Did Lionel make a 680 caboose prewar? I looked in Greenberg but there are none listed.
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That number 680 was never issued by Lionel for any rolling stock, let alone a caboose. The 657 was the caboose issued in the 600 series cars. The number doesn't appear in 2-7/8" gauge, Standard, or 0 gauge, at all. Have no idea where you came up with that number????? Possible restamped by someone before.
Searched TCA Standard of the World, Doyle's Prewar Catalog, Dave McEntarfer Prewar Sets, Greenberg Guide to 2 -7/8", & Standard gauge, Greenberg Guide to 0 & 00 Vol. II, and NO 680 appears anywhere.
THAT NUMBER DOESN'T RING ANY BELLS.
There are 3 cars for sale on eBay. One is a 680 New York Central Lines caboose. The other two are an 820 and 822 which I know Lionel made prewar. I asked him but he did not know.
I took a look at the eBay listing, and the two cabooses are 822's. One is Brown/Black, the other is Maroon/Black. The differences are the vertical ribs. One is inward ribs, the other is outwards ribs. The 680 looks to be rubber stamped after the fact, and not the actual number. Both are N.Y. Central cabooses, made 1915-1927, with some reportedly 1/4" longer frame taken from an 820 boxcar frames??? This info from Greenberg guide to 0 &00 Vol. II. A 680 does not exist!!!
I found it. The side is stamped 5920680. The end is stamped 680. The trucks look like they are much newer than the other cars and the frame looks like it was repainted. This looks like an 822 caboose, which would put it in the era of the 820 boxcar. It looks to be altered, but Greenberg's says they only found one of these to observe.
George
