Hello All,
I am new to the forum and hope you guys can help. I have (2) 1615 loco’s, and slope back tenders for both. One is the original from the 1955 set #1527, the other is a recent purchase from Ebay. The tender from Ebay does have a 1615-52 shell, and the frame looks like the original. The problem is that the trucks are AAR plastic, and the coupler isn’t a functioning coupler. They also have the “circle L” stamped on the bottoms. What do I really have, i.e. is it really a 1625t/244t or what? Help.
Using David Doyle’s Standard Catalog of Lionel trains as a reference, the tender you have was produced 1962-1969. The slope back tender was used often, into the modern-era as well. The tender shell casting numbers would have remained the same as the original throughout the years. Trucks and couplers are the main key in determining the years produced, because Lionel didn’t change the shell casting numbers or frame numbers. An example would be the common Lehigh Valley 6456 black hopper. The “new 1-48” stamp was kept throughout years of production, which doesn’t indicate they were all made in 1948.
Thanks for the reply mpzpw3.
I figured it had to be newer issue from the 60’s because of the plastic trucks. Otherwise it looks just like the 1615t. I will have to do some research to see if I can narrow it down to the actual number. I am trying to complete the other set #1549s from 1956 which also used the 1615 loco. Getting back into this after 30 plus years. Thanks again.