Popular 1946 Lionel Model Train Sets

In 1946, Lionel produced a variety of outfits similar to those in his pre-war catalogues. Among these offers were 23 games. This broad spectrum of sets allowed Lionel to offer sets at various price points, with the cheapest set retailing for just $24.95, while the deluxe set was $85.00.

1946 was the starting year for many new designs, unlike the previous year which only repeated previously produced products. The new prime mover included the Berkshire 726 O-Gauge, produced by installing a 2-8-4 gear in a boiler based on the pre-war 226E, and the new Pennsylvania 6-8-6 turbine. The latter was offered in O-Gauge sets with the catalog number 671, while those included in the O27 sets had the number 2020. At the lower end of the line was a streamlined 2-6-4 with the catalog number 221 .

New freight cars were also introduced. The “big inch” 2411 flat car shared its die-cast frame with the 2419 and 2420 work cars. Die-cast frames were also used for the new dump cars: 3451 for logs and 3459 for coal. The new 2460 crane also had a die-cast frame and mounted on a pair of six-wheel trucks. These trucks shared many components with similar six-wheelers used in the Bakelite-bodied 2625 passenger cars and the die-cast-bodied 2426W tender used by the 726.

The engineering used to produce the 1945, 2452 gondola was expanded. The 2454 covered freight car, the 2465 Sunoco tank car, and the 3454 operating freight cars included plastic bodies mounted on steel frames. The 2452 was continued and was joined by a second gondola, the 2452X, which lacked the brake wheels and barrels that graced the 2452.

The lower-end O27 sets contained many cars that were reworked from pre-war designs, but as more of the year passed, an increasing number of new products were produced, which were included in more expensive equipment. Following the success of the 1945 knuckle couplers, a spectacular new feature was included in the best games, smoke. Even more spectacular, but much less widespread, was Electronic Control, the latter available only on the 4109WS set. As was the case in 1945, the 1946 clothing boxes were simple corrugated cardboard boxes with labels attached to identify the set they contained.

The following are some of the most sought after 1946 Lionel O27-Gauge sets:

1400W–Lionel O27 Passenger Kit–Retail price for $35.95

Includes: 221 2-6-4 steam locomotive with working headlight; 221W sheet metal tender; two blue 2430 Pullman cars; 2431 blue observation; eight 1013 curved tracks and three 1018 straight tracks; 1019 O27 remote control track section; UTC Lockon, Instruction Booklet 926-5; 60 watt 1041 transformer.

This set was a slightly more expensive version of the 1400 set. For an additional $5.95 over the 1400, a 221W whistling tender replaced the 221T and the transformer was upgraded to a 60W 1401 unit. In excellent condition, this set is worth approx. $650. Like new, this set is worth approx. $1400.

1407B–Lionel O27 Switcher Bell Outfit–Retail Price $37.50

Included: 1665 0-4-0 Steam Switch with Operating Beacon; 2403B tilt-back tender with bell; 2560 skull; 2452X gondola; 2419 working caboose; eight 1013 on curved track and five 1018 on straight track; 1019 O27 remote control track section; UTC lock; instruction booklet 926-5; 40 watt 1037 transformer.

This train was powered by a 1665 0-4-0 switcher, which was a 1662 switcher refurbished before the war. Among the changes made to the locomotive were the installation of the new post-war trucks on the tender and the fitting of new Lionel knuckle couplers to the rear of the tender and locomotive pilot. Mounting of an injection molded plastic cab and two injection molded plastic tool boxes in the body casting created for the 2411 flatcar crated on the 2419 working caboose. A cast smoke jack was installed to pressure in the caboose cabin. The 2560 sheet metal crane car was carried over from the pre-war line in its original colors of yellow cab with a red roof. The 1946 production run of these cranes featured two-piece arms that were riveted together and had the Lionel name molded on them. In excellent condition this set is worth approx. $900. Like new, this set is worth approx. $1500.

1421WS–Lionel O27 Freight Train–Retails $85.00

Included: 2020 6-8-6 steam turbine locomotive with working headlight and smoke; 2020W early coal whistle tender; 3451 operating registration car; 2465 Sunoco Double Dome Tank Car; 3454 freight car; 2472 Pennsylvania N5 caboose unlit; 164 log loaders in operation; ten 1013 on curved track and five 1018 on straight track; 1019 O27 remote control track section; pair of remote controlled turnouts 1121; UTC lock; instruction booklet 926-5; 60 watt 1041 transformer.

While the 1419W provided the owner with a coal empire, the 1421W, also priced at $85, created a lumber empire. Behind the 2020 steam turbine on set was a die-cast 3451 log dump car to be used in conjunction with the 164 log loader. The 1964 log car carried five unstained logs and had a rubber stamp in silver . The truck’s shoes were wired with blue cable and a pair of 1121 remote control turnouts were included to incorporate the 164 into the track layout. An operational silver 3454 freight car added even more action to the train, which surprisingly was finished with a plain red 2472 caboose, without lighting. Like the 1419WS, many examples of this set have been found with a 75-watt 1042 transformer instead of the listed 60-watt 1041. This train in excellent condition is worth approx. $1500 and like new it is worth approx. $1500.

The following are some of the most sought after Lionel O-Gauge sets from 1946:

2110WS–Lionel Three-Car Passenger– Retail for $75.00

Includes: 671 6-8-6 steam turbine locomotive with working headlight and smoke; early coal whistle tender 2466W; three heavyweight 2625 Pullmans; eight curved tracks OC and five straight tracks OS; RCS operation/decoupling section; 167 whistle controller; UTC lock; Instruction booklet 926-5.

To create a premium O-gauge passenger set, Lionel revived the pre-war Bakelite “Irvington” passenger car. The post-war incarnation of this car included newly designed six-wheelers with knuckle couplers; derivatives of these trucks were also used in the 2460 crane and the 2426W tender. Car bodies were painted brown or reddish brown in contrast to the pre-war medium brown color. To haul this passenger train, Lionel used his replica Pennsylvania 20-wheel steam turbine, the 671. This set in excellent condition is worth approx. $1750 and this game like new is worth approx. $2975.

2113WS–Lionel O-Gauge 3-Car Charging Kit–Retails $67.50

Included: 726 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Locomotive with working headlight and smoke; 2426W Diecast Auxiliary Whistle; 2855 Black Sunoco Single Dome Tank Car; 3854 freight car operational; 2457 lighted caboose; operating freight car eight OC; 2457 lighted caboose; eight curved track OCs and several straight track OSs; RCS operation/decoupling section; 167 whistle controller; UTC lock; Instruction booklet 926-5.

Premiering on the 2113WS outfit was the new 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive. Although a 2-8-4 would be a staple of Lionel’s O-gauge sets in the 1960s, the 1946 model was unique. The smoke unit was based on a light bulb, the motor and reverse E-unit were mounted horizontally, and the handrails were mounted with turned struts. Early versions of the 726 were equipped with what collectors refer to as a “big stack” engine. Later, the number of field laminations was reduced, resulting in what is known as a “short stack” engine.

The corrugated component box was unique to the 1946 locomotive. Sealed with prewar-style orange and blue caulking tape, the box was marked with a manufacturer’s stamp that read: “GAIR BOGOTA CORR. & FIBER BOX CORP.” The ends of the box were stamped “No. 726” in small letters. The trailer cars were just as unique. Although listed as the common silver 2755, the included tank car was actually the rare black 1855. The pre-war semi-scale wagon tooling was revived and modified with the addition of a roof hatch and internal mechanism to create a working goods wagon, the 3854. This car is one of the hardest to find items of the postwar era. In excellent condition this set is worth approx. $2000. Like new, this set is worth approx. $3200.

2114WS–Lionel O-Gauge Three-Car Passenger Kit–Retails for $77.50

Included: 726 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Locomotive with working headlight and smoke; 2426W soft whistle; three heavyweight 2625 Pullmans; eight curved tracks OC and five straight tracks OS; RCS operation/decoupling section; 167 controller; UTC lock; Instruction booklet 926-5.

This was the most expensive passenger kit offered in 1946. The three Bakelite 2625 Irvington passenger cars presented the 726 with a formidable load, especially those locomotives equipped with the “short stack” rear engine. The die-cast tenders were fitted with die-cast whistle shells and, although initially stamped white, were eventually lettered silver. In excellent condition, the set is worth approx. $2,500 and like new it’s worth $4,000.