What the heck is this ?

I do believe they did make a set in the late fifties. Looking at the set box label it says Lionel 1957 so this could be real and rare?

Here's one from 2002 sealed in the box Lionel set #31701.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIONEL...200734#ht_500wt_1034

franktrain

He says it's a remake copy from the '80's  I still don't think it's worth anywhere near that price.

I do remember that set from the eighties. I wonder if it was made by k-line or one of the Lionel clubs? K-line did make the girls train around that time. They may have also made this.

franktrain

Nice looking set!

The Boys set was made a year after the first reissue of the girls set in 1992. There is also a couple of add-on cars for the set. This set is a custom paint set from parts as the owner as stated.

My opinion he has the set overpriced by around 1000.00

Now I wonder what a real set from the 50s would be worth, I know more than my train budget, but that isn't saying much

Photo 12 has a lable that says  'Reproduction by Pierce'. Did anyone catch that? Who is Pierce?

There were several prototype Lionel Boys train sets made in the 1950's. The Lionel Modern era (1992) boys set was a reproduction of one of those prototype sets.

According to the auction listing, the set is an individual's reproduction of one of those 1950's prototype sets. 

Lionel's Boys Set #31701 reproduction of the Lionel original Boys Set sells for around $500 in Mint condition. Original Boys set, only a few known to exist sells for super big bucks when one becomes available.

According to Tuohy & McComas, only about 3 or 4 boys sets were made in 1957. 

T&M says the set consisted of a 2018 w/6026 style tender, a turquoise 6456 style N&W hopper w/red lettering, a tan 3494 non-operating box car w/white Missouri Pacific lettering, a yellowish cream 6462 NYC gondola (black lettering?) and a light green 6417 porthole caboose w/gold lettering.

There was also one 2055 made in boys blue.

Rusty