Many of the differences that indicate the year(s) of production have to do with the trucks and couplers. Below is a guide to understanding these differences. Please be aware that not everything is created and usage begins on January first. Below is a guide, usage could begin earlier or go longer than the dates shown.
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1945 – 1951 STAPLE END TRUCKS
1952 – 1969 BAR END TRUCKS
1948 – 1951 SCOUT TRUCKS
1952 – 1955 SEMI SCOUT TRUCKS
1958 -1969 PLASTIC AAR TRUCKS
1959 – 1969 ARCH BAR TRUCKS
1948 – 1964 “027” PASSENGER TRUCKS
1952 – 1966 “O” GAUGE PASSENGER CARS
1946 – 1950 THREE AXLE SIX WHEEL TRUCKS
TERMS
1945 – 1951
STAPLE END TRUCKS
1945
Die cast Staple end trucks with Flying shoe, with black fiber board, coupler head attached with one rivet, plain web on knuckle, black pin
1946
Die cast Staple end trucks with Flying shoe with brown fiber board, coupler head attached with one rivet, plain web on knuckle, black pin
1946
Die cast Staple end trucks with coil couplers, the coupler head is attached with one rivet and swedged (pinched) to the support, plain web on knuckle, black pin
1947 – 1948
Die cast Staple end trucks with coil couplers, the coupler head is attached with one rivet and staked (crosswise) to the support, plain web on knuckle, black pin
1948 – 1950
Die cast Staple end trucks with magnetic couplers, the rivet in the center of the actuating plate is flared facing down, plain web on knuckle, black pin
1950 – 1951
Die cast Staple end trucks with magnetic couplers, the rivet in the center of the actuating plate is flared facing up, plain web on knuckle, black pin
1952 – 1969
BAR END TRUCKS
1952 – 1953
Die cast Bar end trucks with magnetic couplers, the rivet in the center of the actuating plate is flared facing up, plain web on knuckle, black pin
1954
Die cast Bar end trucks with magnetic couplers, the rivet in the center of the actuating plate is flared facing up, engraved web on knuckle, black pin
1955
Die cast Bar end trucks with magnetic couplers, the rivet in the center of the actuating plate is flared facing up, engraved web on knuckle, shinny pin
1955 – 1956
Die cast Bar end trucks with magnetic couplers, the rivet in the center of the actuating plate is flared facing up, engraved web on knuckle, shinny pin, with uncoupling tab
1957 – 1958 & 1969
Die cast Bar end trucks with magnetic couplers, the rivet in the center of the actuating plate is flared facing up, engraved web on knuckle, shinny pin, with uncoupling tab, with hole in drawbar
1969
Die cast Bar end trucks with magnetic couplers, the rivet in the center of the actuating plate is flared facing up, engraved web on knuckle, shinny pin, with uncoupling tab, with hole in drawbar, with copper tone parts
1948 – 1951
SCOUT TRUCKS
1948
NON OPERATING
The metal support that holds the side frames is smooth on the bottom.
1948
DUMMY
The metal support that holds the side frames is smooth on the bottom.
1949 – 1951
NON OPERATING
The metal support that holds the side frames has a rib on the bottom.
1949 – 1951
DUMMY
The metal support that holds the side frames has a rib on the bottom.
1952 – 1955
SEMI SCOUT TRUCKS
OPERATING
The metal support that holds the side frames has a rib on the bottom.
DUMMY
The metal support that holds the side frames has a rib on the bottom.
1958 -1969
PLASTIC AAR TRUCKS
1958 – 1962
PLASTIC AAR TRUCKS WITH CLOSED JOURNALS
In 1958 there is a nub on the axle behind the wheels
In 1959 – 1969 the axle is pinched behind the wheels
From 1958 – 1959 & 1959 – 1969 the top of the side frame above the axle is smooth and complete
In 1960 there is a notch on the top of the side frame above the axle
OPERATING
NON – OPERATING
DUMMY
1963 – 1969
PLASTIC AAR TRUCKS WITH OPEN JOURNALS
OPERATING
NON – OPERATING
1959 – 1969
ARCH BAR TRUCKS
1959 – 1962
OPERATING
1959 – 1969
NON – OPERATING
1959 – 1969
DUMMY
1948 – 1964
“027” PASSENGER TRUCKS
1948
taped coil couplers
black coupler drawbar pivot rivet
OPERATING
DUMMY
1949 – 1953
taped coil couplers
shinny coupler drawbar pivot rivet
OPERATING
DUMMY
1954 – 1955
magnetic couplers
black pin
OPERATING
with black pin
DUMMY
1956 – 1964
magnetic couplers
silver pin
OPERATING
with silver pin
DUMMY
1952 – 1966
“O” GAUGE PASSENGER CARS
OPERATING
DUMMY
1946 – 1950
THREE AXLE SIX WHEEL TRUCKS
1946 – 1948
OPERATING WITH PICK UP ROLLER
plastic side frames
untapped coil couplers
longer drawbar arrangement
center wheelset has no flanges
found on Madison cars
1948 – 1950
OPERATING WITH PICK UP ROLLER
plastic side frames
tapped coil couplers
longer drawbar arrangement
center wheelset has no flanges
found on Madison cars
1946 – 1950
OPERATING WITH PICK UP ROLLER
plastic side frames
tapped coil couplers
shorter drawbar arrangement
center wheelset has no flanges
found on tenders
1946 – 1950
DUMMY WITH PICK UP ROLLER
plastic side frames
center wheelset has no flanges
found on tenders
1946 – 1950
OPERATING WITHOUT PICK UP ROLLER
plastic side frames
untapped coil couplers
center wheelset has no flanges
found on 2460 cranes
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