Product Title: Lionel 2344C Postwar New York Central NYC F3 B Unit O SCALE
Manufacturer: Lionel
Scale: O
Condition: Item Condition: C-8, Box Condition P-4
TCA Condition/Grading Standards: C-8: Like New—Complete All Original: no rust, no missing parts; may show effects of being on display and/or age; may have been run.
TCA Box Grading Standards: P-4: Fair: Heavy damage but generally legible. May or may not have been repaired. Paper may be brittle. Boxes may have inner flaps missing.
Listing Notes: Box has both end flaps missing (one is included but came off as it was very brittle, both pieces to it are there in the bag for repair). Train is in great shape. See photos.
Photos: See photos
Manufacturer Information:
The Lionel New York Central F-3 No. 2344C B Unit was released the same year as the No. 2344 double A Units that it was intended to accompany: 1950. It would be available until 1955 and the bodies would change to match the later issued No. 2354. Like the A Units, the body was painted DARK and LIGHT GRAY with WHITE heat-stamped lettering and lightning stripes that were rubber-stamped on the sides. The chassis and trucks are painted DARK GRAY. There are solid non-operating metal couplers at each end. These units are most often found with the number "2344C" rubber-stamped on the bottom.
There are three variations:
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Variation A: Has the screen vents on top with celluloid porthole covers that match the No. 2333 and early issues of the No. 2344. (1950-1951)
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Variation B: Has the screen vents on top with plug-in porthole covers that match the later issues of the No. 2344. (1952)
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Variation C: This version has the moulded in louver vents on top with plug-in porthole covers that match the No. 2354. (1953-1955)
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All of the Lionel F-3’s are designed to work on the larger radius of O Gauge track. When used with O27 Gauge track this diesel will scrape the switch machine housing on the early version of the No. 1122 O27 Switches when passing through the curved turnout. Evidence of scrapes on the fuel tank of these diesels is a sure indication of operation on O27 track.
https://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_2344c_diesel.htm