Has anyone seen the Legacy Special Edition Red Polar Express Berkshire?

@Paul Kallus posted:

Has anyone seen a production model of the special edition red? Purportedly, they're on hold waiting for the special edition passenger cars for the set. Since I have the special edition set on pre-order, I now very much want to see the final red version before spending $2k or thereabouts.

The only thing I've noticed is the pictures in this video(about 30 seconds in), not sure how accurate it is, but the pics make the color look like a dull satin red, different than the preorder pictures I saw where it has a slight lustrous sheen about it with a darker burgundy red.

https://youtu.be/XewmbvmmCzg?si=Ti4gihrzolS4-RpL

I thought there was also a separate sale version?  Maybe not. Forum sponsor Train World did a Lionel Christmas live event - the replay is now on their YouTube channel. Ken Jr. holds one up to the camera fairly early in the broadcast as Ryan describes it and the other PolEx Berks.  

Yes they did a red separate sale, but the special cars only came with the red berk  set

@DaddyChooChoo posted:

The only thing I've noticed is the pictures in this video(about 30 seconds in), not sure how accurate it is, but the pics make the color look like a dull satin red, different than the preorder pictures I saw where it has a slight lustrous sheen about it with a darker burgundy red.

https://youtu.be/XewmbvmmCzg?si=Ti4gihrzolS4-RpL

Yikes, I hope that red one shown briefly is not the production model!

@Rider Sandman posted:

I thought there was also a separate sale version?  Maybe not. Forum sponsor Train World did a Lionel Christmas live event - the replay is now on their YouTube channel. Ken Jr. holds one up to the camera fairly early in the broadcast as Ryan describes it and the other PolEx Berks.  

I did catch the Halloween Trainworld/Lionel and just searched TrainWorld's Facebook but couldn't find that video. I'll try again tomorrow.

The blue plasma version is awesome looking IMO. Lionel's new HO PE Berkshire is neat, too, with the snow/ice on the tender. They should've done that with the black O-gauge version. Thus far, the reviews on the sound sets within the scale Berks are lackluster, possibly the same sound set used in previous versions. If correct, that's very disappointing.

Here's train world video https://www.youtube.com/live/H...?si=4i6J3IYc0qCn62_X

@tom21pa posted:

Here's train world video https://www.youtube.com/live/H...?si=4i6J3IYc0qCn62_X

Thanks, Tom. What do you think? I still think the blue version is the best looking...the red one might be one of those engines that you have to see in person before it works its magic?

I agree about the blue looking best. What is the process for plasma painting? Some think that in the future there might be problems with the finish. I don't know if the paint dries out and cracks or what happens. Dave

@Paul Kallus posted:

Thanks, Tom. What do you think? I still think the blue version is the best looking...the red one might be one of those engines that you have to see in person before it works its magic?

I cant say, i dont have  any polar express items,  if they offered the gold one i think id get that or black

In addition to - or instead of - the blue and red versions, I wish they would’ve cataloged a traditional black version in a road number other than #1225 (#1224, maybe).  I have a decade worth of PolEx scale freight that needs pulling. (I know about the two electrics, but I’ve never cared for them).

This video was posted recently. It shows the black and red PE locomotives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlQjLi8GQak

Wish they had a few passenger cars behind to see how the colors compare.

@Paul Kallus posted:

Yikes, I hope that red one shown briefly is not the production model!

I was in Trainland the day they unpacked the red model. It's as Ken showed in the video. Not a shiny finish like the blue plasma. Don't ask me why I didn't take any pictures.......

For you guys/gals who ordered the red version, I sincerely hope that you're happy with it. I went with the plasma blue version that's only sold via Lionel's website. What I especially liked about the special edition red set was one of the passenger cars - which was only available with the set ~ kind of a sharp-looking car that could very well become a collector's item.

That 'red' appears to be a rather unusual color, almost a medium wine color.  Personally for a fantasy model, I would very much like to have the '777' version - what a striking locomotive!

@Paul Kallus posted:

For you guys/gals who ordered the red version, I sincerely hope that you're happy with it. I went with the plasma blue version that's only sold via Lionel's website. What I especially liked about the special edition red set was one of the passenger cars - which was only available with the set ~ kind of a sharp-looking car that could very well become a collector's item.

Paul,

Even though I did purchase a Plasma version, I kept my preorder for my PE 20th Anniversary Legacy set...  I have the black and gold from the 10th anniversary, so I kept this on order.. I love anything scale tied to PE...  While I had been worrrying and fretting over the PE Berk set  with the red engine from all the negativity out there.  I kept my order and returned from a work trip to find my set had been delivered.  It is actually a really beautiful engine in person and love. Pictures do not do it justice...  Having one of these in hand is much different than the pictures that may be distored by lighting or by your computer monitor.. Really nice contrast with the front boiler.. It is nothing like some of those first pictures that were posted, where burgandy was washed out by lighting to give it red tone.. Now on to  the subject of the incorrect lettering position on the observation car...  Always something...

Happy Trains, Michael

Very nice, Michael, you're pictures indeed show the engine in a different and attractive hue.