6418 Machinery Flatcar

Production: 1955 - 1957

History
In 1955, Lionel introduced its longest flatcar, the 6418 Machinery car. At 16.5", nothing was close to it's size in Lionel's freight car department! To compliment the flatcar's length, Lionel included two sections of a girder bridge as its load. The girder bridge load not only appeared scale-like, but was an accurate reproduction of a real railroad car commonly seen in America during the 1950's.

The 6418 Machinery car continues to be pursued by collectors and operators. Due to the girder bridge sections being removable from the flatcar, the flatcars are often missing their loads.

Features
The 6418 Machinery car has the following standard features: painted gray flatcar without lettering or numbering on the flatcar, four bar-end trucks, two magnetic couplers plus a brakewheel stand and brakewheel at each end.

The girder bridge sections included with the car were available in multiple color and lettering combinations. As originally produced by Lionel, the following was available on this flatcar:

• Orange girder sections, Lionel lettering not highlighted in any color, no number on girder bridge sections.
• Orange girder sections, Lionel lettering highlighted in black, no number on girder bridge section.
• Pinkish girder sections, U.S. Steel lettering highlighted in black, has 6418 number highlighted in black.
• Black girder sections, U.S. Steel lettering highlighted in white, has 6418 number highlighted in white.

Additional Detail, Photos & Box Information
Locating a complete and original box for this car is rare. Due to the length of the box, most were damaged, squashed or simply torn. A complete box will add a significant premium to the value of the item.

Lionel - Orange Bridge Sections - Shown in first photo above - All orange girder bridges are from 1955.
US Steel - Pinkish Bridge Sections (Second photo above) - All pinkish US Steel girder bridges are believed to have been produced in 1956.
US Steel - Black Bridge Sections (Third photo above) - All black girder bridges are believed to have been produced in 1957.

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