Lionel's 1946 catalog | Classic Toy Trains magazine

1946 was a crucial year for Lionel as it geared up to full production after World War II. Roger Carp, senior editor at Classic Toy Trains magazine, takes you through the 1946 Lionel Consumer Catalog, and discusses its many mysteries, from familiar products in unfamiliar colors to products cataloged but never made. Read Roger's articles in every issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine.
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[@jasonatkins6926]

1946 is a special year because that is when my late Dad was born.

[@bakerfamily3]

1946 was an important year for lionel, I feel like 1950 was lionels best year out of all the years they were in business.

[@arnoldberk7686]

In 50 Magna traction was introduced a few years later the larger 6464s were introduced as was the F.M. Train master. More colors more selection. To me pre 1950s steamers ran more smoothly and the quality of some of the rolling stock was better. The 6454s were fine with me.

[@arielfilmsinc1926]

Flyers catalog that year WAS QUITE impressive as well I do have the caboose w postwar trucks but more then likely it was done by a previous owner

[@ronaldmoravec2692]

Unfortunately I sold my early lionel set. It had a nice steam engine, Baby Ruth box, operating silver box car, operating milk car, green dump ore car, log car that operated, gondola, double stack silver liquid car,, and of course a caboose. I will remember the proper name as soon as I hit enter. 75 years is a long time. Some years back wife and I were playing a game with her parents and the idea was to make your partner say a word with only a one word clue. I offered crummy and to my surprise she came back with caboose!

[@rayszymarek2920]

1946 was the year I was born. My parents made sure I had a set of trains around the Christmas Tree. No matter what gift comes around every year and young children ask for????? Those toys come and go but but but Toy Model Trains Sustain. As a matter of fact many of us adults crave to relive our child hood memories. So be it. Once you get hooked on Model Trains you keep that great hobby forever and ever.

[@ronalddevine9587]

Professor Carp, you are a class act. Hope to see you at York in April.

[@sudriansignalman9387]

Possibly they took a prewar crane and just put the postwar trucks, possibly a spare?

[@The20thCenturyLimited]

Gaming blue engine productions he said they brought it back in early postwar years. He is talking about the color being rare

[@jlsmith2937]

Hi I have the 1666 Lionel but every time I'm on ebay an I see the green passenger cars the we're supposed to cone with the locomotive a good price I alway get out bid It's like when it to these passenger cars people's pockets go to china an they'll do anything to get the no matter what but maybe some some day I be able to get the passengers cars an complete the set with my Lionel 1666 thank you.

[@ClassicToyTrains]

+Jl Smith Thanks for the comment!

[@The20thCenturyLimited]

Did you ever get any? I saw a 3 car set for a buy it now price in ex condition just a few days ago

[@mitchdakelman4470]

Thank you Roger, with Christmas coming up, I plan to run the 1952 film IRON PONIES, as it takes place Christmas Eve. I have acquired some very nice vintage Lionel and American Flyer trains in recent weeks.

[@willrothfuss8470]

Just discovered these videos by Roger and am enjoying them very much. Well produced and Roger is very watchable.

[@atomicflash1753]

Talker

[@RailroadVideosofPA]

Mr. Carp I have a question. I have a 1654 with a 3559 pre-war carry over dump car, a 2452x PRR short gondola, a 2465 Sunoco two dome tank car and a 2252 SP type caboose. My friend also has the same set but with the newer black dump car. Can you please tell me what year my set is from? All of the cars have staple end trucks and the tender for the 1654 is a non-whistling tender. Another question where can I find some reproduction Lionel catalogs? Thanks for the wonderful info on the 1946 year. -TrainFanatic

[@MichaelR-pk8zu]

Companies are always experimenting with different ideas durring product development. Rarely do the one-off pieces ever surface and their story is more often lost to history. The people involved usually gave far less thought to these things and would probably be amused at the amount of discussion over what was for them...another day at the shop.

[@ajmayowskijr]

Fascinating video Professor Carp. My question is how can I purchase a reproduction 1946 Lionel catalog? I do not collect paper but always wanted reproductions of the postwar catalogs to enjoy. I love the look of postwar trains and layouts.

[@richb1334]

hi just watched you video and you had some questions of some of the trains .I lived in a town in NJ and the super of a complex worked at Lionel and when the company closed him a few others came in one night and took some of one and only trains that was used in the plant as demo , but since, l left the town he passed away and collector bought all the trains for them self . Hope this answers the missing trains in the magazine .

[@awdrink7233]

can you please do a video of lionel banjo signal

[@Sparkinrailz]

Orange based crossing signal !

[@karlschweizer8836]

i have a postwar 1947 berkshire 726 it has a red plate atomic motor never seen that did lionel put that motor in that engine or did someone just put it in there please respond its driving me nuts

[@davidschaadt5929]

I have a 1946 ,671 turbine with the Atomic motor . I'm not sure if the Berkshire used the same motor but it's possible .

[@20thcentlimited]

Thank you very much for the history lesson professor.

[@ClassicToyTrains]

+20thcentlimited Thanks! We'll keep them coming!

[@The20thCenturyLimited]

Lol we have similar usernames

[@isellu]

Well done Roger!

[@buck746p]

Mr Carp, WELL DONE!! However the was no mention of the 2465 Sunoco two dome tank car seen in the first inside page?????? The SINGLE decal is in the middle of the tank and not toward the end as was later mass produced. Later in the catalog the tank car is shown with the Sunoco decal in its proper place, near the end of the tank body, but the data info decal is now in the middle instead of near the opposite end of the tank body.