Lionel Classic Period Steam Locomotives
All information and trains supplied by Russ MacNair unless otherwise noted
Lionel No. 260 Steam Locomotives
Lionel No. 255 Steam Locomotives
Lionel No. 260 Steam Locomotives
General Information
The Lionel No. 260E 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive was introduced in 1930 and was cataloged through 1935. The locomotive was included with a number of cataloged passenger and freight sets during this period. The No. 260E Steam Locomotive utilized a sheet metal boiler, cab, and pilot. The frame, steam chest, and boiler front are diecast. The locomotive has an operating headlight and a fire box light that utilizes a red bulb. The locomotive has “The Lionel Corporation” plates on the sides of the boiler with black lettering and number plates on the sides of the cab with red lettering.
The first No. 260E Steam Locomotives are painted black and have a two-position reverse that is controlled by a pendulum reverse unit. Later black painted No. 260E Steam Locomotives have an E-Unit reverse. The locomotives also have a brass firebox door inside the cab. In 1934, Lionel introduced the “chugger”, an electromagnet buzzer synchronized with the motion of the drivers through the drive or main rods. The early No. 260E Steam Locomotives were paired with a No. 260T Tender in black. These tenders have a brass “Lionel Lines” plate on the right side of the tender. The No. 260T Tender has a sheet metal body and frame with a diecast front section. The tender has either 4 or 6-Wheel trucks with a latch coupler and nickel or copper journals. The No. 260E / 260T Steam engine and tender combined measure 20-inches in total length.
The last No. 260E Steam Locomotives are painted gunmetal gray and have a three-position E-Unit. These locomotives were paired with either a No. 263T or 263W Tender in gray. These tenders have brass circle “L” plates on the sides of the tender. The No. 263T/W Tenders have a sheet metal body and frame with a diecast front section. The tender has 6-Wheel trucks with a latch coupler and nickel journals.
Variations of the No. 260E Locomotives include the color of the body and frame, the use of cream striping, brass, copper, or nickel trim, brass or aluminum plates on the boiler and the cab, and the color of the wheels and rims. Variations of the No. 260T Tenders include the use of cream striping, black or dark green frame, 4 or 6-Wheel trucks, Standard Gauge or “O” Gauge wheels and nickel or copper journals. There are no variations of the No. 263T/W Tenders used with the gunmetal No. 260E Locomotive except for the addition of a whistle with No. 263W Tenders.
Lionel No. 260 Steam Locomotives
1. No. 260E / 260T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with black frame, cream stripes, copper and brass trim, and brass “Lionel” and number plates (1930). The engine has a pendulum reverse unit and red wheels with nickel rims. The No. 260T Tender is black with cream stripes, brass trim, and a brass “Lionel Lines” plate with black lettering on the right side of the tender and nickel journals. The tender has 4-Wheel trucks with Standard Gauge wheels and latch couplers.
2. No. 260E / 260T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with dark green frame, copper and brass trim, and brass “Lionel” and number plates (1931). The engine has a pendulum reverse unit and red wheels with nickel rims. The No. 260T Tender is black with a dark green frame and brass trim, a brass “Lionel Lines” plate with black lettering on the right side of the tender and copper journals. The tender has 4-Wheel trucks with Standard Gauge wheels and latch couplers.
3. No. 260E / 260T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with dark green frame, copper and brass trim, and brass “Lionel” and number plates (1932-1934). The engine has an E-Unit reverse and red wheels with nickel rims. The No. 260T Tender is black with a dark green frame and brass trim, a brass “Lionel Lines” plate with black lettering on the right side of the tender and copper journals. The tender has 6-Wheel trucks with “O” Gauge wheels and latch couplers.
4. No. 260E / 263W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gunmetal gray with gray frame, nickel trim, and aluminum “Lionel” and number plates (1934-1935). The No. 263W Tender is gray with nickel trim, brass circle “L” plates and nickel journals. The tender has 6-Wheel trucks and latch couplers.
Lionel No. 255 Steam Locomotives
General Information
The Lionel No. 255E 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive was introduced in 1935 and was cataloged through 1936. The locomotive was included in one cataloged passenger set and one cataloged freight set during this period. The No. 255E Steam Locomotive was very similar to the No. 260E Locomotive and utilized a sheet metal boiler, cab, and pilot. The frame, steam chest, and boiler front are diecast. The locomotive has an operating headlight and a fire box light that utilizes a red bulb. The locomotive has aluminum “The Lionel Corporation” plates with black lettering on the sides of the boiler and number plates with black lettering on the sides of the cab. The No. 255E Steam Locomotives are painted gunmetal gray and have a three-position E-Unit.
The No. 255E Steam Locomotives were paired with either a No. 263WX or 263W Tender in gray. No. 263WX Tenders have a latch coupler and No. 263W Tenders have an early style manual box coupler. These tenders have brass circle “L” plates on the sides of the tender. The No. 263T/W Tenders have a sheet metal body and frame with a diecast front section. The tender has 6-Wheel trucks with nickel journals. The No. 255E / 263WT Steam engine and tender combined measure 20-inches in total length.
Other than the difference in couplers on the tender as described above, there are no other variations in the No. 255E Steam Locomotives.
Lionel No. 255 Steam Locomotives
1. No. 255E / 263WX 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gunmetal gray with nickel trim (1935-1936). The engine has an E-Unit reverse and black wheels with nickel rims. The No. 263WX Tender is gray with nickel trim, brass circle “L” plates, and nickel journals. The tender has 6-Wheel trucks and latch couplers.
Lionel No. 263 Steam Locomotives
General Information
The Lionel No. 263E 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive was introduced in 1936 and was cataloged through 1939. The locomotive was included with a number of cataloged passenger and freight sets during this period. The No. 263E Locomotive in two-tone blue headed the “O” Gauge Blue Comet Set. The No. 263E Steam Locomotive was very similar to both the No. 260E and the No. 255E Locomotives and utilized a sheet metal boiler, cab, and pilot. However, the piping on the boiler of the No. 263E Locomotive was changed from two sand pipes from different sand domes to the two pipes being connected to a single sand dome. In addition, two plastic marker lights were added to the boiler front of the No. 263E Locomotive. The frame, steam chest, and boiler front are diecast. The locomotive has an operating headlight and a fire box light that utilizes a red bulb. The locomotive has “The Lionel Corporation” plates with black lettering on the sides of the boiler and number plates with black lettering on the sides of the cab. For the No. 263E Locomotives, “Lionel Lines” was added to the number plate. The No. 263E Steam Locomotives have a three-position E-Unit.
The No. 263E Steam Locomotives were paired with either a No. 263W or 2263W Tender. These tenders have aluminum circle “L” plates on the sides of the tender. The No. 263W / 2263W Tenders have a sheet metal body and frame with a diecast front section. The tenders have 6-Wheel trucks with an early or late style manual or operating box coupler and nickel or black journals. The No. 263E / 263WT Steam engine and tender combined measure 20-inches in total length.
Variations of the No. 263E Locomotives include the color of the body, frame and pilot, nickel or chrome trim and the color of the wheels and rims. Variations of the No. 263W and No. 2263W Tenders include the color of the body and frame, brass or aluminum circle “L” plates and nickel or black journals. No. 263W Tenders have an early style manual box coupler. No. 2263W Tenders have an early or late style operating box coupler.
Lionel No. 263 Steam Locomotives
PHOTOS NEEDED
1. No. 263E / 2263W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in blue with dark blue frame and nickel trim (1936-1938). The engine has an E-Unit reverse and black wheels with black rims. The No. 2263W Tender is blue with a dark blue frame, brass circle “L” plates and nickel journals. The tender has 6-Wheel trucks and an early style operating box coupler.
2. No. 263E / 263W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gray with gray frame, and nickel trim (1936-1938). The engine has an E-Unit reverse and black wheels with nickel rims. The No. 263W Tender is gray with aluminum circle “L” plates and nickel journals. The tender has 6-Wheel trucks and an early style manual box coupler.
3. No. 263E / 2263W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gray with gray frame, and nickel trim (1936-1938). The engine has an E-Unit reverse and black wheels with nickel rims. The No. 263W Tender is gray with aluminum circle “L” plates and nickel journals. The tender has 6-Wheel trucks and an early style operating box coupler.
4. No. 263E / 2263W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in blue with dark blue frame and chrome trim (1939). The engine has an E-Unit reverse and black wheels with steel rims. The No. 2263W Tender is blue with a dark blue frame, aluminum circle “L” plates and black journals. The tender has 6-Wheel trucks with a late style operating box coupler.
PHOTOS NEEDED
5. No. 263E / 2263W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in dark gray with dark gray frame and chrome trim (1939). The engine has an E-Unit reverse and black wheels with steel rims. The No. 2263W Tender is gray with aluminum circle “L” plates and black journals. The tender has 6-Wheel trucks and a late style operating box coupler.
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