Hallmark Christmas Ornaments – A Lionel Collectible (Updated Fall 2024)
1992 Silver Star (probably a precursor to the Lionel ornament line)
By Terry Trickel TCA #79-13707 & Carol McGinnis TCA #HE95-41066 Updated: Fall 2024 e*Train
Hallmark continues to produce several ornaments every year, and 2024 is no exception. Five new ornaments are included in this article. Some of the pictures have been updated and the details and quality remain the same. While some of the ornaments are smaller than scale the details and paint schemes are accurate.
During the 1990 Christmas season, the Trickels received a Hallmark train ornament. It was the three-piece streamlined passenger set with a diesel locomotive, coach, and an observation car. The 1992 Silver Star is pictured above. You can see that it is not to scale, almost too heavy to hang on a tree, and there was no detail to the model.
Just like Lionel trains, each Hallmark ornament comes in a signature box
About 10 years later, Terry bid at a local auction house on some Hallmark additional Lionel Train Keepsake Ornaments. The small collection included a Hudson locomotive, a 400 E Blue Comet locomotive and tender, and three matching passenger cars. Included was a Norfolk and Western 746, and a Chessie steam special locomotive. The collection looked to be about “N” scale size. They were made of die-cast metal and had great detail including moving wheels and moveable side rods. Terry decided to research the history of these new Lionel train collectibles. These ornaments were about the size of “N” Scale. As the line expanded some of the locos and cars are not done in this N scale, but in a smaller undefined scale such as the ornaments produced in 2007 and 2010.
Hallmark introduced the Hallmark Lionel Locomotives in 1996. This Original Series continues to be popular today with collectors of both ornaments and trains. In 1999, Hallmark added a matching tender to the Norfolk & Western locomotive as a part of a new Complement Series. Then in 2002, a third car was added to the yearly offerings. Each year since, the Complement ornaments change according to the train being replicated. There have also been a few larger pieces produced that complement the series such as the Lionelville Magic ornament: a lit, musical Lionel Mountain with a Hellgate Bridge and more (2004), and the Lionel Holiday Special Club piece from 2003, a Holiday Special train with station. The series also includes Colorway ornaments (limited paint scheme of the Original Series ornament for that year) and Blown Glass ornaments as series Complements.
Another Hallmark issue is the Lionel Train Miniatures Series. The Hallmark Miniatures series was a surprise to Terry. The “minis” were even smaller than “z” scale trains and he was expecting the same size “N” scale trains. The first Hallmark Lionel Train Miniature ornaments, issued in 1999, were the Norfolk and Western series. The series offers full sets of locomotives and cars. Due to the small size of the models, they tend to get lost in the tree and some collectors prefer the larger production.
The Lionel ornaments are marked on the bottom with “L” (Lionel logo) or spelled out Lionel License and Hallmark adds markings with the year production date. The original series was marked with a Christmas tree symbol and number with the series. In addition, there are limited edition models done in gold that are produced and issued during the month of October at selected stores. Many of the limited-edition models are sent to selected stores who often received only four items resulting in them being in short supply and hard to find.
To catch up in collecting these fine Lionel/Hallmark Collectables, Terry and Carol recommend shopping train meets, eBay, and online sites. There are also many Hallmark dealers that may have a few left-over stock. New production items from Hallmark Stores can cost in the $20.00+ range. The gold Colorway locomotives or limited-edition items are characteristically the hardest to find and can be very expensive. The glass-blown ornaments and some of the miniatures are rare, as well.
So here is the listing of the Original Series, the Complement Series, and the Miniature Series, with Series #, year issued, and description.
Original Series
Series #/Year/Description/Photo
1 …….1996 …….700E NYC HUDSON LOCO
2 …….1997 …….1950 SANTA FE F-3 DIESEL
3 …….1998 …….PENNSYLVANIA GG-1 GREEN ELECTRIC
4 …….1999 …….NORFOLK & WESTERN LOCO
5 …….2000 …….GENERAL 4-4-0 LOCO
6 …….2001 …….CHESSIE SYST. STEAM SPECIAL LOCO
7 …….2002 …….400E BLUE COMET LOCO
8 …….2003 …….4449 SP DAYLIGHT LOCO.
9 …….2004 …….1939 HIAWATHA LOCO
10 …….2005 …….PENNSYLVANIA B-6 LOCO (8976)
11 …….2006 …….UNION PACIFIC VERANDA TURBINE
12 …….2007……. FREEDOM TRAIN DIESEL LOCO
13 …….2008 …….NEW YORK CENTRAL F-3 DIESEL
14 …….2009 …….HOLIDAY RED 2-8-2 MIKADO
15 …….2010 …….UNION PACIFIC STREAMLINER
16 …….2011 …….726 BERKSHIRE 2-8-4 LOCO
17 …….2012 …….NUTCRACKER ROUTE CHRISTMAS TRAIN
18 …….2013 …….#2037 2-6-4 LOCO
19 …….2014 …….PENNSY TORPEDO 2-4-2 (238E).
20 …….2015 …….CHESSIE SYSTEM DIESEL
21 …….2016 …….773 HUDSON LOCO
22 …….2017 …….671 PENNSYLVANIA S-2 LOCO
23 …….2018 …….2245P TEXAS SPECIAL DIESEL RED
24 …….2019 …….1001 SCOUT LOCO
25 …….2020 …….2348 MINNEAPOLIS & ST. LOUIS GP-9 DIESEL
26 …….2021 …….221 NEW YORK CENTRAL LOCO “Empire Express”
27 …….2022 …….2358 GREAT NORTHERN EP-5 LOCO
28 …….2023 …….1361 PENNSYLVANIA K4 STEAM LOCO
29 …….2024 …….UNION PACFIC LEGACY SD70ACE.
Complement Series
In the Complement Series, the list below has the numbers. Those with a MARKED AS LIMITED EDITION are limited edition items-issued during the month of October. The BOLD PRINT indicates a Blown Glass Ornament. The ITALIC PRINT is for display base ornaments.
Year/Description/Photo
1998 …….MICKEY AND MINNIE HANDCAR
1999 …….NORFOLK & WESTERN TENDER
1999 …….OCEANSIDE DEPOT DISPLAY BASE
1999 …….SANTA FE F-3 BLOWN GLASS
2000 …….700J-1E 50TH ANNIVERSARY- GOLD
2000 …….SOUTHERN MIKADO #4501 BLOWN GLASS
2000 …….GENERAL TENDER
2001 …….CHESSIE SPECIAL SYSTEM TENDER
2001 …….400E BLUE COMET BLOWN GLASS
2002 …….BLUE COMET OIL TENDER
2002 …….BLUE COMET OBSERVATION CAR.
2003 …….HOLIDAY SPECIAL DISPLAY and BASE
2003 …….SP DAYLIGHT TENDER
2003 …….SP DAYLIGHT OBSERVATION CAR
2004 …….LIONELVILLE-MAGIC DISPLAY BASE
2004 …….HIAWATHA TENDER
2004 …….HIAWATHA OBSERVATION CAR
2005 …….PENNSYLVANIA B-6 TENDER
2005 …….#714 PENNSYLVANIA BOX CAR
2005 …….#717 PENNSYLVANIA CABOOSE
2006 …….UP VERANDA TENDER (this appears as a tank car)
2006 …….UNION PACIFIC STOCKCAR
2006 …….1950 SANTA FE F-3 GOLD LTD EDITION
2007 …….FREEDOM TRAIN SLEEPER CAR (PASSENGER CAR)
2007 …….FREEDOM TRAIN OBSERVATION.
2008 …….NYC PASSENGER CAR
2008 …….NYC OBSERVATION CAR
2008 …….CROWN EXPRESS STOCKING HANGER DISPLAY BASE
2008 …….NEW HAVEN F-3 DIESEL (special colors)
2009 …….HOLIDAY RED MIKADO TENDER
2009 …….CHESSIE 4-8-4 LOCO-GOLD
2009 …….HOLIDAY RED BOXCAR
2010 …….KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN F-3 LIMITED EDITION
2010 …….U P. LONG STREAMLINE PASSENGER COACH
2010 …….U P. STREAMLINE OBSERVATION
2011 …….LIONEL LINES WHISTLE TENDER
2011 …….PENNSYLVANIA 477618 CABOOSE
2011 …….PENNSY GG-1 RED ELECTRIC – LIMITED EDITION
2012 …….NUTCRACKER ROUTE TENDER
2012 …….NUTCRACKER ROUTE BAGGAGE COACH
2012 …….4449 SP DAYLIGHT LOCO-GOLD
2013 …….1130T TENDER
2013 …….#6017 CABOOSE
2013 …….2037 PINK 2037 LOCO
2014 …….265W TENDER
2014 …….601 OBSERVATION CAR
2014 …….PENNSYLVANIA TORPEDO 2-4-2 GOLD
2015 …….SEABOARD BOX CAR
2015 …….CHESSIE WM CABOOSE
2016 …….LIONEL LINES 2426W TENDER
2016 …….LIONEL LINES 2627 MADISON PASSENGER
2016 …….773 NYC HUDSON LOCO-GOLD
2017 …….671 PENNSYLVANIA S-2 LOCO -GOLD
2017 …….2671W PENNSYLVANIA TENDER
2017 …….3472 AUTOMATIC REFRIDGERATOR CAR
2018 …….2245P TEXAS SPECIAL B UNIT
2018 …….2436 SUMMIT OBSERVATION CAR
2018 …….2245P TEXAS SPECIAL F3 GOLD
2019 …….101T SCOUT TENDER
2019 …….1007 CABOOSE
2019 …….1001 LOCO – GOLD
2020 …….6560 CRANE CAR
2020 …….6119 WORK CABOOSE
2020 …….2328 MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL GP 9 – GOLD
2020 …….6005 NIAGARA LOCO (not Original Series)
2021 …….221 NYC “EMPIRE EXPRESS” GOLD
2021 …….221W NEW YORK CENTRAL TENDER
2021 …….2431 OBSERVATION CAR
2022 …….EP-5 GREAT NORTHERN RR ELECTRIC GOLD
2022 …….6357 SOUTHERN PACIFIC CABOOSE
2022 …….6650 MISSLE CAR
2023 …….1361 PENNSYLVANIA K4 STEAM LOCO GOLD
2023 …….PENNSYLVANIA K4 TENDER
2023 …….PENNSYLVANIA K4 CABOOSE
2024 …….UNION PACFIC LEGACY SD70ACE -GOLD (This is the same as the Original Series EXCEPT yellow sides are actually YELLOW GOLD) The close up shows the side of the loco highlighted. The DUO picture shows the Original loco on top and the GOLD loco on the bottom.
2024 …….LIONEL BASCULE BRIDGE
2024 …….U.P. BATHTUB GONDOLA
2024 …….U.P. HUSKY STACK
Miniature Series
Year/Description/Photo
1999 …….N & W LOCO & TENDER.
2000 …….3356 HORSE CAR & 3662 MILK CAR
2001 …….6424 FLATCAR W/ CARS & 6517 CABOOSE
2002 …….GENERAL LOCO & TENDER
2003 …….BLUE COMET 400E LOCO & TENDER
2004 …….SOUTHERN PACIFIC LOCO & TENDER
2005 …….HIAWATHA LOCO & TENDER
2005 …….POLAR EXPRESS 7 PIECE SET
2006 …….PENNSY B-6 LOCO & TENDER
2007 …….NORTH POLE LOCO, TENDER, GONDOLA
2007 …….BOXCAR & CABOOSE
2008 …….HOLIDAY RR LOCO, TENDER & TANK CAR
2009 …….RED COMET SET LOCO, TENDER & COACH
2010 …….SCOUT SET LOCO, TENDER & GONDOLA
2011 …….SUPER CHIEF SET, DIESEL, COACH & OBS.
2012 …….CHESSIE STEAM SPECIAL LOCO, TENDER & PAX
2013 …….MINN. & ST. LOUIS DIESEL, CRANE & CABOOSE
2014 …….NORTH POLE EXPRESS
2015 …….2148WS DELUXE SET
2016 …….GREAT NORTHERN FREIGHT SET
2017 …….TOYMAKER SANTA EXPRESS
2018 …….POLAR EXPRESS LOCO, TENDER & OBS
2019 …….2231W SOUTHERN FREIGHT SET
2020 …….2201W FIREBALL EXPRESS
2021 …….1520W TEXAS SPECIAL F7 2245 A&B DIESEL, OBS
2022 …….2129WS SET LOCO, TENDER & CABOOSE
2023 …….MILWAUKEE ROAD EP-2 PASSENGER SET
2024 …….221 LOCO, TENDER & OBSERVATION
HOW TO USE THE HALLMARK LIONEL ORNAMENTS:
Most of the Hallmark trains are near N-scale size trains, although not all wheels will fit on N-scale track. There are a few trains that are smaller in size and some larger than the others. Some of the trains are top-heavy and often tip over. Tacky putty on the underside will keep them in place. In addition, Hallmark offers a wide variety of Keepsake Ornaments, such as cars, planes, and other subject matter that can be added to the display. The ornaments are also a great addition to any holiday tree.
Terry created a “HALLMARK LIONEL KEEPSAKE YARDS” display. The Lionel display sign top portion was also sold by Hallmark with the base for it from LEGO blocks. The track is N-scale with an Atlas turntable. The outside circle of the track is powered to run the Hallmark Thomas locomotive powered by a Life Like engine, 0-6-0 chassis.
Bob Lubonski likes to use the Hallmark ornaments at Christmastime adding them to his mantle.
Carol uses a narrow upright tallboy display case and three cassette display cases. Taking a wooden cassette case and removing every other row of wood makes a perfect box for most of these ornaments. A few items were larger, and a notch into the bars made them fit.
EDITORS NOTE: Portions of this article reprinted by permission of Terry Trickel and Atlantic Division from the Atlantic Division Express, Winter 2018-4 and Fall 2019-3.