Question on ink color of pre war passenger car?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I am in the process of restoring a Lionel pre war passenger set. It is the 607 and 608 set in peacock with orange inserts.

What color ink is “THE LIONEL LINES” printed with above the windows?

And also the color ink on the inserts with the car #, PULLMAN and OBSERVATION?

Looks to be gold?

Thanks in advance!

Mark

2

On mine, “THE LIONEL LINES” appears to be gold. The other lettering looks like dark brown or perhaps slightly faded black.

3

Hello Butleryard! The color of ink for the “LIONEL LINES” should be black in most cases unless yours were a dept store special(Macys,etc) You can call or e-mail J & A Hobbies in Waynesboro,Pa at: warnick@pa.net or call them at: 1-717-762-2242. They have Dry Transfer Lettering for pre-postwar lionel trains. Take Care.

4

I just took another car off the wall. It’s not black on mine. Both places are gold. I can see the individual metal flakes in the paint in some places.

5

Hello Mark! Your Passenger Cars came in quite a few different variations Red Bodies/Black Roof. Stephen Girard Green(Dark Green Roofs/Apple Green Bodies) The previous color combo is by far the most common & there were some made in Orange with cream inserts. I’m thinking that yours & Bobs may have been Dept Store specials if they had Gold Lettering as I stated before that most cars like yours had Black Lettering(Rubber Stamped) BTW- all of the above had cream inserts for Doors & Windows also.Take Care.

6

Looks to be gold on this set. Another bay seller offers the self adhesive decal sets for this series cars in both gold and black sheets. I have the apple/cream set and I think all the lettering is black.

Ken