If you like early MPC LIONEL HOPPER CARS and there VARIATIONS--then READ ON, if not, go on to another topic.
The first Quad Hopper Car that Lionel made in 1970 was the #9130 B&O Blue Hopper. It came with a much used Post War Timken Truck that had metal wheels and axles (the wheels used from 1970 to 1972 were thick and on the inside had 4 round push outs for it to come out of the mold)--plus the coupler plastic armature came with a square piece of steel (many with rust) cemented or pressed into the plastic so it could be attracted to the Coupler Magnet on the Remote Track. The next Quad Hopper Car made in 1970 was the #9110 B&O Black Hopper with White Printing. Both hoppers came with the same trucks, etc. And there was a separator bar in the middle of the car that hopefully would keep the car walls from caving in. The original #9130 came in a MPC Banner Box with an artist inspired #9130 Quad Hopper Drawn on it. The Labeling was OK for this car. Then comes the #9110 B&O Black Hopper. Same box, etc except the Picture on the Box Label is B&O #9130 and the number is #9110. I guess Lionel back in those days did not think that people would see the wrong number on the 9110 B&O Box--but I did. Eventually, they ran the #9110 Car several times, because dealers were selling a lot of them! BBD -- "Built By Demand". Then, someone noticed the #9110 White Paint had changed to an off white color -- like Gray. It is not known how many of the Gray cars were made, but they command a little higher price than the common white ones. --- If you have a lot of these cars, you will note the difference in color. As the #9110 continued to be made, the box changed from Banner to the Fundimensions Orange/White one in 1971. AND the trucks changed from Timken to Symmington Wayne Thick Side Framed Ones. These side frames caused fouling of the trucks on curves and eventually Lionel Changed the Metal Truck Bolster to Plastic with small ladders -- problem solved in 1975, And now to add something more confusing to this article. Remember I said the Lionel #9130 Box was being used for the #9110 Box? Well some time in 1971, Lionel remade the #9130 Hopper Car. They only had labels that had #9110 with a picture of #9130 on it. So some person came up with the brilliant idea of taking a thick Blue Magic Marker and Crossing Out the number #9110 on the front and side of the label and voila -- a #9130 Label. And I have examples of each variation I talked about.....There are very few people who collect Lionel Variations of the early 70's but I did and Lionel was only putting trains on the market to sell and not worrying about labels. Most variations of the trains stopped happening around 1980 when better quality control arrived on the scene. But wait! There is more to come about the 70's variations (and there are A LOT of them). Why I got interested in Modern Lionel Variations? Because my best buddy back in the 60's, that I still talk to him today, had a very modest collection of 6464 style post-war Lionel Boxcars which had many variations. These post-war cars sell for high prices today -- if you can find them. Sincerely yours, railbear601
