Prewar 289E and motor?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I have a shell or body to a 289E locomotive, but nothing else as far as motor and drive parts. Due to the fact that this is such a rarely seen or offered item, I would like to know if there is an alternative motor used. The body is the same one as the Prewar 1689E, that used an “0” gauge motor to create the ‘uncatalogued’ 289. I know that Lionel used the same motors on different locos, at different times, during their production periods. Does anyone know what motor, which to date can’t be found (original motor), that Lionel may have used, to create the 289E, other than the original. From photos of previous posting on different sites, I know that the motors I have seen are “double reduction” (gears) motors. Some possibilities are 249E, 259E, 265E, that may be adapted, with some additional parts. Anyone that can shed some light on my dilemma, would be appreciated.

I am also well versed in the colors of Gun metal, or Black, and what tender belongs to the combination, so I don’t need comments on those topics. I strictly need info on an alternative motor that can be adapted, if there is one.

Thanks

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I couldn’t find any diagrams of the 289E in the Olsen’s library: http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd1.htm, but there are some of the other Vanderbilts.

According to the Standard Catalog of Lionel Trains 1900-1942 by David Doyle, the 289E entry says: “…they shoehorned a O gauge motor into a small O27 streamlined boiler.” It’s just a guess but I’d look into the motor used on the 265E which was the 289’s big brother.

As for the tender, the book lists 5 variations for the 289E:

  1. Gunmetal with 1689T
  2. Gunmetal with 1689W
  3. Black with 1588T
  4. Black with 1688T
  5. Black with 1888W

So I guess you can take your choice as far as which tender to use.

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Doc I used a 1666 type motor in my 1689E, I would think that’s the same shell, but you would know that better than I.

4

The 289E is a 2-4-2.
There are a couple on EBay right now.
Just search for “Lionel 289”.