Lionel Ives Transition Electric Locomotives
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Lionel No. 1651 Electric Locomotives
General Information
The No. 1651 Ives Electric Locomotive was offered by Lionel in the 1931 and 1932 Ives Catalogs. When initially introduced in 1931, the locomotive was marked as “Ives R.R. Lines”. In 1933, the markings were changed to “Lionel-Ives Lines”. The Lionel-Ives version of the locomotive appeared in the 1933 Lionel Catalog. The No. 1651 0-4-0 Locomotive was based on the Lionel No. 253 Locomotive which first appeared in 1924. The primary difference between the two locomotives was that the No. 1651 Locomotive utilized a lithographed body. The No. 253 frame had to be modified to accommodate the new body. The loco utilized the trim and headlight from the No. 253.
The No. 1651 Electric Locomotive measures 9-inches in length. The locomotive has a single cast headlight located at the front of the roof. The No. 1651 Locomotive has no reverse and runs in one direction only. The No. 1651E Locomotive has a remotely operated reverse. It has a lever through the roof that engages or disengages the reversing unit. The No. 1651E Locomotives utilize Lionel’s “E” Unit reverse unit. The locomotive has a lithographed body, painted roof and black frame. The roof is painted a contrasting color from the body. The “Ives R.R. Lines” and “1651” markings, or the “Lionel-Ives Lines” and “1651E” markings, are incorporated into the litho design of the body. The loco has brass and copper trim and copper journals. The loco has only one latch coupler.
Variations of the No. 1651 Electric Locomotives include the color of the body and the roof.
Ives No. 1651 Electric Locomotives
1. No. 1651 Ives Electric Locomotive in yellow/orange litho with dark blue roof (1931). The locomotive has a cast headlight, brass and copper trim and copper journals.
2. No. 1651 Ives Electric Locomotive in maroon/yellow litho with dark brown roof (1932). The locomotive has a cast headlight, brass and copper trim and copper journals.
3. No. 1651E Lionel-Ives Electric Locomotive in maroon/yellow litho with dark brown roof (1933). The locomotive has a “E” Unit reverse, cast headlight, brass and copper trim and copper journals.
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