Hey Y'all,
My local Hobby shop has a pretty decent Postwar Lionel 671 Turbine for sale (As well as a nice but way out of my reach 726 Berkshire) at the price of $250.
After inspecting it I determined is was the 671 made during 1952 when the Magne Traction was removed from Steamers for that year only.
But, I am a bit unsure of wheather to buy it or a 681 because the 681 has magne traction. The store does not have a 681, but, I know of a couple of places who do.
What do y'all think. I like them both, but, its the fact of wheather the pulling power of the 671 isn't great.
Can anyone help?
Cheese
Nick! :)
save a few extra bucks and buy the berk - I have both and there is no comparison between the two.
If the turbine is $250.00, that's pricey, in my opinion. If the berk is $250.00, it's a good price.
My 726 is the smoothest, silkiest runner you can find, especially for a nearly 60 year old train.
The turbines - at least mine - sound funny, and have those small wheels and single funky siderod.
Another consideration on the turbine is the configuration - 6-8-6 - lots of small axles that have to be perfectly aligned to spin well on the leading and trailing wheel sets. The pennsy tender is also a twelve wheeler with skinney axles and that's 32 wheels trying to make their way through a switch. My turbine won't navigate an O72 switch - auto-derailment.
No comparison between the two.
the 726 is outside, 681 inside and 2026 above:
Thanks,
I'd buy the Berk, but, its $499 and its in Excellent Plus condition (At least from what I can tell).
I wish the Berk was $250, because if it was, I would have went to the bank (my parents, LOL) for a loan and raid my money box to get it.
IAs tempting as it might be to pick up the turbine, I would put together the extra money and buy the berk, or go for a 2-6-2 like a 675, 224 or something of that ilk. Based on my experience with the turbines, you may be dissatisfied.
Further $250 for a 671 is way up there. You can do much better price wise. I think my local shop has a 671 for $150.00
As another Postwar Enthusiast, I will chime in here as well. I have a 681, two infact. I like them a lot but there are a couple of things to consider. First, any turbine, 671 included, just wont' run as smooth as Frank has pointed out. It will run pretty rough through my 022 postwar and modern switches. It also lacks good slow speed handling around 031 curves. On these curves you have to run it fairly fast to just get it through with a good sized consist., but then it really flies on the straights.
As Frank also pointed out, the 675/2025 or a Berk, or any of the smaller Hudsons (2046/2056, etc) are much better runners. An early 2025/675 is a real wonderful thing to run. I also really like running my 2056 as well. I would highly recommend these engines..
I do like the turbines too, and a turbine with the Pensy 12 wheel tender is really nice to look at but they just won't run as nicely at slow speeds on tight curves.
Mike S.
Joe makes a good point. I think they look fine with a consist of post war car - preferably Pennsy:
Although I have a Lionel 681, I have never understood the appeal of this locomotive or the 671. Given that form follows function (the prototype Turbine had a unique drive system) the overly simple connecting rods do appear somewhat minimalistic in a toy locomotive -- to my eye at least.
Worse yet, in my opinion (and I am no "rivet counter") the model really should not "puff" smoke, nor should it "chuff" if a tender with normal steam sounds is attached. The prototype was nicknamed "Big Whoosh" and I know of no sound system that has duplicated this, although there may be some out there.
Evidently the prototype too was problematic, as only one was ever produced -- according to my information.
So one might want one to "complete" a post-war collection, but in my opinion these would be low priority items with which to begin a collection. To each his own, of course.
Hmmm,
I think I will save up for the Berk. The only thing I'm worried about is that it will be gone b the time I have the dough to pay for it.
The only postwar locos that the shop has is the 671, the 762, and the 2343 A-A set I mentioned in another post.
Another question, they have a 3461 Operating Log Dump Car. Its pretty nice in condition and its going for $35. Would this be a wise purchase? I think it is, seeing as I have seen other operating log dumps go for $50 to $70.
I'm suprised to hear that the 671 isn't all its cracked up to be. The man ran it on the test track and it ran fine. Maybe thats because its just a long straight run.
Cheese,
I would save up for the 726 rather than the 671. Like many other members, I prefer my 736 berk over my 681 turbine. The 736 runs smoother and looks better. Give Dave at Toy Train Heaven a call and and ask if he has a 726 or 736 for sale. He sold me my 736 with a 2671WX tender for $175 plus shipping. His phone # is : 360-576-1602, call between 9AM and 7PM west coast time. As for the 3461 log car at your local shop, $35 is a good deal, I'd buy it.
Jim
Hmm,
Its just so happens I have enough for the log car. I only had a $20 with me yesterday, so all I bought was the Lionel Volume 2 catalog (Which is a very good one).
I'll call the store (My LHS) and see if he wouldn't mind holding on to the Log Dump Car for me until I get the chance to run up there (Hmm, maybe Saturday after work, as my work is halfway from my house to the store).
Sorry to double post but,
I called Dave and he told me of a 736 he had with the 2671W Tender and he told me the price, which I won't reveal so y'all won't jump at it first (LOL). My mom said it would make a nice christmas present.
I told him what I was looking for and he was very helpful. I am definatly going to get that engine when I have the money, if he hasn't sold it yet.
Oh about the log car at the LHS. I called him and he put it on lay-away for me along with a Pair of 2343 F3's (Operatioanlly sound, needs re-paint).
I just picked up a very rough (inside) set of 2343 double A's and had them worked on $181 later I have a very nice set that I'm tickled pink over.
First let me say they wouldn't run so For $131.00 i got the set running great and tickled pink with .
I have both 671 and 681 and they sit on my shelves in my room one with 3 PA. tuscon boxcars with 5 car passenger set behind it the other with just about 8 mixed freight behind it.
haven't run them in years.
Cheese think you'll love the 2343's Ialso have 2243 (A&B set) love it also buit it needs a little work.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Yeah,
I know I will love the 2343's. Heck, I already love them and I haven't even given the man the first payment yet.
The motor and all the operational equipment is great. It just needs a re-paint for the shells. A little rust is on the bottom and that needs to be removed. It shouldn't cost to much.
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