The Lionel Columbia Type 2-4-2-Locomotive No. 244 was available in 1960 and 1961. Produced on a BLACK Type VI plastic body with a WHITE heat-stamped number on the cab, it has a metal sided motor and has added weights in the front and the rear of the locomotive to aid in its tractive effort. It is controlled by a two position directional unit. This locomotive was lighted and has a headlight lens and a liquid smoke unit equipped with bellows.

This engine is the same as the No. 243 except that this locomotive did not come with a whistle tender. There are two variations:

Variation A: With a No. 244T slope back tender equipped with AAR trucks and a disc coupler.

Variation B: With a No. 1130T streamlined tender equipped with AAR trucks and a disc coupler.

This locomotive was designed to work on O27 Gauge track and it will also run on O Gauge track.

In 1960, this locomotive headed up uncataloged Set No. X532NA Steam Freight Set. Believed to have been distributed to automotive parts chain stores around the country, this set is hard to find today. The "NA" suffix is believed to stand for "No Advertising." Traditionally, Lionel would share the advertising expenses with the buyer of these uncataloged sets. In this case they would not do this. We’ve pictured the box top and side of this set below. The contents of this set were:

No. 244 Scout Steam Engine with a No. 244T Slope-Back Tender as describe here.

No. 6062 BLACK Gondola with ORANGE Cable Reels.

No. 6465 Cities Service Tank Car.

No. 3376 BLUE Operating Bronx Zoo Giraffe Car with YELLOW lettering.

No. 6017 TUSCAN SP-type Caboose.

Track and a No. 1015 45 Watt Transformer.

This locomotive headed up the rare uncatalogued Steam Freight Set No. X566NA that Lionel made for W.T. Grant in 1960. We’ve shown a picture of the set box below. In addition to the locomotive described above, this set consisted of:

No. 244T Slope Back Tender.

No. 3512 Fireman and Ladder Car.

No. 6817 Flat Car with Earth Scraper (only on some issues).

No. 3361X Operating Lumber Car.

No. 6670 Boom Crane Car.

No. 6119-50 Work Caboose.

No. 464 Operating Lumber Mill.

No. 1022 Manual O27 Switches.

No. 6019 O27 Uncoupling Track Section.

For additional information about this set see page 222 of John Schmid’s Promotional Outfit Book.