CC 726 Berkshires (video update)

I too would like to know what the merchandise car mechanism looks like.

I thought I saw a picture that made me think it was going to be made of plastic.

Love to see & hear it run.  Any videos out there?

Hi CW,  I added a video in a new thread.  It looks like the mechanism is plastic.

I appreciate the video but was hoping to see the 726 in action.  I've never used any newer Lionel in conventional mode.  I have the postwar 726 (purchased new by my father) a regular under the tree runner till this year.  Thanks for the photos, John

Thank you for the new thread on the merchandise car.

Plastic or metal mechanism, the car looks great!

So if these sets came in through Washington, does anyone have a guess on how long it would take for them to work their way east? Would Saturday in Chicago be reasonable?

Sam

These sets have made it to Detroit so Chicago is a good bet.

Can someone post a video of the loco running. Hope its not a noisy can of rocks like the pwcs 736 of 5 -6 yrs ago. Similar drive train hopefully better qc and less racket.

Hugh has tongue in cheek on this one. I am guessing that he is not just kidding. That is the same advice He gave to me for the steamer I had repainted by Elliot at York. I could not wait 50 years for the shine to disappear so I sprayed on dullcoat and it looks great. He was RIGHT! 

Have a Merry Christmas

Any pics of the 726 freight , IC, Navy or UP  Alco sets?

Terrance

OK,  I added a very short video, the whisle is really loud and has almost an echo quality to it.  The engine is a very quiet and smooth runner.

Great whistle and a nice runner as you say.

Looks and sounds great. Neat set box too. Thanks for posting.

thanks for the video I actually like the steam whistle better than some of my other command ones.

be nice to see a longer video of it am wondering about the smoke output just curious.

$oo

Thank you, made me dig out my dad's old 726.  I must ask, does it run pretty slow & steady?  

Oh No, That haunting whistle may have triggered my buying impulse.  I love Lionel's Berkshires. 

Thanks for the video of the loco. Sounds all good. Not too noisy and great whistle to my ears.  If it raised a racket the prebuy would have to go by by.

My  PWCS 736 of 2006-'07 is nice too look at static but what a noisy racket of a drive train. Finally sent it off to Timko's for conversion to DC motor but for the love of RS 5.0 and nice cosmetic appearance. Will be interesting to see how that conversion runs the rails.

I'm really happy with this set. Nice!

THANKS for the pics and the video - GREAT whistle!

VERY NICE engine - I ordered the engine only from my dealer, as I already have a four-car Madison set from 1991 to run behind this beauty! 

I pre-ordered the passenger set from Charlie Ro. I called them today and was told that they are supposed to get them by the 27th of this month. I can not wait to get my hands on it! Is there a seperate sale 2626 Sager Place observation car available? I believe the set comes with three coaches, correct? Thanks guys!

Cobrabob.

They are out there if you can find one.

Thanks, yes I see one on e-bay at Nassau Hobbies for $199.00. OUCH!!!! Too much for me, maybe Lionel will re-issue those and a baggage car too!!!

Cobrabob.

Ouch is right.  You find them for 1/2 that.

Thx Brewman

You had to add that video  

I was going to hold off on this set----now?????

Sounds awesome---looks like it runs smooth

Joe S  

Thanks for the video. Just wish Lionel would make the 726 with all the current Legacy features but have it run on 036 Fastrack.

Brewman 73,

I guess I missed that Merchandise car in the catalog. Please post some pictures of it and let us know how it works. Maybe someone can compare it to an original. I had one of the original 3854's, but I traded it off years ago because I could not figure out how to open it up in order to work on it.

Great pictures!

Richard

Boy the whistle on the 726 was a real surprise to me.  Deep great sound!

I postest a separate thread on the car, here is a link and the video again. Its really cool!

https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/11848460536516742

I don't recall magenetraction listed as a feature in the catalog for the new Berk; only traction tires, unless I overlooked it.

Since the Lionel "Baldwin discs" are two piece, with solid metal wheels with nickel-plated rims/"tires",  I would find it very unlikely the new Berk has magnetraction at all, since the nickle-plated rims are non-magnetic. The postwar version (actually all Lionel steamers) that have nickel-plated rims did not have magnetraction either.  The 736 has regular solid, one-piece metal spoke wheels (no plated rims) so obviously magnetraction will work on that. 

That set looks great. I can't wait to get mine. It looks just like the one shown in the opening scene of the 1949 movie "Holiday Affair". Robert Mitchum was running a Berkshire passenger set on a department store layout in front a bunch of excited kids. It was probably a '48 or '49 set.

Has the freight set shipped as well? Is Lionel doing a partial delivery of them where they ship them and then put the projected delivery date for the next shipment on the shipping schedule?

Great pictures. The passenger set looks fantastic. I have both sets coming, and can't wait to get them!

Bill

How cool is that! I never heard of the movie! Just found it and it looks like they have it all messed up..LOL. It's a 2333 Santa Fe F3 pulling the three Madison cars. Then comes the 726 Berkshire pulling 2400 series green pullmans. Early 250W ZW.

A little later on it looks like there is a 115 or 117 on a 124 terrace in the background. VERY difficult to see though.

So is there Magne-Traction on this one? The Lionel web site says it was supposed to. Not that that means anything either way. Does anyone have a running review now that they've had 'em for a week or so and the new-ness has worn off?

Sam

thanks

Seems like the roller pickups are very close to the frame. Anyone else notice this. Also it was mentioned that the madison cars had doors that opened. Is that just like the originals, I did not think so.

That style of pickup is refered to as the "late" Berk pickup or single screw type.  It was used on the later 736, 746, etc after about 1954 or 55 ( would need to check the year but suffice it to say middle to late 50's).  The earlier angle motor engine's all had a pickup that used two mounting screw's and of course the horizontal motor 1946 only engine used the multi screw retainer plate to hold the drivers in place as well.

I just got my delivery (thanks Charlie Ro) for the pass set, so I can compare it to my original 1947 Berk  (2131WS) for fun to see if there are other differences in the rollers, arms, etc.  There are many differences of course, although I am not very conserned with any of them to be honest.

Tinplate Art, You say you ordered only the locomotive.  That is what I would like to do.  Do you or anyother forum members know which shops or distributors are selling only the engines?  Thanks, Dick

I just got my set this morning. I briefly ran the engine and tender on my layout and they performed flawlessly. The engine ran very smooth from a crawl to full speed pulling a string of 8 PWC freight cars. I haven't had a chance to get out the passenger cars out yet, but I'll do that tonight.

I didn't feel any magnetic pull from the drivers and when comparing this engine to my PWC 736 Berkshire, I found that there was no magnet between the last two sets of drivers...only an empty cavity. I know someone else had mentioned this earlier in this thread. Despite the fact these engines are not being produced with"magne-traction, the instruction booklet still claims they're equipped with it. My engine seems to pull very well without magne-traction because the rubber traction tires really grip the track well.

I wouldn't let the lack of magne-traction stop anyone from buying this set because I think it's well worth the money, even without that feature. This 726 runs much smoother than my PWC 736, which means someone at Lionel must have paid attention to the complaints they received on their last attempt at a postwar Berkshire engine.