The Fast Food Express
By Bill Meyer and Bob Mintz

Many of us may recall from the MPC era the “Sin Series” of tobacco and alcohol cars, “Famous Name” boxcars, “Billboard” reefers, “Turn of the Century” reefers, “Woodside” reefers, “soda” and “mint” and “aquarium” cars.

In 1981, Lionel/Fundimensions introduced the “Collector Series” called “The Favorite Food Freight”.

This included the #6-8160 “Burger King” GP-20 diesel featuring a working headlight; illuminated number boards; transformer controlled forward-neutral-reverse; operating knuckle couplers front and rear; metal trucks, wheels, handrails and chassis; and Lionel Pullmor motor.

Other rolling stock included the #6-6649 “Wendy’s” N5C porthole caboose; along with three reefer cars: #6-7509 “Kentucky Fried Chicken”, #6-7510 “Red Lobster” and #6-7511 “Pizza Hut”.

The only problem was that this “set” was never intended to be one, as the small print says: “All items sold separately, not as a complete set.”

In 1982 the same engine, caboose and reefer cars were offered along with three addition numerically sequenced reefers: #6-7512 “Arthur Treacher” (incorrectly labeled #6-9827 in the catalogue); #6-7513 “Bonanza” (shown as 6-9829); and #6-7514 “Taco Bell (shown as 6-9830)

After this year, the “series” suddenly terminated, never to be seen again.

In an ironic twist, the incorrect numbers given to those cars introduced in 1982 were eventually given to three “Sin Series” cars: # 9827 became “Cutty Sark”; #9829 became “Dewars White Label” #6-9830 became “Johnnie Walker Red”.

Perhaps Lionel was 23 years ahead of its’ time in giving a subliminal warning to the American public of the health hazards of fast foods!