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 Small Motorized Units Identification GuideSMALL MOTORIZED UNITS

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Some were based on prototype engines, others were made to fit existing chassis and bodies that were in production by the creative people in Lionel’s design department. Beginning with the popular "Gang Car" No. 50 in 1954, Lionel went on to make many different types of these small motorized units.

Below we’ve listed these units by order of function and also by the type of OEM units that they were based on. Readers who need more information are respectfully urged to seek outside sources.


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AUTOMATIC DIRECTIONAL REVERSING UNITS The Lionel No. 50 Gang Car in Action!

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Automatic Directional Reversing UnitsBeginning with the No. 50 Gang Car in 1954, Lionel would produce several others of this type of small unit. These units would be distinguished by their automatic reversing feature. They would run in only one direction depending on where the sliding directional plate on the unit was located. When it came to the end of the track, and struck a bumper, the plate would move, and the unit would reverse direction until it hit another bumper at the other end of the track. These units would do this perpetually until the power was turned off. Usually some other feature changed when it struck the bumper. For example, on the Gang Car, one of the men would change position.

The Lionel Gang Car No. 50
There are four different units in the class. They are:
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No. 50 Gang Car    No. 52 Fire Car    No. 60 Lionelville Trolley     No. 69 Maintenance Car
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See the Numerical Index for additional details about the individual units in this class.

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Gas Turbine UnitsGAS TURBINE UNITS

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The No. 41 United States Army Gas Turbine UnitFirst produced in 1955, these small units proved to be very popular. Beginning with the No. 41 United States Army Unit, these small engines were unpainted with heat-stamped lettering and are often found with broken or cracked window struts. Collectors should always check for this common fault. There are three different units in the class. They are:
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No. 41 U.S. Army Transportation Corps
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No. 42 Picatinny Arsenal
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No. 59 U.S. Air Force Minuteman
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See the Numerical Index for additional details about the individual units in this class.

The Lionel No. 41 United States Army Gas Turbine Unit
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The Vulcan Switcher20-TON GAS VULCAN UNITS

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The Lionel No. 51 Navy Yard SwitcherThe Vulcan Iron Works Company of Wilkes-Barre, PA, produced a total of 54 diesel-electric switcher units between 1938 and 1954. Lionel utilized their basic form as the prototype for these small units and adapted some of them to service that was never seen on the prototype railroads. None the less, this group of units includes the No. 56 M. & St.L Mine Service and the No. 57 AEC units that are among the rarest of these small units made during the Post War period.
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There are five different units in the class. They are:

The Navy Yard No. 51 Vulcan Unit
No. 51 Navy Yard
No. 57 AEC
No. 53 Denver & Rio Grande Snow Plow
No. 58 Great Northern Snow Blower
No. 56 M. & St.L. Mine Service
See the Numerical Index for additional details about the individual units in this class.

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The No. 54 Ballastt TamperMAINTENANCE OF WAY UNITS

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The No. 54 Ballastt TamperLionel used the small unit type of engine to portrait many different types of "Maintenance of Way" equipment that was based on some of the pieces that were used by the railroads of the day. Some of these creations must have been engineering nightmares like the No. 3360 Burro Crane and the No. 65 Handcar, which proved to be problematic throughout its production history. These units are all highly valued by collectors today and are among the most unique items produced by Lionel during the Post War Era.
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There are six different units in the class. They are:

The Lionel No. 54 Ballast Tamper
No. 3360 Burro Crane
No. 55 Tie-Jector
No. 3927 Track Cleaning Car
No. 65 Handcar
No. 54 Ballast Tamper
No. 68 Executive Inspection Car
See the Numerical Index for additional details about the individual units in this class.

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Numerical List Title
BB 41 Army Transportation Corps
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BB 42 Picatinny Arsenal
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BB 50 Gang Car
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BB 51 Navy Yard
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BB 52 Fire Car
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BB 53 Rio Grande Snow Plow
BB 54 Ballast Tamper
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BB 55 Tie-Jector
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BB 56 M. & St. L
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BB 57 AEC
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BB 58 Great Northern Snow Blower
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BB 59 U.S. Air Force Minuteman
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BB     60 Trolley
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BB     65 Handcar
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BB     68 Executive Inspection Car
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BB     69 Maintenance Unit
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BB 3360 Burro Crane Unit
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BB 3927 Track Cleaning Car

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BB Lionel Trains Identification Guide BB Lionel Locomotives BB Lionel Tenders BB Lionel Diesels BB
BB Lionel Electric Engines BB LIONEL SMALL MOTORIZED UNITS BB Lionel Accessories BB Lionel Rolling Stock Identification Guide BB
BB Lionel Track BB Lionel Transformers BB Master Index BB
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The Lionel No. 50 Gang Car in Action!
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