Lionel 53 Rio Grande Powered Snowplow Switcher

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Click Double your traffic. Get Vendio Gallery - Now FREE! O Postwar Motorized UnitsLionel Motorized Units O Postwar Trainz Store Home | About Trainz | Scott's Story | Contact Us | Shipping | Payment | Returns | Feedback | Checkout Other O Postwar auctions from Trainz : Artwork/Prints Accessories Books & Media Buildings - Assembled Buildings - Kits Catalogs Diesel Locos Electric Locos Figures Freight Cars Miscellaneous Motorized Units Operating Cars Passenger Cars Pre-Order Specials Scenery Sets Steam Locos Track/Switches/Etc. Transformers Vehicles Add the Trainz eBay Gadget to your Google Homepage Lionel 53 Rio Grande Powered Snowplow Switcher Because this is a no reserve auction, the high bidder at the end of the auction will own this item. The 53 Rio Grande Snowplow Switcher was produced for four years in the late 1950s. These small locomotives -- generally referred to as Motorized Units -- are loosely design after a real-life gas Vulcan switcher of the 1950s. Lionels model, similar to the real-life version, was small and had limited pulling power. On average, it could only pull two or three freight cars. Lionel only offered the 53 as a separate sale item and never in a set. The 53 is unique in that its front coupler was replaced by an all-new snowplow. This concept -- of slightly modifying an existing product to create a newer product -- was frequently done by Lionel during the postwar era to keep their product line looking new or enhanced from year to year.The 53 Rio Grande snowplow has the following standard features: 2-4-2 wheel arrangement, unpainted black body with yellow painted sections and black lettering, three-position E-unit, yellow side railings, low rear railings, operating rear coupler, metal side rode connecting the drive wheels plus an ornamental bell and yellow snowplow on the front. The unit was never illuminated. T is a interesting note regarding the spelling of Rio Grande on the side of the cab. The common variation has the letter 'a' backwards. However, t is a variation w the letter 'a' is printed correctly. This is the common variation with the backwards printed "a". This switcher has a cracked window strut (see first photo), and a few nicks and scratches along the edges of the shell and frame. The lettering looks good and the stuck motor has been lubed. This item has been inspected and serviced by our authorized Lionel service station, and is in great operating condition. Please see picture for service details. Overall condition is Very Good+. The Trainz SKU for this item is 3192642. Condition: Very Good+ TCA Grade: C-6 TCA Grading Original Box: No Manufacturer: Lionel Model Number: 53 Scale/Era: O Postwar Model Type: Motorized Units Road Name: Rio GrandePlease see my other auctions for more O Postwar Motorized Units.We also have thousands of other great deals on model train and related items for sale in our eBay Store that are available to purchase immediately without waiting for an auction to end. You can also easily sort our listings by auctions only, by scale, by brand, or by era by using the "Shop By" navigation menu in the store header. Trainz Policies & Terms Trainz Shipping Rates Click an Image to Enlarge Location Shipping Cost Additional Items United States (48 States), APO* $9.99 $3.49 Alaska & Hawaii $12.49 $3.99 Canada** $24.49 $6.49 International*** Get Quote Please include the auction number Get Quote Please include the auction number Our shipping prices include insurance. We use new cardboard shipping boxes, bubble-wrap, plastic air cushion bags, and foam peanuts to protect the items that we ship to you. We also primarily use FedEx Ground to get your packages to you the fastest. We also use USPS and UPS when that is better choice for your items or location. *APO & P.O. Box Addresses: Due to USPS postage rates, shipping costs to APO and P.O. Box addresses will be higher for larger items weighing 5 pounds or more. Pl... read more

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