6456
Lehigh Valley
Hopper
1948 - 1955

item# A003-0000011

The 6456 Lehigh Valley hopper, along with its earlier cousin the 2456 Lehigh Valley Hopper, were the first new short hoppers introduced by Lionel in the postwar era. The 6456 was included in practically every catalogued set as well as being available for separate sale. This has made the 6456 hopper a common item. However, being that most were introduced in sets and 'played with by the children', finding a 6456 in nice condition will require some searching and effort.
From 1948 until 1954 the 6456 was either black or maroon. However, during the final two years of production, Lionel introduced 3 new color combinations. Some of these are hard and even rare to locate.
Features:
Standard features of the 6456 include metal trucks, painted body, white lettering, two operating couplers and a single brake wheel. For most of the production cycle the 6456 remained virtually unchanged. There were minor mold variations and truck changes, however none of these have an impact on its value. Until 1954, the 6456 was either a black or maroon hopper with white lettering. Beginning in 1954, the 6456 experienced several color changes such as:

• Gray hopper with dark red or maroon lettering.
• Glossy red hopper with yellow lettering.
• Glossy red with white lettering.

 Maroon or Black - The most common version of the 6456 hopper.
  Gray - Harder to find and assumed to be a two year production run, 1954 and 1955.
  Glossy Red with Yellow Lettering - This is one of the hardest variations to locate. Assumed to be from a single production run in 1954.
  Glossy Red with White Lettering - This is by far the most difficult version to locate. Assumed to be from a single production run in 1954 and is rare.

6456 Lehigh Valley Hopper
	Condition	Price	Comments
	6+	$ 22.00	Here's a nice and clean black hopper. There is no damage nor rust on the freight car and the exterior color is clean and the side lettering is crisp and complete.
	7	$ 42.00	Now available is a clean hopper from the early 1950's. This version is painted black and has staple-end trucks. Overall condition is close to a 7+.
	7+	$ 60.00	Here is this maroon version of the Lehigh Valley Hopper. This version, produced in 1950, includes staple-end trucks. The maroon body is nice and bright with solid white lettering.
	7+/OB	$ 65.00	Here's an extremely clean, almost condition 8, maroon hopper. This is the early version with staple-end trucks. The exterior colors are vibrant and the lettering is nice and white.
	7+	$ 95.00	Up for sale is the hard-to-find gray hopper from the mid-1950's. This hopper is extremely clean and has crisp, clean side lettering that is not worn nor faded.
	7+	$110.00	For sale is the mid-1950's, hard-to-find gray hopper. This freight car is extremely clean and has crisp, clean side lettering that is not worn nor faded. Additionally, the trucks & couplers are clean and free of rust & oxidation.
	10/OB	$245.00	Now available is an unrun, truly Mint gray hopper. This freight car has vibrant exterior colors and clean, crisp and complete side lettering that is not worn nor faded.
	8+/OB	$ 88.00	Up for sale is a gorgeous maroon hopper with a nice, solid box. The bar-end trucks are complete and there is no rust on either the trucks nor base plate. The maroon exterior is spotless and the lettering is nice and white.
	10/OB	$245.00	Now available for sale is the hard-to-find gray hopper with maroon lettering. Best of all, this freight car is brand new, never used and truly in Mint condition! Even the original box is solid, complete and looks as nice as the hopper.
	8	$275.00	Up for sale is the rare glossy red painted hopper with yellow lettering. The exterior colors are vibrant and the side lettering is in perfect condition. There is no rust on the trucks nor couplers.

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