Girls Tain Set Round Up

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

The infamous Lady Lionel set from 57’ to’58 has certainlly created a (rather weird) legacy.

From it’s days as one of Lionel’s biggest failures to today, the Girls Train story continues with the many recreations that exist right up to the present time.

I was trying to figure out how many versions of this set were made.

This is what I came up with:

Sets:

1957 to 1958, Lady Lionel a/k/a The Girls Train.

1957, Lionel Boys Train (production samples only).

1990, K-Line and Toy Train Historical Foundation, The Little Girls Train.

1991, Lionel LTI, The Girls Train reissue.

2002, K-Line, The Girls Train (updated version of their earlier set).

2003, Lionel LLC, The Girls Train.

2003, Lionel LLC, The Boys Train (first ever full release for this set).

2006 - Present, Williams, and Williams by Bachman, Girls Train Steam Set, Girls Train GG1 Set,
and Girls Train Heavyweight Passenger Car Set.

A few notes here:

The first K-Line sets were released before the recreated marx 333 steamers were ready, and thus a pink MP-15 was shipped with the first sets. The steamers were then mailed out and customers could return the mp-15’s or pay an extra fee to keep it (most returned them). The cansisters on the earliets sets were stamped Toy Train Historical Foundation, on later sets they were blank.

The newer K-Line set is easy to tell apart as the freight cars are more detailed, and the tender is longer.

Did MTH ever jump on the Girls Train bandwagon ?

What was the Toy Train Histroical Foundation ? , and does it still exist ?

Rolling Stock:

For the newer releases a number of add on cars have been made, some notables include;

1990, K-Line, yellow hopper as an apology for the delayed steamers, and a pink Santa Fe Caboose.

Mid 1990’s, Lionel LLC Postwar Celebra

2

We ran an article about the K-Line/TTHF set in our October 2002 issue. The article states the TTHF folded in 1993.

3

I have the 2003, Lionel LLC, The Girls Train set.

There was something about the engine in that set such that Lionel gave us an additional freight car to compensate for the misleading advertising.

Does anyone recall the details of this?

BTW … is that 10/2002 issue of CTT magazine available for purchase on CD or DVD? [swg]

Brad from MN

4

Nope, not available on disc …

5

I also have this set; rather my wife does. The 2003 Girls Train was originally announced as having a rerun of the postwar 2037 engine. As issued, it had a cheap, crappy basic diecast made in China engine with one traction tire and stamped 2037. I believe there were also some promises of original-style packaging and transformer. I don’t remember the exact details but enough purchasers had a fit over it that Lionel offered a blue MKT bilevel cattle car free to original purchasers of the set. The Catalog number is 19559 and the number on the car is 6556. In my case I read of it in CTT, called Lionel and was told to call the store where I had purchased the train and they would have the car for me. I called them in Michigan ( I live in Florida) and they said yes, we have it and were wondering who it belonged to. The store had stocked only one Girl’s set. So, my buddy in Michigan picked it up for me and brought it to Florida the next month. I have both the box and the shipping carton for the car. In addition we have purchased the K-Line 6646 girl’s flat with 2 autos, the Lionel 26164 girl’s tank car and the 29622 girl’s Fort Knox Mint car.

Jim

6

Thanks for the information so far, now the hunt starts for a copy of the 10/02 CTT.

The issues surronding the 2003 Lionel set are interesting. I do know that the 1991 Lionel LTI reissue
came packaged just like the 57/58 version including the pink carton.

I have the Boys Train from '03 and it came with a 2-6-4 Prarie style engine stamped 2018 (same as the ultra rare 57 version).

I also have the early K-Line release, including the Pink MP-15, and the seperate sale robins egg blue Santa Fe single dome tanker, as well a few other freight cars that were released to go with the newer K-Line release.

I also have the Lionel PWC Boxcar 3 pack from the late 90’s that contained the 2 girls train boxcars (as well as a red MS & L car). I actually bought 2 of these, one went to my sister (as a gift) to remind her that she refused the original Lady Lionel (back in the day).

Ken

7

In addition to the Two 6464 remakes there were these three:

6-26078 6801 Lionel Lines Flatcar with Boat (Boy’s Train Add-On)
6-26077 6424 Lionel Flatcar with Autos (Girl’s Train Add-On)
6-26164 6315 Lionel Lines Single Dome Tank Car (Girl’s Train Add-On)

Pete

8

I found the K-Line flat with autos first, so I didn’t buy the Lionel one. The K-Line is a much nicer car and comes with 2 diecast autos.

Jim

9

Jim,

Any chance you could post a picture of that K-Line auto flatcar? I don’t know that I’ve ever seen it.

Brad from MN