Postwar Lionel Trolley Car # 60

Postwar Lionel # 60 trolley

The Lionel Trolley Number  60, like the Number  50  Gang Car, the trolley reverses direction when it hits a bumper. The pole on top also reverses. Introduced in 1955, Lionel ended production about 1957. 

It was designed after a generic trolley found in many cities of the United States in the 1940s and 1950s.  Pictured below to the right



The Postwar Lionel Trolley had problems with overheating that was caused by the motor and the lamp in this unit. Early editions have a silver painted lamp for that reason.  Later models would have a reflective aluminum coating added to the underside of the roof and four vents would be added to the roof.

The trolley was produced in a few types. The more rare types has black lettering instead of blue.

• Type I: Black lettering, motorman silhouettes and two-piece spring bumpers. No vents. Earliest 1955 production. 
• Type II: Same as Type I except no motorman silhouettes. 
• Type III: Blue lettering, and two-piece spring bumpers. No roof vents. Most common Type.
• Type IV: Identical to Type III except with solid one-piece bumpers.
• Type V: Blue lettering, with one-piece solid bumpers, and roof vents. 1956 Production.
•  Type VI  - Red Lettering – A very rare item that was likely a pre-production limited run  prototype. Few are known to exist.

 Next Post we will review the postwar steam turbines

Lionel PostWar Number 50 Gang Car

Lionel first produced the Number 50 Gang Car in 1954 and it still remains a big hit with Lionel’s fans.  

1954 Type I number 50 Gang Car

The number 50 was Modeled after railway M.O.W. cars ( Maintenance Of Way ). The 50 Gang Car was made to run on both "O" and "O27" gauge layouts.    

Lionel more recently reproduced a modern version of the gang car which appeared in the Lionel catalogues in 2008 and again in 2012. The production run was part of their train "Postwar Celebration" series.   Shown in photo above is a 1954 Postwar Gang Car.

The Number 50 is not always printed on the side of the gang cars.  Like Lionel's Trolley cars, the car runs in one direction depending on where the sliding directional plate on the unit is located. When it strikes a bumper, the plate shifts, and the unit reverses direction until it hits another bumper. A crew member at the rear of the unit moves when direction changes. 

Number 50 Gang Cars with orange colored bodies and dark blue heat stamped lettering, ornamental horn with three rubber  crew members seated on the unit is the most commonly found type. 

The original postwar Gang Cars comes in a few types / Versions:

1954 Type I Number 50 Gang Car top view

• Type I: ( shown above and left )The earliest production in 1954 has bumpers that are grey in color. Has a two-piece horn that is centered, fixed position crew men that are olive and the rotating crew man is dark blue in color.     

• Type II: Same as variation I but has bumpers that are blue in color. 
• Type III: Also has the 2-piece horn, however the stationary crew men are dark blue in color DARK while the rotating crew man is olive in color.   
• Type IV Has a one-piece horn that is positioned to the right side of the brush plate, BLUE bumpers, and fixed crew men that are DARK BLUE and the rotating crew man is OLIVE. This is the most common variation. 
• Type V: has an inverted "L" shaped bumper plate.

There were differing instruction sheets issued during the span of production. There was only one electrical center rail pick-up on this motorized unit so this unit (  like many Postwar trains ) do not negotiate switches or crossovers at a slow speed.

1954 Type I Number 50 Gang Car with Original Box

  A 2008 / 2012 Lionel "Postwar Celebration Series"  Made to reproduce the type II Gang Car is shown below:

Next post, we will review some of the postwar trolley cars

MLNtrains Classic and Modern O gauge train blog - MidLantic North Railway

Post War Lionel Trains

 ( Updated - 9/2024 ) Welcome to MLN Trains!  Note: WE NO LONGER BUY old train  collections.   We still collect and on occasion we still restore, repair and sell old Trains. This blog is largely now informational for collectors and hobbyists of Lionel O gauge trains as the sources of information for these old toys is growing more limited each year.  As a lifelong collector, We are most interested in POST WAR Lionel trains and accessories made between the years of 1946 to 1969.   

The MidLantic North Railway is a fictional railway we have names for the numerous iterations and evolutions Model Railway setups both Permanent and temporary that being created or revamped at some point every year.

We have decades of experience in appraising the value and condition of older Lionel items. PostWar Era Lionel trains were made in America during the postwar years from 1946-1969.  

Here at MLN Trains Blog We offer advise and insights on running and reviving old trains as well as some of the newer offerings.

Shortly after Christmas in the 1940s and 1950s people packed up and put away their toy trains. By now many of those remaining Post War gems, never emerged from their storage ever again and are all but forgotten. Here in our blog postings you will find tips and other diagrams on how to awaken the long slumbering trains you may have found.

Original Lionel Postwar Ad

We are occasional sellers of toy trains and if you are looking to find particular prewar or postwar items, use the contact box to the right and we will put you on our mail list. We will keep an eye out for the items you are seeking and if we find them we will alert you. Any Prewar or Postwar item from MLNtrains will be from the actual Era. We will accurately describe and grade these items to best of ability. There are specific and clear ways to tell the actual vintage, variation and "Era" of a Lionel Train.   

Lionel trains of the PostWar era were truly made to be, "An Investment in a lifetime of Happiness..."

ALL GRADING Standards for Toy Train and related accessory items apply to the VISUAL appearance of the item and the grading does not consider the operational functionality of the equipment. Condition and grading standards are subjective, at best, and are intended as a guide.

We add posts and update information on old posts from time to time so be sure to check them all out. 

Happy Railroading!