and that's it for flaws! The car is very, very clean with fairly clean truck rivets. Has the original elastic tie down band.
Photo showing the car's decking.
The 6502-50 came unboxed in one 1963 "Advance Catalog" set (Outfit #11415) and various promotional outfits from 1963, 64 & 65 but was never available for separate sale and Lionel never made a box for this piece.

Nice car that is very, very unusual! Check your collection -- this is not an easy car to find.
Two different versions of the 6561 Cable Car:
6561 Cable Car Load:
E++

Car:
E+++

OB
Yes $110 Gray-painted, die-cast, depressed-center flatcar from 1954-55: has black, rubber-stamped serif lettering plus bar-end trucks with magnetic couplers. Comes with the correct load of two original (harder-to-find) gray reels with the original aluminum wire.
Photo of the other side.
Just gorgeous! The car is very, very clean with beautiful lettering and nice vibrant paint! The reels are all intact and very, very clean! Has an original elastic tie-down band.
An "aerial" view showing car's decking and the aluminum wire on the reels.

Photo of the box.
Grade 6+ original box (tears; creases; tape; writing). A few flaws but the box is clean, complete, square and sturdy!
Another view of the box.

A good-looking, prototypical car in a very presentable box!
6561 Cable Car Load:
E++

Car:
E+++
OB
Yes $110 A spectacular gray, die-cast, depressed-center flatcar from 1954-55: has black, rubber-stamped serif lettering plus bar-end trucks with magnetic couplers. Comes with the correct load of two original orange reels with the original aluminum wire.
Photo of the other side.
The car is very, very clean with beautiful lettering and nice vibrant paint! The reels are all original, clean and intact with no cracks or missing pieces! Has a reproduction elastic tie down band.
Photo of the reels and an "aerial" view of the car.

Photo of the box.
Grade 8 original box (small tears; minor creases; some discoloration). This box is SOLID: fairly clean, complete, square and sturdy -- plus there is no tape anywhere.
Another view of the box.

It will be hard to find a nicer 6561 -- it is a gorgeous car in a very, very strong box.
=
6822 Night Crew Searchlight Car E+++/OB Yes $ 85 The only Searchlight Car (the Night Crew Car) made by Lionel during the '60s: red flat with white heat-stamped lettering plus early AAR trucks with two operating couplers. Version with GRAY superstructure and black searchlight cap.
Photo of the other side.
Some glue residue around the searchlight lens and that's it for flaws! The car is very, very clean with crisp white lettering, nice shiny truck rivet and the car does light. Has the correct, original (small) man with painted hands and face.
An "aerial" view.

Photo of the box.
Grade 6 original box (missing the interior coupler flaps; tears; creases; stains; tape inside; glue residue; un-original stamping.
Another view of the box.
Various imperfections but the box is square and sturdy!
Photo of the front of the box.

The 6822 Searchlight Car was sold from 1961-1966 and again in 1968 and 1969 but the trucks and box style help to date this one as a 1961-1963 item. Note that unlike the earlier searchlight cars, Lionel never produced an instruction sheet for the 6822.

The box is so-so but the car is gorgeous!

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Every industry has to maintain their machinery and to be prepared for all emergencies. The railroads are no different and they have become quite imaginative in developing specialized work cars to perform essential maintenance and repairs. Worn-out equipment from age and the environment plus disruptions in service from accidents and train wrecks required specific and unique approaches to keep tracks clear, signals working, and trains running. The railroad industry proved to be ingenious through the years by inventing unique designs to address obstacles and disasters attributable to the terrain, the elements, mechanical failure, and human error. Self-propelled cranes, snow plows, handcars, inspection cars, maintenance cars, and ballast tampers were used to maintain their fleets, clear wrecks, keep the tracks clear, inspect & repair the tracks, and build new lines.

Lionel offered some very interesting railroad work cars in the postwar era including the useful crane cars, handy searchlight cars, prototypical rail truck cars & wheel cars, plus action-oriented dump cars for unloading ballast & logs and operating barrel cars to transport supplies. In addition, Lionel provided interesting motorized units which were modeled after those items used by the real railroads including snow plows, a burro crane, a handcar, an inspection car, a fire car, a gang car, a maintenance car, a tie laying car and a ballast tamper.

Railroad Work Cars are often forgotten but are vital to your operations.

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Go to these pages to see other Postwar Lionel Items:

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 ~

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