All , I had this set during my childhood 1969 -please see photos- In 1970 I added another gondola car a second Caboose which had a rear Coupler which I Lettered for Erie RR in 1970? I added the yellow hopper car see pt.2 . In Mid May 2021 I donated it to the Local model train club where I was residing at the time. Tom
Nice memories and good photos too! Looks like you had a No. 1590 set from 1958. These were sometimes called Scout sets during Lionel's history.