Classic Lionel Sunday, post your Classic Lionel trains.

This is my first Lionel train from around 1962. This is the only time I run with smoke since I have a few of the original smoke pellets that came with the 637. The caboose is actually my brother’s (from around 1959 - I now have his first train as well) since I couldn’t find mine at the time.

Here is the actual caboose that came with my set:

Here is my Classic Lionel, the magnificent Postwar 2379 Rio Grande! I received this set when I was only 6 months old for my first Christmas in 1958. I still have it, as it and Super O track, holds a special spot in my heart and collection.

Here are mine:

Proudly displayed on a wall in my office while my modern Lionel trains run on my layout a few rooms away:

Here is a bevy of classic Lionel Berkshires.  Closest to furthest includes: 736 (late 60’s), 726RR, 736, and 726.

Here is another view.

Just missing the 1946 version of the 726 with the big tender and smoke bulb.  Nice pics Rob!   AD

Heres some oldies but goodies postwar I have.

Can't have a complete postwar collection without at least one set of f3 units. Here is my NYC 2344 growlers pulling 2500 series aluminum passenger cars.

Next up is my first entry into postwar I purchased.  The 681 turbine. Love this guy! Rebuilt the smoke unit for liquid and it's one of my best smoking locos. Just spells out pure postwar.

Love postwar growler F3s, they maybe noisy but they will pull the house down.  Never cared for how the horizonal drive trucks look, the horizontal motor trucks look beefier, especially the side frames where as the vertical drive looks cheaper with less relief to the detail.  Never saw a real F unit that was quiet when it was running.   Its a shame that Lionel didnt offer more road names in those early years.  So many of the "as delivered" F3 paint schemes were very beautiful, with high gloss finishes that current models fail to have most times.  Lionel got that part right on the Warbonnets. 

Postwar F3s and Alcos

So many to choose from...

Here's a short video of my recently refurbished 681 Turbine smoking like a fiend and pulling some green and gray 2400 series cars.

OK its not Sunday but I just discovered this thread.  So here are a couple of mine.

The Lionel 256 0-4-4-0 dual motor from 1924-1930

The Lionel 224 and tinplate passenger cars from 1947

The Lionel 2344 & 2344C from 1950-52

Best Wishes

Don

My mostly PostWar area:

Top two shelves:

1962 New Haven Alco set

1958 New Haven F3 set

1956 New Haven EP-5 set

Fourth shelf:

1957 LV 44 Tonner set

Seventh shelf:

1961 Sears Sante Fe Switcher set

The 1958 F3 set was my 1st Lionel set.....from Christmas. I was 5.

The NH Alco and EP-5 sets, I have acquired them over the years.

The Sears set and the 44 Tonner sets were gifts from colleagues.

Have a great day, folks!

Peter

Some Lionel O and OO action on Halloween.  AD

From my old layout

@johnstrains posted:

So many to choose from...

Here's a short video of my recently refurbished 681 Turbine smoking like a fiend and pulling some green and gray 2400 series cars.

Always lovedf that set with the green cars......she sure is a sweet runner!

Peter

@Rich Wiemann posted:

Here is my Classic Lionel, the magnificent Postwar 2379 Rio Grande! I received this set when I was only 6 months old for my first Christmas in 1958. I still have it, as it and Super O track, holds a special spot in my heart and collection.

Spectacular set!

Peter

Two more from the 58 catalog that I have post on the Forum previously.....but are always fun to look at. Both are donations to the River City 3 Railers.

Set 2503.....from 1958.

I am siting on the floor because when the fellow brought the box through the door and I saw it was brown basket-weave, my knees got week......I realized it was 57 or 58 Lionel Super O!

Set 1607....also from 1958. This set came with the "wrong" box car. A 6468 New Haven double door instead of the 6464 black one. I suspect it was switched out at the store.  We've all heard those stories......I presented my theory to Roger Carp when I was at York, and, he agreed that it was likely. I also bought an "age-appropriate" 6464 car at York to go with it.

Set 1607....also from 1958. This set came with the "wrong" box car. A 6468 New Haven double door instead of the 6464 black one. I suspect it was switched out at the store.  We've all heard those stories......I presented my theory to Roger Carp when I was at York, and, he agreed that it was likely. I also bought an "age-appropriate" 6464 car at York to go with it.

Have a great evening, everyone!

Peter

One more picture.....

Some beautiful F3's, gentlemen. My personal favorite is the businesslike NYC gray...

Here's my baby Hudson postwar 2055 and tender. Bought it for a great price because it wasn't running. Much to my surprise it was just the smoke unit shorting out. I was going to rebuild it to a liquid smoker anyway. Win win for me!