Description
Here is a Lionel 2103W 224 Steam Freight Set from 1946. The 224 steam engine is also known as a Prairie-type locomotive. This mid-size steam engine is a dependable locomotive and it shares its boiler casting with the 1666 steam engine. The 224 was introduced in the first year of Lionel's postwar production era, 1945. Its number and boiler casting were carryover items from the prewar era. Practically all of the updates or modifications centered on the internal components. The 224 steam locomotive has the following standard features: a black-painted, die-cast boiler with a 2-6-2 wheel arrangement, detailed driving wheel hardware, Baldwin disk drive wheels with nickel rims, die-cast trailing truck, three-position E-unit, headlight, wire handrails plus an ornamental bell and a simulated whistle. The number board can be found on a metal plate under the windows on the cab. The 224 was initially offered with a 2466W tender, which contains a whistle and has flying shoe trucks. The 2458 Automobile boxcar was a carry-over tin-plate item from Lionel's prewar era -- specifically the prewar 2758 boxcar. Both the pre and postwar versions were advertised by Lionel as being 'designed from current automobile boxcar blueprints', with the obvious change in style being a boxcar with two sliding doors on each side. The 2458 Pennsylvania includes the following features: brown painted shell with white lettering, dual sliding doors on each side, flying shoe trucks with two operating coil couplers plus a single brakewheel, separate metal side ladders and a simulated air reservoir attached to the frame. The early production runs (such as this one) included an extra rivet below the number '8' in the 2458 which appears just to the left of the opening doors. This is a hard to find variation. The primitive-looking 3559 Coal Dump car reflects a carryover design from the prewar Lionel era. Except for the updated postwar trucks and couplers, it is identical to Lionel's prewar 3659 Coal Dump car produced between 1938 and 1942. Standard features of the 3559 include: painted red metal coal dump bin, painted black sheet-metal frame plus a bakelite housing covering the operating mechanism. There is a metal footstep on each corner of the frame and the number is stamped in white or silver on the bottom of the frame. Early 1946 versions, such as this one, had flying shoe trucks. In mid 1946, Lionel updated the truck to the staple-end truck with coil couplers. The flying shoe truck is a difficult variation to locate. The 2555 Sunoco deluxe single-dome tank car was a premium tank car in the Lionel family. Even todays collectors and operators enjoy its realistic looks with the long body and all metal construction. Standard features of the 2555 include: painted silver tank, die-cast metal frame, metal handrails, two ladders, brakestand with brakewheel plus a simulated air tank under the frame and placard holder at one end. It usually has the Sunoco decal on the left with the 2555 decal
This item has been graded per TCA standards C-6: Very Good based on visual appearance. There are many scratches, scuffs, and spots of rust along the surface of these items. The overall appearance of this item may be improved with a gentle and thorough cleaning. The original box is not included. Please check the photos for a detailed look at this item. Overall condition is Very Good.
Condition: Very Good (C-6)
Operational Status: Functional
Original Box: No
Manufacturer: Lionel
Model Number: 2103W
Years Manufactured: 1946 - 1946
Road Name: **** Assorted Road Names
Scale/Era: O Postwar
Model Type: Sets (No Track/Trans)
The Trainz SKU for this item is 6284461.
Trainz Product Id: 11396543