Lionel Classic Period Electric Locomotives
Lionel No. 253 Electric Locomotives Will Be Documented Below
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GENERAL INFORMATION
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in wine (1924)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in gray (1924)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1924-1926)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1926-1927)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1926-1927)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1928)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1928-1930)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in peacock(1930-1932)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1929)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in red (1929)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in light green (1930)
No. 450 Electric Locomotive in red (1931)
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in red (1931-1932?)
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in dark green (1932?)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1932)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1932)
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1932)
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in apple green (1932-1934)
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1932-1936)
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in peacock (1933-1934?)
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1933-1934?)
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1933-1936?
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1933-1936?)
No. 450 Electric Locomotive in apple green (1935-1936?)
Lionel No. 253 Electric Locomotives
General Information
The Lionel No. 253 Electric Locomotive was introduced in 1924 and was issued through 1936 making it one of the longest running prewar locomotives. This 0-4-0 Electric Locomotive was loosely based on the New York Central and New Haven Railroad box cab electric locomotives. 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. 253 Electric in many uncataged or “Special” sets, many of which were produced for Macy’s Department Store. The uncataloged No. 253 locomotives can be very difficult to locate and a few are very rare.
The No. 253 Electric Locomotive measures 9 ¾-inches in length. All have two headlights located on the roof at the ends of the locomotive. The headlights are non-directional and both are illuminated when the loco is moving in either direction. The No. 253 locomotive had a manual reverse which was controlled by a lever through the frame. The “Lionel” and “253” plates had black lettering. The No. 253E locomotive had a remotely operated reverse. It also had a lever through the frame that engaged or disengaged the reversing unit. The “Lionel” and “253E” plates had red lettering. Later No. 253E locomotives were designated with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the locomotive.
Variations of the No. 253 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, frame color, and insert color.
Lionel No. 253 Electric Locomotives descriptive index
No. 1 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in wine (1924). The body color is also often referred to as maroon. Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, strap headlights, and spoked drive wheels.
No. 2 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in gray (1924). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, strap headlights, and spoked drive wheels. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy’s Special uncataloged set.
No. 3 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1924-1926). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, strap headlights, and spoked drive wheels.
No. 4 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in mojave (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, strap headlights, spoked drive wheels, and nickel tanks.
No. 5 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in mojave (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, strap headlights, spoked drive wheels, and brass tanks.
No. 6 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in mojave (1928). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, cast headlights, disc drive wheels, and brass tanks.
No. 7 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1928-1930). Locomotive had a black frame, orange insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels.
No. 8 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in peacock with orange stripe (1928-1930). Locomotive had a black frame, orange insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. Locomotive also had an orange stripe around the base of the cab.
No. 9 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1929). Locomotive had a black frame, orange insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was a component of a single Sears Special uncataloged set.
No. 10 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in red (1929). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy’s Special uncataloged set.
No. 11 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in light green (1930). The body color is also referred to as pea green. Locomotive had a black frame, orange insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy’s Special uncataloged set.
No. 12 No. 450 Electric Locomotive in red (1931). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. Although basically a No. 253 locomotive, this locomotive was numbered “450” and had “Macy Special” on the center brass plate on both sides of the cab instead of “Lionel”. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy’s Special uncataloged set.
No. 13 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in red (1931-1932?). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had a pendulum reverse. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy Special uncataloged set.
No. 14 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in dark green (1932?). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was likely a component of a Special uncataloged set.
No. 15 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1932). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels.
No. 16 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1932). Locomotive had a maroon frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels.
No. 17 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1932). Locomotive had a maroon frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse.
No. 18 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in apple green (1932-1934). Locomotive had a dark green frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse.
No. 19 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1932-1936). Locomotive had a dark green frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse.
No. 20 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in peacock (1933-1934?). Locomotive had a black frame, orange insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 253E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab. The 253E locomotive in peacock was never issued with “253E” brass plates.
No. 21 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in terra cotta (1933-1934?). Locomotive had a maroon frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 253E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab
No. 22 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1933-1936?). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 253E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 23 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1933-1936?). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 253E locomotive with a large rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 24 No. 450 Electric Locomotive in apple green (1935-1936?). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. Although basically a No. 253 locomotive, this locomotive was numbered “450” and had “Macy Special” on the center brass plate on both sides of the cab instead of “Lionel”. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy’s Special uncataloged set. Photo needed.
Text and Pictures courtesy of Russ MacNair
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in wine (1924)
1. No. 253 Electric Locomotive in wine (1924). The body color is also often referred to as maroon. Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, strap headlights, and spoked drive wheels.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in gray (1924)
2. No. 253 Electric Locomotive in gray (1924). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, strap headlights, and spoked drive wheels. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy’s Special uncatalogued set.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1925-1926)
3. No. 253 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1925-1926). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, strap headlights, and spoked drive wheels.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1926-1927)
4. No. 253 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, strap headlights, spoked drive wheels, and nickel tanks.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1926-1927)
5. No. 253 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1926-1927). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, strap headlights, spoked drive wheels, and brass tanks.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in Mojave (1928)
6 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in mojave (1928). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, cast headlights, disc drive wheels, and brass tanks.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1928-1930)
7 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in peacock (1928-1930). Locomotive had a black frame, orange insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in peacock with orange stripe
8 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in peacock with orange stripe (1930-1932). Locomotive had a black frame, orange insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. Locomotive also had an orange stripe around the base of the cab.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1929)
9 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in dark green (1929). Locomotive had a black frame, orange insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was a component of a single Sears Special uncatalogued set.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in red (1929)
10 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in red (1929). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy’s Special uncatalogued set.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in light green (1930)
11 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in light green (1930). The body color is also referred to as pea green. Locomotive had a black frame, orange insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy’s Special uncatalogued set.
No. 450 Electric Locomotive in red (1931)
12 No. 450 Electric Locomotive in red (1931). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. Although basically a No. 253 locomotive, this locomotive was numbered “450” and had “Macy Special” on the center brass plate on both sides of the cab instead of “Lionel”. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy’s Special uncataloged set.
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in red (1931-1932?)
13 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in red (1931-1932?). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had a pendulum reverse. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy Special uncataloged set.
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in dark green (1932?)
14 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in dark green (1932?). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive was likely a component of a Special uncatalogued set.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in Terracotta (1932)
15 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1932). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1932)
16 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1932). Locomotive had a maroon frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels.
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1932)
17 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1932). Locomotive had a maroon frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse.
No. 253 Electric Locomotive in apple green (1932-1934)
18 No. 253 Electric Locomotive in apple green (1932-1934). Locomotive had a dark green frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels.
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1932-1936)
19 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1932-1936). Locomotive had a dark green frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse.
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in peacock (1933-1934?)
20 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in peacock (1933-1934?). Locomotive had a black frame, orange insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 253E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab. The 253E locomotive in peacock was never issued with “253E” brass plates.
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1933-1934?)
21 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in terracotta (1933-1934?). Locomotive had a maroon frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 253E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1933-1936?)
22 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1933-1936?). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 253E locomotive with a rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1933-1936?)
23 No. 253E Electric Locomotive in apple green (1933-1936?). Locomotive had a black frame, yellow insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. This locomotive had an E-unit reverse and was identified as a 253E locomotive with a large rubber stamped “E” on the sides of the cab.
No. 450 Electric Locomotive in apple green (1935-1936?)
Photo needed.
24 No. 450 Electric Locomotive in apple green (1935-1936?). Locomotive had a black frame, brass insert, cast headlights, and disc drive wheels. Although basically a No. 253 locomotive, this locomotive was numbered “450” and had “Macy Special” on the center brass plate on both sides of the cab instead of “Lionel”. This locomotive was a component of a single Macy’s Special uncatalogued set. Photo needed.
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