John, I have a Lionel low end set from 1960-1965. It is the Rio Grande set sold at Western Auto Stores with a yellow engine, a satellite car, LV hopper car and a yellow work caboose. No automatic couplers.
I found out in the 1990’s that my red satellite car was somewhat rare. Most of them were green.
Does any of this story make sense?
Hey Buckeye!
i think I actually pieced together that set for my son!
No set box but it was fun to hunt down the pieces. We used to hit the shows
when he was younger, buy an engine and then look in the
set book for the other pieces that came in the set. It was a fun way to
get him excited about going to the shows and he was always excited to
find the cars. I guess it was self serving too…ha ha ha!!!
Karl
Buckeye,
It sounds like you have Advance Catalog outfit no. 11011 from 1962. This included :
222P Denver & Rio Grande Alco
3510 Satellite Launching Car
6076 Hopper Car - Red
6120 Work Caboose
The “red” satellite car is a 3510 which Greenberg lists at $40 for Good and $140 for Excellent. The 3510 also came in at least 8 other promotional outfits. Yes, it is more difficult to find than its “green” 3509 sibling. It was a “cheaper” version of this car with non-operating trucks and couplers.
As for the value of the entire outfit. These have sold from $250 to $500 on eBay with the box, trains and all peripherals. The low end would be a C7 and the higher end about C8.
Advance Catalog outfits were sold through numerous retailers, so it is likely that Western Auto also carried them. Although, this set does not show up in a 1962 WA catalog. If it was specifically for WA, it would also have an “ECxxx” number stamped on it, as that was WA’s catalog numbering scheme.
Good luck,
John
www.projectroar.com
John,
Thanks for the information. The Rio Grande Alco does not have a reverse feature or the automatic couplers. My satellite car has all the pieces and it still works fine after 40 years.
I know as a kid I was somewhat dissappointed when I found out that a kid in school had a new Lionel with automatic couplers and I did not.
Again, thanks for the interesting facts and figures.