Author: Terry

0016, 0046, and 0046K.

Lionel’s OO hopper cars were only offered in full scale versions. The scale sets came with or without the hopper car, while the semi-scale sets never came with a hopper car. This car is entirely die cast. Made only with Southern Pacific lettering.

The three rail 0016 hopper comes in grey or black; the two rail 0046 comes only in black.

Earliest version of 0016 is painted grey with black and white decals.

Similar to the car above this 0016 hopper has the decals inward on the car. This car is actually the same color as the one above.

Last color variation is black with white decals.

Undecaled black 0044 hopper. These unlettered cars were sold through Madison Hardware through the late 1970s. Original unlettered hoppers have unpainted blackened steps. Repainted versions have painted steps.

Here’s a picture of an 0044 in the display box:

Introduction to Lionel 00 Trains

0017, 0027, 0047, 0047K and 0077

Lionel 00 cabooses were offered in both scale (0017 and 0047) and semi-scale versions (0027 and 0077). The 0017 and 0027 had three rail trucks while the 0047 and 0077 featured two rail trucks. The 0047K was a kit version of the two rail tank car.

Two rail cars would run on either two or three rail track, but three rail cars would cause shorts on two rail track.

The semi-scale versions did not have a smoke stack. The earliest versions of the 0017 caboose had maroon painted roof walks and PRR lettering. Later versions had NYC lettering and all red roofs. The other numbers of the caboose are found only with NYC lettering.

Lionel 0017 PRR caboose with maroon painted roof walks.

Lionel 0027 caboose with decal on left.

Lionel 0027 caboose with decal on right- note position of brake wheel and tool box. This may be a factory error.

Lionel 0047 caboose. This is a scale version with a smokestack. Many cabooses are found today missing the stamped sheet metal top of the stack.

Lionel 0077 caboose.

Introduction to Lionel 00 Trains

0015, 0025, 0045, 0045K and 0075

Lionel 00 tank cars were offered in both scale (0015 and 0045) and semi-scale versions (0025 and 0075). The 0015 and 0025 had three rail trucks while the 0045 and 0075 featured two rail trucks. The 0045K was a kit version of the two rail tank car.

Two rail cars would run on either two or three rail track, but three rail cars would cause shorts on two rail track.

The cars were offered in black with Shell decals and silver with Sunoco decals. The semi-scale versions did not have the tank underneath the frame. The black cars have catalog numbers rubber stamped on the bottom of the frame. The silver cars either have the catalog number on the decal or the number 2699 on the decal with the number on the frame. There are more variations of the tank car than any other Lionel 00 car.

Lionel black 0015 Shell tanker

Lionel Silver 0015 Sunoco tanker with number on decal.

Lionel 0025 black Shell tank Car. Note the lack of a brake cylinder.

Lionel 0075 Shell tank car with 2699 on decal. All later versions of the silver tank have this decal.

Introduction to Lionel 00 Trains

0014, 0024, 0044, 0044K and 0074

Lionel made four different numbers of boxcars. The 0014 and 0024 came with three rail trucks and the 0044 and 0077 featured two rail trucks. The lower numbers (0014 and 0044) are scale models, while the higher numbers (0024 and 0074) are semi-scale models lacking some detail. The 0044K was also offered in kit form. Two rail cars Two rail cars will run on three rail track, but three rail cars will cause shorting on two rail track.

Here are pictures of the different variations:

The earliest version is painted cream with maroon cat walk and multi-colored decals. Only found in 1938 sets as an 0014.

Second color is tuscan with black painted ladders. Found in ALL numbers 0014, 0024, 0044, and 0074. A picture of an 0044 in this version is shown below. Made from 1939 to 1941?

Last version has unpainted ladders. found in all numbers? Although this looks like a different color than the car above most collectors consider this a normal variation in paint. The O gauge 2954 Semi scale boxcar is also found in these different shades of tuscan.

This 0074 is a cream painted 0014 factory repainted and decaled as a 0074. You can see the cream paint under the tuscan paint. These can be found in the all numbers?

Most of these cars were sold in small rectangular orange and blue Lionel boxes. The kit version of the 0044K and the separate sale 0044 boxcar came in display boxes.

Here’s a picture of an 0044 in the display box.

Introduction to Lionel 00 Trains

001E, 002E, 003E and 004E

Lionel only made one type of locomotive. A model of the New York Central Hudson steam engine. All Lionel models had the same 5342 number on the cab.

The model numbers were numbers are usually rubber stamped on the inside of the cab roof. The 001 locomotive can be found with the catalog number stamped into the metal ashpan under the cab (1938-39) and no number rubber stamped in the cab or with a blank ash pan and the number in the cab (1939-42). The other locomotives come with blank ash pans and the number in the cab.

001E and 002E were three rail locomotives while the 003E and 004E are two rail locomotives. All locos can be found with or without whistle tenders. All engines have three position reverse units and run on AC current.

The 001E and 003E were super detailed locomotives with added parts. The 002E and 004E were semi-scale locomotives with less trim. An 002E with tender is shown above.

Here are some close up pictures showing some variations:

Comparison of super-detailed (top) and semi scale locomotives.

Comparison of super-detailed (left) and semi scale boiler fronts. Notice the added coupler and number board on the super detailed loco.

Comparison of super-detailed (top) and semi scale locomotives. Notice the added detail on the top locomotive.

All locos can be found with large or small catalog numbers.

Super detailed tender (top) has added handrails and underframe details. Two rail 003W on top has whistle and ground plug. 002T on bottom is for three rail and lacks ground wire.

Top view of tenders. 003W on left, 002T on right.

Introduction to Lionel 00 Trains

In 1938 Lionel introduced it’s OO (pronounced double 0) trains. These trains were made to a scale of 1:76. A little bit larger than the current HO trains. Why Lionel made OO instead of HO is unknown. HO was already established and had a good following. American Flyer and other companies made HO kits and ready to run train sets. There were other OO makers like Scalecraft and Varney, but OO was an orphan gauge. Maybe Lionel felt they could influence the marketplace.

Maybe Lionel’s marketing team felt they could repeat the Standard gauge marketing coup of 1906. In 1906 Lionel introduced Standard gauge trains running on 2 1/8 inch gauge track. It was anything but standard. No other manufacturer made trains on 2 1/8 inch track. Within 15 years all manufacturers of electric trains were also making standard gauge trains.

If Lionel was trying to influence the market, they failed. Lionel stopped making trains in 1942 due to the war, and never resumed OO production. Only a small handful of manufacturers made OO trains. Another reason Lionel may have made 00 trains rather than the smaller HO is there is more room inside for motors and reverse units. The European HO/00 trains are 00 scale and run on HO track.

Whatever the reason for choosing OO rather than HO, Lionel’s offerings were short lived. Made only between 1938 and 1942, these trains featured die cast construction.

Lionel 00 trains were high quality. Offered in two rail and three rail versions. The items were also offered in scale and semi-scale versions. The semi-scale versions had less detail and were a bit cheaper. The hopper was never offered in a semi-scale version.

In 1938. Lionel began offering 00 trains. Starting with a smaller version of the 700E full scale NYC Hudson loco called the 001E. Only four freight cars were made in this smaller gauge. The four cars were a boxcar, tank car, hopper car and caboose.

Lionel 00 Locomotives 001E, 002E, 003E and 004E

Lionel’s 00 Scale Boxcars 0014, 0024, 0044, 0044K and 0074

Lionel’s 00 Scale Tank Cars 0015, 0025, 0045, 0045K and 0075

Lionel’s 00 Scale Hoppers 0016, 0046, and 0046K

Lionel’s 00 Scale Cabooses 0017, 0027, 0047, 0047K and 0077