Am looking for another "inexpensive" engine to pull a load of post war NYC freight cars and have seen some Polar Express engines up for sale on E-Bay. I'd like an opinion on this engine. Would it pull eight post war cars and would it look reasonably well with a NYC tender and load? If not, would you have another engine in mind that would work? (Preferably new) As always, thanks.
lionroar88 wrote:The Polar Express is pulled by a Berk Jr that will have no problems pulling a tender and 8 cars. NYC did run Berks so it will look fine with a NYC tender behind it.
We have a Polar Express Berk, and 11 months out of each year, it pulls freight and other passenger cars. Our berk pulls very well. 8 cars would be a piece of cake. You could easily double that! We use a NYC tender and a Lionel Lines tender behind it. Both look fine.
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
The cowcatcher is exaggerated, but the engine runs fine & will pull your train.
The larger Williams Golden Memories 2046 is much closer to a NYC(and it's a Hudson Type) outline loco, and is another option to explore if you're looking at new, & conventional. Outstanding performance, lifetime warranty & all...
Rob
Lionel collector, stuck in an N scaler's modelling space.
ATSJer,
You might consider "modular" scenery since you move so often. Just cut 1/8" wood in shapes that fit on your layout. Then scenic it separately. That way when you move you can carefully pack up each scenery "unit" instead of trying to move a fragile 4x8 fragile layout.
I got this idea from 101 Toy Train Tips book and they got it from Lionel who used to sell scenery blocks. The concept is similar on the new K-line construction scenes.
Jim H
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
I too chose to purchase a spare Polar Express set simply for the locomotive. I purchased a Pennsylvania Trainsounds Tender to run behind it, and it looks and sounds great.
The gentleman at my local hobby shop actually recommended buying a 2nd Polar Express set since I only run in conventional mode and he reasoned that if I was only planning on running in conventional why bother spending $350 on a TMCC Berkshire when the Polar Express set would look and run pretty much the same. Not only do you get the engine, but it never hurts to have an extra tranformer and some extra track.
Scott
jimhaleyscomet wrote: You might consider "modular" scenery since you move so often. Just cut 1/8" wood in shapes that fit on your layout. Then scenic it separately. That way when you move you can carefully pack up each scenery "unit" instead of trying to move a fragile 4x8 fragile layout. I got this idea from 101 Toy Train Tips book and they got it from Lionel who used to sell scenery blocks. The concept is similar on the new K-line construction scenes.
Thanks Jim, this is an amazing idea. I've been trying to figure out how I could make the scenery removeable, and I like the idea that you've given here. I've also been considering creating a large lid that will cover the entire display, but that may be more trouble than its worth, especially if I can remove sections of the display and store them seperately during the move. Great idea! I will have to get that 101 Toy Train Tips book to find out more about the technique.
Hmmm,
The PE Berk is the same as the regular Berk that Lionel has in the traditional line. It runs fine. But, if you want a PE berk then buy the set because to have a proper PE you need the passenger cars.
However, when I want to run my Berk with a cut of freights, I just use my Postwar Lionel Lines 2046W or the Erie Tender that came with my Lionel Hudson from 2004, which is the "freight type tender" as lionel called it. It dates back to the 50's as it is a modern version or the 6062W tender and in my opinion it looks better behing the berk than the 2046W.
I run my Berk with trains anywhere from 4 cars to 15, which is my limit, even though I could run all my cars at one and have a 24 car train. It will pull the 24 cars plus the 4 cabooses I have, but I don't recomened you do it regularly. 15 is a nice length to satisfy me.
I suggest you get the Lionel Jr. Berk in a real railroad roadname for your freight cars if you don't want the coaches that come with the P.E. Berk.
Cheese
Nick! :)
Cheese wrote: The PE Berk is the same as the regular Berk that Lionel has in the traditional line. It runs fine. But, if you want a PE berk then buy the set because to have a proper PE you need the passenger cars.
Actually, if he is looking for a way to run the PE prototypically without running the proper PE, then he can run a "Pere Marquette" tender with the PE 1225 Berkshire with traditional freight since the "Pere Marquette 1225" was the model for the PE. This is exactly what I am planning for my PE during the off season, and on my permanent layout, it will assume its seasonal duties with the PE Pullman cars under the tree.
The PE Berk is a bargain. You get an entire set, including passenger cars, loco & tender, track, and a transformer for a little more than what a Railsounds Berk costs. I bought the PE set for just this reason. It's a hell of a bargain.
Jim
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