PREWAR “O” GAUGE TINPLATE No. 248 ENGINES


Lionel Classic Period Electric Locomotives


Lionel No. 248 Electric Locomotives Will Be Documented Below

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GENERAL INFORMATION
No. 248 Electric Locomotive in orange (1927)
No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1927)
No. 248 Electric Locomotive in orange (1928-1929)
No. 248 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1928-1932)
No. 248 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1929-1931)
No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1930)
No. 248 Electric Locomotive in red (1930-1932)
No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark red (1930-1932)
No. 248 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1931-32)
Text and Pictures courtesy of Russ MacNair 


GENERAL INFORMATION
Lionel No. 248 Electric Locomotives

The Lionel No. 248 Electric Locomotive was introduced in 1927 and was issued through 1932.  This 0-4-0 Electric Locomotive was one of three box cab electric locomotives issued by Lionel during the Classic Period.  It was not based on any specific actual railroad electric locomotive.  The No. 248 was the smallest of the electric locomotives issued by Lionel during the Classic Period.  This locomotive was included as a component of many smaller low end or entry level passenger and freight prewar sets.

The No. 248 Electric Locomotive measures 7 ¾-inches in length.  All have a single headlight located on one end the roof of the locomotive.  The No. 248 locomotive had no manual reverse and ran in one direction only.  This locomotive was never issued with a remotely operated reverse.  The “Lionel” and “248” designation was either embossed on a brass plate insert for early locomotives or rubber stamped on a painted insert for later locomotives.

Variations of the No. 248 Electric Locomotives include the evolution of the drive wheels from spoked to disc and the headlight from strap to cast.  Other notable variations include body color and insert color.  All No. 248 Electric Locomotives had a black frame.

Lionel No. 248 Electric Locomotives descriptive index

No. 1 No. 248 Electric Locomotive in orange (1927).  Locomotive had a brass/black insert, strap headlight, and spoked drive wheels.

No. 2 No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1927).  Locomotive had a black/brass insert, strap headlight, and spoked drive wheels.

No. 3 No. 248 Electric Locomotive in orange (1928-1929).  Locomotive had a peacock insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

No. 4 No. 248 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1928-1932).  Locomotive had a cream insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

No. 5 No. 248 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1929-1931).  Locomotive had an orange insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

No. 6 No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1930).  Locomotive had a maroon insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

No. 7 No. 248 Electric Locomotive in red (1930-1932).  Locomotive had a cream insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

No. 8 No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark red (1930-1932).  Locomotive had a cream insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

No. 9 No. 248 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1931-32).  Locomotive had a cream insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.  This locomotive is unique in that it has no handrails on the sides of the doors as do all of the other No. 248 Electric Locomotives.  In 1932, the body for the No. 248 locomotive modified by removal of the handrails for use with Lionel produced Ives Electric Locomotives Nos. 3260 and 3261.  A number of these modified bodies were subsequently used for production of Lionel No. 248 Electric Locomotives.


No. 248 Electric Locomotive in orange (1927)

 1. No. 248 Electric Locomotive in orange (1927). Locomotive had a brass/black insert, strap headlight, and spoked drive wheels.

Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”


No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1927)

 2. No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1927). Locomotive had a black/brass insert, strap headlight, and spoked drive wheels.

Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”


No. 248 Electric Locomotive in orange (1928-1929)

3. No. 248 Electric Locomotive in orange (1928-1929). Locomotive had a peacock insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”


No. 248 Electric Locomotive in Terra cotta (1928-1932)

4. No. 248 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1928-1932). Locomotive had a cream insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”


No. 248 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1929-1931)

5. No. 248 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1929-1931). Locomotive had an orange insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”


No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1930)

6. No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1930). Locomotive had a maroon insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”


No. 248 Electric Locomotive in red (1930-1932)

 7. No. 248 Electric Locomotive in red (1930-1932). Locomotive had a cream insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”


No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark red (1930-1932)

8 No. 248 Electric Locomotive in dark red (1930-1932).  Locomotive had a cream insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels.

Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”


No. 248 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1931-32)

 9. No. 248 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1931-32). Locomotive had a cream insert, cast headlight, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive is unique in that it has no handrails on the sides of the doors as do all of the other No. 248 Electric Locomotives. In 1932, the body for the No. 248 locomotive modified by removal of the handrails for use with Lionel produced Ives Electric Locomotives Nos. 3260 and 3261. A number of these modified bodies were subsequently used for production of Lionel No. 248 Electric Locomotives.

Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”


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