726 berk question

[Munster518]

Ive always been a big fan of the postwar berks, especially the 726. Im looking to pick one up but I havent found much luck in doing so. I know theres ebay, but I would rather go to a dealer. Does anyone have some info on this locomotive and why it costs so much more then the 736 berk? I noticed the tender on the 726 has almost like a hudson tender compared to the 736?

John[:)]

[Anonymous]

postwarlionel.com

Even though the 736's are nicer (magnetraction, etc) they made them for 18 years, causing them to not be as rare.

i am pretty sure the tender's are about the same...

[4kitties]

Hi John, I'm no postwar expert but I think I can help you out with your questions. I believe there are several reasons that 726's sell for more than the 736's. The main one is relative rarity - the 726 was made for fewer years (1946-49, 1952) than the 736. Also, its tender has a die-cast metal shell that rolls on 6-wheel trucks, compared to the plastic-shelled tender and 4-wheel trucks of the 736. Your observation about the shape of the tender shells is astute - the 726's 2426W tender derives from the prewar 2226W, although I do not know if it is based on a NYC prototype. The 736's tenders, and there are several, are based on a Pennsylvania RR streamlined type.

As far as finding a 726 at a dealer is concerned, it will be hit-and-miss unless you are lucky enough to know a dealer who specializes in postwar trains. You'll have better chances at train shows and meets.

If you gotta have a 726 but can't spring for the genuine article, Williams makes what is IMHO a jewel of a reproduction of this engine that retails for around $300, but the street price can be much less. I had one for awhile until I did my annual non-PRR purge, and I can't say enough good things about it. It looks great, runs great, smokes well, and the constant-brightness headlight really throws a beam.

Joel

[dwiemer]

John,
If your really want one, try The Train-Station.com, or call them, they are in Mountain Lakes, NJ. Ask for Doug Waller and I am sure he can help. They are a good outfit, but they get the fair market value of the trains. You can get a better price on eBay, but you don't know what you are really getting till you get it home and running. Doug will get you what you want, and it will be as good as it gets. Good Luck, Dennis

[Frank53]

I have the original 726 we had running under teh tree when I was a kid in the 50's.

Now matter how much of a rat you manage to get, there is no magic to fixing them.

Almost 60 years after my Dad bought that train, it is the sweetest smoothest runner . It smokes up a nice ring using original Lionel smoke pellets (now reduced to powder - pour it in with a funnel).

[Munster518]

Thanks everyone for there helpful info. I actually called the trainstation today and asked if they might have one but there going to get back to me as soon as they knew. Nice pic of the 726 Frank53, my 736 berk runs like a champ. I bought it back about 2 yrs ago and its one of my favorites to run, next to the 681 turbine of course, thanks[:D].

John

Frank53, do you just run postwar trains, saw some pics on the train journal website of your layout and its coming along nice[:)]

[Frank53]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Munster518
Frank53, do you just run postwar trains, saw some pics on the train journal website of your layout and its coming along nice[:)]

I did spring for a polar express set, more as a novelty than anything, although I did like the passanger cars.

Other than that, I run only original post war trains - the bulk of which were in my family when I was a kid in the 50's. These are an original 725, a 681, a 224 and an NYC 2344 set. I bought a 2350 off ebay, and traded some items for a 621 Jersey Central Switcher, and I have a 2026 needing repair. Except for extra track I had to buy to meet the size of my proposed layout, I am using our original track and original ZW's.

Likewise I have our original operating accessories - milk cars and platforms, cattle car, water tower, log dump and coal dump cars, etc, although I will probably not include many of these accessories on my finished layout.

[Frank53]

Here are some photos from the temporary test layout I tore down a few months ago: