Williams Berkshire: O-27?

[Anonymous]

Can the Williams Berkshire successfully run on Lionel O-27 track, including Lionel O-27 curves and switches? All my curves have an added straight to create a total of a 36 inch radius curve. Do I just need to change some of my switches to lower profile K-Line switches? [?]

[willpick]

No, the Williams Berk states O-31 minimum. It may run, but I doubt it. It may go through your curves, but not the O27 switches.

[ChiefEagles]

Spankybird [Tom] runs large engines through 027 but they are K-Line low profile switches. He might be able to tell you yes or no.

[lionelsoni]

I don't know about this particular locomotive; but steamers can be surprisingly tolerant of short radii. I was able to make my Railking Big Boy run on O27 with very little modification. The trick is that almost everything below the frame is wheels, which stay close the the rails, of course. The cab sticks out on curves, but usually clears the Lionel switch machines. The pilot might be the worst problem in a non-articulated locomotive--the Big Boy's pilot moves with the front engine.

[spankybird]

Well all,

I really can’t speak for the Williams, but I can say that the RailKing Berkshires do run on 027 even though they are listed as 031 engines. I must have at lest 4 of them. Of course I do use the K-Line low profile turnouts. The other think to check is if it has a tender harness, that it is long enough to allow the engine to make the curves.



click on the pics to enlarge them.

I Hope this helps


tom