This Identification Guide for Lionel Electric Trains covers the "Post-war Era" only from 1945 until 1969. |
TENDERS |
Lionel Letter Suffixes Used On Tender Production Numbers |
B = Tender is equipped with a Bell T = Tender does not have a Whistle |
W = Tender is equipped with a Whistle X = Tender was only issued in a Set |
CAT # | PICTURE | TYPE | YEARS | LOCOMOTIVE | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1872T | General Tender |
1959-62 | 1872 | This tender was designed to work with the famous civil war locomotive "The General." Lionel produced this tender for its Super-O Gauge outfits that were equipped with the No. 1872 American Type locomotive. It consists of a plastic body and woodpile that rides on a sheet metal chassis equipped with arch-bar trucks that has one solid non-operating coupler. This unique tender used heat-stamp lettering for the "Western and Atlantic Railroad" and also for the production number on the sides. | |
1882T | General Tender |
1960 | 1882 | This tender was designed to work with the famous civil war locomotive "The General" and was a component of the rare "Halloween Set" that was sold through Sears only in 1960. It consists of a plastic body and woodpile that rides on a sheet metal chassis equipped with arch-bar trucks that has one solid non-operating coupler. This unique tender used heat-stamp lettering for the "Western and Atlantic Railroad" and also for the production number on the sides. | |
2020W | Early Coal | 1946-47 | 2020 | This tender was exclusively used with the No. 2020 Locomotive in 1948 and 1949. The body was heat-stamp "LIONEL LINES" on the sides and was attached to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with staple-end trucks that has one electronic coil coupler. This tender has rails on the rear deck. A feature that would not be seen on the Early Coal Tenders after 1950. | |
2046W | Streamlined | 1950-51 1952 1953 1954-55 1956-58 1959 1960 |
2046 675, 726RR, 2056 736, 2046, 2055 646, 736, 2055, 2065 646, 665, 736 637, 665, 736 736 |
The 8-1/2 inch streamlined tender was first introduced in 1950 and was based on a Pennsylvania Railroad prototype. The No. 2046W version was first shown in the catalogs in 1950 and would be used until 1960. It is composed of a BLACK plastic body that is attached to a sheet metal frame. The trucks changed over the years of production going though the usual progression. Heat-stamped "LIONEL LINES" is applied in WHITE to the sides. This is one of the few tenders that have the number "2046W" imprinted on a raised number board on the sides. | |
2046WX | Streamlined | 1952 1953 1954-55 |
671RR 681 682 |
This version of the 8-1/2 inch streamlined tender was only sold in sets. The No. 2046WX version was first shown in the catalogs in 1952 and would be sold with the "X" suffix until 1955. It is composed of a BLACK plastic body that is attached to a sheet metal frame. The trucks were bar-end with one magnetic coupler. Heat-stamped "PENNSYLVANIA" is applied in WHITE to the sides. | |
2426W | Semi-scale | 1946-49 1950 |
726 773 |
This highly detailed tender was originally produced in 1938 during the Pre-war Period. The body is made of die-cast metal with a plastic coal load. Riding on a sheet metal chassis this tender was equipped with six wheel trucks that have side frames that are plastic and an electronic coil coupler. It is 8-1/2 inches long. Produced in 1946-49 for the No. 726 Berkshire, and for the 50th anniversary No. 773 Hudson in 1950. | |
2466T | Early Coal | 1946 | 224, 1666 | Based on a New York Central prototype that was developed during the Pre-War Era in 1941, this tender was included in three sets headed up by the No. 224 Locomotive in 1946. The body was heat-stamp "LIONEL LINES" on the sides and was attached to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with staple-end trucks that has one electronic coil coupler. This tender has rails on the rear deck. A feature that would not be seen on the Early Coal Tenders after 1950. | |
2466W | Early Coal | 1945 1946 |
224 224, 1666 |
This early coal tender is based on a New York Central prototype. The body was heat-stamp "LIONEL LINES" on the sides and was attached to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with staple-end trucks that has one electronic coil coupler. This tender has rails on the rear deck. A feature that would not be seen on the Early Coal Tenders after 1950. | |
2466WX | Early Coal | 1946 1947 1948 |
224, 1666 675, 1666 675 |
This early coal tender is based on a New York Central prototype that was developed during the Pre-War Era as the No. 2666T/W in 1941. Sold only in sets, the body was heat-stamp "LIONEL LINES" on the sides and was attached to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with staple-end trucks that has one electronic coil coupler. This tender has rails on the rear deck. A feature that would not be seen on the Early Coal Tenders after 1950. | |
2671W | Streamlined | 1948-49 1950-51 |
671 681 |
This version of the 8-1/2 inch streamlined tender was the only one that came with six wheel trucks. The No. 2671W version was first shown in the catalogs in 1948 and would be sold until 1951. It is composed of a BLACK plastic body that is attached to a sheet metal frame. The trucks were six wheeled with one electronic coil coupler. 1948 issues were rubber-stamped "PENNSYLVANIA" that was applied in WHITE to the sides, while later issues would use a heat-stamp. | |
2671‐ 1968 |
Streamlined | 1968 | N/A | This version of of a BLACK plastic 8-1/2 inch streamlined tender was produced by Lionel for the TCA’s 1968 National Convention. Note: Only the tender shell was produced for this convention and it came without a chassis. We’ve shown this shell mounted on a No. 2671W metal chassis with six‐wheel trucks, one of which has an electronic coil coupler. The side markings are heat-stamped in WHITE. | |
4424W | Early Coal | 1946 | 671R | This early coal tender was exclusively used with the No. 761R Locomotive only in 1946. Located under the chassis is the radio receiver that was used with the ECU-1 in the Electronic Set. The body utilized a heat-stamp for the "LIONEL LINES" lettering on the sides and was attached to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with staple-end trucks that has one electronic coil coupler. This tender has vertical hand rails at the four corners in addition to the deck rails. A feature that would not be seen on the Early Coal Tenders after 1950. | |
4671W | Early Coal | 1947-49 | 671R | This early coal tender was exclusively used with the No. 761R Locomotive from 1947 until 1949. Located under the chassis is the radio receiver that was used with the ECU-1 in the Electronic Set. The body utilized a heat-stamp for the "LIONEL LINES" lettering on the sides and was attached to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with staple-end trucks that has one electronic coil coupler. This tender has vertical hand rails at the four corners in addition to the deck rails. A feature that would not be seen on the Early Coal Tenders after 1950. | |
6001T | Early Coal | 1950 | 6110 | This early coal tender was exclusively used with the No. 6110 Scout Locomotive. The body was 7-3/8" long and utilized a heat-stamp for the bold serif "LIONEL LINES" lettering on the sides. The body was attached to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with late scout trucks that has one magnetic coupler. | |
6020W | Early Coal | 1948-49 | 2020 | This early coal tender was exclusively used with the No. 2020 Locomotive. The body utilized a heat-stamp for the "LIONEL LINES" lettering on the sides and was attached to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with staple-end trucks that has one electronic coil coupler. This tender has vertical hand rails at the four corners in addition to the deck rails. A feature that would not be seen on the Early Coal Tenders after 1950. | |
6026T | Square | 1954-55 1956 |
2037 2018 |
The 7-5/8 inch square tender was first shown in the catalogs one year after the whistle version No. 6026W in 1954. Designed as an all business working freight tender this BLACK plastic square tender was heat-stamped "LIONEL LINES" in WHITE on the sides. The body was mounted to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with bar-end trucks with a rear magnetic coupler. | |
6026W | Square | 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957-59 |
685, 2055 665, 2055, 2065 665, 2016, 2055, 2065 2016, 2018, 2065 2037 |
The 7-5/8 inch square tender was first shown in the catalogs in 1953. Designed as an all business working freight tender this BLACK plastic square tender was heat-stamped "LIONEL LINES" in WHITE on the sides. The body was mounted to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with bar-end trucks with a rear magnetic coupler. Later issues would have a tabbed magnetic coupler on the rear truck. | |
6066T | Early Coal | 1952 1953 |
2026, 2034, 2037 1130, 2026, 2037 |
This early coal tender was first produced in 1941 during the Pre-War Era and was based on a New York Central prototype. A smaller version of the No. 2426W, this tender was primarily used on the Scout Sets in the early 1950’s and was heat-stamped in bold serif lettering "LIONEL LINES" on the sides of the plastic body. The body was attached to a sheet-metal chassis that was equipped with late scout trucks that has one magnetic coupler. | |
6403B | Slope-Back | 1948-49 | 1656 | This slope-back tender has a die-cast body and was produced in 1948-49. It and was equipped with a bell, back-up light, and staple-end trucks with one electronic coil coupler. There are two electrical plugs coming from the tender that plug into the No. 1656 Locomotive. One plug is for the front electronic coupler and the other plug provided a secondary ground for the locomotive’s motor. The No. 6403B tender has the "LIONEL LINES" lettering spaced out across the sides. | |
6466W | Early Coal | 1950 1951 1952 |
2035, 2036, 2026, 2035 2025, 2035 |
This early coal tender was first produced in 1941 during the Pre-War Era and was based on a New York Central prototype. A smaller version of the No. 2426W. This whistle tender came with staple-end trucks with a magnetic coupler on the rear. A plastic body was heat-stamped "LIONEL LINES" on the sides and it was fastened to a sheet-metal chassis. | |
6466WX | Early Coal | 1948-49 | 675, 2025, 2026 |
This early coal tender was first produced in 1941 during the Pre-War Era and was based on a New York Central prototype. A smaller version of the No. 2426W. This whistle tender was equipped with deck rails and staple-end trucks with an electronic coil coupler on the rear. A plastic body was rubber-stamped "LIONEL LINES" on the sides and it was fastened to a sheet-metal chassis. | |
6654T | Sheet-Metal | 1948 | 1655 | This sheet metal tender was only produced in 1948 for the Canadian market. Canada had different electric requirements of the day and the traditional whistling tenders would not work outside of the U.S. This tender was solely used for the No. 1655 locomotive, and was equipped with staple-end trucks with an electronic coil coupler on the rear. A rubber-stamp was used for the "LIONEL LINES" lettering on the sides. |