Laming, Well, I will admit to a prejudice in that AF uses two-rail track and has a more scale (or realistic) appearance. Right now, IMHO, the S Polar Express is the best bargain going for an "under the tree" train set. One never knows how long they will be readily available (Is "Big L" still producing them??), so I wouldn't wait on a purchase.
As for the "Holiday Funk" I too, suffer from it (I am a type 2 Bi-Polar, so such funks sometimes just come over me), but I suspect that putting up a tree and running a train under it would help balance things out. Holidays are a tough time for many folks. And then they are followed up by tax time---AAAAUUGH!! Calgon, take me aaawaaay!!!!
You get to play with 1:1 trains, lucky guy. I used to, but not recently.
I don't think Lionel is producing the PE in S. There are still plenty around now. If they do make another run the price will be more.
Roundhouse Bill posted:I don't think Lionel is producing the PE in S. There are still plenty around now. If they do make another run the price will be more.
I do se that most of the dealers are still advertising the PE sets in S, I wonder how many Lionel built??
I wish they had made more Berks, I am kicking myself for not buying one when they were available. I was holding out for a Legacy Berk if the truth be known.
Aflyer
Hi All:
Yup, IF we re-engage with Christmas decorating, the S scale PE is at the top of the heap for now.
David said:
"You get to play with 1:1 trains, lucky guy."
Whereas I still enjoy what I do, sometimes it gets a bit old. Just got home from two round trips over the main line to a small town and back with a double ended (an engine on each end) passenger train of 6 cars. Got home about 10 PM... I'll be back at work and on duty in the morning by 7:30 AM. Same deal: Running "Christmas Trains" loaded with pajama clad kids n' parents. The Polar Express movie has totally changed the way the general public perceive trains n' Christmas.
FWIW: Just about killed Bambi tonight, as well almost taking out an entire gaggle of raccoons. Don't have a clue how that one raccoon that took off toward my side made it out without a scratch... it was still on the ball of the rail when it disappeared out of view by under the pilot (short hood forward) and I was clipping along at 35 MPH. Also... surprised a huge horned Owl beside the rail and he struggled to get aloft carrying a rabbit in his grip. Lots of wildlife out and about tonight.
Aflyer posted:Roundhouse Bill posted:I don't think Lionel is producing the PE in S. There are still plenty around now. If they do make another run the price will be more.
I do se that most of the dealers are still advertising the PE sets in S, I wonder how many Lionel built??
I wish they had made more Berks, I am kicking myself for not buying one when they were available. I was holding out for a Legacy Berk if the truth be known.
Aflyer
I expect that while Flyer Polar Express sales were good, they aren't the barn burners that the PE sets are in O gauge. I expect there's still a fair amount of sets left in stock.
Rusty
Aflyer,
I am in the same boat, I got the Polar Express, expecting the Berks to be in stock for at least a month, and they were gone by mid January. Been kicking myself since.
Francine
Francine posted:Aflyer,
I am in the same boat, I got the Polar Express, expecting the Berks to be in stock for at least a month, and they were gone by mid January. Been kicking myself since.
Francine
Had an NKP Berkshire on preorder. Lionel shorted my dealer's distributor. So much for BTO.
Rusty
I think the S scale PE is a great set and a great deal at most places. It is true that it had minor issues but it looks good and runs great. I prefer it much more than the O PE I had. The cars look great and the lighting is easily fixed.
A tire came off during a Christmas Eve run under the tree. My experience with modern Flyonel traction tires is that once they come off, they will not stay on again. So I replaced it. Now the engine is wobbling no matter how much I manipulate the tire to make sure it is placed properly. Could it be that I should replace the tire on the other side to ensure I have tires of equal thickness on both sides?
Chuck K posted:A tire came off during a Christmas Eve run under the tree. My experience with modern Flyonel traction tires is that once they come off, they will not stay on again. So I replaced it. Now the engine is wobbling no matter how much I manipulate the tire to make sure it is placed properly. Could it be that I should replace the tire on the other side to ensure I have tires of equal thickness on both sides?
Chuck,
I think you have nailed the problem, change both sides to reduce the wobble. I think you might try putting the old tire back on the PE to see if it will stay.
I haven't had to change tires on my PE yet, and it probably has 50 hours running time, we use it at a train show that runs the whole month of December.
But I have had to change many tires on the SD70's, ES44's, and Challenger, and Y3. They really don't seem to last and I think they get soft and gummy from the Smoke fluid.
I have also had to change both tires on old AF locos, because the new ones are so much thicker than the originals, and they wobble badly.
Merry Christmas,
Aflyer
Thanks Aflyer and Merry Christmas to you as well. I replaced the other side too but still wobbling. Trying to work on this under the Christmas tree isn't working so well. I'll need to get it up to bench and in a cradle so I can watch them turn and "tuck them in" where its uneven. The tires bulge over the ridges that they're supposed to fit within.
Chuck, This is something I have done on my Flyonel Northern. I remember when I took it out of the box the first time the tires were crumbling and I put on the replacement tires and it was fine when I ran it. After running it for a few weeks I put it on the shelf and it stayed there for quite a while. A few weeks back I put it on the rails and it went down the tracks looking like Chester Good from Gunsmoke, the tires were bad. I was at the Home Depot in the area, looking for some faucet repair parts. While there I spotted some O-rings and the thought came to me to try some of these for traction tires. The O-rings I purchased were 7/8" O.D. x 3/4" I.D.x 1/16", a #30 O-ring, stocking #96744. I put two of these side by side on each of the drivers and they worked out fine. They are a very tight fit but fill the groove in the wheel and are very close to flush with the tire height. They may well work on the P.E.also. just a thought.
Ray
Interesting Ray. I'll explore that option. Thanks
This is one of the things that bothers me about the new stuff. I have 60 year-old ACGT Pul-More wheels that are still just fine, but the new traction tires seem to just disintegration after a few months. Those of us with antique car are having similar problems with modern inner tubes and tires.
Ray, you amaze me with your information and quick fixes. I've been trying to get replacement tires (just in case) and no one stocks them.
I'll make a run to Home Depot and solve all the problems. Note: I've noticed at our last show that the Berk was wobbling down the track - so this may be just in time.
Francine
I tried the O-rings. It wasn't easy, but i eventually got them on. Trick was to place the 1st one in the outer part of the goove and then stretch the 2nd one over top of it to sit behind it on the inside (ie next to the flange). They rub a bit against the brakes because they don't fit totally within the groove.
But I have bigger problems. The wobble continued and I noticed the wheels are out if alignment, one driver spins freely, and the axle is protruding through the driver to the point of interfering with the side rod. Sheesh. It was fine until a tire came off on Christmas Eve. Still under warranty, so I'm sending it to Concord (again). At least I hope it will be under warranty considering I have had to replace the wires on both the pilot and trailing trucks with superflex.
Francine posted:Ray, you amaze me with your information and quick fixes. I've been trying to get replacement tires (just in case) and no one stocks them.
I'll make a run to Home Depot and solve all the problems. Note: I've noticed at our last show that the Berk was wobbling down the track - so this may be just in time.
Francine
Francine, have you tried calling Bill and S&W Parts Supply? He was able to get tires for my modern S diesels.
Hi Chuck,
With all I've heard about how bad the tires are, I might want to stick with the o-rings.
Francine
Aflyer wrote: "But I have had to change many tires on the SD70's, ES44's, and Challenger, and Y3. They really don't seem to last and I think they get soft and gummy from the Smoke fluid."
Aflyer, where did you get replacement tires for your SD70's and ES44's? I have two ES44s and one SD70. All three came with a plastic package containing 6 tires. One pair of tires was way too big, one pair fit correctly, and the other pair didn't fit (though I can't remember if they were too big or too small). I've had to replace all the original tires on all three locomotives. They became soft and "rolled" off while the locomotive was running.
When Lionel had the warehouse sale I figured it was the perfect time to order lots of spares. The Owner's Manual for SD70 and ES44 says the part number is 6208815206. I ordered 16. I thought what I would receive was 16 plastic bags like the one that came with each locomotive. Instead they sent me a plastic bag with 16 of the too large size traction tires.
It's amazing that Lionel doesn't know the correct tires for their own locomotives.
Craig
I'll make a run to Home Depot and solve all the problems. Note: I've noticed at our last show that the Berk was wobbling down the track - so this may be just in time.
Francine
Francine, I can't guarantee how long they will last, got me going in a pinch, but still going.
Ray
Interesting read. I too have the S Gauge PE and have had all the issue stated above. Traction tires that come with the Berk are useless and too skinny. The reason they die is that the rail slips in between the traction tire and the drive wheel. The end result of this is the wobbling of the engine. The curves supplied in the set are too sharp for the Berk and the passenger cars. Sping on the rear truck of the Berk is not tall enough and doesn't provide enough lift. Wires are to rigid and solder joints weak. Now saying all this, I still love the set after the fixes I performed the engine now run flawlessly with out the traction tires. Ran out of flex wire so I need to get more and redo the passenger cars and upgrade to leds. Replaced the rear spring with one from an Electrocouplars from an Atlas engine that been upgraded to Kadees. Only issue left is the sound went out and didn't find any broken wires to the speaker in the tender. I still suspect the issue is in the tether but it will have to wait. Would I buy another one yes in a heart beat. Here is video of mine running on the layout. Apologize for the silence at the end of the video but YouTube removed last song from video.
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suzukovich posted:Interesting read. I too have the S Gauge PE and have had all the issue stated above. Traction tires that come with the Berk are useless and too skinny. The reason they die is that the rail slips in between the traction tire and the drive wheel. The end result of this is the wobbling of the engine. The curves supplied in the set are too sharp for the Berk and the passenger cars. Sping on the rear truck of the Berk is not tall enough and doesn't provide enough lift. Wires are to rigid and solder joints weak. Now saying all this, I still love the set after the fixes I performed the engine now run flawlessly with out the traction tires. Ran out of flex wire so I need to get more and redo the passenger cars and upgrade to leds. Replaced the rear spring with one from an Electrocouplars from an Atlas engine that been upgraded to Kadees. Only issue left is the sound went out and didn't find any broken wires to the speaker in the tender. I still suspect the issue is in the tether but it will have to wait. Would I buy another one yes in a heart beat. Here is video of mine running on the layout. Apologize for the silence at the end of the video but YouTube removed last song from video.
It looks like you are using Fastrack. So you run it without the tires and have no issues thru turnouts or getting enough traction?
Chuck K posted:suzukovich posted:Interesting read. I too have the S Gauge PE and have had all the issue stated above. Traction tires that come with the Berk are useless and too skinny. The reason they die is that the rail slips in between the traction tire and the drive wheel. The end result of this is the wobbling of the engine. The curves supplied in the set are too sharp for the Berk and the passenger cars. Sping on the rear truck of the Berk is not tall enough and doesn't provide enough lift. Wires are to rigid and solder joints weak. Now saying all this, I still love the set after the fixes I performed the engine now run flawlessly with out the traction tires. Ran out of flex wire so I need to get more and redo the passenger cars and upgrade to leds. Replaced the rear spring with one from an Electrocouplars from an Atlas engine that been upgraded to Kadees. Only issue left is the sound went out and didn't find any broken wires to the speaker in the tender. I still suspect the issue is in the tether but it will have to wait. Would I buy another one yes in a heart beat. Here is video of mine running on the layout. Apologize for the silence at the end of the video but YouTube removed last song from video.
It looks like you are using Fastrack. So you run it without the tires and have no issues thru turnouts or getting enough traction?
I had issues with traction before the spring mod, some slippage when starting out but otherwise no issues. Derailing of the front and rear trucks have also stopped. Remember HO and 2R O trains don't have traction tires and run just fine. Yes currently using Fast Track which came with the set, plus what I bought to make current loop. . . As for turnouts shouldn't be an issue. The set come with R20 curves which are too tight for the engine and cars, this exasperate the issues with traction tires and lights. R27 would have been a better choice and will eventually replace the R20 curves. The Berk is my only S Scale, everything else is O Scale
