Lionel Classic Period Steam Locomotives
Lionel No. 259 Steam Locomotives
Lionel No. 258 Late Steam Locomotives
Lionel No. 259 Steam Locomotives
General Information
The Lionel No. 259 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive was introduced in 1932 and was cataloged through 1938. The locomotive was included with many cataloged passenger and freight sets during this period. The locomotive was also included in a large number of uncataloged or promotional sets between 1934 and 1942. The No. 259 Steam Locomotive was constructed completely of sheet metal and it has an operating headlight with a cast headlight housing. The locomotive has circle “L” plate on the sides of the cab and the number appears on the boiler front just above the headlight. The No. 259 Steam Locomotive has a manual reverse unit which was controlled by a lever located inside the cab. The No. 259E locomotive has a remotely operated reverse and it has a lever on the top of the boiler that engaged or disengaged the reversing unit.
The No. 259 Steam Locomotive was typically paired with a No. 259T 4-Wheel Tender in cataloged sets. However, the locomotive also came with a No. 1588T Tender or a No. 261T Tender in certain uncataloged sets. The No. 259T Tender has a sheet metal body in black. The tender has brass trim, a circle “L” plate in brass, and a brass plate on the sides which reads “Lionel Lines”. The tender has a latch coupler and copper journals. The No. 259 / 259T Steam engine and tender combined measure 14 3/4-inches in total length.
The No. 259E Steam Locomotive was typically paired with a No. 259T 4-Wheel Tender or a No. 262T 8-Wheel Tender in cataloged sets. However, the locomotive also came with a No. 261T, a No. 1588T, a No. 1688W, a No. 1689T/W, or a No. 2689T/W Tender in various uncatalogued sets. The No. 259T Tender is described above. The No. 262T Tender has a diecast body and has brass trim and a brass plate on the sides which reads “Lionel Lines”. The tender has a latch coupler. The No. 259E / 262T Steam engine and tender combined measure 15 1/4-inches in total length.
Variations of the No. 259 / 259E Locomotives include the color of the body, brass, copper, or nickel trim, brass or aluminum circle “L”, red or black wheels and nickel, black or steel rims.
Lionel No. 259 Steam Locomotives
1. No. 259 / 259T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with copper and brass trim, brass circle “L”, red wheels with nickel rims (1932). The No. 259T Tender is black with brass trim, brass plates and copper journals.
2. No. 259E / 259T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with copper and brass trim, brass circle “L”, red wheels with nickel rims (1933-1934). The No. 259T Tender is black with brass trim, brass plates and copper journals.
3. No. 259E / 1689T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gunmetal gray with copper and brass trim, brass circle “L”, red wheels with nickel rims (1934). The No. 1689T Tender is gray with aluminum plates, and nickel journals.
4. No. 259E / 261T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with nickel trim, brass circle “L”, black wheels with nickel rims (1934). The No. 261T Tender is black with nickel trim, brass plates and nickel journals.
5. No. 259E / 1689T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with nickel trim, brass circle “L”, black wheels with black rims (1934-1935). The No. 1689T Tender is black with copper journals.
6. No. 259E / 259T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in black with nickel trim, brass circle “L”, black wheels with steel rims (1936). The No. 259T Tender is black with nickel trim, brass plates and nickel journals.
7. No. 259 / 261T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in satin black with nickel trim, aluminum circle “L”, black wheels with black rims (1936-1940). The No. 261T Tender is black with nickel trim, aluminum plates and no journals.
8. No. 259E / 1689W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gunmetal gray with nickel trim, aluminum circle “L”, black wheels with steel rims (1936-1938). The No. 1689W Tender is gray with aluminum plates and nickel journals. The tender has a whistle.
Lionel No. 258 Late Steam Locomotives
General Information
The Lionel No. 258 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive was offered from 1940 through 1942. The No. 258 Locomotive was a cheapened version of the No. 259E Locomotive. The locomotive was uncataloged and was included with many promotional passenger and freight sets during this period. The No. 258 Steam Locomotive was constructed completely of sheet metal. The “O” Gauge motor of the No. 259 Steam Locomotive was replaced by an “027” motor with sliding shoe pick-ups. The drive wheels are black with no rims. In addition, the side rods of the No. 259 Locomotive were replaced by a simplified single side rod on each side of the locomotive. The locomotive has an operating headlight, but the headlight casting of the No. 259 Locomotive was eliminated. The number “258“ is rubber stamped on the sides of the cab. The number also appears on the boiler front just above the headlight. Although not identified with an “E”, the No. 258 Locomotive has a remotely operated reverse with a lever on the top of the boiler that engaged or disengaged the reversing unit.
The No. 258 Steam Locomotive was typically paired with either a No. 1689T or a No. 1689W Tender with a latch or late style manual box coupler. The locomotive is also known to come with a No. 2689T or a No. 2689W Tender with a late style operating box coupler. The No. 258 / 1689T Steam engine and tender combined measure 16-inches in total length.
The No. 258 Steam Locomotive was offered in either a gunmetal gray finish or a satin black finish.
Lionel No. 258 Late Steam Locomotives
1. No. 258 / 1689W 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in gunmetal gray with nickel and gray trim (1940). The No. 1689W Tender is gray with aluminum “Lionel Lines” plates, a latch coupler and nickel journals. The tender has a whistle.
2. No. 258 / 1689T 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive in satin black with nickel and black trim (1941-1942). The No. 1689T Tender is black with rubber stamped “Lionel Lines” on the sides, a late style manual box coupler and black journals.
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