Older Lionel 726 Questions

As for smoke fluid, its use with the lamp type smoke unit was discussed here earlier this year.  You might want to search and see if you can find that thread. For 2, i have never had any trouble with the horizontal e-unit.  They work just fine.  On 3, there are ceramic insulators around each screw that holds the collector assembly on. These are frequently cracked.  This does not make any difference until you take it apart.  Before removing the collector assembly I would recommend that you have a spare set of these insulators.  There are nylon repros out there that would not crack like the original, but I have never tried them. On 4, I have never had trouble with the drive train, I run four '46 726s, but due to the dual worm drive, it could be very tricky if you want to press wheels on and off the axles. Getting the timing between the worm wheel teeth and the crank pins might be hard to do without hard tooling. I have ask about this in the past, but never got an answer.  The '46 726 is usually more expensive than the '47 to '49 version and parts for it are harder to find. I would suggest only getting the '46 locomotive if it has features you really want.

noswad,

          The 1946 Lionel 726 Berkshire is a great engine.  The early 726 and the later 726s and 736s were different in several ways.  The two different style locomotives used different motors, different smoke generators, different E-Units and different boiler and frame castings.  The details of the body and gearing construction are not interchangeable.  

I have two of the early 726s and run them quite often.  They are not quite the pullers that the later 726s are and certainly are not as strong as the 736s with magne-traction. 

I have never used any type of smoke fluid in the lamp style smoke generators using strictly the old Lionel SP smoke pellets as well as the repros.  I do not know what affect, if any, fluid would have on the smoke bulb although recently someone posted on the forum that they placed some old asbestos insulation on top of the bulb and then applied smoke fluid and the engine smoked great.  For whatever its worth the old smoke bulbs did not produce a prodigious amount of smoke.  Nevertheless, I think they are kind of neat simply because they are different. 

The horizontal E-units in my 726s to date have not caused me any problems.  Having said that I will probably now be confronted with some.  I have cleaned the E-unit drums a few times as part of routine maintenance and have found these units no more difficult to work on than the regular E-units.  If need be, replacement units are readily available through Jeff Kane, The Train tender.

Maintenance of the double worm drive is really quite easy since the bottom plate completely drops out providing easy access to the double worm drive.  This kind of follows the pre-war build a loco concept. One thing to note here is that the cover plate assembly uses several white plastic or ceramic insulator bushings between the plate assembly and its screws.  These can and will crumble with age.  Without them in place the engine will not operate.  Again, replacements are available through the Train Tender as well as others.

As I have mentioned in other posts having an early 726 is kind of neat because it offers one a good look at early 1946 Lionel Technology. I think its fun to compare the technological progression in the manufacture of these engines so I have both the early and later versions.  The early 726 while not as strong a puller as the later models is still a smooth running engine and can pull a consist of four or five freight or passenger cars.

If you get one I'm sure you will be happy with it.  Good luck. 

Hi Gene,

First of all I love my 46 Berkshire, its a great running locomotive with very nice detailing. I have owned several of these locomotives and repaired even more over the last thirty years so here is my opinion. Others may agree or disagree.

1. I use super smoke in mine, only one drop at a time or it will leak.

2. The horizontal e-unit is the same as used in the Hudson's and is very reliable.

3. The obvious pro to the removable bottom plate is the ability to service the bottom half of the locomotive. The downside is that the ceramic insulators will crack if tightened too much, which can cause a short. Replacement insulators are available in ceramic and plastic if you break one.

4. The 46 has a double worm drive which makes both the front and rear set of drivers do the work. Even though the locomotive has nickle rims and no magne traction it is still a good puller.

Last point: If you buy a 46 and it comes with the original smoke pellets (plastic box with a lid that resembles a Ball jar) do not touch them, they are toxic.

Enjoy you Berkshire, I sure do!

Regards,

Randall

Gene, when my e-unit started to hang up, I installed a QSI ACRU electronic reverse unit.  No buzzing.  On power up, initial movement will be forward.  I doubt these are still available---that's the catch.

Who has replacement ceramic insulators?
I have only seen the plastic ones.

quote:

Gene, when my e-unit started to hang up, I installed a QSI ACRU electronic reverse unit.  No buzzing.  On power up, initial movement will be forward.  I doubt these are still available---that's the catch.

If you purchase an engine with a working e-unit, it is unlikely you will ever have to replace it. The parts to renew them, with the exception of the special plunger and spring, are readily available. (They are standard e-unit parts) Used horizontal e-units are around too.
They sold lots of Berkshires and turbines in 1946.

They come up on eBay every once in a while. I won a set of 4 about six years ago from that fellow in Illinois that had the containers of parts from Madison Hardware. About a month ago ebay seller 108spoplar had a set but I missed it.

I have successfully used shrink tubing to  replace broken ceramic insulators,  worked fine with no problems.

CW, the engine e-unit was working when I got it, and started hanging later, but why bother to work on it when an ACRU works better and quieter?

C.W.

I have purchased them many times from Mikes Trains and Hobbies in Lompoc, California.

Regards,

Randall

I have the 1946 turbine- same drive.

Many many thanks to all the folks that took their time to reply.  OGR is absolutely the best forum I have ever used.  Useful, detailed and accurate replys quiclky.

I think a 46 model is what I will search for.  I have a lot of pre-war steamers and like the idea of something a little out of the ordinary.

Thanks again to all.

Gene

IMHO the 1946 726 is the best looking of the PW Berkshires. I'm happy to have one. Except for a slightly bent cab roof on the engineer's side. Otherwise its in fine condition.You will enjoy this engine.Go for it!

quote:

CW, the engine e-unit was working when I got it, and started hanging later, but why bother to work on it when an ACRU works better and quieter?

To each their own.

I prefer my trains to be 100% original, and don't care for electronics.

I find rebuilding e-units of any type to be a simple task.

The only specialty tool I use is an e-unit spreader bar (ST-303). I have other E-unit tools, but I don't find them to be helpful.

quote:

 I won a set of 4 about six years ago from that fellow in Illinois that had the containers of parts from Madison Hardware.

I think you are probably referring to Doug. I purchased quite a bit of stuff from him, but never got any ceramic insulators.