Lionel No. 4 / 254 Electric Locomotives
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GENERAL INFORMATION
(1) No. 254 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1924-1926)
(2) No. 254 Electric Locomotive in Mojave#P2 (1924-1927)
(3) No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926)
(4) No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1927-1928)
(5) No. 254 Electric Locomotive in mojave (1928-1929)
(6) No. 4 Electric Locomotive in gray with apple green hatches (1928-31)
(7) No. 4 Electric Locomotive in orange (1928-1931)
(8) No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon hatches and a maroon stripe (1931-1932)
(9) No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon stripe (1930-1931)
(10) No. 254 Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931)
(11) No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931)
(12) No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931
(13) No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929)
(14) No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with a maroon stripe (1931-1932)
(15) No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with a maroon stripe (1931-1932)
(16) No. 254E Electric Locomotive in orange (1931-1932)
(17) No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon hatches and a maroon stripe (1931-1932)
(18) No. 254 Electric Locomotive in pea green with an orange stripe (1932)
(19) No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1933-1934)
(20) No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with an orange stripe (1933-1934)
General Information
The Lionel No. 254 Electric Locomotive was introduced in 1924 and was cataloged through 1934. However, this locomotive was likely used in uncataloged sets beyond that date. This 0-4-0 Electric Locomotive was loosely based on the C.M. & St. Paul Bipolar EP-2 electric locomotives. This locomotive was included as a component of many mid-level cataloged prewar sets and examples from cataloged sets are quite common. Lionel also issued the No. 254 Electric in several uncatalogued or “Special” sets, primarily for Macy’s Department Store. Some of the No. 254 and No. 254E locomotives, particularly those with celluloid inserts, can be difficult to locate.
The No. 254 Electric Locomotive measures 9 1/4-inches in length. All have two headlights located on the roof at the ends of the locomotive. The headlights are directional and are only illuminated corresponding to the direction of travel. The No. 254 locomotive had a manual reverse which was controlled by a lever through the frame. The “Lionel” and “254” plates had black lettering. The No. 254E locomotive had a remotely operated reverse. It also had a lever through the frame that engaged or disengaged the reversing unit. The “Lionel” and “254E” plates typically had red lettering. Later No. 254E locomotives were designated with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the locomotive.
In 1928, Lionel introduced the No. 4U electric Locomotive. The No. 4U was basically a No. 254 issued in kit form with a special “Bild-A-Loco” motor that could be removed from the locomotive for stationary use. The No. 4U locomotive was issued in kit form through 1930 and as a fully assembled locomotive through 1931. When sold fully assembled it is referred to as a No. 4. Such locomotives were often issued with uncatalogued Macy Sets.
Variations of the No. 254 Electric Locomotives include the evolution of the drive wheels from spoked to disc and the headlights from strap to cast. Other notable variations include body color, painted hatches and stripes, and the use of celluloid inserts. All of the No. 254 Locomotives had black frames, brass inserts, brass air tanks, and nickel leaf springs.
Lionel No. 254 Electric Locomotives descriptive index
No. 1 No. 254 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1924-1926). Locomotive had strap headlights and spoked drive wheels.
No. 2 No. 254 Electric Locomotive in mojave (1924-1927). Locomotive had strap headlights and spoked drive wheels.
No. 3 No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926). Locomotive had strap headlights and spoked drive wheels.
No. 4 No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1927-1928). Locomotive had cast headlights and spoked or disc drive wheels.
No. 5 No. 254 Electric Locomotive in mojave (1928-1929). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. (PHOTO NEEDED)
No. 6 No. 4 Electric Locomotive in gray with apple green hatches (1928-31). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. In lieu of “254”, the number plates contained “No. 4 BUILD-A-LOCO”. This locomotive was a component of a single uncataloged set typically offered through Macy’s.
No. 7 No. 4 Electric Locomotive in orange (1928-1931). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. In lieu of “254”, the number plates contained “No. 4 BILD-A-LOCO”. This locomotive was often a component of an uncataloged set offered through Macy’s.
No. 8 No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon hatches and a maroon stripe (1931-1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels.
No. 9 No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive also had maroon celluloid inserts.
No. 10 No. 254 Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels.
No. 11 No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels.
No. 12 No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green (1931-1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels.
No. 13 No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with a maroon stripe (1931-1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive also had maroon celluloid inserts and a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 14 No. 254E Electric Locomotive in orange (1931-1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was often a component of an uncataloged set offered through Macy’s.
No. 15 No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon hatches and a maroon stripe (1931-1933). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels.
No.16 No. 254 Electric Locomotive in pea green with an orange stripe (1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive also had orange celluloid inserts.
No. 17 No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1933-1934). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 18 No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with an orange stripe (1933-1934). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive also has orange celluloid inserts and a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab
1. No. 254 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1924-1926)
No. 254 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1924-1926). Locomotive had strap headlights and spoked drive wheels
(1)
2. No. 254 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1924-1927)
No. 254 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1924-1927). Locomotive had strap headlights and spoked drive wheels.
(2)
3. No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926)
No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926). Locomotive had strap headlights and spoked drive wheels.
(3)
4. No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1927-1928)
No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1927-1928). Locomotive had cast headlights and spoked or disc drive wheels.
(4)
5. No. 254 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1928-1929)
No. 254 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1928-1929). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. (PHOTO NEEDED)
(5)
6. No. 4 Electric Locomotive in gray with apple green hatches (1928-31)
No. 4 Electric Locomotive in gray with apple green hatches (1928-31). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. In lieu of “254”, the number plates contained “No. 4 BUILD-A-LOCO”. This locomotive was a component of a single uncataloged set typically offered through Macy’s.
(6)
7. No. 4 Electric Locomotive in orange (1928-1931)
No. 4 Electric Locomotive in orange (1928-1931). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. In lieu of “254”, the number plates contained “No. 4 BILD-A-LOCO”. This locomotive was often a component of an uncataloged set offered through Macy’s.
(7)
8. No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon hatches and a maroon stripe (1931-1932)
No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon hatches and a maroon stripe (1931-1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels.
(8)
9. No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon stripe (1930-1931)
No. 254 Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive also had maroon celluloid inserts.
(9)
10. No. 254 Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931)
No. 254 Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels.
(10)
11. No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931)
No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels.
(11)
12. No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931)
No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had a pendulum reverse. This locomotive is different from the previous listing in that the lettering on the plates is black rather than the normal red.
(12)
13. No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green (1931-1932)
No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green (1931-1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels.
(13)
14. No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with a maroon stripe (1931-1932)
No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with a maroon stripe (1931-1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
(14)
15. No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with a maroon stripe (1931-1932)
No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with a maroon stripe (1931-1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive also had maroon celluloid inserts. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
(15)
16. No. 254E Electric Locomotive in orange (1931-1932)
No. 254E Electric Locomotive in orange (1931-1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was often a component of an uncataloged set offered through Macy’s.
(16)
17. No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon hatches and a maroon stripe (1931-1933)
No. 254E Electric Locomotive in olive green with maroon hatches and a maroon stripe (1931-1933). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels.
(17)
18. No. 254 Electric Locomotive in pea green with an orange stripe (1932)
No. 254 Electric Locomotive in pea green with an orange stripe (1932). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive also had orange celluloid inserts.
(18)
19. No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1933-1934)
No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with orange hatches and an orange stripe (1933-1934). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
(19)
20. No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with an orange stripe (1933-1934)
No. 254E Electric Locomotive in pea green with an orange stripe (1933-1934). Locomotive had cast headlights and disc drive wheels. This locomotive also has orange celluloid inserts and a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
(20)
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