Lionel Classic Period Electric Locomotives
Lionel No. 248 Electric Locomotives
Lionel No. 250 / 252 Electric Locomotives
Lionel No. 251 Electric Locomotives
Lionel No. 253 Electric Locomotives
Lionel No. 4 / 254 Electric Locomotives
Lionel No. 256 Electric Locomotives
Lionel No. 250 / 252 Electric Locomotives
information and pictures courtesy of “The MacNair Collection” unless otherwise noted
General Information
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 uncataged or “Special” sets.
The No. 250 Electric Locomotives were issued in two distinct variations. In 1926 and 1927, the No. 250 locomotives had no reverse 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 have 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 have a remotely operated “E” Unit reverse. These locomotives also have a lever on the roof that engages or disengages 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. All No. 250 and No. 252 Locomotives have either combination latch or latch couplers.
Lionel No. 250 and No. 252 Electric Locomotives
Lionel No. 252 Electric Locomotive Box
1. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1926-1927). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, strap headlight, nickel journals and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
2. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in peacock blue (1926-1927). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, strap headlight, nickel journals and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
3. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in orange (1926-1927). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, strap headlight, nickel journals and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
4. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926-1927). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, strap headlight, nickel journals and spoked drive wheels. No reverse.
5. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1926-1927). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, strap headlight, nickel journals and spoked drive wheels. The locomotive has a manual reverse.
6. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1926-1927). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, strap headlight, nickel journals and spoked drive wheels.
7. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, strap headlight, nickel journals and disc drive wheels.
8. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, cast headlight, nickel journals and disc drive wheels.
9. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in olive green (1928-1929). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, cast headlight, nickel journals and disc drive wheels. This locomotive also has a distinctive red stripe along the lower edge of the body. The only reported example of this loco was included in a Special uncataloged passenger set.
10. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in peacock blue (1927). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, strap headlight, nickel journals and spoked drive wheels.
11. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in dark peacock blue (1929-1930). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, 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”.
12. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in wine (maroon) with cream stripe (1931). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, cast headlight, nickel journals and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was used in the uncataloged 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”.
13. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, cast headlight, nickel journals and disc drive wheels.
14. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1930-1931). Locomotive has a maroon frame, brass trim, cast headlight, nickel journals and disc drive wheels.
15. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1933-1935). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, cast headlight, copper journals and disc drive wheels.
16. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1934). Locomotive has a maroon frame, brass trim, cast headlight, copper journals and disc drive wheels.
17. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1933-1935). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, cast headlight, nickel journals and disc drive wheels. This locomotive has an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
18. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in terra cotta with cream stripe (1933-1935). Locomotive has a terra cotta frame, brass trim, cast headlight, copper journals and disc drive wheels. This locomotive has an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
19. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive has a black frame, brass trim, cast headlight, nickel journals and spoked drive wheels.
20. No. 252 Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive has a terra cotta frame, brass trim, cast headlight, copper journals and disc drive wheels.
21. No. 250 Electric Locomotive in orange (1934). Locomotive has a terra cotta frame, brass trim, cast headlight, copper journals and disc drive wheels.
22. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive has a terra cotta frame, brass trim, cast headlight, copper journals and disc drive wheels. This locomotive has an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
23. No. 252E Electric Locomotive in orange (1933-1935). Locomotive has a terra cotta frame, brass trim, cast headlight, nickel journals and disc drive wheels. This locomotive has an E-unit reverse, but was not identified as a 252E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
24. No. 250E Electric Locomotive in orange (1934). Locomotive has a terra cotta frame, brass trim, cast headlight, copper journals and disc drive wheels. This locomotive has an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 250E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
Lionel No. 252 Electric Locomotive Box
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