Just acquired a C-9 condition (factory new) green Lionel Classics Illinois state car. It will join my Tinplate Traditions California, Maryland and New York cars. Motive power is a Tinplate Traditions dark green traditional 408E.
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The dark green is NOT a match for the state dark green but it is close (but no cigar!). LOL!
Hey Art. How about some pics?
A four-car state set is easily pulled by a twin open-frame motored 408E.
MikeH: Car is being shipped so it will be a few days before I can shoot a video. :-)
I have found that the very well done LGB figures fit very nicely in the state car seats. LGB issued an attractive set of vintage Orient Express figures and at the time I bought four sets. I added some additional LGB figures and they look great in the lighted cars.
The Lionel state cars remain THE very best prewar heavyweight style models with incredible detail, including working lids on the restroom toilets! Their impressive size, weight and six-wheel trucks makes them very handsome cars indeed!
When I raise the car roof by squeezing the two roof tabs and show the restroom toilets to my visitors, they are always amazed!
Around 1998, MTH offered a Maryland "solarium" state car (#415) with some incredible interior detailing including two bunk beds with pillows in the crew quarters and a detailed kitchen, both with opening doors. There is also a serving counter with seats and a table and chair with a lamp! This car also has one restroom. On one end, the large windows in place of doors, together with the ones on the car end, admit the natural light hence the name "solarium".
On a recent visit, my neighbor was very impressed with my MTH repro state cars, especially when I showed her the interiors! They are crowd pleasers! :-)
@Tinplate Art posted:When I raise the car roof by squeezing the two roof tabs and show the restroom toilets to my visitors, they are always amazed!
Add a seated figure. For extra credit, modify it so that it looks up at the person viewing it from above.
Mallard4468: Very amusing suggestion, but perhaps a little "over the top"!
Perhaps the Lionel Classics and Tinplate Traditions versions were made at different factories? Certainly many years apart if I recall correctly. I recently acquired the Classics set, including loco and cars. Very nice and they do match 
.
Hoping the 1990 vintage Lionel Classics car made in Korea by Samhongsa will be a close match to my 1998 Chinese production Tinplate Traditions cars! We shall see! :-)
@Tinplate Art posted:Mallard4468: Very amusing suggestion, but perhaps a little "over the top"!
If someone is going to peek into the toilet, they deserve what they get!
NEWS FLASH: Illinois state car arrived today, and will unpack later! :-)
A-N-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N! LOL! (Some of you may be old enough to remember the iconic Heinz ketchup commercial!)
Art, that was Heinz ;-)
OOPS and THANKS! Correction made! ALL Heinz brands are my favorites! :-)
I once had the elusive MTH Michigan state car, but alas sold it to a forum member who lived there! He was very happy but I wish I had kept it.
@Mallard4468 posted:If someone is going to peek into the toilet, they deserve what they get!
Ha!!! Thanks for the laugh!
Hey Art! Thank you very much for selling the Michigan car. As you can see, I really enjoy the car especially in its natural setting.
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WOW! GLAD you are enjoying it! It is in its proper setting! :-)
@Tinplate Art posted:I once had the elusive MTH Michigan state car, but alas sold it to a forum member who lived there! He was very happy but I wish I had kept it.
Did you mean Maryland?
No, it was the Michigan car. MTH also produced Pennsylvania and New Jersey state cars, and they are not easy to find.
I'm always learning something. Thanks
The Pennsylvania car is the last car I am looking to get. One showed up on the bay last month for $750. More than I was willing to pay.
I have the 4 car Williams set and the Lionel classics addon car. All are beautiful cars.
Joe Gozzo
I coupled up the Lionel Classics 1414 Illinois state car to my MTH California, Maryland and New York state cars and all looks and runs great and the colors match perfectly!
My MTH Tinplate Traditions twin-BAL powered 408E pulls the four-car set with power to spare!
@Tinplate Art posted:I coupled up the Lionel Classics 1414 Illinois state car to my MTH California, Maryland and New York state cars and all looks and runs great and the colors match perfectly!
Outstanding!
It is always a pleasure to purchase and receive a factory-new "old" item, in this case a Lionel Classics state car from circa 1990. Since the Classics car was made in Korea and my later state cars in China circa 1998, I was worried about color matching. Once coupled together, it was obvious all the cars matched perfectly! There are few things more satisfying than a four-car state set!
I just purchased two sets of LGB dining car figures to populate my Maryland cafe car and my other state cars.
