2758 Pennsylvania

Production: 1945 & 1946

History
The 2758 Automobile boxcar was a carry-over tin-plate freight car from Lionel's prewar era that Lionel used to help jump start their postwar production. Lionel simply used prewar 2758 bodies -- but updated with postwar trucks.  Once the prewar bodies were depleted, Lionel changed the number to 2458 and continued to manufacture this box car. In either case, the box car was advertised by Lionel as being 'designed from current automobile boxcar blueprints', with the unique change in style being the boxcar has two sliding doors on each side, which was realistic and a nicely detailed model of the real-life boxcars designed to carry automobiles from that era. 

Lastly, true postwar 2758 box cars are difficult to locate. Clean quality examples are difficult to find as they are easily dented, damaged or have paint nicks and chips on the exterior. Beware of prewar box cars being converted to postwar box cars -- simply by swapping the trucks and couplers.

Features
The 2758 Pennsylvania included the following standard features: brown painted shell with white lettering, dual sliding doors on each side, metal steps at each corner, staple-end trucks with two operating coil couplers -- plus a single brakewheel, separate metal side ladders and a simulated air reservoir attached to the frame. The initial 1945 production version always included the fragile flying shoe trucks. However, as Lionel converted all rolling stock in 1946 to use the more durable trucks having a base plate and sliding shoe, the 2758 followed suit with these trucks.

Additional Detail, Photos & Box Information

Only Known Variation - Shown in first photo above - All 2758's are painted brown with separately applied ladders and corner metal footsteps.

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