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In 1946, Lionel produced a series of outfits similar to those in his prewar catalogs. Among these offers were 23 games. This wide spectrum of outfits allowed Lionel to offer suits at various prices, with the cheapest suit retailing for just $ 24.95, while the deluxe suit was $ 85.00.
1946 was the debut year for many new designs, as opposed to the previous year, which only renewed previously produced products. The new powertrain included the O-Gauge 726 Berkshire, produced by installing a 2-8-4 mechanism in a boiler based on the prewar 226E, and the new 6-8-6 Pennsylvania turbine. The latter was offered in O-Gauge sets under catalog number 671, while those included in O27 sets were numbered 2020. At the lower end of the line was a aerodynamic 2-6-4 under catalog number 221.
New freight cars were also introduced. The 2411 “big inch” flat car shared its cast iron frame with the 2419 and 2420 work trucks. Die cast frames were also used in the new dump trucks: 3451 for logs and 3459 for coal. The new 2460 crane also had a die-cast frame and was mounted on a pair of six-wheelers. These trucks shared many components with similar six-wheelers used in the Bakelite-bodied 2625 passenger cars and the die-cast body 2426W tender used by the 726.
The engineering used to produce the 1945 gondola was expanded, 2452. The 2454 car, the 2465 Sunoco tank car, and the 3454 working freight cars included plastic bodies mounted on steel frames. The 2452 continued, and was joined by a second nacelle, the 2452X, which lacked the brake wheels and barrels that adorned the 2452.
The lower-end O27 sets contained many cars that were reworked from pre-war designs, but as most of the year passed, more and more new products were produced, which were included in more expensive sets. Following the success of the 1945 knuckle couplers, a spectacular new feature was included in the best sets, the smoke. Even more spectacular, but much less widespread, was the electronic control, the latter available only on the 4109WS set. As was the case in 1945, the 1946 outfit boxes were plain corrugated cardboard with labels attached to identify the set they contained.
The following are some of the most sought after Lionel O27-Gauge suits from 1946:
1400W – Lionel O27 Passenger Set – Retail for $ 35.95
Included: 221 2-6-4 steam locomotive with working headlight; 221W sheet metal tender; two blue 2430 Pullman cars; 2431 blue observation; eight 1013 curves and three 1018 straight lines; 1019 O27 remote control track section; UTC Lockon, Instruction Booklet 926-5; 1041 60 watt transformer.
This set was a slightly more expensive version of the 1400 set. For an additional $ 5.95 over the 1400, a tender 221W hiss replaced the 221T, and the transformer was upgraded to a 60-watt 1401 unit. In excellent condition, this set is worth approx. $ 650. As new, this game is worth approx. $ 1400.
1407B – Lionel O27 Switcher Bell Outfit – Retails for $ 37.50
Included: 1665 0-4-0 steam switch with operating light; 2403B backward sloping tender with buzzer; Crane 2560; Gondola 2452X; 2419 working caboose; eight tracks 1013 curved and five 1018 straight; 1019 O27 remote control track section; UTC Lockon; Instruction Booklet 926-5; 1037 40 watt transformer.
This train was powered by a 1665 0-4-0 switch, which was a refurbished 1662 switch before the war. Among the changes made to the locomotive are the installation of the new post-war trucks in the tender and the fitting of the new Lionel articulation couplers to the rear of the tender and the locomotive pilot. Mounting an injection molded plastic cab and two injection molded plastic toolboxes in the die-cast body created for the 2411 flat car packed the 2419 work caboose. A die-cast smoke jack was installed in the cab of the caboose. The 2560 sheet metal crane car was carried over from the pre-war line in its original yellow cab with red roof colors. The 1946 production of these cranes included two-piece jibs that were riveted together and had the Lionel name molded into it. In excellent condition, this outfit is worth approx. $ 900. Like new, this outfit is worth approx. $ 1500.
1421WS – Lionel O27 Freight Train – $ 85.00 Retail
Included: 2020 6-8-6 Steam Turbine Locomotive with Running Headlight and Smoke; 2020W Early Coal Whistle Tender; 3451 log cart in operation; 2465 Sunoco Double Dome Tank Car; 3454 freight wagon; 2472 Pennsylvania N5 caboose not illuminated; 164 log loader in operation; ten 1013 curves and five 1018 straight lines; 1019 O27 remote control track section; pair of 1121 remote controlled turnouts; UTC Lockon; Instruction Booklet 926-5; 1041 60 watt transformer.
While the 1419W provided the owner with a coal empire, the 1421W, also priced at $ 85, created a lumber empire. Behind the 2020 steam turbine on set was a die cast 3451 log dump car to be used in conjunction with the 164 log loader. The 1964 log car carried five undyed logs and had a silver rubber seal. The shoes were connected with blue wire, and a pair of 1121 remote control turnouts were included to incorporate the 164 into the track design. A silver 3454 running freight car added even more action to the train, which was strikingly finished with a plain, unlit red 2472 caboose. Like the 1419WS, many examples of this set have been found with a 75-watt 1042 transformer instead of the listed 60-watt 1041. This train in excellent condition is worth approx. $ 1500 and in like new condition is worth approx. $ 1500.
The following are some of the most sought after Lionel O-Gauge sets from 1946:
2110WS – Lionel Three-Car Passenger – Retail for $ 75.00
Included: 671 6-8-6 steam turbine locomotive with working headlight and smoke; 2466W early coal whistle tender; three Pullmans of 2,625 heavyweights; eight OC curves and five OS straight; RCS decoupling / operation section; 167 whistle controller; UTC Lockon; 926-5 instruction booklet.
To create a premium O-gauge passenger set, Lionel revived it as a pre-war “Irvington” Bakelite passenger car. The post-war incarnation of this car included newly designed six-wheelers with articulated couplers; derivatives from these trucks were used on crane 2460 and also tender 2426W. The bodies were painted brown or reddish brown in contrast to the prewar medium brown color. To tow this passenger train, Lionel used his replica of Pennsylvania’s 20-wheel steam turbine, the 671. This set in excellent condition is worth approx. $ 1750 and this set as new is worth approx. $ 2975.
2113WS – Lionel O-Gauge Three Car Cargo Suit – Retails for $ 67.50
Included: 726 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Locomotive with working headlight and smoke; 2426W cute die-cast whistle; 2855 Sunoco Black Single Dome Tank Car; 3854 freight wagon in operation; 2457 lighted caboose; eight operational OC freight cars; 2457 lighted caboose; eight curved OC and straight cutting OS rails; RCS decoupling / operation section; 167 whistle controller; UTC Lockon; 926-5 instruction booklet.
The new 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive debuted with the 2113WS team. Although a 2-8-4 would be a staple of Lionel’s O-caliber sets of the 1960s, the 1946 model was unique. The smoke unit was based on a light bulb, the motor and reversing E unit were mounted horizontally, and the handrails were mounted with turned studs. Early versions of the 726 were equipped with what collectors refer to as a “big pile” engine. Subsequently, the number of field laminations was reduced, resulting in what is known as a “short stack” motor.
The corrugated component box was exclusive to the 1946 locomotive. Sealed with pre-war style orange and blue sealing tape, the box was marked with a manufacturer’s stamp that read: “GAIR BOGOTA CORR. & FIBER BOX CORP. ” The ends of the box were stamped with “No. 726” in small letters. The towed cars were equally unique. Although listed as the common silver 2755, the included tank car was actually the rare black 1855. The pre-war semi-scale wagon tools were revived and modified with the addition of a roof hatch and internal mechanism to create a working freight wagon, the 3854. This car is one of the hardest-to-find items in the world. postwar. In excellent condition, this outfit is worth approx. $ 2000. As new, this game is worth approx. $ 3200.
2114WS – Three-Car Lionel O-Gauge Passenger Suit – Retail for $ 77.50
Included: 726 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Locomotive with working headlight and smoke; 2426W cute whistle; three Pullmans of 2,625 heavyweights; eight OC curves and five OS straight; RCS decoupling / operation section; 167 controller; UTC Lockon; 926-5 instruction booklet.
This was the most expensive passenger equipment offered in 1946. The three Bakelite 2625 Irvington passenger cars presented the 726 with formidable payload, especially those locomotives equipped with the “short-stack” rear engine. The die-cast tenders were equipped with die-cast whistle housings and while initially stamped in white, they eventually had silver lettering. In excellent condition, the outfit is worth approx. $ 2500 and in like new condition it is worth $ 4000.
