Postwar Lionel Products Question

Check out Tandem Associates for a list and descriptions of postwar Lionel trains.

https://www.tandem-associates.com/index.htm

The 2020 was the 027 version of the 671.  Identical except for the number on the cab.

It sounds as though you are describing either the 2442 Pullman/2443 Observation cars or the later 6442/Pullman/6443 Observation cars.  Both sets of cars seem to be a bit scarcer than the same looking cars in green.  I have found that the 6442/6443 cars are tough to find because they were made at the same time as the 2400 series streamlined cars which are far more modern looking.

….and, 681 had Magna-traction…..how to describe the engines……how about common but nice and usually desirable to early PostWar collectors…..

Peter

Thanks for the resource @31charlie. I could spend some time on a site like that haha

I think my passenger cars are the 2442 and 2443 varieties. I always figured Lionel must have pumped out big numbers of these cars given their simple and sturdy construction but never understood why the green cars seemed more common.

The 681s must have been able to pull the house off the foundation with Magne-traction. The 2020 has quite a bit of pulling power on its own without Magne-traction.

I don't know what the monetary value of these items are but the play value is very high! I don't take them out often given their sentimental value but they will get their fair share of run time once I have more sturdy track work.

Thanks for the help guys!

@BillYo414 posted:

I attended a train show a few weeks ago at the local fair grounds. It was quite a bit bigger than I expected and covered a plethora of scales and items. That included postwar Lionel. I have some interest in postwar items but I was mostly looking at them to compare. I have a 6-8-6 turbine that belonged to my grandpa. It is numbered 2020, with a puffing smoke unit (not bulb) and no fancy extra running gear. I have a few freight cars with it but I also have these passenger cars. I would describe them as almost tinplate in appearance and I think they say "Pullman" on them. They're like a red-brown color.

I didn't see any of these items there. I saw quite a few turbines but they were 671 and 681. No 2020s. I also saw quite a few of these passenger cars but they were green. I'm sorry I don't have pictures but they're currently packed up tightly at my parents' house for safe keeping while my remodel rampage continues. These items are beyond value to me but I would like to know if they're very uncommon or not. Anybody have any idea?

Bill another great site is Lionel Trains Library, I've been using this for years. Mark

Bill, the green cars are more common simply because Lionel offered more outfits with the green cars. The brown with gray trim that you have are a bit harder to find but are not rare by any stretch. A green set typically sells for $50-75 unless they are collector grade. A brown set would be $75-100. This is about what I paid for my sets 15 years ago. A third color variant is blue/silver which I think were only offered in 1946 with the gray 221.

Thanks @Ryan Selvius. Mine are in excellent shape minus the window inserts and box condition. I have never seen the blue/silver variants but I'll have to keep an eye out.

I wouldn't sell mine but at least I can run them around the layout without feeling like I'm wrecking a gem.