Lionel introduced the 153 Block signal in 1940. The signal features a green die-cast metal base, a sheet metal or later aluminum pole and a die-cast metal lamp head. The signal was sold until production stopped for the war in 1942. Then it was sold again after the war from 1945-59.
The 816 hopper car was introduced in 1927. It came in Olive green until 1930 when the color changed to red.
The 815 tank car was introduced in 1926 and was cataloged through 1942. Supposedly the first cars were pea green with maroon frames, but the car I had was a later car from about 1932/33. In 1927 the frame color changed to black and continued to be black for the rest of the cars run.
Until 1934, the car was pea green. In 1934, the color was changed to aluminum. Cars with brass trim and latch couplers can be found with or without the Sunoco decal. Cars with box couplers, made in 1936 and after, always have decals.
Lionel introduced the 800 series cars in 1926. These were the top of the line freight cars until the scale and semiscale cars were introduced in 1940. The first series of cars have brass plates and trim, and latch couplers.
In 1934 Lionel began converting the trim to nickel and changing the colors of the cars. Between 1934 and 1936 these cars came with a mixture of brass and nickel trim. These mixed trim or notch cars (because they fit in the notch years 1935 and 1935) can be a lot of fun to collect. Because most of these notch cars can be created by changing parts with other cars, collectors should examine the car for evidence of being taken apart before paying a premium for a notch car.
The 607 passenger car and the matching 608 observation were introduced in 1926 and cataloged through 1937.
The 603 and 604 were introduced in 1931 and cataloged through 1936. The 603, 604 use the same bodies, but do not have lights. Earlier cars have two air tanks on the bottom. The earliest air tanks have brass end caps- found only on peacock cars- otherwise the end caps are nickel. Cars made after about 1935 have a single fishbelly on the bottom. Uncataloged cars have no air tanks or fishbellies.
The 609, 611 cars are uncataloged cars and were made from 1935 onward.
This page has pictures of each style of loco and links to more detailed information for each.
Early Period O Gauge Electric Locos 1915-27
In 1915 began making the smaller 0 gauge trains. These run on track 1 1/4 inches wide between the rails. Three sizes of loco were made in 1915-17 These were the 700/150 small locos, the medium sized 701/154 and the large 703/156 locos. In 1918 lionel intr0duced and even smaller loco which became the 150 and later when sold without a headlight the 158.
Links will be added later
Lionel Classic Period O Gauge Electric Locos 1924-36
In 1924 Lionel introduced classic period electric engines in both the O and Standard gauge line. These engines featured added brass trim, and were usually brightly colored. Quite different than the earlier period engines that had very little added trim or ornamentation and were usually painted dark green or other dark flat colors.
Lionel Prewar 0 Gauge 248 Electric Locomotive 1927-32
Lionel Prewar 0 Gauge 250 and 252 Electric Locomotives 1926-34
Lionel Prewar 0 Gauge 251 Electric Locomotive 1925-32
Lionel Prewar 0 Gauge 253 and 450 Electric Locomotives 1924-36
Lionel Prewar 0 Gauge 4U and 254 Electric Locomotives 1924-34
The 254 was introduced in 1924 and was cataloged until 1932. The 254E with a two position pendulum reverse was introduced in 1927 and cataloged until 1934.
The 4U was cataloged from 1928 through 1932. The 4U came with components to convert the motor to a stationary motor. Teh 4 only came in gray and orange.
These engines are 9 1/4 inches long- not including couplers. 254E locomotives can be found with an E rubber stamped on the door or engraved on the number plate.
Pea green and olive green engines can be found with or without painted hatches and stripes. Also the olive green and pea green engine can be found with colored celluloid behind the ventilators.
The 254 was also made in red and apple green. The 254/4 was exported to Europe to get rid of the extra 4 bodies after the 4 was discontinued. Both gray and orange versions were exported. The export engines can have 4U or 254 plates but always have “Made in US of America” rubberstamped on the inside of the engine.
There are three variations of the body stamping of the 254. There can be one or two hand reverse slots. The earliest engines have one hand reverse slot, or two diagonally opposite reverse slots. Later cabs have two slots both on the same end of the cab.
Sets: The 4 came in sets with matching 605/ 606 passenger cars. The dark green and mojave 254 came in sets with early 610/ 612 passenger cars. The mojave, olive green and pea green engines cam with late 610/ 612 passenger cars. The 4 and the 254 also came in sets with the large eight wheeled 800 series freight cars.
Rarity: The export engines are extremely difficult to find. The gray 4 is harder to find than any other engine except the export engines. The red 254 is the hardest color 254 to find. The olive green and pea green are the easiest to find.
The 256 was introduced as the top of the line O gauge engine in 1924, and cataloged through 1930. This engine featured two motors, Lionel called this the twin motored locomotive. The 256 is 11 1/2 inches long- not including couplers.
 Early 256 with strap headlight, non operating pantographs and rubberstamped lettering |
 Later 256 with cast headlight, operating pantographs and brass plate lettering. |
Early versions had stamped headlights with working on/ off switches, Non operating standard gauge pantographs, and rubber stamped lettering. Later versions had cast headlights, standard gauge operating pantographs, and brass plate lettering.
There are variations of both types of lettering. The rubber stamped engines come with or without a border, and with stamped or cast lights.. The brass plate engines come with or without a black border on the plate.
Sets: The 256 came in sets with the 710/ 712 passenger cars from1924 through 1929. In 1930 it was cataloged for separate sale only.
Rarity: The rubber stamped version with the border is the hardest to find. The rubber stamped version without the border is easiest to find. All 256 locomotives are highly sought after by collectors.
The 253 was introduced in 1924, and cataloged through 1932. The 253E with electric reverse was introduced in 1931 and ran through 1936. The engine is 9 inches long- not including couplers.
253 Dark Green |
253 Mojave |
253 Peacock |
253 Peacock orange stripe |
 253E Stephan Girard green, dark green frame. |
253 Terra cotta, maroon frame | 450 Red. Special for Macys | 450 Stephan girard green, dark green frame. Special for Macys |
The mojave, dark green and maroon engines come with strap headlights. The dark green comes with orange inserts and die cast light. The other colors come with die cast headlights. The frame on this engine can have two hand reverse slots or one. The E locomotives can have the E engraved on the plate or rubber-stamped on the side of the engine.
Sets: The early strap headlight engines came in sets with matching early 610/ 612 passenger cars. The peacock and two tone green engines came with 607/ 608 passenger cars. The terra cotta engine came with the 613 series passenger cars in sets without baggage cars. The 253 also came with the large 8 wheel 800 series and the small 4 wheel 800 freight cars.
Rarity: The peacock and two tone green engines are the easiest to find. The maroon, gray, pea green and red engines are very hard to find. These are not shown because I need to get pictures from other collectors. The 450 engines made for Macys’s are also hard to find.
The 251 was introduced in 1925 and cataloged through 1932. The 251E with two position reverse was introduced in 1927 and cataloged until 1932. The engine is 10 inches long- not including couplers.
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251 Gray. Brass windows. |
251E Gray. Red windows. |
251 Red. Cream windows. |
The gray engine comes with strap or cast headlights. The red engine is found with or without a cream stripe on the at the bottom of the cab.
Sets: These engines came with matching 605/ 606 passenger cars. The red engine also came in an uncataloged set with the larger 710/ 712 cars in red. This engine also came with the large 8 wheeled 800 series freight cars.
Rarity: Red is harder to find than gray. The red engine with a cream stripe is the hardest to find.
