Anyone know of any pre-war set that a Lionel #229 loco would match up to with a 3659X dump car and a 654 tank car?
-B
Here’s what I can tell you. This “outfit” was not in the 1939-1941 Lionel catalogs. I did find the following uncatalogued set (from the book “Lionel Trains-Standard of the World”, by Donald Fraley/Fort Pitt Chapter TCA)…
Around 1939 the following uncatalogued set was available:
229E gunmetal engine with 2389W tender, 2654 Orange Shell Tank Car, 2659 Green Dump Car, and a 2657 caboose.
That’s as close as I can get.
OK, knowing Lionel’s strange habbit of subing out different part # items inside of sets, is there any possibility that this #229 2-4-2 steam engine was placed in a #1664 2-4-2 steam engine box and included in some set that went with the above mentioned cars in my original post?
-B
Anything is possible. Its more likely that the 229 was used to replace a damaged engine from the original set, or possible the contents were not obtained as a set new.
With all the uncatologed possiblities you just never know though. I ended up with a 229/2689WX with the high 1940 box coupler for the 2800 series cars on it and it came from the original owner with Two tone green 2613/14/15 from 1940 only.
Although all things are possible, we may be reading into it too much. Lionel’s prewar action cars were marketed as add-ons to sets. They sold well as seperate sale items, and it is most probable in my opinion it was purchased as an add on to Jr.'s set. Probably also included a 652 gondola in burnt orange, and a 657 caboose. Almost definately had a 2689t/w without a coupler tongue.
Lionel #229, black, 2-4-2, #2869T box tender (1939-40), #2666W bakerlight (plastic) tender(1941-42), same boiler casting as 224E and 1666
1939-40 set #139(W) (freight) #2654 orange Sunoco Tank car, #2651 Lumber car, #2657 all red plates or Rubber Stamp Caboose.
1941 set #839W (Whistle), #2654 Tank car turns Silver
1942, same Freight set as #839 now numbered #257, No Whistle, cream Box car #2655 replaces the Lumber car.
1939-40 set #138 (W), 2 2640 green Pullmans, 1 #2641 green Observation
1941 set 838W(whistle) (passenger) 2 #2642 brown Pullmans, 1 # 2643 brown Observation.
1942, same Passenger set as #838 now numbered #254, NO Whistle.