Lionel made the 3359 from 1955 to 1958. This car has an interesting action. When activated over a UCS track section one side dumps, and then the other side dumps.
While the car says 335955 on the side, Lionel cataloged it as the 3359. No variations are known.
The Lionel 6167 caboose comes with or without lettering. The lettered versions are always red.
Unlettered versions come in red, yellow, brown and olive. Olive is the most desirable of the unlettered 6167 cabooses.
The lettered caboose was made in unpainted and painted versions. The painted versions come on different colored molds, but are always painted red. I’ve seen black, olive, orange, red, and gray molds painted red.
Black, red, and olive molds painted red are quite rare. Orange and gray are more common. An orange mold painted red is shown below.
The painted 6167 cabooses have an unpainted area inside where the body was held during painting. This is easily visible without taking the shell off the frame.
Lionel introduced the 53 Rio Grande snow plow in 1957. It was made through 1960. Two versions were produced. The version shown above with the A in Grande backwards, and a correct A version. The backwards version is much more common.
The 53 snow plow is capable of pulling a few cars, but not a long train. This type of loco is called a Motorized Unit by collectors.
When found today the window struts on the 53 are usually broken. This happens when the loco is picked up by the cab. If you are buying a small switcher, check to make sure the struts are not repaired or cracked.
Since 1980, Lionel has made snow plows in many road names with the 53 cab. The same cab without the attached plow was also used on the small military switchers.
This is a fun postwar accessory. A log car dumps logs into the tray on the right. When the 464 saw mill is turned on, the logs are pulled into the building and finished lumber comes out on the left.
The lumber is loaded into the mill using the slot on the roof. The back has a door to get the logs out.
Lionel made the 464 from 1956 to 1960. There are no variations. This unit has been reissued by Lionel in a number of colors and numbers since 1980.
When found, the red sawdust collector on the roof is often missing or broken. Replacements are available.
This is American Flyer’s largest steam engine. Made in 1952 only, the K in K335 refers to the knuckle coupler. Earlier Northerners – 332, 332AC and 332DC had link and pin couplers.
This loco is also called the Challenger because Flyer referred to it as the Northerner and as the Challenger in their catalogs.
This is the most common version of American Flyer’s popular 0-8-0 switcher. The DC in 342DC means it doesn’t have a reverse unit and was wired for DC operation.
This was made between 1946 and 1952. The 342DC shown above is the last one from 1952.
Lionel put a whistle into the little lithographed sheet metal station in 1937 and numbered it the 48W.
The station was originally sold in green litho with a transformer in it with the Winner line.
The 48W allowed kids with trains that didn’t have whistles to add whistles to their layouts. This was a cheaper option than buying an extra tender with a whistle.
The box for this station is rarer than the item itself. The box is just flimsy cardboard and didn’t survive.
Lionel made the 193 industrial water tower from 1953 to 1955. The light on the top of the tank blinks.
There is supposed to be a red lens on the top of the tank. It’s the same part as the lights on the 252 crossing gate.
The tower comes with either red or black or black sheet metal structures. Red is shown above. Black brings a premium.
Copies of this tower have been made recently by Lionel and MTH.
American Flyer made this interesting accessory for only three years. Catalog number 23791 cow on track.
The operator pushes the red button on the controller and the cow swings out over the track. The train stops before hitting the cow. When the green button is pushed the cow swings away from the track and the train starts up again.
Many of these when found are melted. There is a resistor under the green base that blocks off most of the current so the reverse unit won’t cycle. If the cow is left over the track for long periods of time, the resistor gets hot and melts the base.
Lionel introduced the merchandise container in 1930. They were sold in a set of three, and designed to fit into the 212 and 512 gondolas. They were cataloged through 1938, but probably weren’t made after 1934. Lionel changed the plates from brass to nickel in late 1934, and these are only found in brass.
There is supposed to be a paper label in the top of the door saying “Manufactured under license granted by LCL Container Corp.,” but it’s missing from the one shown here. LCL stands for “Less Than Carload.”
Until 1932 they came with chains as shown here. After 1932 the containers were sold without chains. I think you got one set of chains with three containers. The containers could be lifted from gondolas with a 219 crane.
Here’s a close up with the door open:
Reproductions of these have been made by at least two companies. MTH and T-Reproductions. The box with three containers is somewhat rare and a nice set with a crisp box will bring a small premium.