I just purchase a lionel 250 locomotive at a yard sale. I can not find anything out about it except that it was built in 1957-58 just prior to the 249. There are no pictures any where not even in the on-line lionel library. Does anyone know anything about this locomotive. Andy
Not much to tell. I found it in one freight set for 1957.
Lionel 250 Instructions for sale on eBay - $9.99 + $9.95 S&H(a ridiculous amount)
It seems this is a cheap version of the 249 - no headlight & 2 position reverse.
Rob
You can probably acquire the loco & tender for this amount…
Rob
A nice postwar 250 steam engine and matching tender goes for a heck of a lot more than twenty dollars. In fact a nice tender will often go for more alone. Folks like those little orange striped locos. They have a decent motor, basically the same as was used in the 520 boxcab electric, and the 1615 switcher.
These locos are often found with the following defects:
- broken marker lights
- Broken cow catcher
- Damaged bar across the back of the cab (holds up drawbar)
- stripped screw holes for the pilot truck assembly
- scratched up stripes.
Similar engines, the 249 and 247, are also popular.
Partly in jest…
Edit: The 249 is the cheapened loco… the 250 has the 3 position e-unit & headlamp. I switched them above.
Rob
Taken from Greenberg’s Guide to Lionel Trains 1945-1969:
250 1957, 2-4-2 Type II, Black plastic body , red orange stripes with white lettering on both loco and tender, 0-27 metal side motor, 3 position reverse unit, lever down, wieghts, headlight, no lens, two gears on let side, brushplate on right side, motor held in by phillips screw behind second dome and slot in front of motor, 250t tender lettered Pennsylvania with AAR trucks, disc coupler.
Like new cond $60
Thats really the only thing found on them.
If anybody finds a like new postwar Lionel 250 locomotive and matching tender for $60, please post. I don’t beleive that one can be purchased for that price.
As folks find the high-end stuff to be out or reach, the prices of high-end stuff tend to start dropping. Meanwhile, modestly priced items, such as the 250 go up in price as folks focus their attention there.
I’d like to read more about the 250 that Andy purchased. Does it run? What’s the condtion? Come with any cars?
I havn’t seen many for sale or maybe just did’nt notice. Greenburg’s guide say’s Good $22 Exc $52 thats the 2009 edition