3464 Santa Fe or New York Central

Production:  1949 - 1952

History
The 3464 operating box car was introduced in 1949 and came in two different roadnames: New York Central (NYC) or Santa Fe (AT & SF). Although each car shares the same stock number (X3464), the external graphics, color and lettering are different.

These two box cars are among the first freight cars manufactured by Lionel which included a simulated figure. The miniature man was another connection to the real world and the production of realistic-looking trains. The 3464 NYC and AT & SF are common cars and both box cars were regularly included in sets produced by Lionel. Additionally, it was available as a separate sale freight car.

Features
These cars were introduced in 1949 with several nice features. Although the actual catalogue number (X3464) appears on the sides, the AT & SF car also carried the number '63132' while the NYC box car has the number '159000' on the sides. Although incorrect, these cars are sometimes referred to as the '63132 AT & SF box car' or the '159000 NYC box car.'

Standard features of 1949 include: painted car, operating plunger mechanism which operated one door, simulated man inside of the car, metal corner steps on the frame, metal doors, staple-end trucks plus a brakewheel. The AT & SF car was painted orange with black lettering while the NYC car was painted tan with white lettering.

Starting in 1950, several changes were made to the car. The following are changes to each car and the year those modifications were believed to be made:

• Corner Metal Footsteps - Available only on 1949 models. Beginning in 1950, the corner steps were eliminated.
• Sliding Doors:
  • Introduced with metal doors in 1949. The AT & SF boxcar had brown painted metal doors while the NYC had unpainted black metal doors.
  • Beginning in 1950 -- and continuing into 1951 -- each car was equipped with unpainted black metal doors.
  • For its final production year of 1952, black plastic doors replaced the metal ones.
• Trucks - Staple-end trucks were the norm from 1949 to 1951. Beginning in 1952, bar-end trucks became the standard truck.

Additional Detail, Photos & Box Information

A.T. & S. F. (Santa Fe) - Shown in first photo above

New York Central - Second photo above

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