Considering pre-ordering 6-81269 Pennsylvania Berkshire

Ed,

   The Pennsy did not have any Berkshire Locomotives (2-8-4) they had Mountains (M1a & M1b 4-8-2) locomotives. Don't know if that will be a issue for you or the boys. Does look like a nice set. The Cabin Car looks real nice with the train phone antennas. I would say go for it.

JohnB

Thanks for the reply JohnB! The Berkshire on the Pennsy won't be an issue, we aren't running anything prototypical anyways. We have a gnome castle in the middle of our Plasticville city. :-)

It just looks like a nice sharp set. 

Hi Ed,  I think you will like the Berkshire.  It should run fine on your 027 layout.  It would go well with your Reading Pacific.  Nice looking PRR set.

Above: "The Pennsy did not have any Berkshire Locomotives (2-8-4) they had Mountains (M1a & M1b 4-8-2) locomotives."

Or, he could just run it in reverse - then it's a Mountain.

How about this as an alternative plan?  I'm basing this on an understanding you don't need the track or transformer, so, in effect, you're getting 2 freight cars, a caboose, and an LC engine for $400.

If you're patient, I think you could find a box car, tank car, and caboose for $75 +/- $10.  Let's say that leaves $325 for an engine and tender.  Based on what I've seen advertised by forum sponsors, I think you could get a LionChief PLUS engine for $300-325 which would give you and your son more fun   If you're set on Pennsy, I believe there's a Pennsy 2-8-2 in LionChief Plus.

raising4daughters posted:

How about this as an alternative plan?  I'm basing this on an understanding you don't need the track or transformer, so, in effect, you're getting 2 freight cars, a caboose, and an LC engine for $400.

If you're patient, I think you could find a box car, tank car, and caboose for $75 +/- $10.  Let's say that leaves $325 for an engine and tender.  Based on what I've seen advertised by forum sponsors, I think you could get a LionChief PLUS engine for $300-325 which would give you and your son more fun   If you're set on Pennsy, I believe there's a Pennsy 2-8-2 in LionChief Plus.

It is more about the O-27 than anything. I have been looking at the LionChief plus engines and would prefer them to the LC, but I'm having trouble finding things that are O-27 in the Plus. The catalogs weren't really clear on that point.

I have plenty or rolling stock, and I'm not married to any road name.

So any suggestions on what would work from the LC+ in O-27?

I understand the O27 limitation.  I solved that by using 42" curves that are readily available for O27 track.  I got rid of most of my 27" tight curves for 42" and 54" but still using mu O27 straights.

I still run smallish engines, but have some that require 31" or 36" curves.  Going to 42" curves will open your options if you have space.

I have too, mostly O34 Marx curves and O42, my problem is switches, I still have a lot of o27 switches on the layout. :-(

Yep, that'll do it.  I have a Pennsylvania Jr. Berk from around 2005 with TMCC.  It's a nice engine. I imagine the one you're looking at is at least similar in appearance.

Do you run TMCC or just conventional?

Just conventional, I haven't made the leap to any kind of Command yet, this will be the first Command I have.

Aldovar posted:

Just conventional, I haven't made the leap to any kind of Command yet, this will be the first Command I have.

Best of luck with your decision.  If you don't mind my $0.02, I'm thinking you and your son will outgrow the LC engine quickly.  We have a Thomas engine with LC technology, but it's so unsophisticated compared with TMCC or LC Plus let alone Legacy.  Not sure how to advise, but $400 isn't chump change, especially when you've stated you don't really need the rolling stock, track, or transformer that goes with the set.

I'd bet that some of the LC Plus engines could make it through the O27 switches.  Maybe start a separate topic for owners of LC Plus engines.  You might be just fine with, say, an LC+ Mikado.  The TMCC Mikados were rated for O27.

I run traditional-sized stuff but with original TMCC and no plans to go to Legacy.  I have a few modern conventional engines and am either upgrading them to TMCC or unloading them.  Just leaving me with postwar for conventional operations.

If I was starting over, I'd probably go with LC Plus which seems to have replaced TMCC in the traditional-sized market.  But, since I've had some TMCC for over 10 years, I can't see replacing them.

The LC Thomas engine we have is nice, but without smoke, crew talk, or electrocoupler, it pales in comparison to the TMCC engines. It's an entry-level toy and not cheap.  Original TMCC or newer LC Plus have a lot more toy value IMHO for the $400 you're thinking about spending.

If LC Plus can't run through your switches, you could get a gently used O27 TMCC engine for under $200, maybe less.  I've seen my O27 Pennsy Jr. Berk with TMCC go for $150-$200 these days.  TMCC pales in comparison to Legacy, but it's better than LC.  You'd have to invest probably about $100 on the used market for a CAB-1 and command base, but, again, if you're just looking for an engine, I think you can get the whole TMCC outfit for $300 on the used market (starting with forum members) and get more play value.

Thanks for the info, it is much appreciated. I actually have been slowly collecting o gauge track and switches. I don't think I have quite enough yet to switch everything out.

I sent an e-mail to Lionel asking if any of their engines LC+ could handle O-27, or had a recent list of engines that were compatible with O-27 and they weren't any help. I think I may investigate the Mikado LC+ there are a lot of great points you make.

Thank you again!