Father & Son Set

Dan, I'd always just assumed they were the regular trestles, but really never gave it any thought or interest either.

So like a cat (and I have 3 of them), your question got my curiosity. Another example of how Google comes to the rescue:

https://www.worthpoint.com/wor...nel-2555w-1826654263

Pretty clever idea what Lionel did with those trestles, huh Dan?

Wow, thanks for looking that up.  I just looked up the 111-50 trestle set on Ebay.  It must be very scarce.  Not one hit.  

Cataloged in 1960 only, LIONEL set #2555W often called the "Father & Son" or, "Over & Under" set is THE rarest of all the post-war sets.  I don't think there are more than 2 or 3 complete sets still in existence. Most of the components of the set fairly commonplace, but the high value attributed to this set lies with: The #111-50 trestle set; the #6357-50 ATSF caboose, and, most importantly, all the cardboard packaging.

I am, by far, NO expert on Lionel post-war sets, but Greenberg's@ Guide to Lionel Trains, Volume III, will tell you almost all you need to know - including everything in the above paragraph, which I got directly from it!

PPS. 136-137!

The book lists the going price at $10,000, in LN condition, but that's several years old. Frankly, $100,000 might be more like it.  In any event, certainly not my field of expertise.

But now here's a good question: which set is meant to be the 'Father's' and which is 'Son's'??  I 've heard conflicting opinions:  that the HO set was the 'Son's' - because it was smaller - but also, I've heard the HO set was for 'Pop' because HO gauge is more to scale, and finely detailed  - not a 'toy train' like the Super '0' set?

I welcome comments and opinions from my fellow forum members!  Your thoughts please?

-Len Carparelli

Dan Padova posted:

Wow, thanks for looking that up.  I just looked up the 111-50 trestle set on Ebay.  It must be very scarce.  Not one hit.  

There is a set in the "Completed Items" section.

ADCX Rob posted:

Dan Padova posted:

Wow, thanks for looking that up.  I just looked up the 111-50 trestle set on Ebay.  It must be very scarce.  Not one hit.  

There is a set in the "Completed Items" section.

Rob, what is the Completed Items section ?

Search eBay for "POSTWAR LIONEL SUPER SCARCE #111-50 FATHER+SON TRESTLE SET OB MINT UNUSED"

Then click on the "Completed Items" box in the left column:

Wow !  Thanks Rob.  

VERY interesting!

I've been in the hobby for quite some time, too.  I own the 6357-50 ATSF caboose ... but I have NEVER seen the boxed trestle set.

Great stuff!  Thanks.

There was an article about a collector in the other magazine who had a complete Father and Son set. If I recall correctly the same article stated only 3 of these sets are known to exist as complete sets.

These are the pieces that are rare as well. You can cut out cross support on the base of the A trestle and be correct but you need these for correct elevation. I just picked up 32 of these. Not quite a complete set but enough to display the two sets on a shelf which is what i plan to do