Found this set over the weekend. It included a
2037 engine
6026 whistling tender
6424 automobile flat car
6014 Bosco boxcar
6818 transformer car
6112 gondola w/ cannisters
6017 caboose
3665 minuteman boxcar
And a Lionel 968 TV Transmitter set.
Track, manual 1022 switches, transformer, instruction sheets and catalogs from 1961!
All with boxes and all in excellent condition!
The 3665, 968 tv transmitter set, 1022 switches and some track look to be additional purchases.
Lionel did make a set in 1958 set #1603ws with these contents excluding the above mentioned items.
Also included was the mystery set box they came in. It is the tan, basket weave pattern set box with "loco with smoke and whistle" printed on the side but marked X-663 with a sticker on the side. The X-663 did not have loco but was the Mobile Missile Launcher Freight set from 1961 with #45 Mobile Rocket Firing Car. This info was found in John Schmid's book "Lionel Promotional Outfits"
Also the X-663 there were only 200 sets produced.
I know someone may have placed these items in this set box at one time. Could Lionel have filled the box at the factory with the wrong contents or filled with the right contents and mislabeled the box.
OK now the sad story behind this set! The person I bought this from said it was his uncle's train set when the uncle was a child. After the uncle received this set, the uncle was stung by a bee and died a short time later. The train was packed away and probably not played with since.
If anyone would have any further info on this set and box I would appreciate it.
I will be contacting John Schmid at Project Roars for more info.
