I was looking at some postwar sets in my price guide and found the 2161W. There may be some sets that were more rare or expensive but this one seems to be the best one for a kid to get when you factor in quality and action.
2343 santa fes
3469 coal dump car
3461 log dump car
3464 oper boxcar
6520 searchlight car
6457 caboose
All the cars have some action feature. Even the on/off feature on the 6520! Wish i was around in 1950… Anyone know of any other sets that top this?
That is a nice set!
I like post war Lionel. And whenever I buy a locomotive, I try to assemble a set to go with it. I think my kids would really enjoy the play value this set has to offer.
Jim
Another one that has a lot of action is '57 the 2297ws.
Has the N&W J class pulling;
3662 operating unloading milk car
3356 operating horse car w corral
6264 operating flatcar with lumber load w forklift platlform
6342 operating culvert gondola
6517 caboose
wow that might just be the winner! I also noticed the 2289 with the 736, coal dump, log dump, oper state of maine boxcar, trailer car, and caboose…all on super O track.
not postwar, but you have to give it some credit. Outfit no. 1061 from 1941. The set consisted of two outfits,
1666 2689t 2-2640 2641 pullmans
1663 switcher 2201t 3651 lumber car, 2679 box 2657x caboose.
Also included 2 switches, and Magic Electrol!. This was a dc activated reverse unit that allowed the operation of two trains on one track! Many other prewar sets where made in the early 40’s that included all the operating cars.
Hey Know your roots!
Oh and who can forget the “Electronic” set of 46-49!
Saw a video of that “magic electro” and it seems pretty cool and unique for the time it was introduced. I dont know much about the electronic set with the turbine. I know theres a control panel with 10 button but dont know what operates. Im guessing dump cars, couplers, and whistles but not sure. Seems like a nice idea, but why didnt they continue it?
It was expensive, difficult to tune, etc.
Jim
Click on the link below for a more accurrate & precise description & reasoning why it really didn’t pan out & by some real electronic experts in the field.
thanks for the link. Pretty cool set but I can see why they didnt continue production. Also the 87.00 price tag might not help sales as well.
The santa Fe is a nice set, that Norfolk set is expensive. My first set had a 3472 milk car, with a log dump car, 2046 steam engine with whistle tender, caboose, and a hopper car i believe. This was 20 years ago that my father got me a postwar set. And i got a KW to power all this, You might wanna get some action stuff, automatic switches, operating assessories, kids love em, engine with smoke and whistle or even a diesel with a horn will be fine…Horse car set is hard to tune i agree, i have had mine for 5 years and this year it finally works right, same thing with cattle car set…milk man car set always works great, cant go wrong there…thanks.
For me, it would have to be one of the 0-4-0 switcher sets with operating crane. Perferably 1946 set 1407B with 1665 bell ring switcher. Second would be 1955 set 1527 with 1615 non bell switcher and grey cab crane.
i always like the work trains as well. the 1656 and seaboard nw2 (orange and blue) are on my “list” as well. Does the bell ring constantly on the 1656 or is it activated by the whistle button?