Aids To Dating Lionel Trains:
 
Unlike certain other collectibles, the age of a postwar Lionel train is no inherently more valuable than a newer train.  It is rather the variations in construction throughout an item's production run that affect its scarcity, and thus its collector value.  Many Lionel trains are marked on the sides with "New" or "built" dates.  These dates are totally irrelevant to when a piece was actually produced, and are decorative only.
 
During the mid-1950s, Lionel added the year introduced as a prefix or suffix to the stock number of some cars, such as the 336155 markings on the log dump cars introduced in 1955, or the 546446 N & W hopper car from 1954, but this was not universally done.
 
Establishing the production dates of these trains is usually done more out of curiosity for most collectors, or when they are trying to properly and precisely recreate a given train set.
 
Among the key aids to dating trains are the construction techniques used in the manufacture of the trucks and couplers, and the type of original packaging used, if it's still present.
 
 
Lionel Brachs Candies billboard reefer O gauge C9
Lionel Brachs Candies billboard reefer O gauge C9
$15.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 20m
Vintage Lionel 3376 Bronx Zoo Car 1960-1966
Vintage Lionel 3376 Bronx Zoo Car 1960-1966
$9.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 20m
Lionel reading searchlight car O gauge C9
Lionel reading searchlight car O gauge C9
$20.49 (2 Bids)
Time Left: 23m
Lionel Great Railway Adventures Train Set w  Sound
Lionel Great Railway Adventures Train Set w Sound
$24.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 24m
Scout Lionel BLT 8-96 #6357 Red Caboose
Scout Lionel BLT 8-96 #6357 Red Caboose
$0.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 25m
Lionel NYC #6462 Flat Bed Trailer
Lionel NYC #6462 Flat Bed Trailer
$0.99 (1 Bids)
Time Left: 27m
Lionel Cola "For Pep" CLCC12940 Tractor Trailer
Lionel Cola "For Pep" CLCC12940 Tractor Trailer
$1.38 (2 Bids)
Time Left: 29m
LIONEL #35168 PENNSYLVANIA COACH  CAR
LIONEL #35168 PENNSYLVANIA COACH CAR
$48.95
Time Left: 32m
Lionel Speed Control
Lionel Speed Control
$0.99 (0 Bids)
Time Left: 33m