American Flyer Prewar # 496 Pullman car

The car is not "lighted", someone just stuck a christmas tree lamp socket in the hole in the bottom of the car.

The wires ends are hanging loose and the socket has fibre tape holding it in place, not factory OEM quality.

Red 496 without lighting or track contact wiper

vs 

496 with lighting and track contact wiper

Agreed, That's a former Christmas tree light in that car now.  It should have the same type of lamp socket as the early caboose or the lighted 494 cars.  It has the two tabs and twists in to lock tight.

I guess the other point I would make is there does not look to be any missing paint like there should if there was originally a lamp installed.   This car was likely not lighted from the factory.  This may also be why there is no 3rd rail pickup.

Thank You both for your advice on this. It looks like 2 guys are in a bidding war for this car and the price has gotten out of hand for it ( $ 131.37)  especially since it doesn't have original lighting. Perhaps I stumble across one at York this fall.

Thanks again..

It makes me wish I still had the boxed set I traded for a spare 911 engine core many years ago