Lionel Polar Express 10th anniversary legacy berkshire

I am hoping it will run on 036 radius for those of us who don't have the larger radius track.

Yeah, I know what you mean, but unfortunately, its supposedly going to be 0-54, 16 inches long. I also have a small 0-36 layout. But I want it so bad though!

Isn't that what sidings are for? Back and forth, back and forth!

I have O-31 layout and I'm going to order it.  Even if it just sits on the shelf I want it.

Ive heard you can combine 0-36 curves and 0-48 curves together to slightly shorten the radius, so it might still go around the curves that way.

Yes, I respect your opinion, but 2014 is the 10th anniversary of the Polar Express movie, so it should look like the train in the movie, not PM 1225, even though its modeled after it. Besides, I personally like the cow catcher. But they also already made a legacy PM 1225. I always wanted Lionel to make a legacy Polar Express berkshire that replicates the one in the movie, seems my dream has come true.

Yes, hopefully Lionel will make the Berk more like the actual PE Berk, such as with the long pilot. Sounds from the movie would be neat as well, as would "Smokey and Steamer" figures in the cab. Whistle smoke feature would be the cat's meow.

A PE set would be awesome. Scale Berk, 3-4 cars + observation car, figures, cardboard background, all in a set box. If Lionel choses to put snow effects on the engine and cars that would be pretty neat, too.

The sounds for the movie loco came straight from the PM 1225. The cab number given when the loco was built designates it as a Christmas loco.

FWIW the movie producers got it wrong, not the other way around......

 Sure looks like the tender says PE to me.

The last legacy PE has Tom Hanks "Allll aboooard, this is the polar express".

No mention of "dialogue from the movie" on this new one, it will be interesting to see what it actually offers.

So if they make it with an exchangeable pilot, what's the deal. Win win. 

True,  big "if" though. Wasn't there a legacy steamer that was supposed to offer scale wheels and never did, the S3 maybe?, I forget.

Yes, I know the PM 1225 recorded sounds for the movie, but what I think would be nice is if they take the train sounds straight from the movie, and put them on the model.

So many have clamored for Lionel to do another run of scale 1225s. I am happy for all of you who now get your wish, whether it has an interchangeable pilot or extended sounds or not.

Are any of you considering the "gold edition" and cars?

The bottom line I think is if the 2014 version doesn't come with movie dialogue and comes with the generic Lionel CrewTalk/TowerCom instead, a lot of enthusiasts are going to be really ticked....

I tend to agree with Paul and Matt.  I love the PE movie and I hope this engine is an "accurate" reproduction of the engine from the movie (of course this engine was a figment of child's imagination....so I use the term accurate loosely).  I prefer it not say Pere Marquette on the sand dome and I like the idea of a movie-esque pilot.  I would like to see the engineer and the fireman from the movie be inside the cab too. 

I am really hoping for more movie sound clips than the single Tom Hanks' line on the original separate sale PE tender.  I really hope this given the fact that Lionel did not create a station sounds diner for the PE.  I still can't figure that out.  Well, actually I can, they know PE items will sell so why add features that would reduce the net profit?  A heavyweight SS diner retails at $290 while the PE heavyweight diner retails for $210.  There is clearly a premium for PE scale cars.  It is what it is.  Given the line's popularity and Lionel's limited interest/need in adding features to this line in order to sell units, I know that the engine will be very nice AND I know that it will not exceed my hopes (ie movie cab figures, movie sound clips, smoking whistle, etc).  Acceptance is the first step.  In the end I will be happy with whatever Lionel ships. 

I have a Fastrack mainline of o48 that maybe it will run on.  I also have an elevated subway line of tubular that is o42 that could be converted to o54.  I ran the redesign thru rrtrack and I think it will work.  Anyone have a guess as to the price?  Over or under $1k?

Will it have whistle smoke?

Joe

I would guess well over $1000. The "k line tooled berks" still have not dropped under $1000 and the Lionel berk is alot more loco for the money,

If I recall, I paid over $1000 for the the previous run and that was including the mail in rebate that was offered.

Having said that, Lionels pricing is all over the place these days, (more features for less money,less features for more money) so you really never know.

I just need the loco. I am using more correct Atlas O trainman passenger cars. I also like C&O's idea of using the Weaver models B60 Baggage and RPO [to stick with the movie wheel arrangement [even though the movie train didn't havwe an RPO and a Baggage car- because it's really a "short commuter run" and not along distance run].

Given the fact that the last release listed for close to $ 1,300, I rather doubt that this one will be less. In any event, give Lionel credit for having the forethought to maximize their investment by securing such a hot license for the PE products. Remember that the pricing of these products is not the normal cost of production as they must include probably a rather hefty license fee to WB. I for one am glad we have the scale version with matching scale PE passenger cars. Visitors to our layout during the Christmas season just love to see this train. Those who are really into the PE theme would probably consider this engine and cars to be a must have. If you are one of these folks, I hope you can secure one.

Joe,

I doubt it will have additional smoke features.  No such features are listed on the Lionel web page.  I would love for it to have a smoking whistle, after all the PE Berk did run it cold climates so one would have seen its whistle vapor emission. 

The feature that would evoke the feel of the book and movie for me would be the steam chest exhaust.  I recall the description of the book as something to the effect as the engine being wrapped in an "apron of steam".  That would be neat to me.

I won't be buying the loco until I see whats in it in terms of sound and the cars. Its being promoted as scale so I am hesitant to get without knowing the features of the loco and cars. No observation car from the movie, no hot chocolate car, no movie sound clips, no hobo etc. and all black.  Seems like they are going for scale not a true PE 

Since they are most likely using the tooling from the previous release minus the cow catcher, it would be a safe bet that the features will be the same.  Meaning no smoke effects.