Brass flag holders

[romiin]

 Not sure if it is just the 254 engine I have, but is it all 254 engines have no flag holders?

[starfire700]

All 250- series electric locos including the 248, except for the 254 and 4U do have flag holders. For some reason the 254 and 4U were designed with not enough clearance between the ends of the cab and end of frame to allow for flag holders. Your 254 is right.

[romiin]

 thanks for clarifying that. perhaps they didn't want to make a bigger frame for the 254, and just use frames they already had.

[starfire700]

The 254 / 4U frame is unique to those 2 locos, not used for anything else.
Although the 250 series of "tinplate" electrics are far from "scale", perhaps the Olympian Bi-polar or St Paul style electric that the 254 / 4U electrics were designed after is the answer.
The real Bi-polar had a cab that extended the length of the frame or chassis with no porches on the ends for railings or flag-holders. The 254 / 4U also has a cab that extends near the entire length of the frame, so no flag-holders.