Arnie : beautiful items, especially the Distler set. I would agree, I think the crossing light / sign is Marx.
Best Wishes
Don
Orange Trains for Halloween:
Scott Smith
Just returned from an antique show with a new train. It is a French model from LR and was offered in a homemade wooden box, certainly by the previous owner.
Interesting model as it dates from the 1940's time area. The automatic couplers where introduced in 1938 at the same time that the new SNCF company emerged from the fusion of private railways in France. Not a common find as trains where not produced in general during the second world war. The loco is interesting also as it is a 20v DC motor and it can be reversed from the transformer, a characteristic of LR trains was to be always a precursor in many toy technology.
The passenger cars are also equipped with diaphragms, really uncommon in France as only Hornby has offered that option some years before. The baggage car is equipped with a red lantern which is broken and needs to be repaired. Some general cleaning will be done later also.
Have a nice weekend, Daniel
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Daniel: GREAT FIND what a beautiful set. Thanks for sharing.
Don
Well Tinplate fans, like Daniel, I just unpacked something new today. Not all that rare but a car that I did not have in my collection. It is a variant of the Lionel #809 manual Dump Car. This one from 1932 with all Ni trim and a green heat stamped bin. This date is about 2 years later than the more common orange bin version. He was a busy car, came in one color or the other (orange or green) in 6 sets or outfits from 1932-1941 with 5 different engines (262,259E,289E,259,and 204). Note there are two versions of the green bin, one like this one from 1932 and one from 1939. The difference, which you can't see in this picture is that this one has the early "thick" axles and the 1939 version has "thin" axles.
Here he is with his green bin stamped with identifying information. The stamping is only on one side the other side is blank. This is the second version or "5-line" version of the stamping. The first version only had 4 lines, leaving off..."in the U.S.of America". The frame, unlike other cars of this series, has no markings nor does it have an "oil label".
Here is an end view, showing the dumping mechanism along with the locking lever that kept the bin from dumping while in motion. All trim including brake wheel and stanchion are Ni .
Here is a view of the inside of the bin.
Well folks, again Happy Halloween and best wishes for a good week to all.
Don
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Don @Don McErlean thanks for the post. I just learnt something new. My TCA standard of the world book doesn’t detail the information about the 4 or 5 line stamping. I have the copper journal box series and an orange 809 dump with 4 lines. I need the 805 box car to complete my series, of one of each car offering. I usually don’t try to get each variation. However, I may have to add a green 5 line to my lookout list. Would that 5 line version been available with the copper journal?
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Rich : Yes, according to the information that I have the "5 line" stamping would be available in a variant with copper journals with both the orange and green dump bins. All circa about 1930-31.
Best Regards
Don
Don hopefully you paid less for yours, than this orange five line 809!!!!! YIKES
My GOODNESS, I can't believe that price. Yes, I paid substantially less for mine...and I thought it was expensive 
at $40...including shipping and tax on "Evil Bay".
Heh Heh ! I think looking at his other auctions that was a wrong decimal place effort ! $24.99 or else I want whatever he is having !
I only have one new find this week .. picked up in Denmark , and advertised as "Made In Denmark" but I suspect it is a Karl Bub from around the late 30's ... Interestingly though it DOES have a taller funnel than usual ( I think) which incorporates the Danish Rail colours , and there is NO "Bub" on the front boiler footplate nor on the cab sides ... So is this a "remodelled" Bub with the introduction of Danish identity in its early history, or could it possibly have been an import order from a Danish importer from Bub ?... I think only time has the answer to this and we are left wondering ...
A very cheaply made non-reversing motor , and yet the higher class polished wheels , no handrails yet provision for them ... an interesting beastie made to a price point
Oh and @FRENCHTRAINS, Daniel I don't know how you do it , but another magnificent set ! Gorgeous !
@Rich Wiemann posted:Don hopefully you paid less for yours, than this orange five line 809!!!!! YIKES
Must have been a typo the seller corrected. I just clicked on the link and it is $24.99.
Well I am glad of that...I guess. Rich / Will / Fatman for awhile there, I thought maybe I had found my grand-kids first year of College tuition !! 
Best wishes everyone!
Don
@Don McErlean I seem to have the same version I picked up on Ebay last year for $29. But I am not sure if it has the thick or thin axles. I assumed it was from 1939-41, because that is how I interpret the text in the TCA book:
"DUMP, 4-Wh. 1931-34.
orange-RS
medium green-RS (uncat.-circa 1939-41) "
I read that as the green are all from the later period, but that is not correct? Like @Rich Wiemann, I'm surprised the book doesn't go into more detail and differentiate the 4 and 5 line stamp.
Anyway, a charming little car and it carries and dumps candy on my Christmas layout.
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Will: That seems the same version as mine in so far as the trim and stamping is concerned. My reference that I used is Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains, 1901-1942: Volume II, edited by Christian F. Rohlfing. This is dated 1988 and is a revised edition of Volume I. It lists two versions of the "green" dump with Ni Trim. 1932 with thick axles, a frame with two 3/16" dia holes punched in the frame about 1/2" behind the coupler for no apparent reason (for this car). It then lists 1939 version, with a frame not having the holes punched behind the couplers and "thin" axles. I can't find the data at the moment to tell you the dia of the thick/thin axles but I can tell you that if you hold two cars together and compare, the thick axles are obvious.
Thanks for your comment. I agree, this makes a dandy little "candy carrier" for a Holiday layout.
Best Wishes
Don
@Don McErlean posted:My reference that I used is Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains, 1901-1942: Volume II, edited by Christian F. Rohlfing. This is dated 1988 and is a revised edition of Volume I.
Don thanks for this reminder. I tend to just default to my TCA Standard of the World book. And I neglect to look at my Greenberg’s Guide. Yes, this has a whole lot more information such as 8 different variations discussed. I will have to leave this book on top of my bookcase rather than in it. LOL
