PM 1225 has LIMPED into repair depot and new owners are NOT pleased!

Oh no, what is with the gigantic number boards... argh I ordered one too, and these look a little strange... like they are the same boards from the Polar express?!

Im pretty sure they are the same size on my PM Berk '09.  I'll compare them side by side tonight.

Enough to make a grown man cry....

LOL  Nah....  It's no big deal in the grand scheme of things.  She is still awesome looking classic steam motive power.  If I were to make a guess, I'll bet there has been an issue with the plastic material's composition.  It's obviously a structural integrity fault... way to brittle.

I really wish they would have sent my PE first though...  

Charles, let her rip!

I'm pretty sure that the PM locomotives all had those "NKP/C&O style" number boards, when they were in service. It is my understanding that the "1225 folks" removed them for the Poler Express "image".

Actually, after doing some research, the numbers boards are present before 2009....

So all is good!

Looks Great wish I had bought this one as well

I just hope the pilot bushing issue won't be as present as some hobbyists have brought up with the whole fleet of Lionel's Berks...

Regardless, Lionel did a great job on these engines, and I can't wait to get my hands on one of them in the near future.

Very nice looking.

Awesome looking but I have one question.  Why doesn't Lionel darken their running gear?  Super detailed engine with great features but for me that running gear just kills it.

Probably a cost thing... I will be picking up some Neolube... what a difference a few applications make...

Can't wait to take it for another run around when I get home.  

I likewise have damaged pilot bushing and one completely missing on my NP 765.

Lionel is sending me bushings.

Bob

Its prototypical:

Not quite. The real locomotive does NOT have those bright shinny tires, nor the shinny axle ends, like the model does.

Good point, I thought Gary was mainly referring to the rods

Now that everyones mentioning it. Come to think of it, my 2010 PE berk had one of the pilot bushings in upside down. I couldn't figure out why the pilot kept derailing when I first ran it.

I guess it could be worse, we'll see.

John, at least you will be able to get a good night's sleep since all is well with the number boards. 

Yep...some had issues with the bushings back then...and flickering tender light.  My bushings were fine, but I had the flickering light issue on both the PM and Polar Ex tenders.

Nice photo... really looks good with the rods down.

In the original build photos, the tires and rods are generally whitewashed for the company photographer, plus the boiler was generally NOT painted black, but gray in order to enhance details.

Here is the 1225 pulling out of the station back in March.

Those number boards are horrible.Lionel is so lucky to have customers that keep buying their costly products no matter how bad they screw them up.

Dan

I don't know.I assume the diesel engines were only used for heat and lighting.Actually,the 1225 was used for 12 minutes of the fan trip that day.The diesels pulled the train for 98% of the trip while the 1225 was left behind on a siding.Government red tape,that has since been resolved,wouldn't let the engine get more than a half mile or so out.Something to do with the engine being too heavy for bridges,even though heavier freight cars were still allowed over the bridges.
Oh well,it was still fun to see the real Polar Express engine in action.

Dan

I think while probably still oversized in order to fit a bulb to illuminate them. Unless Lionel changed something I they may be even more exagerrated by the angle of" Volphin's" camera.

Heres my 2010 release for reference:

yeah the face on the 1225 looks pretty crude, but it still looks and passes for the earlier 1225 pictures above...

To all of you receiving the new Berkshires.   My 765 also has the broken bushings on the pilot wheels.  Make sure you look closely at the trailing truck, as mine has a broken bushing

there also.  To me, it appears that the trailing truck would have to be removed from the engine to replace these bushings?

Chris 

i had one pilot bushing fall out on my original 765. was lucky to find it on the tracks as i was trying to solve the derailing problem.

PERE MARQUETTE on turntable. 

  Click photo to enlarge. 

All three production runs of the PM 1225 are fitted with the number boards. The boards themselves are not terribly over sized, but rather Lionel has two mounting brackets and wires to contend with. Making the brackets smaller would also likely make them more fragile. It is, arguably, a reasonable compromise. Among many, I remember seeing No. 1225 fitted with the number boards for a number of years, so I am cool with the model's overall appearance.

No loose or upside down pilot or trailing truck bushings on my sample. Operationally and cosmetically everything is A-OK here. For the last dozen years or so the big scale Berkshire continues to be one of Lionel's more satisfying efforts, IMHO.

Bob

Pretty similar...

Just an update to the PM Berkshire.  It has had her new pilot bearing installed and was placed in service.  Unfortunately, she also has an inoperable headlight and whistle steam.  This is getting just comical at this point.  I should have gone to Vegas with my train budget.  SHEEESH!

I enjoy everyone's comments. I really do prefer the Builder's Photographs. Yes, she's all dolled up. Just like a young girl going on her first date. Your comments are somewhat judgmental.....That's ok.

"Pappy"

The real 1225 is such a beautiful engine. Hope all the issues are soon solved.