Lionel Electric Trains Identification Guide Sub-Title
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This Identification Guide for Lionel Electric Trains covers the "Post-war Era" only from 1945 until 1969.

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Lionel Trains Coal Loader No. 397 LIONEL TRAINS OPERATING COAL LOADER No. 397

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Lionel Trains Coal Loader No. 397 C Variation No. 397 Top View No. 397 Coal Loader Later Issue Box

Lionel Trains Coal Loader No. 397The Operating Coal Loader No. 397 was designed to work with the No. 3459 Coal Dump Car. With this car, continuous operation could be achieved by dumping the coal into the bin and then having this loader lift the coal up by its conveyor belt and dump it back into the car.
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Produced from 1948 until 1957, early versions of this accessory would have a YELLOW generator and a No. 70 Yard Light attached to the base. These variations are considerably harder to find. This loader had a die-cast metal base and a plastic generator with a decal on the side that said, "GM DIESEL POWER."
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When Lionel introduced the No. 456 Coal Ramp in 1950 they provided mounting posts for the coal bin to allow for continuous operation with this accessory.
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Quite a few instruction sheets were issued during the life span of this accessory.

Lionel Trains Coal Loader No. 397 A Variation

Beginning in 1948 with No. 397-49 that is dated 12/48. After this sheet the number was altered to No. 397-64. The first issue of this sheet is not dated. Subsequent issues are dated 2/49 (some issued with DARK BLUE ink on LIGHT BLUE paper), 11/49, 8-52, 4-53, and 5-55. With the exception of the printed colors noted above and below, all of these sheets are issued with BLACK ink on WHITE pager.
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Some of the sheets dated 8-52 and 4-53 are found with BLUE ink on WHITE paper.
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Early metal bases would be painted GRAY, while later issues have a hammered tone finish. The earliest generators would have various colored plastic that was painted YELLOW, while the later more common versions would be painted BLUE. Also, the coal bin changed from being RED painted BLACK plastic, to solid RED (sometimes with a hi-gloss finish) plastic.

As expected, over the ten years that Lionel produced this Coal Loader there were many variations. Sometimes there were different versions within these variations. We’ve listed the four major variations below:
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Variation A: YELLOW generator with a General Motors decal on the side and has a No. 70 Yard Light mounted on a GRAY painted base. Enough of this variation have been found with the hammered tone base to suggest that this is also a viable variation. BLACK coal bin that is painted RED that is very prone to being chipped. 1948 Production.
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Variation B: Identical to Variation A except without yard light.
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Variation C: BLUE painted generator without yard light.
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Variation D: Identical to Variation C except with high-gloss RED bin.
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Dimensions: 10.16 inches long, 7-7/16 inches wide, 6 inches high
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No. 397 Early Issue Box Side
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