Prewar Celebration Red Comet

Yes, that was a nice reissue of the Red Comet. Be interested in seeing what it goes for.  His listing is confusing in that it says “Used” up top, but “Mint-Unused” down below.

As many here know, the Red Comet Set was in the latest LCT catalog. In fact I’ve got one on pre-order.

ebay has their own definitions and requirements.  I have been confused by this when I have listed things.  Unless you are a dealer selling something new from the factory, my understanding of the ebay rules are that you have to list it as used.   If it was pre-owned, it must be listed as used.   But what if it was pre-owned, but never out of the box??  The best you can do is to list it as used, but then describe it as mint, never used, never out of the box.   I don't know the lister, but I would give him the benefit of the doubt because of this. 

anyone know how this set differs (if at all) from the 2012 catalog version?

Yes, good question. I'm not an expert (on the older versions), but I know they came with an air whistle. The LCT loco can be had in traditional or PS3 versions, so I suppose one question will be does the traditional version have an air whistle?

From the little I can see, it looks like the passenger cars will be pretty much the same, i.e., the 600 series Pullmans and an Observation car.

No command anything on the Prewar Celebration version. Just an air whistle and open frame motor, although the whistle is plastic, not metal.

At least to me, that's a plus, and also, that it's wholly a Lionel product, not made after the licensing agreement with MTH.

Actually, in 1935, all commodores, whether 264E's or 265E's had a flat wall cab, unweighted steam chest, and thick nickel rimmed drivers. I've seen some with the headlight bezel, but for the most part, they did not have them. Red comets had their grilles painted red, all other colors did not.

In 1935, the red come came with a red 261T tender, and, yes, it did not have a whistle. The cars were not lit, and had air tanks.

In 1936 and until they stopped being made, the engines had fire box doors cast into the back wall of the cab, a weighted steam chest, thin rimmed drivers, and headlight bezels. The tender was a waffle top 265T or W (whistle). The cars had fish bellies and were lit.The weights in the steam chest and cab gave it traction, as the 1935's were too light to pull much.

I may have missed a fine point or two, but that's the majority of it. I digressed, now back to the PWC and LCT versions.

The PWC is more 1936 and up. The only real notable exception is the thick rimmed drivers, nickel grille, and plastic whistle.

The LCT version is more 1935, with the 261T tender. Notable exceptions are (and this is based on the catalog illustration) that it has the more elaborate valve gear/side rods, like a 265E, and the side rivets look painted. Also, the illustration shows more of a matte finish.

I can't comment on which is better or worse. Lionel probably leased the dies to MTH or something like that.

Hope this history lesson may have been a bit interesting to some of you folks.

jsrfo,

Thanks very much! Good history lesson and very informative about the "Comet."