2755 Sunoco

Product Description

Production: 1945

History
The 2755 Sunoco deluxe single-dome tank car was a premium tank car in the Lionel family. Even today's collectors and operators enjoy its realistic looks with the long body and all metal construction. As with many of the large single dome tank cars, the decals are prone to deterioration. Most decals are missing a portion of the original decal. Locating a large tank car with intact decals will be difficult and costly.

The 2755 has caused much confusion over the years. The 2755 is a prewar tank car that was manufactured in 1941 and 1942. When Lionel started train production in 1945 after World Was II, they used the body of a 2755, but updated the freight car with postwar knuckle couplers -- and numbered it 2555. However, there was a large surplus of 2755 bodies and / or decals, so early production of the postwar 2555 had 2755 decals. Lastly, all postwar tank cars wearing the 2755 number were always shipped in a box labelled 2555.

Features
Standard features of the 2755 include: painted silver tank, die-cast metal frame, metal handrails, two ladders, brakestand with brakewheel plus a simulated air tank under the frame and placard holder at one end. It usually has the Sunoco decal on the left with the 2755 decal on the right.

As for the trucks and couplers, the 2755 was always equipped with staple-end trucks and coil couplers and fragile flying shoe pick-ups contacts. Very early 1945 production also included the rare whirly wheels -- a design on the interior of each wheel.

Additional Detail, Photos & Box Information
The only variations to the tank car are the style of lettering on the Sunoco decal. Decals were available with the following combination of the words 'Sunoco', 'Gas' and 'Oil':

Decal with Sunoco lettering between 'Gas' & 'Oil' - Shown in the photo above - This appears to be the most common decal version.
Decal with 'Gas' & 'Oil' below Sunoco (Second photo above) - A hard version to locate.
Decal without 'Gas' & 'Oil' - A hard version to locate.

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