Lionel 6565 cars

I really liked the 6565 boxcars before I thinned out my roster -- which now tends to be predominately scale-sized rolling stock for O-Gauge and select pieces of tinplate trains for Standard Gauge.  Always liked the fact the 6565's had sprung-trucks and were heftier than most traditional rolling stock.  Nice idea on Lionel's part, but the series was relatively short-lived... Perhaps 6 or 9 in total.  I recall they were only catalog'd two or three times:  3 each time, for ala-carte sale.  

I doubt they ever gained much traction as "collectables".  Buy 'em 'cause you like 'em.  The collectible nature of this stuff tends to change with the wind.

David

These were basically 6464 style box cars with a die-cast frame.  Paint schemes were more prototypical with "actual" road numbers versus 6464-###.

David is correct about limited paint schemes.  I think the first one was a Boston and Maine 4 pack.  And, then pretty sure 12 other roadnames followed.  They were pretty expensive when they first came out.  Most retailed for $59.95 and this was in 2000-2002.

Fred

These are four that I have, the first two purchased in 2001, the third one in early 2002, and the fourth one in July of 2003.

6-29295  PRR 6565 Boxcar #24018  "Don't Stand Me Still" 
6-29296  PRR 6565 Boxcar #29296  "Merchandise Service" 
6-29297  PRR 6565 Boxcar #47158  "No Damage" 

6-39240  Pennsylvania Merchandise Service 6565 Boxcar

Bought these when I was concentrating on PRR rolling stock. 

I have a Pittsburgh & Lake Erie version.  Nice cars!

Jon

Because of their heft, they track really, really well. Nice cars.

I recently got one (D&RGW #63067 from 1999) and it's definitely a hefty car.  As to it being collectible it depends on how you define collectible. 

In terms of $$$ value I think the price on this one in particular was around $55 when originally released, but I got mine brand new in the box for less than twenty not including shipping, for what it's worth. 

In terms of it being collectible in the community at large probably not.  If you find it desirable personally then it's collectible to you. 

Is that an uncatalogued item? Greenberg's price guide don't(6565) have it listed anywhere I can find.

Lee Fritz

Here is my list, twenty in total:

1999    21761 B&M 4-pack

1999 Vol 2 page 24: 29265 Maine Central, 29266 Frisco, 29268 Rio Grande

1999 Vol 3 page 33: 29295 PRR - Don't Stand Me Still, 29296 PRR - Merchandise Car, 29297 PRR - No Damage

2000 Vol 2 pages 64 & 65: 39207 Union Pacific Red, 39208 Union Pacific Silver, 39209 Union Pacific Yellow

2001 Vol 2 page 60: 39220 Bessemer & Lake Erie War Bonds, 39221 Louisville & Nashville War Bonds, 39222 Conrail War Bonds

2002 Vol 2 pages 74 & 75: 39239 New York Central P&LE, 39240 Pennsylvania Merchandise Service, 39241 Penn Central

2008 Vol 2 page 94: 39308 CP Rail

Although my main interest is scale, I have most of these and like to run them with my postwar and traditional size locos. In addition to the features noted previously, they also had complete rivet detail and the die cast frame was fastened from below, no screw at one end of the body.

In my dozen or so years following this web site, this is the first time that I have seen a discussion on the 6565s, so obviously they never caught on. The 6565s are a quality product and I would buy more, if available.

Allan

Interesting...  That's more than I remember.    Not a bad number when you consider the original Lionel postwar 6464's tallied in around 30 or so.

In that regard, it's certainly an attainable goal to "collect them all" if you like them.  All too often nowadays, it's nearly impossible to collect an entire series of a particular group of cars -- either because they are overproduced (i.e., too much of a good thing leads to lack of interest), or there are too many lightly-produced special-runs that go unnoticed (i.e., you might not even know they exist!).

For folks who like traditional-size rolling stock, the 6565's are great price/performers on the secondary market since they can often be had for much less than their original street prices.

David

Allan, David

Thanks for the detailed 6565 info and list. . I like the idea that they have weight/heft. I noticed that my older grandson favors them also. Kinda nice match with a moderate size Post war engine. Look good on Carpet Central and layout.

So-without having  known the size issue-- I have  purchased a couple of non traditional "O scale size die cast cars. But we like the livery/s and I kept them.

But my Hirailer friend/s wouldn't go near them.

Would severely limit the train length on a very large hirail type layout. 

So, I guess I'm also a traditional fan. At least in the Lionel line.

Floyd

I think these are super nice cars, although not exactly scale, but with DIECAST Trucks and Nice Couplers and Great Paint Schemes, are heavy, compared to more pricy cars, with Lionel's Needle point axles, allow for really long trains with 072 and wider diameter curves. I have many of these cars and will be glad to sell them if any one desires them.

Mine are next to new...Send me an email, I will send pictures...Happy Railroading..

If anyone has interest in these 6565 Lionel Box Cars, I Have 6 of these cars, 6-29295 PRR, 6-29265 Maine Central, 6-29268 Rio Grande, 6-39222 Conrail, 6-29297 PRR, and

6-29296 PRR.  ALL 6 delivered for $150.....Thanks.....They are like new, 4 still in the box, and I have all the boxes...Sold as a lot. Leapin Larry. ( I know this needs to be on the 4 Sale Forum)