PREWAR “O” GAUGE TINPLATE, PASSENGER CARS, EARLY, No. 610, No. 612

Lionel Early Passenger Cars

All information and trains supplied by Russ MacNair unless otherwise noted

Lionel No. 600 Passenger Cars

Lionel No. 601, 602 Passenger Cars

Lionel No. 603, 604 Passenger Cars

Lionel No. 610, 612 Passenger Cars

Lionel No. 702 “Supply” Passenger Car

Lionel No. 610, 612 Passenger Cars

General Information

The Lionel No. 610 Pullman and No. 612 Observation Passenger Cars were introduced in 1915 and were issued through 1925. The Nos. 610 and 612 were the largest “O” Gauge passenger cars offered by Lionel until 1924 when the No. 710 and 712 Passenger Cars were introduced. These passenger cars were included as components of many early mid-level to larger passenger sets. The sets typically included two No. 610 Pullman cars and a No. 612 observation, but some sets only included one of each of the cars. Although Lionel produced a prototype baggage car to go with these cars, it was never put in production.

The Nos. 610 and 612 Passenger Cars measure 8 1/4-inches in length. The cars all have “New York Central Lines” rubber stamped above the windows. All of the cars have clear celluloid window inserts with colored celluloid strips in the upper portion of the windows. The earliest cars have red colored celluloid strips, but most have blue. The cars do not have journals. The observation platform of the No. 612 Observation was painted gold.

Variations of the Nos. 610, 612 Passenger Cars include differences in the color of the body, the color of the window frames and doors, and rubber-stamped data or lubrication stickers on the underside of the cars. Early versions of the cars had hook and slot couplers and later versions had combination latch or latch couplers. Early versions of the cars were not illuminated.

Lionel No. 610, 612 Passenger Cars

1. No. 610, 612 Passenger Cars in dark green (1915-1918). The cars have the number and “Lionel Lines / N.Y. / Made in U.S.A.” rubber stamped in gold on either side of the door on one end of the car. Some of the later cars also have “Made in U.S.A. / The Lionel Corporation / New York” rubber stamped on the underside. The cars have wood-grained window frames and doors. The cars are not illuminated and have hook and slot couplers.

2. No. 610, 612 Passenger Cars in dark green (1918-1922). The cars have the number rubber stamped in gold on one end of the car and “Made in U.S.A. / The Lionel Corporation / New York” rubber stamped on the underside. The cars have maroon painted window frames and doors. The cars are not illuminated and have hook and slot couplers.

PHOTOS NEEDED

3. No. 610, 612 Passenger Cars in maroon (wine) (1922-1924). The cars have the number and “Lionel Lines / N.Y. / Made in U.S.A.” rubber stamped in gold on either side of the door on one end of the car. The cars also have “Made in U.S.A. / The Lionel Corporation / New York” rubber stamped on the underside. The cars have dark green window frames and doors. The cars are not illuminated and have hook and slot couplers.

4. No. 610, 612 Passenger Cars in dark green (1924). The cars have the number rubber stamped on one end of the car and “Made in U.S.A. / The Lionel Corporation / New York” rubber stamped on the underside. The cars have maroon painted window frames and doors. The cars are illuminated and have hook and slot couplers.

PHOTOS NEEDED

5. No. 610, 612 Passenger Cars in dark green (1925). The cars have the number rubber stamped on one end of the car and a lubrication sticker on the underside. The cars have maroon painted window frames and doors. The cars are illuminated and have combination latch or latch couplers.

6. No. 610, 612 Passenger Cars in mojave (1925). The cars have the number rubber stamped on one end of the car and either “Made in U.S.A. / The Lionel Corporation / New York” rubber stamped or a lubrication sticker on the underside. The cars have wood grained window frames and doors. The cars are illuminated and have combination latch or latch couplers.