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The Type 6 motor brush plate is fastened to themotor side by extensions of the brush plate.Three of its four sides form a rectangle.

The Type 6 motor has a pinon gear which pow-ers two intermediate phenolic gears each ofwhich share a shaft with two smaller gears. Thesmaller gears power the gears mounted on therear of the drivers. The motor has no gearcover.

Pinion gear.

Phenolic gear.

No. 253 Locomotive, Type 6 Motor, Outfit 296, c. 1929.

No. 253 Electric Locomotive, c. 1929, dark green body, or-ange window and ventilator inserts, black frame. Outfit 296.Outfit 296 is described on the next page and several com-ponents are shown below.1. Two cast headlights.2. Brass pantograph and whistle.3. Brass roof handrails.4. Type 3 latch couplers, no slots.5. Type 6 motor with manual reverse, enameled field andarmature windings.6. Type 4 pickup label. 7. Type 1 flag holder.8. Nickel journals.9. Brass plates with black “253.”10. Diecast red-painted disc wheels.R. Isett Collection.

Type 1 flag holder.

“253” plate.

Castheadlight.

Reverselever.

Flag holder

Nickel journals.

Whistle. Pantograph.

Type 4 pickup label. Embossing.

Type 3 coupler with anotch in the rivet to re-tain spring.

Left, No. 253 box marked “D. Green.” Center, lubricationinstructions. Right, “Directions” pamphlet. The outfitshown on this and the following page is unusual in that itprobably contains all of the accessory items that it originallyhad when it left the factory. Most outfits have lost some ormost of their accessory items.

Outfit 96 includedfour pieces of O Gaugestraight. The track hasone pin on one endand two pins on theother.

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No. 607 and 608 are equipped with two air tanksand Type 2 oil instruction labels. The No. 607 (left)and No. 608 (right) boxes are marked “P. Blue.”“P.” is an abbreviation for peacock.

Outfit 296 was offered in the catalogue from 1928 to 1932.This particular outfit is likely from 1929 and included No.253 locomotive, two No. 607 Pullmans, and No. 608 Ob-servation. It also included 8 OC curved track, 4 OS straighttrack, OTC lockon, No. 068 Warning Signal, and No. 81Rheostat. This outfit is dated 1929 because:1. The locomotive has the Type 6 motor.2. The passenger cars have nickel journals and the Obser-vation has a brass railing.3. The box end interior is stamped “29.”R. Isett Collection.

Top, No. 607 Pullman in peacock blue and orange. Bottom:No. 608 Observation. Both have Type 3 latch couplers, Type5b trucks, and Type 2 oil labels.

Type 5b truck has rectangular holes in the side frames andrectangular support bars between the side frames. The barsare designed to support the roller pickup assembly.

Left, No. 608 Observation. Center, No. 81 Rheostat, box ofConnecting Ties. Right, 068 Warning Signal and OTClockon.

No. 253 Locomotive, Outfit 296, (Sears Outfit 49T 5188), two No. 607 Pullmans, No. 608 Observation, c. 1929.

Top, Outfit 296 box end. Center, left, box interior rubberstamp. “296-T” is the part number for the box top. The boxis dated “29” for 1929. Center right, Sears label fragmentfrom Outfit 49T 5188. Bottom, box top label, c. 1929.

Rectangularbar.

End of rectan-gular bar.

250

The Type 6 motor brush plate is fastened to themotor side by extensions of the brush plate.Three of its four sides form a rectangle.

The Type 6 motor has a pinon gear which pow-ers two intermediate phenolic gears each ofwhich share a shaft with two smaller gears. Thesmaller gears power the gears mounted on therear of the drivers. The motor has no gearcover.

Pinion gear.

Phenolic gear.

No. 253 Locomotive, Type 6 Motor, Outfits 174, 295 and 296, c. 1928-30.

No. 253 Electric Locomotive, c. 1928-30, peacock bluebody, orange window and ventilator inserts, black frame.Outfit 296. Outfit 296 is described on the next page. It islikely that No. 253 with the same details came with Outfits174 and 295. Outfit 174 and 295 are described below.1. Two cast headlights.2. Brass pantograph and whistle.3. Brass roof handrails.4. Type 3 latch couplers, no slots.5. Type 6 motor with manual reverse, enameled field andarmature windings.6. Type 4 pickup label. 7. Type 1 flag holder.8. Nickel journals.9. Brass plates with black “253.”10. Diecast red-painted disc wheels.E. Prendeville Collection, re: 7793, R. English Collection,re: 4309.

Type 1 flag holder.

“253” plate.

Castheadlight.

Reverselever.

Flag holder

Nickel journals.

Whistle. Pantograph.

Type 4 pickup label. Embossing.

Outfit 295. In 1928-29, the No. 253 Locomotivewas offered in Outfit 295 including one No. 811 FlatCar, one No. 812 Gondola, one No. 817 Caboose,eight OC curve tracks, and 4 OS straight tracks.

Outfit 174. According to the 1929 and 1930 catalogues, No.253 was offered with Outfit 174. It includes a No. 253 Loco-motive, two No. 607 Pullmans, one No. 608 Observation, 10OC curve tracks, 6 OS straight tracks, one pair of No. 021switches, one No. 106 Bridge, one No. 122 Station, six No. 060Telegraph Poles, one No. 62 Semaphore, one No. 89 Flag, oneNo. 068 Warning Signal, and one No. 119 Tunnel.

Type 3 coupler withnotch in rivet to retainspring.

251

No. 607 and 608 are equipped with two air tanks andType 2 oil instruction labels. The No. 607 (left) and No.608 (right) boxes are marked “P. Blue.” “P.” is an ab-breviation for peacock.

Outfit 296 was offered in the catalogue from 1928 to 1932.This particular outfit is likely from 1929-30 and includedNo. 253 locomotive, two No. 607 Pullmans, and No. 608Observation. It also included 8 OC curved track, 4 OSstraight track, OTC lockon, No. 068 Warning Signal, andNo. 81 Rheostat. This outfit is dated 1929-30 because:1. The locomotive has the Type 6 motor.2. The passenger cars have nickel journals and the Obser-vation has a brass railing.3. The box end label shows No. 390 locomotive which wasfirst offered in 1929. No. 381 was first offered in 1928. E. Prendeville Collection, re: 7833.

Top, No. 607 Pullman, peacock blue and orange. Bottom: No.608 Observation. Both have Type 3 latch couplers, Type 5btrucks, and Type 2 oil labels.

Type 5b truck has rectangular holes in the side frames andrectangular support bars between the side frames. Thebars are designed to support the roller pickup assembly.

Left, No. 608 Observation platform. Right,No. 068 Warning Signal and No. 81 Rheostat.

No. 253 Locomotive, Outfit 296, two No. 607 Pullmans, No. 608 Observation, c. 1928-30.

Outfit 296 box end and box top with Type 4g labels, c. 1929-30.

Rectangularbar.

End of rectan-gular bar.

252

No. 253 Locomotive, Type 6 Motor, Outfit No. Special 1, c.1929.

No. 253 Electric Locomotive, c. 1929, red body, yellowwindow and ventilator inserts, black frame. Lionel calledthe outfit “Special Outfit 1.” The red paint is similar to thepaint used on the No. 450 Macy Special locomotive. 1. Two cast headlights.2. Brass pantograph and whistle.3. Brass roof handrails.4. Type 3 latch couplers, no slots.5. Type 6 motor with manual reverse, enameled field andarmature windings.6. Type 4 pickup label. 7. Type 1 flag holder.8. Nickel journals.9. Brass plates with black numbers “253.”10. Diecast red-painted disc wheels.W. Kennedy and E. Prendeville Collections, re: 7613.

No. 253 equipped with manual reverse with plates with black numbers “253”. Replacement cast headlights.

“253” plate.

Castheadlight.

Reverselever.

Flag holder.

Type 1 flag holder.Type 4 pickup label with arrow pointing to embossing.

Type 6 motor. Brush holder has spacers thatseparate the brush holder from the sideframe. Red arrow points to the location of aspacer.

Nickel journals.

Whistle.Pantograph.

Spacer.

Type 3 coupler with notch inrivet to retain spring.

253

No. 253 Locomotive, Outfit Special 1, two No. 607 Pullmans, No. 608 Observation, c. 1929.

Left, No. 608 Observation platform with Macy Specialplate. Right, No. 068 Warning Signal and OTC lockon.

Type 3 oil instruction label and Type 5b truckswith rectangular support bars.

The No. 607 (left) and No. 608 (right) boxes aremarked “RED.”Top, No. 607 Pullman, red with yellow trim. Bottom: No. 608

Observation. Both have Type 5b trucks and Type 3 oil labelsand came with Outfit Special 1. These trucks and labels areshown on the right.

Outfit No. Special 1 was not offered in the catalogue.It included No. 253 locomotive, three No. 607 Pullmansand one No. 608 Observation with Type 5b trucks andType 3 oil labels. It also included 8 OC curved track, 4OS straight track, OTC lockon, No. 068 Warning Sig-nal, and No. 81 Rheostat. This version was sold byMacy and included a special box label and the obser-vation plate. Lionel made other versions of Special 1.E. Prendeville and W. Kennedy Collections.

The outfit included No. 81 Rheostat, ConnectingTies and No. 27 lamp.

Top, left, Outfit Special 1 box top. Top, right, rubberstamping on the inside of the box top. The box wasstamped for Outfit 266 in 1929 and used for Special 1 out-fit. Bottom, box end with Special 1 lettering plus anextra Macy label.

254

No. 253 Electric Locomotive, c. 1930, peacock blue bodywith orange stripe, orange window and ventilator inserts,black frame, Outfit 296. Outfit 296 is described on thenext page.  Outfit 296 was sold by Sears as Outfit 5188.It is likely that a No. 253 with the same details came withOutfit 174 from 1930 which is described on the next page.1. Two cast headlights.2. Brass pantograph and whistle.3. Brass roof handrails.4. Type 3 latch couplers, no slots.5. Type 8 motor with manual reverse, wafer switch.6. Type 4 pickup label with embossing.7. Type 1 flag holder.8. Nickel journals.9. Brass plates with black “253.”10. Red-painted diecast disc wheels.R. English Collection, re: 253-4. S. Hardtman Collectionre: with label for Sears 5188 outfit. See next page forSears label.

Type 1 flagholder.Type 4 pickup label.Embossing.

No. 253 Locomotive, Type 8 Motor, Outfits 174 and 296, Sears 5188, 1930.

Type 8 motor, brush side with Phenolic five-sidebrush holder.

Type 8 motor, gear side with diamond-shapedPhenolic gear plate. Lionel had not previouslyused a gear plate in its O Gauge motors.

Cast headlight.

Black frame.

Flag holder.

Whistle.Pantograph.

Type 3 coupler withnotch in rivet to retainspring.

Reverse lever.

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Outfit 296, 1930 includes No. 253 Locomotive, twoNo. 607 Pullmans, and No. 608 Observation. It in-cluded 8 sections of OC curve and 4 sections of OSstraight track, OTC lockon, box of Connecting Ties,No. 068 Warning Signal, and No. 81 Rheostat. R.English Collection, re: 253-4. Also with a Sears5188 label, S. Hardtman Collection.Outfit 174, 1929-30 was a “ complete model rail-road. ” The outfit includes a No. 253 Locomotive,two No. 607 Pullmans, one No. 608 Observation,10 OC curve tracks, 6 OS straight tracks, one pairof No. 021 switches, one No. 106 Bridge, one No.122 Station, six No. 060 Telegraph Poles, one No.62 Semaphore, one No. 89 Flag, one No. 068 Warn-ing Signal, and one No. 119 tunnel.Outfit 295, 1929 includes the No. 253 Locomotive,one No. 811 Flat Car, one No. 812 Gondola, oneNo. 817 Caboose, eight OC curve tracks, and 4 OSstraight tracks.It is likely that the No. 253 Locomotives in Outfits174 from 1930 have the same details as the No. 253Locomotives in Outfit 296 from 1930. It is likelythat the No. 253 in Outfits 295 and 174 from 1929have some different details.

No. 253 Locomotive, Outfit 296, also Sears 5188, two No. 607 Pullmans, No. 608 Observation, 1930.

Top, No. 607 Pullman with, interior light, Type 5b trucks, Type3 latch couplers, and Type 3 oil label. Bottom, No. 608 Obser-vation with matching features.

Top, Type 5b trucks have rectangular holes in theside frames. The end of the rectangular supportbar appears above the side opening. Bottom, Type 5b trucks have rectangular supportbars between the side frames. The right truck hasa roller pickup assembly attached to the supportbar.

Left, No. 608 Observation plat-form with brass platform. Above,the Type 3 oil instruction label ispasted between the air tanks. TheType 3 label has a line enclosingthe drawing and text.

Rectangularbar.

Top, Type 4g top box label similar to that in Outfit 5188.Bottom, 4g box end label with Sears Oufit No. 5188.

256

No. 253 Locomotive, Type 8 Motor, Outfits 174 and 296, 1930-32.

253E Electric Locomotive, c. 1930-32, peacock bluebody with orange stripe, orange window and ventilator in-serts, black frame, Outfit 296. Outfit 174 with No. 253was offered only in 1929 and 1930.1. Two cast headlights.2. Brass pantograph and whistle.3. Brass roof handrails.4. Type 3 latch couplers, no slots.5. Type 8 motor with manual reverse with a wafer switch. 6. Type 10 pickup label. This may be a replacement part.7. Type 3 flag holder.8. Nickel journals.9. Number plates marked with black “253”. 10. Diecast red-painted disc wheels.R. English Collection, re: 253-7.

Type 8 motor, brush side with Phenolic, five-sidebrush holder.

Type 8 motor, gear side with diamond-shapedPhenolic gear cover.

Type 10 pickup label. No embossing in spring. Type 3 flag holder.

Cast headlight.

Black frame.

Flag holder.

Whistle.Pantograph.

Type 3 coupler withnotch in rivet to re-tain spring.

Reverselever.

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No. 253 Locomotive, light green with orange windows and ventilators, and orange stripe. Out-fit 1066 sold by Macy with late No. 610, 610 and 612 passenger cars. The locomotive box ismarked “L. Green.”

Observed with different motor pickup labels. Left, Type 4 label. Right, Type 6 label.

Whistle.Pantograph.

No. 253 Locomotive, Type 8 Motor, Macy Outfit 1066, c. 1930.

Top, Type 8 motor with Phenolic five-side brushassembly. Lower, Type 8 motor with diamond-shaped, Pheolic gear cover.

No. 253 box end marked“253 L Green.”

Reverselever.

Cast headlight.

No. 253 Electric Locomotive, c. 1930. light green bodywith orange stripe, orange window and ventilator inserts,black frame, Outfit 1066. Locomotive box stamped “253L GREEN.” Light green is also known as pea green. SeeChapter 2 for paint shade comparisons.1. Two cast headlights.2. Brass pantograph and whistle.3. Brass roof handrails.4. Type 3 latch couplers, no slots.5. Type 8 motor with manual reverse6. Type 4 or Type 6 pickup label. 7. Type 3 peacock blue.8. Nickel journals.9. Brass number plate marked “253.” 10. Diecast red-painted disc wheels.R. English Collection, re: 253-5, 4129, E. PrendevilleCollection, re: 7527.

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No. 253 Locomotive, Macy Outfit 1066, two No. 610 Pullmans, No. 612 Observation, c. 1930.

Top, late No. 610 Pullman, light green and orange withwhite shades, Type 5b trucks, Type 3 couplers, and Type3 oil label. Bottom, late No. 612 Observation, featuresmatch late No. 610.

Left, late No. 610 box end marked “L. GREEN.” Right,late No. 612 box end marked “L. GREEN.” In this book,we use Lionel’s names for the green shades: apple green,light green, and olive green. Curiously apple green is alighter shade of green than light green. See Chapter 2 forpaint shade comparisons.

Left, the brass end-railing of late No. 612 Observation.Right, the Type 3 oil label that was glued to the undersideof the cars in this set. The Type 3 oil label differs from theType 2 oil label in having a red line enclosing the drawingand text.

Top, Type 5b truck, side view with rectangular openingand shiny metal end of the rectangular support bar. Bot-tom, left, underside of Type 5b truck with rectangularsupport bar to mount roller pickup assembly. Bottom, right, underside of Type 5b truck with roller as-sembly mounted to rectangular bar.

This outfit came in the box shown above which was firstproduced in 1929. This particular box was rubber-stamped on the inside of the top “266T 30.” Lionel as-signed the part number 266T to the box top and the boxwas likely manufactured in 1930.

Rectangularbar.

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