"Is there a price yet?"
I asked and was told, but this should come from Lionel when they are ready. What Lionel lists is not important, what your dealer wants is the real price.
Brian, this one would go great on your new Christmas layout as a partner to your gold one!
I heard the list will be around 1900.00 ...
Interesting price-point. The Y-6b has a $1995 MSRP and most dealers had a $1400-$1450 pre-order price. Those same dealers tended to sell regular Berks at $1050-$1125. So I think we can safely estimate a street-price from there without being too far astray -- factoring in a premium for the nano-plating process on this cool-looking Berk.
... My money is already spent on the Empire State Express set and extra cars and 2 other engines due at end of year. ...
Just curious, do these types of items hold value? How did the gold ones do?
Not surprised to hear more than a few comments like this. Folks may have already allocated funds to their heavy-hitter items for 2015, and it's not surprising at all to hear folks passing on another expensive item as a result.
In general, I don't think these locomotives "hold their value" all that well. The Gold Hudson from 2000 was beautifully finished... sold for $1300-$1400 in its day, and owners today would be challenged to get $800 for it (still NIB). 
OTOH, the matching gold caboose -- which was catalog'd in the next catalog after the one featuring the gold hudson -- has done quite well in terms of holding its value. 
Charlie Nassau's comment about these silver Berks being the "tag-alongs" to the special PE re-run for Charles Ro might be the best explanation to date as to why these may have a specific, limited production quantity rather than BTO. I recall at one point that Charles Ro was expecting those PE Berks in May/June 2015. Whereas these 115th Anniversary Berks are due out later in the year -- possibly to allow for the special silver/nano-plating process. So the basic locomotives may have already been produced.
I own the Gold Hudson, and that is sufficient for my roster. No O-Gauge silver steamer in my future... although I might be inclined to purchase the chrome Standard Gauge 400E and matching Presidents passenger cars at some point down the road. No 115th Anniversary logo to worry about on those! 
David
I might be the dissenting party here but that thing looks ugly. I am not a fan of these plated finishes and I do not like this one at all.
Quite attractive actually but not for me personally either.
Is it 'real silver' plating or paint?
Thankfully my wallet is safe...I have never been a fan of the scale berkshire tooling. Had it been a 611 or Legacy Scale Hudson then maybe.
What's the price Lionel is putting on this thing? If it's "reasonable" (1400-1800), I'll think about getting one. But if it's $2,500 or something I'll pass.
I might be the dissenting party here but that thing looks ugly. I am not a fan of these plated finishes and I do not like this one at all.
Ahhhh. At least one other agrees with me.
Why should yours be the best looking of the bunch?
In general, I don't think these locomotives "hold their value" all that well. The Gold Hudson from 2000 was beautifully finished... sold for $1300-$1400 in its day, and owners today would be challenged to get $800 for it (still NIB). OTOH, the matching gold caboose -- which was catalog'd in the next catalog after the one featuring the gold hudson -- has done quite well in terms of holding its value.
All you'd need to do is look at the track record for "pilot engines" over the past few years to give insight as to how well Lionels latest instant collectable would do in the secondary market.
With fewer then 75 pieces built, most are still available. Plain as day, the market has moved on. Folks today simply have little interest in overly expensive shelfqueens that just keep on coming year after year...
I'm surprised there's no pilot for the Berk.
Joe
I agree that it is gaudy and definitely not for me either.
I like your idea of the rhinestone coal load. How about a depleting version of that.
What do you guys think the plating process will cost, US, not Lionel?
From my little brains, I'd think that Their marketing would not like to add more than $100-$150 extra "customer" cost per loco. So just to have some fun, I'd guess a street price of $1700-$1900 MAX! you can't sell it for more than a VL BB???
Now know this, Lionel does NOT have to do the plating in house. As a matter of fact, if they do NOT plan on doing many "nano" plated locos (if they actually do the nano plating) in the future, it may be prohibitive do do it in house For only 250 units. I'd sub it out for a fraction of the cost to a near buy shop in China and they can demand the best quality plating too from them shops
I might be the dissenting party here but that thing looks ugly. I am not a fan of these plated finishes and I do not like this one at all.
Same here. Not my cup of tea at all. 
PTC; I'm just curious! Are you interested in one?
I too saw it at YORK and its nice but I will not be in line for one. Was wondering after a few years, if the silver finish will turn black?
"Is it 'real silver' plating or paint?"
Sam, it is silver plated and they did a very good job with the actual finish. This engine sure sparkles.
PTC; I'm just curious! Are you interested in one?
Spence, it sure would be nice to find a way to use this engine in the Christmas PE layout.
And for the question about matching passenger cars, I seriously doubt it. They would have been announced at the same time.
"PTC" - i think the silver plated berkshire could be easily woven into a christmas layout - for example - pulling the following cars: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mth-Ti...;hash=item487dbfd57f
rdeal
Brian,
Although I like the engine, and the Silver is not bad I really have no interest in this particular Engine & Tender. I like your Gold Polar much more.
PCRR/Dave
brian - if you have a moment - may i ask a question?
What make a layout a "Christmas Layout?"
thanks - rdeal
PTC Brian:
I too would like to see this on your new layout. I'm wondering if some sort of static (removable) decal would stick to the side of the tender?
"What make a layout a "Christmas Layout?"
This.
Can some one verify if the finish is Sliver or is it Chrome? Looks similar but surely not the same....
From the pix, I am guessing it is Chrome...
"i think the silver plated berkshire could be easily woven into a christmas layout"
You did give me an idea. Find appropriate passenger cars and have them silver plated. Sure would be a one of a kind.
I placed an order for one. I like it because it's different and fun.
Wow! Its so bright it hurts the eyes to look at!
brian - the white over lay - what is this - your layout is so cool - nice work
rdeal
"i think the silver plated berkshire could be easily woven into a christmas layout"
You did give me an idea. Find appropriate passenger cars and have them silver plated. Sure would be a one of a kind.
Maybe no need, would the now discontinued Lionel 18" aluminum cars be close enough?
"Maybe no need, would the now discontinued Lionel 18" aluminum cars be close enough?"
Not a chance, just look at the CZ set released in 2014.
"the white over lay?"
Paint, flat white.
"i think the silver plated berkshire could be easily woven into a christmas layout"
You did give me an idea. Find appropriate passenger cars and have them silver plated. Sure would be a one of a kind.
Just imagine that engine reflection all the multi-colored lights on you PE christmas layout. You would almost require sun glasses to watch it. 
Gotta say it would be BEAUTIFUL. 
"Maybe no need, would the now discontinued Lionel 18" aluminum cars be close enough?"
Not a chance, just look at the CZ set released in 2014.
Those are not the out of production models, those are the painted ones.
Look at one of the earlier glistening Santa Fe sets!
(The ones everyone here it seems expected and got the painted ones instead!)
It is a very nice looking piece, probably not meant to be run, so the logo thing is fine. Where it would be in my cave, I have the Gold Hudson, so I'll pass. Funds allocated to Lionmaster.
Silver bars probably would be a better investment.
Bill T
Okay, so I didn't go to York (again), and didn't know about this until now. So, how deep will I have to dig into my pocket book to obtain one? I already broke the bank last Christmas for the anniversary Polar Express. On the fence economically.
Bob,
the money you made from selling me those die cast cars will give you a start. Barely a start, but none the lessma start. ;-)
Truly unique.
For the collector who has everything, I guess.
Why someone would want a silver plated Berkshire is what makes conversations.
A Millennium Hudson in gold plating I could understand.
The whole year 2000 thing.
Celebrating 115 years is cool, but not earth shaking.
What gets plated in 10 more years for the 125th year?
A rhodium plated turbine?
I would say this is a peripheral spinoff of Polar Express berkshireitis.
Gold plated version of the silver plated version of the 115th Anniversary berk for the 125th Annniversary..
whoa...
rat
I love Lionel but honestly I think it would have been nicer if they did a reasonably priced anniversary set (like a Post War Celebration) or something. Not in chrome...just a nice set commemorating 115 years. I don't see this as an investment as much and I can't believe the chrome Berk will end up a collectors item. I actually will be surprised if this sells out even if only 250 pieces. BigRail
It's a striking locomotive and tender--and not another Hudson to commemorate a LIONEL milestone. But I think a caboose with the logo, with small plagues on the engine and/or tender would have been better.
"i think the silver plated berkshire could be easily woven into a christmas layout"
You did give me an idea. Find appropriate passenger cars and have them silver plated. Sure would be a one of a kind.
Hi BRIAN,
If you get the Silver Berk and you already have the Gold PE. You could put them on the Christmas layout and play the music from Rudolf The red nosed Reindeer "Silver & Gold". Just a thought.
PS, Sorry I didn't get to see you and ELIZABETH at YORK. Hope you had a great time.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
