Is there a way to identify lionel locomotives or rolling stock from part numbers. I am particularly interested in modern era and trying to determine whether actual "scale" or not.
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Geojr posted:Is there a way to identify lionel locomotives or rolling stock from part numbers. I am particularly interested in modern era and trying to determine whether actual "scale" or not.
might be a good idea to give an example.
On MTH there is a difference between the 20- prefix and the 30- prefix - so its easy to tell scale from other. Is there anything similar with the lionel - from the model number can you determine anything at all? Are they just random model numbers? How to tell scale versus other. How to tell mpc vs modern vs prewar vs postwar, etc. etc.
No, can't tell by product number. Must check the product description.
Thanks �� I understand that "standard" indicates scale - correct me if I'm wrong.
george
Lionel 2017 Signature Edition catalog, 'Guide to Product Features', pp. 4-5:Lionel Standard O freight cars and engines ... are made to be as exact as possible to 1:48 scale ...
I'm no expert on MTH but understand the '20' prefix is used for the Premier line, which is always 1:48 scale. The '30' prefix is for the RailKing line, which includes Traditional, Imperial Series and Scale offerings, the last of which are full scale proportion models.
What, me worry?
Geojr posted:Thanks �� I understand that "standard" indicates scale - correct me if I'm wrong.
george
Standard can mean standard gauge and not any standard for any size. You must provide more information like; 1) what company made it, 2) is there a model number? 3) when was it made?
Like Lionel # 224 or # 21787. The 224 was made in 1945 & 46 and the 21787 was made around 2001 or 2002.
Lee Fritz
There's no easy way to tell with Lionel. In the catalogs they sometimes refer to trains as "Standard O-Scale", "O-Scale" and "Traditional"...but those are just catalog terms that can change at any time. There's also no way to tell based on the product number. Only way you can really know is to read the product description and see if it states that it is a scale model. MTH makes the distinction very easy...Lionel does not.
-Eric Siegel
As has been said before, Lionel really dropped the ball on this many years ago, when it became a customer issue - we who buy only (pretty much) 1:48 items, as contrasted to those who buy or even need the smaller stuff. Problematic for both if you are new to this or just don't keep up like some do.
"Standard O" is a term that Lionel has used for a long time, and it indicates a product is, at least nominally, 1:48 North American O-scale. Nothing to do with "Standard Gauge". It's a good term. but its usage seem to be spotty. When they say "traditional", they usually mean something less than true O-scale.
But, yes, they should have built a better item number system. Way too late.
Wow - a reply from mr eric siegel! Thank you much. I buy a lot of stuff through stout auctions - sometimes in person and sometimes on-line. I always hate to bug derrick or greg and was hoping there was some way to determine from model numbers what kind of lionel I'm getting. Oh well, I guess in person is the best way.
btw - I love your layout, videos and the like.
george
