HObbyline train sets I know of.

The best place to find info for this HO train online is the HOseeker site. HObbyline sets can be seen here with the proper type of cars that came with the sets. Road names were unimportant because sets were made up using different car types. Sets can be seen in different catalogs and places like magazines made up of cars with different road names than those found in HObbyline catalogs.  HOseeker has no 1953 catalog available on this site. There is a 1954 catalog which HOseeker list as undated. It is under the green one you see when you open HOseeker's HObbyline info and has 4 passenger cars and 5 freight cars seen on it. This is a 1954 catalog. The red catalog further down on the right side is the 1956 catalog. It has PRR FA-1 locos with passenger cars on the cover. So now you see there is a 1954, 1955, 1956, and the 1957 catalog in HO seeker which you can get into for info. 

Here are photos of my catalog covers 1953 throgh 1957 with the 3 preview catalogs I have.

1953 catalog.

v  1954 preview catalog.

1954 catalog one is the Yellow catalog

1955 is the gray one with the two PRR FA-1's on the cover.

1956 is the red catalog.

1955 and 1956 preview catalogs are dated on their covers.

1957 kit catalog.

1957 catalog with 2 1957 sets.

frank

The good old days.

I really like the HO models of the 1950’s. Some of the RTR models were pretty basic and inaccurate but some were pretty nice. Most could benefit from a change of wheelsets and couplers however. Many of the kits were very nice, especially the metal and/or wood ones. To me their nostalgic qualities are outstanding. Good stuff.

Barry P

Neat

I had a friend back in the '60's who had the Erie version. He was a rock star for having it too.

There is another set I have.

  Bary, HObbyline suggested for modelers running HObbyline trains to do just that, replace the trucks and weight the cars for better operation. The trucks suggested of course was their heaver center-weighted trucks with brass wheels and nylon axels and sides.  Neat thanks for the response.  

 There is another set I have. Another PRR streamlined set #431, the 1956 "The Silver Meteor".

Time to repower the locos

Bowser should have something that matches the Wheelbase of the FA's.

Also if using Code 83 rail ,swapout the cars wheelsets to RP -25 wheelsets.

Moot point if this is to be Displayed.

reply to Backshophoss

Backshophoss  I am fine with my original power, and if needed I have 3 Trainminature drives I can fit my bodies on. I have used then in a couple of my videos I made with the HObbyline set operating. Also I stick with my old code 100 rail. 

frank 

HObbyline HO trains

My information now shows 30 different train sets released by HObbyline that are cataloged sets. I am sure there are more. If only I had access to the 1953 and 1954 dealer ordering lists. I have seen 1953 sets #1 and #2 being sold on E-bay that makes 28 sets. The problem I have with set #1 is that it is identical to set 420 the Wayfarer. Also if there is a set #1 the most likely is a set 3,4, and 5. Maybe more. That info would probably be in one of the first catalogs they made 1953 and prior, for it is not in the 54, 55, 56, 57 info I have. Set #2 is the first use of HObbyline FA-1 locomotives. Twin FA-1's in PRR black (Brunswick Green), it also has 2 Gondolas, 2 boxcars, 1 flat car, and 1 PRR caboose.

{ edit 3-6-21; I have since this post was made acquired a 1953 catalog and the Preview for the 1954 catalog. These two have no other info concerning sets on anything other than set's I and 2 predating the info in the 1954 catalog}

 Now HObbyline with their freight cars made both ready to run and the 1957 kit versions. Ready to run came in set. All cars in the 1957 set were ready to run except for the boxed kit car that came with each set. It was a unbuilt kit, and separately boxed. Kits 1957, came boxed with all decals to be applied to a blank painted car body by the kit builder. Ready to run cars mostly had silk-screened lettering and logos. Some like Great Northern green, Seaboard, New Haven, TP&W had their corporate logo done with stickers and all lettering was silk-screened. Many cars were completely silk-screened logo and lettering.  You can see this in the photos. 

You can access the catalogs

You can access the catalogs from the 1950s here:  https://hoseeker.net/hobbyline.html

Hope this helps out.

Jim

HObbyline freight set #446 "The Ridgerunner of 1955".

To JIM Six who's comment precedes this one in the HObbyline subject.

Jim HOseeker still doesn't know the dates for 2 of its HObbyline catalogs. I guess he didn't look into HObbyline to much, with all he is into it is understandable. His white catalog is a 1954 catalog, and his red one is 1956, those are the 2 updated ones.  So he has one each on 1954, 1955, 1956, and the green 1957. He has not posted a 1953 catalog or any of the 3 preview catalogs for 1954, 1955 ,and 1956. The green 1957 catalog is for only KITS. The two ready to run sets 2500 and 3500 for 1957 were made using  these factory-assembled freight cars of the same roadname as some of the kit cars. 
   I try to collect only ready to run cars that had their lettering silk screened on, but as time went by and I acquired most of the ready to run cars I add Kit cars also. I did not like to repeate road names, and have cartain built up kit cars in my collection. The 1957 Kit cars come needing to be decaled with their 50+-year-old decals falling apart. I have a 1953 catalog, I have the same 1954 catalog HO seeker has. I have 2 different 1955 catalogs one he has and one he doesn't have, a dealer's catalog, and 2 different 1956 catalogs, again one he has and one he doesn't have another dealer's catalog. I had the green 1957 catalog which I didn't use because it is just for kit information and 2 1957 sets I know about 2500 Rocky Mountain and 3500 the Allegany are not in the green 1957 catalog but found in other red 1957 catalog. 

frank 

This was the first box HObbyline set I acquired. Set #446 "The Ridgerunner"

HObbyline freight set #466 " The Frontersman"

This my second boxed HObbyline train set. I cleaning it up and will show the 2 locos and cars from the set. The Union 76 tank car is missing a truck.

 Set # 466 Fromtiersman Freight 1955

#430 Train Maker train set by HObbyline

This is the Train Maker set #430, 1954 or 1955 set as it was released for 2 years. Both 1954 and 1955 sets #430 were powered by the PRR A5 #3100. Also seen is the 1957 Allegany set #3500. It is a PRR local set. Power is a PRR A5 class 0-4-0, hobbyline # 3500. From 1954 throught 1956 all set using this PRR A5 used the same 0-4-0 # 3100, This changed in 1957 with set #3500. The 0-4-0 A5 with the set acquired #3500. The set name  was set# 3500 the Allegheny. You see it in the photo I just posted, directly below. Bellow it is the 1954-55 Train maker set #430.

Above is set #430 The train Maker of 1954 and 1955. 

The Train Maker set #430 was released for two years 1954 and 1955. Both sets were Identical with a HObbyline PRR A5 class #3100 locomotive providing the power. The trains consist was made of HObbyline standard heavweight combine and two day coaches. the only differance in the two sets was the art work on the box they came in. The 1954 set box had the HObbyline name only accross the box top. The 1955 set had a Union Pacific FA-1 on its cover.

frank

Jim

Thank you for the reply. HOseeker has 4 catalogues and with photos on HObbyline but the info and photos for this 1953 to 1957 line is not complete. If he had the dated 1953 catalog and labeled his 1954 and 1956 properly including all  3 Preview Catalogs of 1954,54 amd 56 that would help fill it in. HObbyline distributers order forms for 53 to 57 would really fill in the not covered info tell of all items that were aviable.

frank

Hobbyline Catalogs 1953 and 1954

Hobbyline did make a Set #1 and a Set #2. I have both, including the 1953 and 1954 catalogs.

Hobbyline Lived On

Hi,

While I know collectors are a very particular lot, Hobbyline collectors should know that Lionel acquired the Hobbyline molds and all the FA diesels offered in HO by Lionel were based on the Hobbyline FA. They also used the boxcar, triple hopper, and the 0-4-0T also. These were offered through 1967. But, the FA itself lived on into the 1974-1976 offerings again, with a new motor drive. However that was not the last. In 1988 Lionel offered an HO version of its Railscope, a two FA pair based on the re-worked Hobbyline FA shell. One had a video camera mounted in the nose and the other was a "normal" FA with a new motor drive.

If you are looking to re-motor your old Hobbyline FA's the better drives were from the 1974-1976 period, but they were still not as good as currently offered drives.

Happy collecting and have fun! 
Best regards,
Geoff Bunza

In a quick read and responce.

Geoff, All the ones I speak with do know. 

In a quick read and response. HObbyline had a quad hopper with 8 separate shutes just like the Lionel one which is made using HObbyline dies. Also used by Lionel were the 0-4-0 switcher with a tender that became a 2-4-2, and 0-6-0.  Lionel's 4-6-2's are made from the John English 4-6-2 dies,  Also, the 0-4-0t which lionel remade is the HObbyline 0-4-0t. HObbyline and John English were the same company. Also, the FA-1 and FB-1 dies were used though HObbyline never used the English FB-1. Lionel's motor was a little longer and lionel reworked the steam locomotive dies adding turret valve covers to allow for this larger motor. 

 In freight cars, you have no trouble identifying the boxcars, hoppers, flat cars, and gondolas made with altered HObbyline dies. The key in first noticing if it was made using HObbyline dies, is just matching them together., Gondolas also can be known just by viewing and comparing. 

HObbyline HO freight cars

Cars seen just below are the types and numbers matching what was released in set #2. The road names used are the same as was seen in the last set #2 sold on E-Bay by Raydean. The power was a twin set of PRR freight FA-1 type locomotives

 HObbyline made 5 different freight cars the Flat, Hopper, Tank, Gondola, and Boxcars. For the 5 years, they were producing HO scale trains, from 1953 to 1957, they made ready to run versions of their freight cars for 4 of the years and kits for the last one 1957, though there appears to be some ready to run cars that year also. In that I mean some cars coming in kit form boxes and were completely lettered, and some other ones partially. Not all kits came with car bodies just painted. 

  Now I have a 1953 catalog! It is colored yellow and had both HObbyline and John English HO listed in it. There is a photo of a John English cast metal Pacific on the cover. Recent posts made on 2 different sites tell of this catalog. There are only 2 HO sets in 1953. Both are PRR. Set #1 FM H12-44, one gondola, one flat, one box, and a PRR caboose. Set #2 is Twin FA-1 powered with 2 gondolas, one flat, two boxcars, and a PRR caboose. Because both sets use the same 3 freight car types maybe that is all they had in HO for 1953. For 1954 there is seen in the catalogs only one additional freight car, the tank car. In 1955 another car is added the 4 bay open hopper. No additional freight car is seen in 1956 but a new locomotive appears the 0-4-0 tanker. In 1957 all freight cars are kIts. No ready-to-run freight cars are listed in the green 1957 catalog though some are seen within the 2 different sets sold in 1957. The two freight sets released for 1957 had all decal kit versions, factory assembled for the sets. Each of the 2 1957 sets came with one additional car that was a boxed unbuilt kit. Set 1 came with an LNE gondola. Set 2 a PRR flat car. 

Set #1 cars seen in catalog and advertisement.

HObbyline Box cars

All box cars seen here are Ready to run from hobbyline. There are some built up kits here, not all. In 1957 three boxcars sold as kits NH, B&M, TP&W were made as ready to run also. You see the ready to run versions below. The built up kit cars posted here are the GN red,Rio Grand, and Western Pacific. The Union Pacific that is see here should not be with these cars at all, for it is a custom car. Their is a second Southern Pacific car that I could have posted here for not only was it made in different color but the company logo was black with white letters. .  I replaced the old photo with one that shows all HObbyline boxcars with the exception of a built up kit car for Central of Georgia. This is the only kit boxcar to be replaced by another, the red Great Northern. Both kits share the same number K-62. I have no idea why this was done. The HObbyline black and red boxcar comes in another color combination. Black car body with Yellow (roof and doors) which I have. You won't see any special boxcars here like E&H hobbies which also had different color combinations. These are all cataloged cars. 

frank

HObbyline hopper cars

I have 2 black Cotton Belt hopper s with a bunch of the red ones. All are ready to run with no decals and the same road number. The red one did come in kit form with all decals.Alco also came ready to ru. these two were made ready to run with all lettering silk screened. There are 2 hopper kits I am looking for Reading, and Alco came in kit boxes both ways, all lettered and with all decals. In the 1955 trade preview catalog, two mystery hoppers are seen the Virginian and the Frisco. I dont know of either one ever being released. The Virginian is the hopper seen behind the Western Pacific twin FA-1's on the cover of the 1955 Preview catalog. The Frisco is clearly seen in two train sets with in the catalog on pages 4 and 5. 

The four hoppers I have are Cotton Belt ref and black versions, Western Maryland, Alco,  Missouri Pacific and a built up Reading kit. All are ready to run versions with the Reading the only exception.

frank

HObbyline Gondolas.

Here is a grouping of HObbyline Gondolas with 2 hopper cars. The Hobbyline yellow gondola is pretty neat. In built up kits are the Western Maryland, the top wabash,  L&E is a ready to run version, their are kit will all decals. The Union Switch and siginal is a special car. all the rest are ready to run. 
 

frank

HObbyline trains at Tyco trains

Here's a link to my HObbyline trains.

http://www.tycoforums.com/tyco/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13209

Still stopping in from time to time!

Still stopping in from time to time. Yes, I am still trying to add to my HObbyline collection. In boxcar's HObbyline lists in their 1953 catalog the existence of in ready to run cars a Pennsylvania Railroad, a Canadian National, are the 2 I am looking for. In the 1954 Retail catalog are two LVRR coaches I am looking for and the mysterious Conoco tank car showed twice. The Conoco tank car appears in the 1956 Plus power catalog in four sets along with the INLAND Ammonia Sulphate box car seen in two sets. Also in the 1956 plus power catalog is an NYC 0-4-0t is seen that I don't have. The 1955 retail catalog has a few items I am searching for. The ATSF FM H12-44 and a C&O H12-44. a Lehigh Valley Coach, A Victor tank car, seen in a set #440 in the 1955 trade preview catalog along with a Frisco hopper is seen in two train sets #466 and #446. Also not see in any catalog are cars from 1955 is an unlisted B&O Royal Blue train set #462 which I have an FA-1 and Combine from and I would like to get another FA-1 and three coaches. Also on the cover of the 1955 trade preview catalog is a Virginian Hopper. 

 Now in that confusing paragraph, I just completed is done, I can say that the Conoco and Victor tank cars, the Frisco and Virginian Hoppers, and the inland box car most likely were never releases. So in truth, all I need is the two H12-44 locos Atsf and C&O, also the B&O FA-1 and NYC 0-4-0t, 3 B&O coaches, and the LV coaches, the PRR boxcar, and the CN boxcar.

I did keep going and got a

I did keep going and got a Champ decal set for a Conoco tank and Had a spare tank car kit, shell gas. I put them together and WALA!!! A yellow Conoco tank car appeared. If you believe it was that easy you have a lot to learn.

frank

B&O Royal Blue coaches

Now not waiting to find the B&O Royal Blue set #462 ( correct number and name is Lloyd's set #1) coaches I made them also. You know you just throw them into a sack with some black, blue, and gray paint then shake the sack, and BOOM! The Royal Blue set comes out. You'll see it here with an original HObbyline B&O FA-1.  
  .

frank

Set #1 1953 has no name.

SET #1 PRR FM H12-44 one flat car, One Gondola car, one PRR caboose.

frank