Lionel Electric Trains Identification Guide Sub-Title
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This Identification Guide for Lionel Electric Trains covers the "Post-war Era" only from 1945 until 1969.

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The Lionel SP Type Cabooses LIONEL TRAINS SP CABOOSE DIE TYPE VARIATION DETAILS

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Cupola Window Frames
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The front and rear facing windows on the cupola did not have window frames on all dies except for Die 4.


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Step Width
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The steps for this caboose were, when viewed from the bottom, all of the narrow type with the exception of Die 4.


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Smoke Stack Reinforcement
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Lionel would reinforce that smoke stack opening on those cabooses that had a smoke stack during the early production of this car. This practice was discontinued on Die 3, 3A, and 3B, and would be reinstated to accommodate the No. 6557 Smoking Caboose in 1958, and would continue until the end of production in 1969 on Die 4.


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Smoke Stack Plug
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On those cabooses that did not have a smoke stack Lionel would plug this hole in three different fashions:

Stack Plug Variations

Rim - the rim was raised and was parallel to the catwalk with a recessed center. Used on Die 1, 1A, 2, and 2A.
Raised - the plug was raised parallel to the roof slope. Used on Die 3.
Lowered - The plug was below the roof line and parallel to the catwalk. Used on Die 4.


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Side Rivets
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There are eight rivets below the side windows number 3 and 4 on Dies 1, 3A, 3B, and 4.
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There are four rivets below the same windows on Dies 2, and 3C.

Side Rivets below window No. 3 and 4
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Ladder Slots
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Early editions of this caboose would have end ladders. After these were removed from production the slots to hold them were still present in the Dies that made the bodies. These slots are found on Dies 1, 2, and 4.
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They have been removed on all varieties of Die 3.


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Side Grab Rails
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Side Grab Rails touch the second rivet on Dies 1, and 1A.
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Side Grab Rail clears the second rivet on Dies 2, 2A, and 3.
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Side Grab Rail touches the third rivet on Die 4.


Side Grab Rail Rivet Variations

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Cupola Roof Rails
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High Roof Rails on Dies 1, 1A, 2, and 2A.
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Low, Short Roof Rails (11/32" = A) on Die 3.
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Low, Long Roof Rails (3/16" = A) on Dies 3A, 3B, and 3C.

Roof Railing Variations

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Door End Rivets
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On the door ends of this caboose there are no Extra Rivets between the door rivet row and the roof rivet row on Dies 1, 1A, 2, and 2A.
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The door ends have extra rivets between the door rivet row and the roof rivet row (Note: the RED arrows in the picture) on Die 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 4.


End Rivet Row Varations

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Roof Wedges
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On Panel 4 near the catwalk are two wedges (BLUE arrows) that are a result of a repair to the casting die. Seen only on Dies 3B and 3C.
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Extra Rivets and Lines
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As a result of damage to the casting die Panel 1 and 2 have faint lines and rivets on all of the Die 3 variants (RED arrows).
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Extra Catwalk Board
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The ladder slot and this extra "board" appear only on early issues of the Type 3 Die (GREEN arrow).

Roof Variations caused by damage

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Catwalk Supports
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One of the changes that is found in Die 4 is the end supports for the catwalk that were cast into the body of this caboose. These supports are only found on Die 4 and it is probably the easiest way to determine if this casting was used.


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Catwalk Support Variation

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