1st Time Post - Question on O Gauge 2600 vs. 2800 Series Cars

very few prewar trains were built to prototype specifications.  in Standard Gauge, Lionel offered a larger #200 series freight car line and a smaller #500 series.  similarly for O gauge, a larger #800 series and a smaller #600 series were produced...

[ed: better detail... compare 4 similar cars... crossbuck, courtesy L. Marx]

here are two shelves from a Lionel display i made up for the SDMRM.  the top shelf shows a number of #800/2800 series cars while the bottom shelf is composed of #600/2600 cars.  the later 2600 & 2800 variations included an upgraded automatic coupler.

cheers...gary

If you look at 800 series cars, which are the same size as 2800 series, be careful to note that some have two fixed axels (4 wheels) and some have trucks. For example, the 807 caboose has 4 wheels. The 817 and 2817 cabooses have two 4 wheel trucks. I sometimes get distracted looking at the colors and trim and miss this.

George

Joe,

  Different size Lionel Tin Plate can confuse the beginning purchaser, the 600/2600 rolling stock is smaller in size than the 800/2800 series.  The Cars are smaller, the Trucks are smaller, ect.  Think of the 600/2600 series rolling stock as a PreWar 027, even though that is not what they really were.  They were in fact a smaller less expensive Engine and Rolling Stock Consist, for those parents who could not afford the larger 800/2800 series Tin Plate Trains.

 In reality in the early 1900's a nice 800 series Train with work consist or passenger Cars, with the beautiful Large Engine and Tender cost most men a full months pay to purchase.  

This was one of the big reasons most little boys in my era got their Lionel Trains as Christmas Presents, it was a very big expensive gift.  

In reality most middle class families settled for purchasing the 600/2600 series because they were less money.  

Now here comes some more confusion for ya.  Lionel also produced and sold mid size Tin Plate Engines and Tenders, the best example of this is the Gun Metal Gray 249, which looks correct with either 600 or 800 series rolling stock.  This means you have Engines like the 259E as the normal 600/2600 series with 4 Wheel Tender, next comes the slightly bigger 249E mid size Engine and 4 wheel Tender that can pull either the 600 or 800 series rolling stock, and finally the big 263E or 260E Engine and 12 wheel Tenders that pulls the 800/2800 series rolling stock.  All these different size Trains were in fact O Gauge Trains.

Further the very early Cast Engines and Tenders also were sold with Tin Plate Rolling Stock.  Few of these were produced and they are very expensive today for sure.

If you would like to know more about a specific item there are a few guys like Bob and myself, PaPa Steve and others who own lots of different Tin Plate, and we will help you any way we can.

I hope this was not to confusing for ya.  It is a little hard to follow if you have never been around Tin Plate.  As George points out the rolling stock was built with more than a few variations.  Remember also AF made lots of Tin Plate also.

PCRR/Dave

Tin Plate Trains the real little Boys Toys!  The MTH P2 263E Work Train running on the over head shelf, FasTrack layout.

George S posted:

..., be careful to note that some have two fixed axles (4 wheels) and some have trucks. For example, the 807 caboose has 4 wheels. The 817 and 2817 cabooses have two 4 wheel trucks. ...

checking with the TCA book, they are probably more correct in calling the later (1926-42) freight cars, the '810' series likely to lessen the confusion with the earlier 4-wheel cars which did, aside from the oddball #831 lumber flats & #901/902 gondolas, stop at #809 whereas the later 8-wheel cars started numbering at #810.

if you go back even further than the late early cars, there is even another 800 series...

#150 locomotive;  #802 Union Stock Lines cattle car, #901 Lake Shore gondola,
#800 Pennsylvania boxcar & #801 Wabash caboose.

though the increased detail and action cars... the derricks and floodlight cars, make the later freight sets much more popular, you have to admit these early cars have an off-the-scale charm factor!

fun stuff...gary

Great stuff Gary!

TY all for replying.....sounds like I am in for an adventure....but I love adventures!!!!..my current layout is more hi-rail but the tinplate I have looks great on it.....thanks again all....

And then just to confuse a little more there is the 820, 821, 822 orange boxcar, green stock car, brown caboose, 8 wheel freight cars.