Lionel Post-War 2129WS Train Set

I inhereted a post-war Lionel Train Set several years ago from my father. I know my dad had it when he was a kid in the 40s & 50s. I played with it during the 70s. I am not sure if it started as a set, or if my Dad traded any items at a point. I have it running, but would like to know more history on the trains. The items my dad had were:

726 Steam Type 2-8-4 Locomotive with Smoke, 2426W Tender with Built-in Whistle, 3854 Operating Merchandise Car, 2411 Flatcar, 2855 Scale Model Oil Car, 2357 Tuscan Caboose, 3469 Coal Car, 3472 Milk Car, 6520 Light Car.

I believe the original set might have been 2129WS in 1947. It all matches up with the exception of the caboose was not a 2457 per http://www.lionel-train-set.com/1947/1947.htm. The reproduction 2129WS train set has the 2347 caboose, but it is red. I was wondering if tuscan 2347 caboose was in the 1947 2129WS train set. Also, I was wondering if the 3854 Operating Merchandise Car was sold individually.

Thank You for any information you can provide.

Sounds like you have a nice set. Enjoy it!

Try poking around on this site for information:

http://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionelident.htm

According to the “Standard Catalog of Lionel Train Sets” (Doyle), what you have is indeed the 2129WS set, with a correct caboose. The early sets came with a 2357 caboose, but was typically RED, not Tuscan. The additional cars you have listed were probably purchased separately, by your Dad, to add to the set, as they were not part of the original set. It is a fairly rare set with a Rarity-6. Good luck with it.