Don't Overlooked These Classic Lionel Cabooses

Lionel's post-war SP style cabooses are all common and cheap. Or are they? The 10 most valuable Lionel post-war SP type cabooses on this episode of Toy Train Tips and Tricks. Comedian Rodney Dangerfield was known for his catchphrase, I don't get no respect. Perhaps no piece of Lionel post-war rolling stock sums up that catchphrase better than the ubiquitous Southern Pacific style After all, no train set from the 19-teens to the 2020s seemed complete without a caboose on the rear. And while Lionel did offer other caboose designs in the post-war era, like the scale-sized Pennsylvania N5C porthole caboose, the equally impressive Erie style bay window caboose, and of course the work caboose, it was the Southern Pacific prototype offset cupola caboose that provided the rear end protection on the vast majority of Lionel's post-war sets and into the MPC and modern eras as well. And while finding a Lionel SP caboose is a rather simple task, the large number of road names and variations the caboose was produced in during the post-war era alone is such a complicated story that most collectors don't even try to look for or acquire the seemingly endless variations. The journey of the SP caboose leads from the original 1947 No. 2357, a highly detailed version with lights, a smokestack, battery boxes, window glazing, twin operating couplers, and a full complement of ladders and handrails, handling duties on top-of-the-line O-gauge sets, to the 6167 series, a group of humble, unmarked models with no detailing at all, filling space in cheap, uncataloged offerings. Out of this maze of various features, body styles, lettering styles, and coupler types, come 10 SP caboose models that deserve our respect and that are highly prized by Lionel collectors today. To determine this top 10 list, I will be using the values listed in the 2025 edition of the Greenberg's Pocket Guide to Lionel Trains 1901-2025. I know already that there will be numerous comments about the listed prices being too high, but even if that is the case, the Greenberg Guide provides an objective standard by which we can judge the various items. So, check your collections and see if you have any of these models lurking around. First, a pair of honorable mentions that might help illustrate the perils of train collecting. The first honorable mention is the number 6007 caboose from 1950. This caboose is one of the least common regular production varieties, as it was only included in a single set, the number 1461S set of 1950. This caboose is the first example of what I like to call the semi-scout series, which features scout-type trucks to reduce costs, but includes a standard knuckle coupler to make it compatible with the rest of Lionel's rolling stock. While this model is not exactly rare, it is far less common than many of the comparable SP-type cabooses due to its limited production run. However, for whatever reason, the train collector community simply doesn't care, and this less common caboose gets no respect at all, listed in Greenberg's Guide at only $7 in excellent condition. So, you can see that sometimes rarity is not the only driver of collectability. The second honorable mention is a number 6167, undecorated, unlettered, and non-detailed model from 1964. However, despite its lack of detail or decoration, this caboose lands just outside our top 10 at number 12. While most number 6167 cabooses were packaged in a variety of uncatalog and promotional sets, this caboose in olive drab was only produced in uncatalog set number 1938, a set made exclusively for Firestone tire and rubber in 1964. The combination of its unusual color and its scarcity make this lowly caboose a very sought-after item among collectors, and the Greenberg's Guide lists it at $287 in excellent condition. And now, our top 10 list of valuable Lionel post-war SP-type cabooses kicks off with perhaps the most colorful of all post-war Lionel cabooses, the number 6657 Rio Grande caboose of 1957 and 1958. This well-detailed caboose was the first SP-type caboose to be lettered for anything other than Lionel or SP, and its striking yellow, black, and silver decoration make it really stand out. There are two body styles of this caboose, and the less common version with no ladder slots on the roof is listed at $347 in the Greenberg Guide. At number 9 on our list is another caboose decorated for a non-Lionel, non-SP road name, the number 6017-100 Boston and Main caboose. These lower detail models were made on and off between 1959 and 1966 in three color shades. The most common medium blue and light blue models are quite common, and while still more popular than most in the 6017 series, they do not make our list. However, an early production version of the caboose was made in a darker violet blue hue and is highly prized by collectors. The violet blue Boston and Main caboose of 1959 is listed in the Greenberg's Guide at $357 in excellent condition. In 1953, the number 6357 became the top-of-the-line SP-type caboose, and it remained in production through 1961. During that time, it underwent a number of lettering variations and color changes. One particular variation is valuable to collectors. This number 6357 came in tile red, featured the Circle L Lionel logo, and the body casting included an extra board on top of the catwalk. This variation with this specific set of features rises above the rest of the 6357s and is listed with a value of $367 in the 2025 Greenberg's Guide, putting it at number 8 on our list. Number 7 on our list takes us back to the beginning of SP-type caboose production with the number 2257 of 1947. This was the less detailed 027 version of the original SP-type caboose from that year. The plastic body came in red or Tuscan, and it may or may not have a plastic smokestack. The version with a red body and matching smokestack is especially valued, coming in at $373 in the Greenberg Guide. In 1948, the 2257 received new magnetic couplers in place of its original coil-type couplers, and the number was changed to number 6257, and it remained in the catalog through 1952. During that time, the caboose could be found in red, dark red, and even an orange version, and they were lettered for Lionel and SP or just Lionel. Most variations included smokestacks, and some included toolboxes. The most sought-after version is an early version in dark red with a matching dark red plastic smokestack. This variation is valued at $461 in excellent condition by the latest Greenberg Guide. And that brings us to our top five. I'd like to pause for a moment and ask that if you're enjoying the video so far, please like it, subscribe, and leave a comment about your favorite Lionel caboose. Also, please consider supporting the channel financially with a membership. Channel members have access to exclusive video content, photos, messages, and more. Thank you for helping me help you keep the trains running. Now, back to our video. At number five, we have a surprise. The number 1007 Scout Caboose of 1948 to 1952. A Scout Caboose? Wait, wait, this is not just any Scout Caboose. Like the other number 1007 Cabooses, this variation is a low detail model with the infamous Scout trucks and couplers. But instead of the common red decoration, this one was produced in Tuscan, making it exceptionally rare. This rare variation of the humblest of Lionel Cabooses is listed at $462 in excellent condition in the latest Greenberg Guide. At number four is another rare variation of an otherwise common Lionel Caboose, the number 6047. This low detail Lionel Lines Caboose was featured in a number of cataloged and uncataloged sets from 1959 through 1963 and came in various shades of red and brown and even a light red that is described by some as coral. It could have AAR trucks or arch bar trucks and usually featured a single coupler, which was sometimes inoperable. The least common version has a painted brown shell, which is valued at $466 in excellent condition in the latest Greenberg Guide. And then there were three. The third highest valued Caboose on our list returns us to 1947 with the number 2357 Caboose, the standard bearer of the whole SP type Caboose line. This model came with all the details, smokestack, twin couplers, illumination, window glass, battery boxes, and a full complement of ladders. Usually found in Tuscan, the red version with a matching red smokestack is the most highly sought after by collectors with a value of $550 in excellent condition according to the latest Greenberg Guide. The silver medalist in our list of valuable line LSP Cabooses is frequently forged, so buyer beware. The Caboose in question is the number 6357-50 Santa Fe Caboose. The red lighted Caboose lettered AT&SF was only available in the famous over and under or father and son O gauge and HO gauge set from 1960. Look very carefully at the heat stamping. If you see evidence of C-40-1, built 9-47, or SP markings anywhere on the shell, run away because this model is a fake. And now the most valuable of the many ubiquitous Lionel SP type Cabooses in the post-war era is the number 6557 Smoking Caboose from 1958 and 1959. Actually the common version of this Caboose with a Tuscan body is actually just outside our top 10 at number 11. But the unusual brown version with the lettering reversed on opposite sides is a rare variation of an uncommon model, making it the ruler of all post-war SP style Cabooses with a listed value of more than $1,200 in excellent condition in the Greenberg Pocket Price Guide. So maybe it's time we give this hardworking piece of rolling stock the respect it deserves. The next time you see just another SP Caboose in a junk box or assortment, take a closer look. Maybe, just maybe, you have something a bit more special than you might think. So check out your Cabooses, keep the trains running, and we'll see you next time with more Toy Train Tips and Tricks.