This Identification Guide for Lionel Electric Trains covers the "Post-war Era" only from 1945 until 1969. |
LIONEL TRAINS TRAILER VAN TYPES |
ionel produced eleven different types of trailers that were used on various flat cars that were issued during the Post War period. Because these trailer vans are easily substituted there have been many issues concerning which trailers are used with these cars. We’ve listed the predominant views of collectors as to what was the original load that was used and linked them back to the flat cars that carried these loads. |
All of these vans have a Lionel inscription molded into the plastic on the bottom in three lines "MADE IN THE U.S. OF AMERICA / THE LIONEL CORPORATION / NEW YORK N.Y." as is illustrated to the right. |
The smaller front pony wheels were latched in the down position by a blackened, or copper metal piece that allowed these wheels to be raised under the trailer when pulled by a tractor. Recent reissues of these trailers by MPC during the Modern Era use a plastic piece to hold these pony wheels in place. However, only the last issues of the original Post War vans had a modification to allow the attachment of a tractor. |
Variation 1: LIGHT COPPER arrow and circle on an ALUMINUM background with BLACK lettering. Note: These signs were always issued in pairs so that the arrows on both sides of these trailers always pointed in the same direction. If they do not point in the same direction it is a sure sign of alteration. |
All of these trailers have four 1/4" diameter holes arranged in a square formation on the bottom. These were developed for use with the No. 460 Piggy Back Transportation Set and remained consistent throughout the production period of these trailer vans. |
Readers who want more information are respectfully urged to seek outside sources. |
TYPE 1 DARK GREEN van that have removable roofs, dual rear wheels and slots for the signs. The side sans-serif "LIONEL LINES" signs were printed in BLACK ink on an ALUMINUM background. |
Two adhesive backed embossed foil signs came with this trailer. One was embossed "FRUEHAUF / Dura Van" and mounted top center on the front end, and the other smaller "FRUEHAUF" sign mounted at the bottom on the left curved front when looking at this trailer from the front end. These signs have raised BLACK letters on a SILVER background. We are looking for a visual record of these stickers. If you have one of these vans with this sticker please use the contact link at the bottom of this page to let us know. |
TYPE 2 DARK GREEN vans that have removable roofs, dual rear wheels and slots for the signs. The side sans-serif "LIONEL LINES" signs were printed in BLACK ink on an ALUMINUM background. |
|
TYPE 3 LIGHT GRAY vans that have removable roofs, dual rear wheels and slots for the signs. The side "COOPER-JARRETT" signs are Variation 1. |
TYPE 4 LIGHT GRAY vans that have removable roofs, dual rear wheels and slots for the signs. The side "COOPER-JARRETT" signs are Variation 1. |
TYPE 5 |
LIGHT GRAY vans that have removable roofs, dual rear wheels and slots for the signs. The side "COOPER-JARRETT" signs are Variation 2. |
TYPE 6 These LIGHT GRAY trailer vans that have removable roofs, dual rear wheels, and slots for the signs. The side "COOPER-JARRETT" signs are Variation 3 or Variation 4. |
TYPE 7 |
The trailer vans did not escape the cost cutting measures that were instituted at Lionel in 1961. This type is the result of this cost reduction regimen. |
TYPE 8 The trailer van color changes to WHITE. These trailer vans have removable roofs, dual rear wheels, and slots for the signs. The side "COOPER-JARRETT" signs are Variation 3 or Variation 4. |
TYPE 9 |
The trailer van color changes to YELLOW. These trailer vans have the roof glued to the body of the trailer, single rear wheels, and blackened pony wheel clip. Some of these trailers have been found with the "COOPER-JARRETT" signs, Variation 2. However, this is a rare exception, and this trailer van is usually found with slots for the signs, but no signs. |
TYPE 10 |
When Lionel issued the No. 6431 in 1966 they included a tractor that was manufactured by Midgetoy. The use of this tractor was problematical because there was no way to hook it up to these trailers that were still using the same mold for the Type 1 that was created in 1955. To solve this problem Lionel created a tool to align a 1/4" drill at the front of the excess stock that they had of the Type 9 trailer vans. A hole was drilled at this point to accept the Midgetoy trailer mounting pin as is illustrated above. |
This hole is slightly to the rear of the moulded hole that was used on the Type 11 trailer. None of these YELLOW trailer vans have a molded tractor mounting hole and all of them have side sign slots. Note: No premium should be attached to the value of these vans because the drilled hole modification of a Type 9 van is easily accomplished. |
TYPE 11 |
Lionel reworked the mold for these trailer vans with the issue of the No. 6431 in 1966. Gone were the slots for the side signs and a 1/4" hole was molded into the bottom at the front for the mounting of these trailers to the Midgetoy tractor. |