Lionel Sheet Metal “Commodore Vanderbilt” Steam Locomotives
All information and trains supplied by Russ MacNair unless otherwise noted
Lionel No. 264 Steam Locomotives
Lionel No. 265 Steam Locomotives
Lionel No. 264 Steam Locomotives
General Information
The Lionel No. 264E 2-4-2 “Commodore Vanderbilt” Steam Locomotive was introduced in 1935 and was cataloged in 1935 and in 1936. The locomotive was included as a component of the cataloged “Red Comet” Passenger Set and one cataloged freight set. The locomotive was also included as a component of several uncataloged passenger sets from 1935 through 1940. The locomotive was based on the New York Central “Commodore Vanderbilt” streamlined steam locomotive used for the Twentieth Century Limited. The No. 264E Steam Locomotive utilized a sheet metal boiler and a diecast cab and steam chest.
The locomotive has nickel trim, aluminum plates with the number on the sides of the cab, “Commodore Vanderbilt” on the sides of the boiler and a circle “L” plate on the nose of the engine. Some of the number plates had a unique black border around the number. The No. 264E Steam Locomotive has an operating headlight and a remotely operated reverse with a lever on the top of the boiler that engages or disengages the reversing unit.
The No. 264E Steam Locomotive was paired with a No. 261T Tender in the 1935 version of the Red Comet Set or with a No. 265T/W Tender in the 1936 version of the Red Comet Set. The locomotive was also paired with either the No. 261T or No. 265T/W Tenders in uncataloged sets. The No. 261T Tender has a sheet metal body. The tender has nickel trim, brass or aluminum plates on the sides which reads “Lionel Lines” and a brass or aluminum circle “L” plate on the rear. The tender has a latch coupler and nickel journals. The No. 264E / 261T Steam engine and tender combined measure 16-inches in total length. The No. 265T/W Tenders have a sheet metal “waffle top” body with nickel trim and aluminum “Lionel Lines” plates on the sides of the tender. The tenders have an early style manual box coupler and nickel journals. The No. 264E / 265T/W Steam engine and tender combined measure 17-inches in total length.
Lionel No. 264E Steam Locomotives
1. No. 264E / 261T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in red with nickel trim, aluminum number plates with black border on the sides of the cab and a brass circle “L” plate on the nose (1935). The engine has black wheels with nickel rims. The No. 261T Tender is red with black frame, nickel trim, brass plates on the sides of the tender and a brass circle “L” plate on the rear. The tender has nickel journals and a latch coupler.
2. No. 264E / 265W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in red with nickel trim, aluminum number plates on the sides of the cab and a brass circle “L” plate on the nose (1936). The engine has black wheels with nickel rims. The No. 265W Tender is red with nickel trim and aluminum plates on the sides of the tender. The tender has nickel journals and an early style manual box coupler.
3. No. 264E / 265T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in red with nickel trim, aluminum number plates on the sides of the cab and a brass circle “L” plate on the nose (1936). The engine has black wheels with nickel rims. The No. 265T Tender is red with nickel trim and aluminum plates on the sides of the tender. The tender has nickel journals and an early style manual box coupler.
4. No. 264E / 265W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with nickel trim, aluminum number plates on the sides of the cab and an aluminum circle “L” plate on the nose (1936). The engine has black wheels with steel rims. The No. 265W Tender is black with nickel trim and aluminum plates on the sides of the tender. The tender has nickel journals and an early style manual box coupler.
5. No. 264E / 261T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with nickel trim, aluminum number plates on the sides of the cab and an aluminum circle “L” plate on the nose (1937). The engine has black wheels with steel rims. The No. 261T Tender is black with nickel trim, aluminum plates on the sides of the tender and an aluminum circle “L” plate on the rear. The tender has a latch coupler and no journals
Lionel No. 265 Steam Locomotives
General Information
The Lionel No. 265E 2-4-2 “Commodore Vanderbilt” Steam Locomotive was introduced in 1935 and was cataloged through 1940. The locomotive was included as a component of many cataloged and uncataloged passenger and freight sets. Noteworthy cataloged sets included the “Silver Streak” streamlined passenger set and the “Blue Streak” streamlined passenger set. The locomotive was based on the New York Central “Commodore Vanderbilt” streamlined steam locomotive used for the Twentieth Century Limited. The No. 265E Steam Locomotive was very similar to the No. 264E Steam Locomotive and utilized a sheet metal boiler and a diecast cab and steam chest. The only differences between the two locomotives included the addition of eccentric side rods and a nickel rather than a painted ventilator above the headlight on the No. 265E Locomotives.
The No. 265E Steam Locomotive has nickel trim, aluminum plates with the number on the sides of the cab, “Commodore Vanderbilt” on the sides of the boiler and a circle “L” plate on the nose of the engine. Some of the number plates had a unique black border around the number. The locomotive has an operating headlight and a remotely operated reverse with a lever on the top of the boiler that engages or disengages the reversing unit.
The No. 265E Steam Locomotive was paired with a No. 261TX Tender in the 1935 Silver Streak Set. Most other cataloged and uncataloged sets utilized a No. 265T/W Tender. The last No. 265E Locomotives
often utilized No. 2225T/W Tenders with an operating coupler. The No. 261TX Tender has a sheet metal body. The tender has nickel trim, brass plates on the sides which reads “Lionel Lines” and a brass circle “L” plate on the rear. The tender has a latch coupler and nickel journals. The No. 265E / 261TX Steam engine and tender combined measure 16-inches in total length. The No. 265T/W and No. 2225T/W Tenders have a sheet metal “waffle top” body with nickel trim and aluminum “Lionel Lines” plates on the sides of the tender. The tenders have an early style manual or operating box coupler and nickel or black journals. The No. 265E / 265T/W Steam engine and tender combined measure 17-inches in total length
Lionel No. 265E Steam Locomotives
1. No. 265E / 261TX 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with nickel trim, aluminum number plates with black border on the sides of the cab and a brass circle “L” plate on the nose (1935). The engine has black wheels with nickel rims. The No. 261TX Tender is black with nickel trim, brass plates on the sides of the tender and a brass circle “L” plate on the rear. The tender has nickel journals and a drawbar for connection to the streamlined passenger coaches. This locomotive came with the Silver Streak streamlined passenger set.
2. No. 265E / 265W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gunmetal gray with nickel trim, aluminum number plates on the sides of the cab and an aluminum circle “L” plate on the nose (1936). The engine has black wheels with steel rims. The No. 265W Tender is gunmetal gray with nickel trim and aluminum plates on the sides of the tender. The tender has nickel journals and an early style manual box coupler.
3. No. 265E / 265WX 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in light blue with nickel trim, aluminum number plates with black border on the sides of the cab and a brass circle “L” plate on the nose (1936-1938). The engine has black wheels with steel rims. The No. 265WX Tender is light blue with nickel trim and aluminum plates on the sides of the tender. The tender has nickel journals and a drawbar for connection to the streamlined passenger coach. This locomotive came with the Blue Streak streamlined passenger set.
4. No. 265E / 265TX 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with nickel trim, aluminum number plates with black border on the sides of the cab and a brass circle “L” plate on the nose (1936-1938). The engine has black wheels with steel rims. The No. 265TX Tender is black with nickel trim and aluminum plates on the sides of the tender. The tender has nickel journals and a drawbar for connection to the streamlined passenger coach. This locomotive came with the uncataloged China Blue streamlined passenger set.
5. No. 265E / 265T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with nickel trim, aluminum number plates with black border on the sides of the cab and a brass circle “L” plate on the nose (1936-1938). The engine has black wheels with steel rims. The No. 265T Tender is black with nickel trim and aluminum plates on the sides of the tender. The tender has nickel journals and an early style manual box coupler.
6. No. 265E / 2225T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gunmetal gray with nickel trim, aluminum number plates on the sides of the cab and an aluminum circle “L” plate on the nose (1938-1939). The engine has black wheels with steel rims. The No. 2225T Tender is gunmetal gray with nickel trim and aluminum plates on the sides of the tender. The tender has nickel journals and an early style operating box coupler.
7. No. 265E / 2225W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gunmetal gray with nickel trim, aluminum number plates on the sides of the cab and an aluminum circle “L” plate on the nose (1939-1940). The engine has black wheels with steel rims. The No. 2225W Tender is gunmetal gray with nickel trim and aluminum plates on the sides of the tender. The tender has black journals and an early style operating box coupler.
8. No. 265E / 2225T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gunmetal gray with nickel trim, aluminum number plates on the sides of the cab and an aluminum circle “L” plate on the nose (1939-1940). The engine has black wheels with steel rims. The No. 2225T Tender is gunmetal gray with nickel trim and aluminum plates on the sides of the tender. The tender has black journals and an early style operating box coupler.
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