I have been thinking of buying a postwar Lionel set that was made in the 1950’s. It has a 2055 Hudson steam engine with smoke, magnatraction, whistling “coffen” style tender. It comes with three cars. The set looks like it’s in very good condition, and the price is $300 for the whole set. He said he would sell it too me for $250. Does anyone think it’s a good buy? I’m not shure if I want to buy it or not. I think the engine is “okay”, but I’m not crazy about it like a Berkshire, or Turbine.
Depends on your perception of “very good” condition. I bought a 2055 set with common 027 cars all in what I think is near excellent condition (all origional and no scratches) for $250 eight years ago. I thought it was a good deal. If the set has something like a 6464 boxcar, $250 in VG condition may be a good deal. Similar repro sets go for that or more. 2055’s are great engines. If you really like it, buy it and who cares if you spent 50 bucks too much or too little?
A 2055 is a real beautiful engine, not sure of the set of cars that came with it. The engine and tender goes for about 150 to 200 depending on the shape, and if you have the box and paperwork, double it. So depending on the cars that are in the set this could be a good deal. I have been looking for a good 2056 myself…
I don’t think the engine or cars has any scratches at all. They still have a shine to them, but they probably were repainted though. One problem is the engine sits on a high shelf, so I cant get a good look at it.
What are the numbers on the cars? I assume they are freight cars?
Don’t the 2046, 646, and 2055 all share the exact same boiler and front boiler plate with the 736 Berk…only difference was the 4-6-4 drive wheel configuration Hudson vs. 2-8-4 Berk, different numbers, and the 2056 didn’t have magnetraction?
Lot’s of Hudson choices back in those days. I like the added boiler detail on the above three versus the others. Just my opinion.
Jack
Yes it has frieght cars and the engine does not share the Berkshires shell like the 646 Hudson does. It has a shell like Lionel’s modern 4-6-2 Pacific engines have. Sorry, but I forgot what type of frieght cars it has. I don’t really know the numbers on the sides of the frieght cars sorry.
2055’s do not share the 736 boiler casting.
I just got off the phone from the guy who is selling that engine and he says the 2055 is in almost mint condition. I might put her on layaway.
You should be able to get a good look at if you are serious about buying it.
I don’t believe the 2055 came with a coffin (or sheet metal) tender. If you have he Sept 2001 CTT, check John Grams’ story about tenders. If you’re buying it just as a set of postwar trains, all is well. If you’re buying it as an “as sold” set, you might want to do a bit more research.
Well, got it anyway, might have got burned, but I like it. It came with a Sunoco tank car that has the number 6465 on it, and a gondola car that says NYC on it, and a Lionel caboose.
I went on postwarlionel.com and it said it did come with a coffen style whistling tender. The guy let me take the frieght cars home with me and when I get the rest paid off, he’ll let me have the engine.
The gondola is numbered 6462, and the caboose is numbered 6257.
3 railguy…you’re right…I meant 646, 2046, and 2056 share the same boiler and front boiler plate with the 736 Berk.
Jack
There is a 6026W Santa Fe style tender with a damaged step on ebay with a cheap buy it now price. It is correct for your 2055. There are also several others with low opening bids but no bids. I am not aloud to post the links. Just do a search.
The Santa-Fe style tender is plastic but does resemble the smaller tin coffin tender. Maybe you did get the correct tender?
I’m not shure if the tender is metal or plastic. I’ve never shopped on ebay before and I don’t have an account with them.
I think it does have the 6026W tender that says Lionel Lines on the side. The whistle in the tender works, it just needs oil I think. I don’t know how to tell the difference between tenders other than by looking at them. It has a boxy style tender so thats why I called it a coffin style tender. Sorry for the misleading info.
FYI, the frame might still have the number stamped on the bottom. Flip it over and take a look. Some 6026 tenders had small number boards on the sides of the shell with the numerals 6026 in white. If you go to www.postwarlionel.com you can check out your engine with a 6026W tender.
Mike
Don’t have the engine yet.