I found and bought a set of three(3) streamlined Pullman passenger cars at a Flea market in Sandwich, Illinois. Without knowing much about them, I bought them for a very modest price, and I had to put about $70 worth of repairs to get them running well. They run very nicely, all the interior lights work, and the silhouttes are in place.
How would I go about making this set more “collectible”. The cars are #2322 Chatham, #2323 Hillside Observation, and #2329 Livingston. There seems to be a fourth car to the set – the #2321 Maplewood. These cars have the Grey roof and black lettering. It seems that the 4 car set ran with the Union Pacific ALCO A-A units also. Any advice out there?
**PK…**Since no one has responded yet, let me see if I can get this started. I am no expert nor do I have a “buyers guide” relative to what your passenger cars are worth.
The 242X series passenger cars were manufactured between 1950 and 1952, 1953. Most of what I have seen have the cars in matching silver (roofs and car bodies). The lettering and numbering were black. The cars were named after cities in New Jersey near (then) Lionel’s factory in Hillside NJ. The cars: 2421 (Maplewood Pullman), 2422 (Chatham Vista Dome), 2423 (Hillside Observation), and the 2429 (Livingston Pullman, rarer).
The solid silver cars were available as part of a 2046 Hudson set from 1950 and probably other sets from that time frame. But I have seen (less of) the darker grey roofs on some like yours. These may, as you suggested, have come with the silver 2033 Union Pacific AA Alcos with the silver&nbs
The condition of the cars is average-- obviously played with very much in its day. I have no boxes. I guess I want to find the 2321 maplewood car, and then try to find what year the 4 car set was sold. i am going to keep my eyes open for the 2023 UP engine set or the 2033 UP set.
I have a picture of the cars but it is a little fuzzy and I havent figured out how to tag a photo on the forum
