Modern Lionel boxcar experts: "I Love New York" (at night?) - what is this from? (like 6-19949 standard issue)

It is from the 1997 Bloomingdales set (6-11841). The number is 15005. The rest of the set is a 4-4-2 engine with Bloomingdales whistling tender, a "Big Brown Boxcar" (15004) and an Amtrak 0-27 style observation named "59th and Lex" (15125). The original catalog price was $310.00.

The sets were very poor sellers and were "blown out" by Bloomingdales after Christmas. As such, most were probably broken up to get the "night" NY car, which has broader appeal than the rest of the components.

Arguably, there is almost no interest in this set beyond the NY boxcar, though other components of the set do pop up from time to time.

As you indicated, there is also a "regular" 1997 boxcar in white with the "daytime" NY skyline.

A less-customized set was made in 1996 (6-11825). This set has an unlit red "Bloomingdales Express" caboose (16588), a slightly different "Big Brown Boxcar" (16276) and a bulkhead flat with stakes along with the locomotive.

In 2003, set 6-31967 was offered, with the usual 4-4-2 decorated with a script "B" and a tender lettered "bloomingdale's express". This set included a "little brown boxcar" and a green New York, New Haven and Hartford boxcar with a NYC caboose.

A "bloomie's bear" boxcar 36267 was also available (circa 2002).

The boxcars are the "snap together" style boxcars- plastic bodied, floored and trucked.

Wow!  That was fast!

Just found one on YouTube (thanks for providing the set #).  That was an odd set!  2 boxcars with an observation car bringing up the rear.

Thanks!

-Dave

Here is the original advertisement for the set.

Thanks for posting the original ad for the set.  At least one of the 500 sets is broken up and missing it's I Love NY boxcar.   Since I didn't know to look, I don't know if the seller had the other parts, or if it was possibly broken up a long time ago and separated from it's siblings.

Thanks to both of you for providing me the education on this piece!

-Dave

Nice car.  Smart decision to pick it up rather than regret it later.  Does it have metal trucks or plastic trucks?  Can you share what you paid for it?  I think i will look for one next York. 

aussteve posted:

Nice car.  Smart decision to pick it up rather than regret it later.  Does it have metal trucks or plastic trucks?  Can you share what you paid for it?  I think i will look for one next York. 

Sorry for very late response.  Somehow I must have been distracted after seeing the initial responses and missed seeing your note until now.

I paid $50 for the car, so I guess I bring down the average just a little (2018 Greenberg claims $65 for Mint condition).  I wish you luck in finding one!

-Dave