new berkshire verses the first issue

I have both the 2010 and current versions. The changes, though mostly cosmetic, are very nice and worth having. Overall, the 2014 version is spectacular. 

Differences are day and night in Smoking Whistle Effect, color of the Boiler, the size of the Pilot Wheels, and the Whistle, and the different lingo of Mr. Rich Melvin's Dialog. Do not get me wrong, they are both Keepers, however, Lionel seemed to really do a great job on this issue. The White Wall wheels, and it may be me, but I think it is closer coupled to the Tender.  Lionel seems to really be making a better product and with the new technology, its Really More Fun to Run...Happy Railroading.

I actually saw a video comparing the 2010 Pere Marquette 1225 to the new 10th anniversary Polar Express Berkshire and I can't be for sure, but to me it seems like the new PE Berk is longer than the 1225 from the 2010 release. It could be the larger cow catcher, but the boiler just looks longer.

The 2010 is a Pere Marquette 2-8-4 with white stripe down the sides, standard pilot, tender has large and brighter PE lettering, two PE announcements, and has Pere Marquette on the sand dome. The 2014 is a more accurate representation of the Berk in the movie with all black boiler, extended pilot, smaller subdued PE lettering on tender, and has 16 movie announcements.

Hobbiests and dealers apparently did not order enough of the new PE Berks as either they're sold out or have raised the prices, and they were just released about a month ago.

My new PE will be here in May, but my PM 1225 came in on time, and I compared it to PM v.10.

I can tell you that there are slight differences, but the PM v.14 seems to be a smoother runner and the audio is pretty cool.  Sometimes for giggles, I tell Rich to climb to 15,000 and adjust his heading to 095.  He doesn't really respond, but I still get a chuckle.

There aren't that many differences other than the ones you mention, but I bought 765 because I love the Berks and run them alot so a new loco with the new features is worth it too me.  The sound seems better to me and the whistle too (just slightly).  My new one smokes better than the old, alot better.  

Keep in mind there is the "other" scale Legacy Berk from a couple of years ago, too, which is an entirely different animal and quite nice too: it is the lower of the two Berks shown (my 765 has been relabeled as CCB&GC RR but is otherwise stock.  That 4199 has been weathered but is stock).  

My "Ber" is an old Lionel 726RR so I just read the comments and comparisons for enjoyment and see what is going on. Hard not to like any well done Berk. Like  critiquing Venus de Milo. My screensaver is a photo of 765 rounding Horseshoe Curve last year with a long passenger consist in tow. Look at it several times a day, still looks good. After watching the video of a new Berk, my only comment is that, if it were mine, I wouldget rid of the "crew talk". Truly awful.  Enjoy your toys.

I did notice the engineer in my old NKP Berk is now the engineer for the new PM.

Amazing thing about that is..he hasn't aged a bit over the past decade. 

Joe