Consider how many things need to be moved on a railroad. Now think about how many of them are transported (or could be) on flatcars.
Lionel’s postwar No. 6424 is really a no-brainer for Fleet Filler status. It comes in a number of iterations, plain or with racks affixed for the lading of various items.
The 6424 comes in gray and red versions, with black being more common.
Over the car’s life, Lionel has loaded it with automobiles, logs, submarines, truck-trailers, construction equipment, military vehicles, boats, radars, and more.
In short, this flatcar might be the most versatile car Lionel has ever made, and that’s why you need one or 10 or 20 on your layout. You can move anything that will sit flat (or relatively so) on it.
Look for models with stamped trucks, die-cast couplers, and metal brake wheels in good condition. Depending on the wear, you’ll pay $5 to $18 for them. Sometimes you can even get a load for that price, too.
But even if you don’t, it’s easy enough to round up some boxes, trucks, or lumber to move over the line. With a group of these flatcars, you could form a unit train or at least a long string of military tanks or circus equipment.
The O gauge 6424 is limited only by your imagination. Maybe there’s a place for some on your layout.
