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Earlier on this board I mentioned that I acquired over a dozen "junk" or derelict motors to develop my repairing skills. The motors were represented to me as Lionel post war production. I don't know what they are or what locomotives they would belong to. Can you help?

To add to interest I intend to post a new motor every week until the inventory is identified. The  expert who I.D.'s each week's motor will be awarded a "Certificate of Awesomeness"  from yours truly as a token of admiration and appreciation

So I put it to you, expert brothers and sisters, please: 1.) identify the motor; and 2.) Identify the locomotive it was intended to power. 

Thanks!

 

So here is our first motor:Week1 Port SideWeek1 Starboard SideWeek1 UndersideWeek1 Topside

 

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Images (4)
  • Week1 Port Side
  • Week1 Starboard Side
  • Week1 Underside
  • Week1 Topside
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Chuck Sartor posted:

That motor will fit a 259E. Specific number 259E-50 for the motor unit.

Here is your Certificate, Chuck:

 Certif of A Week 1 72 resolution

I never would have found that in a million years, Chuck!  I had no idea it was a pre-war motor!

I did do a little research and found that the 259E was the less expensive version of the 260, which was a top of the line tin-plate locomotive from 1932 to 1940. Though less pricey than the260, it was still an expensive engine for its time, $10.75,  and out of reach of the budgets of most folks back then.

259E

Attachments

Images (2)
  • 259E
  • Certif of A Week 1 72 resolution
Last edited by HCSader73

I saw a couple of pics similar to what Pete posted, i.e. shiny rimmed (and tread) wheels with red spokes, looking like classic tinplate type wheels. Then I also found a couple more pics with the more standard blackened wheels with nickel treads, or at least they look like nickel treads. Both were branded as 259's on the cab. What's with that?

The 259 (without the E) was made in 1933 with a manual reverse lever in the cab. This version has red painted open spoke drivers and red pilot and trailing truck wheels. The next year the mechanical E unit was added and became the 259E. The wheels are still open spokes but are now black. Remained this way until 1937 when the wheels were changed to solid wheels with filled in spokes (thin wheels) and narrower nickel rims. So the motor shown is from  1937 version or later (engine was cataloged up to 1940.)

Chuck Sartor posted:

The 259 (without the E) was made in 1933 with a manual reverse lever in the cab. This version has red painted open spoke drivers and red pilot and trailing truck wheels. The next year the mechanical E unit was added and became the 259E. The wheels are still open spokes but are now black. Remained this way until 1937 when the wheels were changed to solid wheels with filled in spokes (thin wheels) and narrower nickel rims. So the motor shown is from  1937 version or later (engine was cataloged up to 1940.)

Thanks for the info!

Geo

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