Product Title: Lionel Postwar 3469 Automatic Coal Dump Car O SCALE
Manufacturer: Lionel
Scale: O
Condition: Item Condition: C-7, Box Condition P-6
Operational Status: This item is sold AS IS, meaning that the sale is final and no returns will be accepted for cosmetic or other reasons. Some exceptions may apply, such as product damage in shipment.
TCA Condition/Grading Standards: C-7: Excellent—All Original: minute scratches and paint nicks; no rust and no missing parts; no distortion of component parts.
TCA Box Grading Standards: P-6: Very Good: Complete and all original. Minor abrasions, creases and/or folds. Small tears, slight color changes, minor soiling. Box may have inner liner/s missing.
Listing Notes: Car has a lot of extra original pieces including instructions, inspection tag, and original coal bag. Box insert there. Box has wear and rips missing one end flap as is
Photos: See photos
Manufacturer Information:
Production: 1949 - 1955
History
The 3469 Coal Dump Car (also known as the automatic ore dump car) is a continuation of it predecessor -- the 3459 operating coal dump car. The major difference is the coupler type -- now updated to reflect Lionel's new magnetic couplers. The 3459 and 3469 are based on a prototype dump car of an eastern United States railroad.
The 3469 is a versatile freight car. It can operate with any of Lionel's coal-related accessories such as: 97 Coal Elevator, 397 Coal Loader or the 497 Coaling Station. The 3469 is known for its sturdiness and reliability.
Features
Standard features of the 3469 include: two operating couplers, operating tray plus a brakewheel, brakestand and platform at each end. The car had staple-end trucks up to 1951 and bar-end trucks from 1952 on.
Although production of the 3469 lasted for 7 years, the only modification made was to the trucks. Otherwise there are no reported variations to the 3469.
Additional Detail, Photos & Box Information
There is a fairly difficult 3469 box variation to locate that is not well known -- an Early Classic box style. It is believed the Early Classic box was produced for a very short period of time in late 1948 or early 1949 just prior to the common Middle Classic production run for this box. Any Early Classic box will command a premium.
Staple-end Trucks - The production run from 1949 - 1951.
Bar-end Trucks - The remainder of the run from 1952 - 1955.