The Lionel 1587S Girls’ Train Set is one of the most recognizable train sets of Lionel’s postwar era. Introduced in 1957, it combined a frosted-pink No. 2037 steam locomotive and matching tender with five freight cars decorated in unusual pastel colors.
The example photographed for TrainReference includes the locomotive, tender, pastel freight cars, transformer, track and original printed material, providing a useful look at the components of the set.
At a Glance
- Manufacturer: Lionel
- Set: No. 1587S
- Introduced: 1957
- Locomotive: No. 2037-500 pink 2-6-4 steam locomotive
- Tender: No. 1130T-500 pink tender
- Freight cars: Five pastel-colored cars
- Transformer: No. 1043-500 ivory/white transformer
The 1957 Lionel Girls’ Set
Lionel introduced the 1587S as a train set specifically marketed to girls. Instead of the darker railroad colors normally associated with Lionel freight trains, the company decorated the locomotive, tender and cars in pink and other pastel shades.
The centerpiece was a pink version of Lionel’s No. 2037 steam locomotive. The locomotive retained the operating characteristics of Lionel’s conventional postwar trains while receiving a color scheme unlike the company’s standard 2037.
The pastel treatment continued through the entire train, giving the 1587S an appearance unlike virtually any other Lionel set of the period.
What Came in the 1587S?
The cataloged set consisted of the pink locomotive and tender followed by five freight cars:
- 2037-500: Frosted-pink 2-6-4 steam locomotive
- 1130T-500: Matching pink tender
- 6462-500: Pink New York Central gondola with white canisters
- 6464-510: Blue-green New York Central Pacemaker boxcar
- 6464-515: Yellow M-K-T boxcar
- 6436-500: Lilac Lehigh Valley quad hopper
- 6427-500: Blue Pennsylvania illuminated porthole caboose
The complete outfit also included track and a No. 1043-500 transformer finished to complement the train’s unusual color scheme.
The Pink No. 2037 Locomotive
The 2037-500 is a 2-6-4 steam locomotive based on Lionel’s conventional postwar 2037. Its pink finish makes it immediately identifiable as part of the Girls’ Set.
Original examples deserve careful examination because Lionel has produced later commemorative and reproduction versions of the Girls’ Set. Individual original components can also become separated and assembled into sets over time, making finish, lettering, component numbers, boxes and provenance useful when evaluating a purported original 1950s set.
Why the Set Became Famous
The 1587S represented an unusual attempt by Lionel to expand the audience for its trains by marketing a complete outfit specifically to girls. Contemporary advertising emphasized the pastel colors and presented the train as a counterpart to Lionel sets traditionally marketed to boys.
The concept did not become a continuing part of Lionel’s mainstream train line. As a result, the distinctive pastel 1587S became one of the best-known Lionel sets associated with the late postwar period.
Lionel later revisited the concept with reproduction and commemorative versions, another reason collectors identifying an original set should pay attention to catalog numbers and period construction details rather than relying on color alone.
Original Photos
The photographs below show the Lionel Girls’ Set originally documented for TrainReference, including the pink locomotive and tender, pastel freight cars, transformer, track and printed material.
References and Further Reading
- PBS Antiques Roadshow – Lionel Girls Train Set, ca. 1957
- Lionel Collectors Club of America – Lionel Train Documentation
Related Lionel References
- Lionel 2367 Wabash F3 – 1955
- Lionel 2340 Tuscan GG-1 – 1955 Congressional
- Browse all Lionel model train references
Current Lionel Girls’ Set Listings
Current eBay listings related to the Lionel Girls’ Set are shown below. Listings can include individual original components, assembled sets and later reproductions, so examine catalog numbers, descriptions and photographs carefully.
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.
 Lionel Girls Set 1587s Pink Santa Fe Type Tender LENNY CARPARELLI Custom Remake |  LIONEL #1587S/736 ORIGINAL GIRLS SET - ENGINE & TENDER & 5 CARS-ORIGINAL BOXES |
I still have mine, bought for me when I was 10 years old. Still in all the original boxes. It was only taken out once and run on the model railroad set up that my dad built.