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Prewar #442 Diner Made from 1938 - 1942 until the war was declared and factories went into war mode.
It took Lionel until 1938 to introduce it's first version of that truly American landmark,The roadside diner.
Lionel's # 442 was an accurate representation of the old railroad cars that you saw along the highways. NJ had a whole bunch of them.
It measures 10,1/2 x 5,1/2 x 3 inches and uses the body from a Lionel # 610 Pullman.
Lionel painted, or repainted, these Pullmans- giving them bright red roofs,light red trim, and ivory bodies. Because Lionel had never produced the # 610 in "diner" colors. The plates of the 610 were also changed. The large center one now read "DINER" and the small plates to the left and right now read "EAT".
The body is mounted on a hard-board,free-form base, the bottom which is screen backed. (The board was most likely manufactured by Masonite Company.)
The little diner was landscaped (but only in the front) with two shrubs and a grassy, green sawdust lawn surrounded by hedges. The hedges ran from the left door to the right one.
The 442 was illuminated. (recommended to be run at 12 volts.)
Is it the only Prewar Diner they made? Well that's open to debate as a few have popped up through the years. (another story if you want to hear it?)
But none using the 610 bodies.
And the #442 is the only one that was cataloged.
I cleaned mine up a little. I just used a small amount of soapy water and dried it off. Now all I got to do is find a spot to put it on the layout.
Right now it's in the tank farm area that I am building.
![Motor vehicle Vehicle Scale model Model car Toy]()
I just threw in a little action, temporarily.
![Motor vehicle Vehicle Car Mode of transport Toy]()
The Lionel executives checking out the tank farm going up. Going to stop and have a greasy burger with fries when they are done touring. I got to get some 2lb fishing line as the 12lbs is to heavy for pictures. The location is also temporary.
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It took Lionel until 1938 to introduce it's first version of that truly American landmark,The roadside diner.
Lionel's # 442 was an accurate representation of the old railroad cars that you saw along the highways. NJ had a whole bunch of them.
It measures 10,1/2 x 5,1/2 x 3 inches and uses the body from a Lionel # 610 Pullman.
Lionel painted, or repainted, these Pullmans- giving them bright red roofs,light red trim, and ivory bodies. Because Lionel had never produced the # 610 in "diner" colors. The plates of the 610 were also changed. The large center one now read "DINER" and the small plates to the left and right now read "EAT".
The body is mounted on a hard-board,free-form base, the bottom which is screen backed. (The board was most likely manufactured by Masonite Company.)
The little diner was landscaped (but only in the front) with two shrubs and a grassy, green sawdust lawn surrounded by hedges. The hedges ran from the left door to the right one.
The 442 was illuminated. (recommended to be run at 12 volts.)
Is it the only Prewar Diner they made? Well that's open to debate as a few have popped up through the years. (another story if you want to hear it?)
But none using the 610 bodies.
And the #442 is the only one that was cataloged.
I cleaned mine up a little. I just used a small amount of soapy water and dried it off. Now all I got to do is find a spot to put it on the layout.
Right now it's in the tank farm area that I am building.
I just threw in a little action, temporarily.
The Lionel executives checking out the tank farm going up. Going to stop and have a greasy burger with fries when they are done touring. I got to get some 2lb fishing line as the 12lbs is to heavy for pictures. The location is also temporary.
