Picked up a Basket case Lionel prewar 252 (strap headlight) engine at the Edison NJ train show last weekend.
The engine is complete with good pick-up rollers and a couple of swollen wheel (Already have replacement wheels for it). The motor does turn freely and does power up, just need lubrication.
The frame has one of the motor mount are broken off and the reversing switch is mounted to the frame by a bracket attached to the frame not the motor (looking for a replacement frame so the hunt is on).
I have other 252 but with cast headlights and the reversing switch is mounted to the frame.
In reading a Greenbergs book on Lionel prewar I resd that this 252 had various changes in the years manufactured.
The cast headlight was a later version with a narrow slot on top for the reversing switch and this reversing switch was located to the front of the engine behind the headlight. The reversing switch is mounted on the motor.
On the 252 with the strap headlight that I picked up is a first generation of the 252 has a narrow slot for the reversing switch. This switch being mounted to the frame by a bracket that is permanently connected to the frame. The switch location should be opposite the cast headlight version and the slot is at the rear of the engine.
I’m sure that there are a lot of folks out there that know this but I did not.
With this post I just want to emphasize on how important books/research are needed when doing rebuilds. So when you see those books, grab them as you never know when you will need them
