6442, 6442, 6443 Tinplate

Production: 1948 & 1949

History
The 6442 Pullman and 6443 Observatoin passenger cars are a continuation of the 2442 series passenger car produced from 1946 to 1948. The only difference being the 6442 now included the updated magnetic couplers in place of the earlier coil couplers.

These later series brown tinplate passenger cars appear to be the hardest of all postwar tinplate passenger car to obtain. These passenger cars only appeared in one Lionel set, # 2136WS from 1949. It was sold as an O gauge set and included the very attractive 675 steamer and 6466WX tender as the lead locomotive.

These early postwar all-metal style passenger cars carried over much of the charm and toy-like characteristics of their prewar cousins. Although they were soon replaced in the postwar ear with more realistic and detailed looking plastic passenger cars, there is still a large audience preferring these classic, all-metal Lionel passenger cars.

Lionel sold the 2442 in a three-car passenger car set consisting of a single 2443 observation car and two 2442 pullman cars. All 1946 sets were pulled by a middle-of-the-line 224 Lionel steam locomotive while the 1947 and 1948 sets were pulled by the classic -- and more desireable -- 674 K-4 steamer.

These early postwar all-metal style passenger cars carried over much of the charm and toy-like characteristics of their prewar cousins. Although they were soon replaced in the postwar ear with more realistic and detailed looking plastic passenger cars, there is still a large audience preferring these classic, all-metal Lionel passenger cars.

Features
Standard features on the 6442 Pullman include: tuscan painted bodies with matching painted roofs, light-gray painted doors and windows, non-silhouetted plastic window inserts, interior illuminated plus staple-end trucks with magnetic couplers.

Additional Detail, Photos & Box Information

Only Known Variation - Shown in the photo above - All 6442's are painted tuscan with light-gray windows and doors.