Lionel and Disney have had a relationship since 1934 with the introduction of the No. 1100 Mickey Mouse Handcar. It’s no surprise that former still offers a number of branded products from the latter today.
Lionel sent a sample of their Disney D23 Mickey Mouse boxcar (No. 2401561) for review. For anyone [like me] who hadn’t heard of D23 before, it’s the Official Disney Fan Club. D23 got the name because of their fan/exposition events, sort of like a Comic-Con International for Disney fans.
I consulted with Group Technical Editor Cody Grivno for assistance on the prototype the model was based on. He suggested that “the boxcar was [likely] inspired by the Pullman-Standard 40-foot PS-1 design. The roof is similar to a straight-panel design, and the ends have characteristics in line with those found on full-size PS-1 cars, most notably the 4/5 pattern (4 ribs above the rivet strip, 5 ribs below).”
As for the doors, Cody says, “I’m not aware of three-panel doors like those found on the Lionel model. I’d say the door was inspired by Superior five- and seven-panel doors. Based on the profile, the solid-bearing trucks were probably based on the American Steel Foundries A-3 Ride Control design.”
This boxcar measures 10½”, weighs 12.1 ounces, and features two operating couplers along with opening doors. An interesting note: for weight comparison, I weighed a 2018 custom-run Dots/Crows candy boxcar (made in Lionel’s U.S. factory) and that weighed 12.5 ounces.
When I took the car out of the plastic clamshell, I discovered that it’s part of a numbered series.
The paint and graphics are nicely done. The four different graphics are taken from the 1938 cartoon, Brave Little Tailor, which I remember watching as a kid. I could not find any flaws.
I put the car on the track and ran it through all of the turnouts on our CT&T house layout. I also coupled it to an Atlas tank car we had on hand. I had no issues. Lionel notes on their website that the car requires minimum O-27 curves for operation.
I realize that Disney items are not prototypical and aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, there is a large Disney fan base, and this could be a fun piece for club open houses, train shows, family events, or anywhere kids might be present. This is a nicely-executed car that fans of Disney, or anyone young at heart, will love.
Lionel Disney D23 Mickey Mouse boxcar (2401561)
Features: Four different Mickey Mouse graphics on two sides, opening doors, operating couplers, O-27 operation
MSRP: $100
Website: lionelstore.com
