Lionel Classic Period Operating Gondola Cars
All information and trains supplied by Russ MacNair unless otherwise noted
Lionel No. 3652 Operating Cars
General Information
The Lionel No. 3652 operating Gondola Cars were introduced in 1939 and were issued through 1942. The cars had a solenoid mounted on the underside which caused one side of the car to lift when activated. The floor of the car was shaped to allow the specially designed wood barrels to dump under the lifted side. The car came with 12 of the rounded wood barrels and a No. 160 Bakelite unloading bin, as pictured below. The No. 3652 Operating Gondola Cars always had operating couplers. The No. 3652 Gondola Cars measure 6 1/2-inches in length. The operating gondola car bodies were always painted yellow and had a black frame. All of the gondolas have nickel trim.
Variations of the No. 3652 Operating Gondola Cars include nickel or black journals and metal identification plates in aluminum or rubber stamping. The rubber stamped lettering was either in red or black. Early operating gondola cars have early style operating box couplers. Later operating gondola cars have late style operating box couplers.
Lionel No. 3652 Operating Gondola Cars
1. No. 3652 Operating Gondola Car in yellow (1939). The cars have aluminum plates, nickel trim and nickel journals. The cars have early style operating box couplers.
2. No. 3652 Operating Gondola Car in yellow (1939). The cars have aluminum plates, nickel trim and black journals. The cars have early style operating box couplers.
3. No. 3652 Operating Gondola Car in yellow (1940). The cars have red, rubber stamped number and data, nickel trim and black journals. The cars have late style operating box couplers.
4. No. 3652 Operating Gondola Car in yellow (1941-1942). The cars have black, rubber stamped number and data, nickel trim and black journals. The cars have late style operating box couplers.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NOW ?