6047 Lionel Lines

Production:  1959 - 1962

History
The 6047 Lionel Lines caboose is an entry level item lacking any features. The oddity of this caboose are its trucks. Practically every Lionel caboose produced in the 1960's had AAR trucks as the standard truck. In the case of the 6047, the correct truck is the arch-bar truck. A very unusual scenario which Lionel used for the entire production run of the 6047.

Another interesting fact of the 6047 is its years of production. The caboose was only shown in one consumer catalogue -- 1962. However, the caboose was included in several uncatalogued and advanced catalogued sets from as early as 1959. Experienced collectors believe Lionel produced the caboose for two years (1959 & 1960 as an uncatalogued caboose) and simply sold excess inventory through the catalogue in 1961. As a matter of fact, Lionel had so much excess inventory to sell they included it in the 1962 consumer catalogue!

An interest piece of history for this caboose are the numerous documented variations. Even though it was only catalogued for one year, the three documented variations support the fact it was produced over the course of several years.

Features
The 6047 is an entry level caboose with minimal features. It's an unpainted caboose with white lettering, arch-bar trucks, black frame and end railings and a single fixed coupler.

Additional Detail, Photos & Box Information
The length of this caboose is approximately 7" long (coupler to end).

Unpainted Red body - Shown in the photo above - The common version of the 6047 caboose.

Coral-pink body - This is a difficult color variation to locate.

Cherry-red body (Second photo above) - A scarce variation.

Brown (Third photo above) - A rare variation, probably a factory error as opposed to an actual production run. Experienced collectors believe the brown version is a 6017 shell incorrectly stamped with 6047 markings. 

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