Info and advice for a Lionel Prewar 256

Nice looking 256  Daniel.  Here is a pic of my freight consist pulled by my 256.

Nice I notice you have a brass plate maybe brass windows/  just got a volume II Greenberg book and it mentioned ours  with plates where  suppose to have solid wheels but mine also has spoked even though they where replaced..

does your yellow 810 crane have the old style couplers again I only see them in the newer version couplers  on the bay

so far I have my wants as 810 820 811   if any one has any .. daniel

I know of a place in AZ that might have what you seek.  You'd have to call and tell her what you want, or send a picture.  Chances are they have it, dusty for sure, but the chances are good.  Their website is long gone, but the inventory remains.  Send me an email if you want to go that route and I will send you a few pic's similar to these few.  It was her grandfathers store, great guy, gone about a year now.

thanks !   Lionel made a 106 bridge with two  ramps anyone ever tried to use a 256 on them  I read maybe some engines  the cow catcher  gets caught on it  thanks

@DanssuperO posted:

Last train show  at the Monroeville  train show I found out what was a almost 4 year hunt for this Lionel 256  my father passed away  almost 4 years ago .

I'm a big postwar O gauge guy and I wanted something I could run  and have I decide since my father was born in 1925 to find something made or in that time period

I felt the Lionel 256 would be the best of the best  .

The gentleman I bought it from gave me a great deal and now that I own it  I only know it probably form the late version  form the 1930 or 1929

I am not sure of anything else . I decided to go with freight cars because My understanding is this  item could of been purchased as a single sale item . and my dad at that age 0f 4 -6 yrs old back in the day  im sure would of been a freight guy..

Im thinking of the 810 crane the  820 search light  cars

otherwise  Im not sure  if you had any suggestions I appreciate knowing your thoughts and any info on this engine I have

also I rewired the engine new brushes and cleaned  and oiled it runs great  it had new wheels installed

the field wire needed to be attach better contacts needed clean and the brush springs where home made after corrected all good

what Im confused about is white flags meant I think a lone run   green and red meant other functions for the

railroad rules

Would a lone freight train have two flags on each end  if not what would the color of the flags be I use electrical tape for my flags easy to change and look pretty good on it

Also one last ? I read that cabooses had flags on the ends but why don't you see any Lionel cabooses with holders like the engine has? and with flags ?

thank you for the info ...daniel

Here is the standard for flags, rom the railroad's "Rules of the Operating Department".

No flags - scheduled train

White flags - extra (train not on schedule)

Green flags - Scheduled train with two or more sections.  displayed on all except last section.

Red flags - Only when running backwards and the front ot the locomotive is actually the rear of the train on which markers must be displayed.

Cabooses.  Most cabooses had red marker lights.  A red light or flag was required to signify the end of a train.  When the end of a train was a car without markers, a red flag was required by day and a red lantern at night.

@mlaughlinnyc posted:

Here is the standard for flags, rom the railroad's "Rules of the Operating Department".

No flags - scheduled train

White flags - extra (train not on schedule)

Green flags - Scheduled train with two or more sections.  displayed on all except last section.

Red flags - Only when running backwards and the front ot the locomotive is actually the rear of the train on which markers must be displayed.

Cabooses.  Most cabooses had red marker lights.  A red light or flag was required to signify the end of a train.  When the end of a train was a car without markers, a red flag was required by day and a red lantern at night.

I don't think Lionel gave any thought to the accuracy of those colors.  Think of all the Lionel locomotives being run with green classification lights when there was no a following section.

I suppose you could argue that when going around a loop there was always a section following :-)

@DanssuperO posted:

thanks !   Lionel made a 106 bridge with two  ramps anyone ever tried to use a 256 on them  I read maybe some engines  the cow catcher  gets caught on it  thanks

Most of the longer wheel bases don't handle the approaches well at all. Folks tend to incorporate just the main bridge section into the layout so it's a straight level run over it. Even when running the smaller locos such as a #150 with two cars, the loco tends to slip on the uphill. You can shim the approaches to help but doesn't look quite right IMO

Thank-you   .. now I'm still wondering why flags on Lionel where put on the electrics and steam  . But I thought I read in real life they put them behind the caboose ..

So did real railroads use flags on the rear of  their cabooses and if so did Lionel ever make it that way thanks . maybe

side note to Chuck thanks for the lead  .. on finding the 810 811 820 and possible a 712 observation for a caboose!

NO rush got side tracked! the wife wanted it for her FALL decoration!!!    She loves the colors I love see it everyday!!!

daniel