Joe Hohmann posted:No and yes. I got a Lionel freight set with the 224 engine in 1947 (I was 5). As I got older, I was drawn to passenger cars, but could not afford the $10. each that Lionel wanted for the aluminum ones. My best friend had a 1951 American Flyer passenger set (K5 and New Haven cars), which I loved. I have no idea what happened to mine.
Fast forward to the 1980s. I bought a AF set like my friend had, an engine like my old 224, and the metal 2457 caboose that went with it. I still prefer passenger cars over freight. My AF train has it's own small layout. I now have 5 Lionel 2457 cabooses, which I'm always looking for as long as they are in excellent condition. Although they should be common, it took me over 6 years to find the 5 I have (3 at York, 2 on eBay).
My mother wanted to buy those aluminum cars for my brother and I. They were out of reach, financially and remained a dream until I bought an MPC Congressional set in 1979.
