Circa 1921 - Chocolate brown, probably the earliest variation with rubber stamped lettering, cast iron frame with red painted steps and cast iron drivers. The example below is probably 1922, but the only way to tell is looking at the motor.

Circa 1922 - Dark Green, cast iron frame, cast iron drivers, rubber stamped lettering.

End view of 3242 from 1922-24.

Maroon / Dark red locomotive circa 1922 with original box.

Circa 1923 - red body with cast iron frame, cast iron drivers and silver rubber stamped lettering.

Circa 1924 - red body 3242-R with cast iron frame, cast iron drivers and rubber stamped lettering. Note the close up below showing the lettering, it would appear the 'R' was added after the cab was originally rubber stamped. 

Circa 1924 - Maroon with Wanamaker Railway Lines lettering. Cast iron frame and drivers

It's for real, this is a white 3242. It's the only one we know of and it came with two long white cars.

Circa 1925 - Red 3242R with cast iron frame, die cast drivers and brass plates.

The example above has 3241 plates, but has full trim and duo headlights - we think this is really a 3242 and they had some extra 3241 plates to use up. There's also an example in light green

Circa 1925 - Maroon 3242 with cast iron frame, die cast drivers and brass plates.

Circa 1926 - Gray 3242 with cast iron frame, die cast drivers and brass plate lettering.

Circa 1926 - bottom of 3242 showing narrow motor and die-cast wheels.

Circa 1927 - Unusual dark olive green 3242 with brass plates.

Circa 1926 - Above and below are the Tan 3242 with cast iron frame, die cast drivers and brass plate lettering - unusual color.

Circa 1927 - this tan example has the steel frame with snow plow pilots. It has a wide motor and a patent date of 1927

Circa 1927 - Orange 3242 with stamped steel frame, snow plow pilots and embossed windows.

Circa 1927 - light green 3242 with stamped steel frame, snow plow pilots and embossed windows.

Circa 1928 - Orange 3242 with stamped steel frame, die cast pilots, brass window inserts and embossed doors.

Frame and motor from a 1928 locomotive - Note the wide motor, die-cast pilots and cast weights on either side of the frame. The added weight was needed when IVES changed over from the snowplow pilots to the lighter die-cast ones.

Circa 1928 - This 3242 is early 1928 - the frame was originally painted orange and then repainted red by IVES to go with the later Cardinal Sets. The frame and cab are 1928 with it's brass window frames, but no brass doors . Also note that this frame uses the stamped steel pilots, that were only used for a short time in early 1928 until the new die cast ones became available.  The paint on the cab is also a flat black, only used in 1928. IVES was really hurting for parts in 1928, not only does this have steel pilots, but the one brass plate on the side was from a motor plate and the plate used on the end above the pilots was extra stock 3242R plates (see below)

Circa 1929 - Cardinal locomotive with semi-gloss black cab, brass window and door inserts, die cast pilots.

Circa 1928-1930 - Bottom of frame and motor for 3242s. Note Wide motor, IVES was no longer using the old 1 gauge motor with extended axles. Also note that most of these steel frame locomotives had weights on the bottom of the frame.

This locomotive can be found with just brass side doors or with all four doors as brass inserts.

I'm not sure what happened here but it appears to be a Cardinal engine with a RED cab. This is the only one that we know of.

Circa 1927-1928 - Another 3242 that looks like early 1928 or late 1927, though not cataloged in that color. The frame is 1927-like with it's snow plow pilots, the cadet blue cab is 1928-like with it's brass window inserts, but NO brass doors. Look at the cadet blue 3242 below which is the one more commonly seen in this color with the die-cast pilots and brass door inserts.

Circa 1930 - Cadet blue- note brass end doors and die cast pilots with brass plates.