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This Identification Guide for Lionel Electric Trains covers the "Post-war Era" only from 1945 until 1969.
LIONEL TRAINS PACIFIC FRUIT EXPRESS CAR No. 6352
The Pacific Fruit Express Car No. 6352 was designed to work with the No. 352 Ice Depot Accessory. The car has a roof hatch that is pushed open by the "loader" on this accessory and ice cubes are dumped inside. The modification that was necessary to the roof of this car resulted in the Type IIB body that is seen on the 6464 Series Box Cars.
This car was equipped with bar-end trucks and magnetic couplers. Some of the later editions came with tabbed couplers. It has Multi-block doors and is actually numbered on the sides "63521." When included in the No. 352 Ice Depot it was not boxed. However, this car was available for separate sale and was housed in a box labeled "6352-25 / ICE CAR". A somewhat difficult box to locate.
Produced from 1955 until 1957, there are two variations: Variation A: Has rubber-stamped lettering with four lines of car data "IL / IW / IH / CU. FT." printed on the sides. Variation B: Has heat stamped lettering with only three lines of data "IL / IW / IH."
This lettering is located on the ice removal bin, but is printed on both sides. The differences are illustrated to the right. The heat stamped lettering is more desirable because it tends to be less faded with age.