Author: Terry

Lionel introduced the 140 automatic banjo signal in 1954. The 140 was cataloged through 1966. These were also sold by MPC, and cannot be differentiated without the box.

The signal uses a vibro motor to make the sign go back and forth. The vibro motor requires a thrust washer with nipples on it to work correctly. Any parts supplier will have it.

This is a common accessory, that looks good on any Lionel postwar layout.

Lionel currently makes the banjo signal in brown rather than black, and MTH makes them in black.

Lionel reintroduced the 30 water tower in 1953 as the 138 water tower. The 138 is the same as the 30, except the 138 has a plastic base.

The 138 water tower first came with a gray roof. Later versions came with an orange roof as shown here.

When a 90C controller is pushed the spout lowers.

Lionel has made similar water towers in the modern era. MTH also makes a copy of the 138.

This is a simple building with a battery operated horn inside it. Lionel made the 114 news stand with horn from 1957 to 1959. There are no variations. The station shown here should have white plastic windows in it.

This was also sold with a whistle as Lionel 118, and the building itself was used on the Lionel 415 diesel fueling station.

Lionel has also made the 114 newsstand in the modern area in different colors.

Lionel introduced the operating barrel car in 1952 to go with the 362 barrel loader. The first color was black and numbered 3562-1. That’s the rarest color version of this postwar car.

After a small production of black cars, Lionel changed the color of the barrel car to gray. The very first gray cars have the old 3562-1 number on the side. The gray 3652-1 is the most valuable variation.

The gray car was then renumbered it as the 3562-25. The gray one is shown above. Gray cars come with red or blue lettering. Red is about as hard to find as a gray car with the 3562-1 number, but not as valuable.

The common gray cars come with or without tabs to fix the man in place. The tab was added to keep barrels from falling off. There is no difference in value, but cars with tabs run better. All barrel cars after 1954 have tabs.

In 1955 the color changed again, this time to yellow. The yellow barrel car is Lionel’s number 3562-50.

Yellow cars come in painted and unpainted versions. Neither is harder to find, but collectors will pay a slight premium for like new and mint painted versions.

In 1957 the color changed again. This time to orange with the number 3562-75. Orange is the most common color.

The two rubber tabs shown in the foreground of the photo of the gray car are spacers that go between the 362 barrel loader and the track.

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.