FlyerChief Berkshires Are Back

Now that I had a better chance to look...

It's good to see all the silliness gone.  Valid roadnames in valid paint schemes (no fantasy paint jobs.)  Plus, multiple numbers, 5 for the hoppers, 2 for the reefers and boxcars.

Although for me, Flyer has left the station as I'm renewing my efforts on the scale side, I think is a good selection for the Flyer guys.

Rusty

Wow!  The Berks are back.  I got to get in early with this.  I want the C&O to repaint.

Also, they are adding a Reading GP7.  This is incredible!

Hard on the wallet though. 

THANK YOU LIONEL!

Also gone is the silliness of mounting 027 cars on Flyer trucks.

Already have the Berk & GP7 Reading on order at Hennings.  It's going to hurt, but can't pass them up and I am not going to hesitate so that they run out.

Flyerchief is simple and very reliable.  We have all kinds of problems with DCC.

I just talked to Ryan Kunkle, who is in charge of all production at Lionel,  and he says these engines are the same as the last issue of these locomotives.  The only difference is that they will be Bluetooth equipped. The Android Bluetooth is to be released in September.

The Berk for the Polar Express has been updated so both front and back trucks pick up power. It will still have the working backup light on the tender and not an automatic coupler.  It will have Bluetooth also.

Oh, Ryan said these with not be "Build To Order" but not many extra of them will be produced.  He said people should order before October 1 to make sure they get one.

Will the new production have the Smoke unit put out smoke while at a stop?...

Thanks Bill, any idea of proposed shipping date?

The Berkshires appear to have separately applied hand rails in the catalog pictures.

RoyBoy posted:

The Berkshires appear to have separately applied hand rails in the catalog pictures.

Unfortunately, no.

I noticed the same feature in the illustration (right away!) and communicated a question to Dave Olsen about this today. He replied that that is an error in the picture and that the hand rails will be cast in for this upcoming run. Bummer. 

Well, I shall be holding out for a Legacy AF Berk (if and when).

Bob

Nice to see multiple numbers.  Not nice for the pocketbook, though.

Brendan

He said the shipping date will be just before or after the new year.  No handrails as it is the same casting.  No mention of smoke at stop.

The berks are one of the best pullers.  Too bad they are only FlyerChief.

But they can be converted to TMCC with cruise and four chuffs and have more features like Backup light and coil coupler too. The FlyerChief Berk only has coil couplers and two chuffs.

See conversion at : http://www.tuveson.com/Berk/burk.html

I asked Ryan about the new Berk smoking at stop like the recent Northern. He said it will as it has the same operating code.

Looks like Lionel is finally hearing what people want in S.  I know those Berks won't last long and maybe that will spur other new projects as well.

Thank you Lionel!

I Like the look of the polar express SET. It would be my first S gauge.

Hi All,

Great news, Hennings says the Berks will be in around Christmas and the GP7s around 2nd quarter 2018. 

Sounds like good times to me!

The first batch of GP7s from the Flyer 2017 catalog will be shipped in October.  2nd batch in 2018 2nd quarter.  Just wanted to clarify previous comment.