Help with #2341 Engine

Looking at the packaging and the underside of the locomotive, it sure looks like original postwar to me.  I've never seen one first hand, so someone else can chime in to confirm.  Very nice buy!

Wow.  Others will comment, but I think you may have stumbled onto something that will help your 11-year old get some college bills paid for.  It certainly looks wonderful and the real deal to me.  The fact that you have it in the original carton is the real cherry on top. 

 

You'll want to get expert help on this engine and appraising its value in today's collector marketplace.

 

Wow.  Great, great find.

Wow! thank you for the feedback.  From what I am told the engine was purchased with the 4 four silver baggage and passenger cars as a set.  I have them all in the original boxes as a set.  I really was not sure but it was all adding up with the different spacing between the Jersey and Central from side to side, and the coloring of the body being in the plastic and not painted, and the heat marks at the corners of the letters where it was originally burned in.  It all pointed to having a true original in GREAT shape.  I guess I better take pretty special care of this one!  Really appreciate the time to take a look.  MarkH

Just a warning if you take the body off to service the motors be very very careful replacing the body screws. These are notorious to have body cracks at the screw hole. If they are not cracked now that makes them all the better. Thanks for sharing. Franktrain.

Very hard to tell. i would need to see it in person which is impossible unless you bring it to York. Put a picture of the steps on here. It may help a little. What is that wire attached to the battery cover?

  

Franktrain, It has a screw crack.

Sometimes you can tell by pulling the shell off and looking at the inside of the shell. Also I think I see a little crack at the screw hole. This would tell me it's most likely original. Would you say the guy you bought it from at work is a honest person? Do you know him very well? Don

If it doesn't have a screw hole crack, it is unlikely it is original.

Does the blue under the headlight go straight across, or does it dip in a curve under the headlight?  A real Lionel 2341 has a rounded dip in the blue under the headlight - most repro shells missed that detail.  The FM decals should have yellowed with age (although many repros are reaching the point where their decals are probably beginning to yellow as well).  What color is the plastic inside the shell?  Someone mentioned screwhole cracks - it looks like there's a crack in one of the pictures...

Almost forgot, yes scale rail the guy is honest and age 62.  He recalls running this one with his father when he was a kid.  He thinks it was purchased in 1957 to his recollection.  Good question and I do believe him. 

Holy cow, IMHO you have an original. Congratulations!

 

Mike

Looks like you have a winner! This article should help - click on the photos for a close up:

http://tcaetrain.org/articles/...ecting/FM/index.html

Nobody knows how many of anything Lionel made pre & post-war. They never put out figures. The steps look like the paint is original.

TWO great finds by OGR Forum Members within a week...this Jersey Central 2270W Set(1956) and a 340 Standard Gauge COAL SET.  Why not post pix of entire set, and compare to those below posted from my Greenberg Set Book???

 

 

 CONGRATS!!!  Ron B.

We will take a few pictures of the entire set with the boxes and also get the gentleman I purchased them from all squared away.  I am sure glad i found this forum!  It looks like the model railroaders are a pretty good bunch of guys and I am sure a few gals as well.  I will get the pictures posted and if there is a show interested I am sure it would be fun for my Son and I to attend sometime and bring them along to be run by the professionals.  They should be enjoyed by those who can best appreciate them.

 

thank you,

MarkH

I hope that you paid him atleast $3,000 for those trains.