Lionel Electric Trains Identification Guide Sub-Title Bottom of Page

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

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Lionel Tenders TENDERS

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For some reason tenders often get separated from their matching locomotive. After numerous requests from our viewers, we’ve listed these tenders in numerical order showing the locomotives that came with these tenders and the years that they were cataloged.
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There were eight main types of tenders, half of which were carried over from the Pre-war Period. Most of these tenders have the production number rubber-stamped on the bottom of the metal chassis. See a picture of an example of this number below right. A few were heat-stamped on the sides of the tenders. There were quite a few more that were not numbered.

No. 1001T Scout Tender

During the last ten years of Lionel’s Post War production (1960-1969) many of these tenders were not marked with a production number because there was a lot of substitution as Lionel attempted to work away excess stock. This primarily happened to the more economical sets and those that were issued as promotional sets. As a result, determining the proper tender for each locomotive issued during this period becomes problematical. Over the enterveining years this has been an area scrutinized by collectors who have through extensive research been responsible for solving many of these unknown varieties of tenders.

Note Rubber-stamped Number on the bottom of the No. 2426W

To this date collectors are still debating the application of tenders to a particular locomotive. We’ve listed these tenders despite some dubious lineage anyway because we are sure this debate will continue.
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For those seeking additional information we can recommend two books:
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The seventh edition of Greenberg’s Guide to Lionel Trains 1945-1969.
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John Schmid’s book covering the uncataloged sets from 1960 through 1969 Authoritative Guide to Lionel’s Promotional Outfits 1960 - 1969.

Lionel Letter Suffixes Used On Tender Production Numbers
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B = Tender is equipped with a Bell 
T = Tender does not have a Whistle
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W = Tender is equipped with a Whistle
 X = Tender was only issued in a Set
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CAT #PICTURETYPEYEARSLOCOMOTIVEDETAILS
221T No. 221T Sheet Metal Tender Sheet-Metal 1946-47 221

The sheet-metal tender was carried over from a Pre-war design created in 1936. Found in both GUNMETAL GRAY and BLACK, this six inch long tender was constructed of sheet metal, and was held together by tabs and slots. This tender was equipped with staple-end trucks and an electronic coil coupler. A rubber-stamp was used for the "NEW YORK CENTRAL" lettering and the striping.

221W No. 221W Sheet Metal Tender Sheet-Metal 1946
1947
221
221, 1654

The sheet-metal tender was carried over from a Pre-war design created in 1936. Found in both GUNMETAL GRAY and BLACK, this six inch long tender was constructed of sheet metal, and was held together by tabs and slots. This tender was equipped with staple-end trucks and an electronic coil coupler. A rubber-stamp was used for the "NEW YORK CENTRAL" lettering and the striping.

233W No. 233W Square Tender Square 1961-62 233, 2037

This 7-5/8 inch square tender was first shown in the catalogs in 1960. This BLACK plastic square tender was heat-stamped "LIONEL LINES" in WHITE. The sheet-metal chassis was equipped with early AAR trucks with a rear disc coupler.

234T No. 234T Square Tender Square 1968-69 2029

The 7-5/8 inch square tender was first shown in the catalogs in 1953. BLACK plastic tender was heat-stamped "LIONEL LINES" in WHITE, and was equipped with late AAR trucks with a rear disc coupler.

234W No. 234W Square Tender Square 1963
1964
1965-66
238, 2037
238, 2029
237, 239, 2029

The 7-5/8 inch square tender was first shown in the catalogs in 1953. BLACK plastic tender was heat-stamped "LIONEL LINES" in WHITE, and was equipped with early, or late AAR trucks with a rear disc coupler. This tender is one of the few that were heat-stamped with the production number "234W" on the sides.

242T No. 242T Lionel Lines Small Streamlined Tender Small
Streamlined
1963
1964
1965

1966

1062
240, 1061,
1062
237, 242, 1062
237, 242
1061, 1062

This 7-1/2 inch small streamlined tender was heat-stamped in WHITE "LIONEL LINES" on the sides and was issued from 1963 until 1966 with a wide variety of locomotives. The body is mounted on a sheet metal chassis that is equipped with early AAR trucks that has a disc, or a solid non-operating coupler on the rear truck. Note the lack of a water scoop on this tender.

242T
SP
No. 242T Southern Pacific Small Streamlined Tender Small
Streamlined
1963 1062

This 7-1/2 inch small streamlined tender was heat-stamped in WHITE "SOUTHERN PACIFIC" on the sides and was only issued in 1963 with the No. 1062 Locomotive. The body is mounted on a sheet metal chassis that is equipped with early AAR trucks that has a disc coupler on the rear truck. Note the lack of a water scoop on this tender.

243W No. 243W Square Tender Square 1960
1961
243, 2037
2037

The 7-5/8 inch square tender was first shown in the catalogs in 1953. This BLACK plastic tender was heat-stamped "LIONEL LINES" in WHITE, and was equipped with early AAR trucks with a rear disc coupler. This is one of the few tenders that were heat-stamped with the production number "243W" on the sides.

247T No. 247T Baltimore & Ohio Small Streamlined Tender Small
Streamlined
1959 247

This 7-1/2 inch small streamlined tender was heat-stamped in WHITE on a BLUE painted bar "BALTIMORE AND OHIO" on the sides and was only issued in 1959 with the No. 247 Locomotive. The body is mounted on a sheet metal chassis that is equipped with early AAR trucks that has a disc coupler on the rear truck. Note the lack of a water scoop on this tender.


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