My Berkshire Set Finally Arrived

I've got the passenger set.   I don't have an O gauge layout, so I can only test run the loco, but it ran well on the test track.  The whistle sounds great, bell sounds a little flat to me, but that's a matter of taste. 

Otherwise, everything was fine except for:

https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/12129988057926738

Rusty

Goody a warning.  On a couple of occasions I have sent new, mint products back to Lionel in original packaging only to receive back the item and the packaging in poor condition.  I sent in a brand new Legacy control unit for the 1st upgrade and got back a well worn unit.  I once sent in a Standard O B unit in perfect packaging and received back a unit in packaging that had been abused by the person that sent their unit to Lionel.

Lets not beat up on what was a good intentioned suggestion.  To the point of the first poster, locos and even rolling stock left in storage can suffer degradation as well as the common (and seemingly getting more common) defects in manufacturing.  Its good to read the forums and catch these at the time the first recipients are getting theirs.  Its folly to store away unopened goods even though some are seemingly putting a higher value on those precious unopened articles.  This whole argument about unopened, mint, never test run, is silly.  What is sillier is thinking these goods are going to hold value better.  These are depreciating goods folks.  A mint product without a warranty is a potential liability to both the seller and buyer.  caveat emptor.    Planned obsolescence  esp with control system electronics is going to be the demise of any collectability aspect of this hobby.  MTH started the whole run downhill with PS and then PS2.  All the fixes for PS and worries, the heck with that.  Give me a good old buzzing mechanical e-unit any day.  

If you are in the hobby for "collecting", the best you can hope for is some offset of depreciation brought by inflation which for the last decade has been rather tame and a poor hedging strategy.  

I prefer good old REAL conventional classics, namely REAL postwar.  The last thing I want is to fret over whether I just burned out an obsolete electronics board.  If you want conventional classics, head to the auctions of high value collectors and get the real PW item in near mint condition.  Or do like I do and support your local hobbyists and but PW at swap meets, where you can be sure of the condition and run-ability of the items.  

As for damaged boxes and packaging coming back from Lionel, I suggest you make your mark in an inconspicuous place on the box, take a photo,  and include a letter to the tech saying you expect to have your original back in identical condition.  Don't stand for poor service.  For them to do otherwise is thievery plain and simple.  

https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/11285375687729152

Pete

Nice to hear about the excellent customer service again.  Sort of what we should expect but often more than we get. 

Does anyone have photos of this Berk up alongside, say, the most recent Legacy Berk or another scale Lionel one?

I've been running the engine since Saturday. Operates very well with the CAB1 and TPC. One thing I did notice is that smoke comes out from underneath the shell near the smoke chests. Anyone else notice this?

Mine does too, and I have not noticed any ill affects.

Mine smokes from that area also. Is it supposed to be smoke from the steam chest? It wasn't advertised that way but it looks pretty good.

Tommy you went off in the wrong direction with your rant.  It probably should have been it's own thread.  It's more of your comment on collectors. 

I'm not a collector.  I put Kadees on most of what I have, and enjoy the earlier styled Lionel stuff for what it is, something with which to have fun.

Without belaboring the point, I was suggesting that Goody think about not using the special CC packaging as it might not come back in good condition.  Some of us like nice boxes, I think that is why Lionel went to the trouble to use original styled packaging for the series.

With the two exceptions mentioned above I have always received good customer service from Lionel.  Only the Legacy unit really disappointed me.

If I wasn't leaving town I would be receiving the 2 Berkshire sets this week, my HS is holding them.  I am looking forward to them, the 726 was always a favorite and the CC series was a lot of fun.  I'm glad all of the reports so far have been so positive.

I received my set today and I carefully unpacked it and set it up. Beautiful looking set and it mostly runs great. The rear coupler on the tender does not want to stay closed. I have worked it a bit and the more that I run her the longer the coupler stays closed. I will continue to run her and if any problems arise I will get it serviced under the warranty. I really wish the rear tender coupler was of better quality instead of using the plastic thumbtack to hold closed the coupler. The engine runs great and I do not notice any smoke from the steam chest at this time.

Anyone notice how well these engines coast. Almost like they have a flywheel.

I agree! My tender had to go off to be repaired since the defective rear coupler only got worse! I am 2 for 2 in in getting defective Conventional Classic sets....oh well. At least I have them, right? So, yes the engine does want to coast and runs wonderfully at all speeds from crawl to highball.

I am amazed the tender has the plastic coupler arm.  I though Lionel had moved beyond that.  Also, did anyone notice that the finish on the drive rods is just not right.  It looks like toyish chrome plated plastic..rather than that nice matte stamped metal of the USA made Berks. The nickel portion of the drivers looks a little thick too. I like it but some details just look a bit too Chinese. 

I noticed that also. I am still running the set minus the tender...how? Well I had picked up a Lionel 6-16673 air whistle tender that was one of the last USA made units and it works great, pulls great, etc. At least I have something to tide me over until the defective tender is repaired.

I am amazed the tender has the plastic coupler arm.

No problem with mine. Have been running for about an hour. I think mine is metal not plastic

I am glad to hear your tender is working. Just frustration sinks in after multiple issues with buying Lionel stuff lately.

There are some issues with my set that will probably make me want to return it.  First the trucks are all scracthed around the stamped metal areas on the merchandise car.  Second the diecast flatcar is clearly warped.  I bet this is the case with all of them.  The entire diecast car is bowed upwards.  The engine bothers me to.  The steel rims on the drivers just do not look right.  They lunk chunky and cheaply plated.  The rims on the 1990's CC Version and the original look solid and sleek as if stamped out of a solid piece of nickel.  I do like this set overall but these quality issues bother me.  My UP set was perfect.

Not to hi-jack the thread, but the couplers on my Sears GP-9 dont stay closed either. I put a tie around it to hold it and will send back to Lionel in the Spring when things calm down at service. For the record the Sear CC set is great and I love it. But I will work on it and maybe I can fix it..

The Coupler arm and Knuckle are diecast but the armature plate is plastic.  I don't understand why since this tender  has been made before with a metal armature.

I ordered a new Replacement truck with metal armature that was on the 2426 Railsound tender.  Pt. # 691-8042-T90

I think with all these plant changes and tooling being moved around..specs get crossed.  In some cases causing a step backwards in what we expect.  I think the QC of sets has not been the same..overall since the move to Conventional Classics.  We have been plagued with set boxes being opened along the way so different facilities can add stuff to it.  I personally miss the quality of the Sanda Kan made PWC sets which ended partially with the N&W space set...as some of that rolling stock was from Early Light.  I have 2005 Virginian FM set and decoration and quality are flawless.  The new Scale PS1 State of Maine boxcar made by MKT who is not making Lionels higher end rolling stock has crooked line decoration if you look closely.