Lionel Corporation Tinplate 5 or less In-Stock List

MTH posted:

Item No. 11-40063 Great Northern Std. Gauge State Coach Car

...

Item No. 11-40064 Great Northern Std. Gauge Solarium(?) State Car

Great Northern Solarium cars were enclosed observation cars with windows surrounding the tail end.  is this an error in the catalog picture, or did MTH simply rename a standard coach as a Solarium?

and since the GN Omaha Orange paint scheme was never used behind a steam locomotive, is MTH planning on releasing a Std Gauge diesel?

I think the matching engine for these cars is a 381E an electric.

In State cars the difference between a Observation,Coach and Solarium car is the end cap. 

F&G RY posted:

I think the matching engine for these cars is a 381E an electric.

In State cars the difference between a Observation,Coach and Solarium car is the end cap. 

well, it's not a Y1, but ok, the GN did have electrics in Glacier Park pulling trains through the cascade tunnels.

the car description says... "One end of the car features wide, solarium-type windows, offering easy viewing of the unique car interior".  this is what a Solarium car should look like , but that's not what is shown.  again, just thought they might have used  a stock coach photo for the illustration.

You also need to remember that these offerings are also "representations" of the original Lionel tinplate offerings from the late 20's-30's.  They are not going for prototypical accuracy, so they take liberties with color schemes (as far as era), and other details.  The original Lionel did not have the windows on the end either.  Just the wider windows on one end of the car, just as MTH did here.

From MTH's description when these were first  cataloged :