LIONEL CLASSIC PERIOD ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES
THE FOLLOWING LIONEL No. 250 AND No. 252 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES WILL BE DOCUMENTED BELOW
Click or Scroll Down
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1926-1927)
2. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1926-1927)
3. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in orange (1926-1927)
4. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926-1927)
5. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926-1927)
6. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929)
7. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929)
8. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1927)
9. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in dark peacock (1929-1930)
10. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in wine (maroon) with cream stripe (1931)
11. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1930-1931)
12. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1930-1931)
13. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1934)
14. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1933-1935)
15. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1933-1935)
16. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935)
17. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935)
18. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in orange (1934)
19. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935)
20. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935)
21. No. 250E Electric Locomotive in orange (1934)
22. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1933-1935)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Lionel No. 250 / 252 Electric Locomotives
The Lionel No. 250 and 252 Electric Locomotives were introduced in 1926 and were issued through 1935. This 0-4-0 Electric Locomotive was not based on any specific actual railroad electric locomotive. This locomotive was included as a component of many smaller cataloged prewar sets and examples from cataloged sets are quite common. Lionel also issued the No. 250 /252 Electric locomotives in many uncatalogued or “Special” sets.
The No. 250 Electric Locomotives were issued in two distinct variations. In 1926 and 1927, the No. 250 locomotives had no reversed unit. In 1934, the No. 250 and 250E locomotives were identical to the corresponding No. 252 and 252E locomotives. These No. 250 and No. 250E locomotives were never included in cataloged sets.
The No. 250 and No. 252 Electric Locomotives measure 8-inches in length. All have a single headlight located on the roof at the end of the locomotive. The No. 252 and later No. 250 locomotives had a manual reverse which was controlled by a lever through the roof. On locomotives with a strap headlight, the reverse lever is located on the opposite hood from the headlight. On locomotives with a cast headlight, the reverse lever is located directly behind the headlight. The pantograph is always located on the opposite hood from the reverse lever. The No. 250E and No. 252E locomotives had a remotely operated reverse. It also had a lever on the roof that engaged or disengaged the reversing unit. Lionel never used a “252E” or “250E” plate. All No. 252E and No. 250E locomotives were designated with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the locomotive.
Variations of the No. 250 and No. 252 Electric Locomotives include the evolution of the drive wheels from spoked to disc and the headlights from strap to cast. Other notable variations include journals, body color and frame color.
Lionel No. 250 and No. 252 Electric Locomotives descriptive index
No. 1 No. 250 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
No. 2 No. 250 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
No. 3 No. 250 Electric Locomotive in orange (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
No. 4 No. 250 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
No. 5 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels.
No. 6 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels.
No. 7 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels.
No. 8 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels.
No. 9 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in dark peacock (1929-1930). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels. This locomotive was used in the uncatalogued set that included the Nos. 607, 607, and 608 passenger cars in dark peacock labelled “Illinois Central”.
No. 10 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in wine (maroon) with cream stripe (1931). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was used in the uncatalogued set that included the Nos. 607, 607, and 608 passenger cars in wine labelled “Macy’s Special”. The locomotive was also used in other sets that included the Nos. 607, 607, and 608 passenger cars in wine labelled “Lionel Lines”.
No. 11 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels.
No. 12 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had a maroon frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels.
No. 13 No. 250 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1934). Locomotive had a maroon frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels.
No. 14 No. 252E Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1933-1935). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 15 No. 252E Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1933-1935). Locomotive had a terra cotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 16 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels.
No. 17 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive had a terra cotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels.
No. 18 No. 250 Electric Locomotive in orange (1934). Locomotive had a terra cotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels.
No. 19 No. 252E Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive had a terra cotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 19 No. 252E Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive had a terra cotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 21 No. 250E Electric Locomotive in orange (1934). Locomotive had a terra cotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 250E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 22 No. 252 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1933-1935). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels.
1. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1926-1927)
1. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
2. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1926-1927)
2. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
3. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in orange (1926-1927)
3. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in orange (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
4. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926-1927).
4. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
5. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926-1927)
5. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
6. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929)
6. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
7. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929)
7. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
8. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1927)
8. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1927). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
9. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in dark peacock (1929-1930)
9. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in dark peacock (1929-1930). Locomotive had a black frame, strap headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels. This locomotive was used in the uncataloged set that included the Nos. 607, 607, and 608 passenger cars in dark peacock labelled “Illinois Central”.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
10. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in wine (maroon) with cream stripe (1931)
10. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in wine (maroon) with cream stripe (1931). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was used in the uncatalogued set that included the Nos. 607, 607, and 608 passenger cars in wine labelled “Macy’s Special”. The locomotive was also used in other sets that included the Nos. 607, 607, and 608 passenger cars in wine labelled “Lionel Lines”.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
11. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1930-1931)
11. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
12. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1930-1931)
12. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive had a maroon frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
13. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1934)
13. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1934). Locomotive had a maroon frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
14. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1933-1935)
14. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1933-1935). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
15. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1933-1935)
15. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in terracotta with cream stripe (1933-1935). Locomotive had a terracotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
16. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935)
16. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and spoked drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
17. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935)
17. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive had a terracotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
18. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1934)
18. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in orange (1934). Locomotive had a terracotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
19. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935)
19. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive had a terracotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
20. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935)
20. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive had a terracotta frame, cast headlight, nickel journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse, but was not identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
21. No. 250E Electric Locomotive in orange (1934)
21. No. 250E Electric Locomotive in orange (1934). Locomotive had a terracotta frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 250E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
22. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1933-1935)
22. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1933-1935). Locomotive had a black frame, cast headlight, copper journals, and disc drive wheels.
Courtesy of “The MacNair Collection”
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT ?