736 Berkshire on O27 layout

[Civil War]

 I would love to add a 736 Berkshire to my layout, but I have mostly 027 track except for my passenger line that has 042 curves and no switches. Can I run this engine on my 027 section with 1122 switches? I notice the two center driving wheels have no flanges. Will this allow it to navagate 027 track? I suspect the problem will be the switches.

 Thanks

[Anonymous]

Terry,

          I think that the long wheelbase of the 736 will make operation on 027 curves difficult if it is even possible. I've never tried running my 736 on anything other than 031, so I can't be 100% sure.

[kehoesj]

I have the 726 Berk and it does run on my O27 layout satisfactorily.  Care needs to be observed as it travels through switches -  speed restricted zone is enforced to avoid any derailments.  The 726 is probably one of my favorites of my collection.  1947 vintage is matched up with a 1997 Railsounds diecast tender, so there is a bit of weight going thru those O27 curves...

[alank]

I have a 726 engine that I use on 027 track with 1122 switches with no problem.  I don't see why a 736 shouldn't negotiate the switches.  

[alank]

As I stated in my previous reply, I have a 726 which I use on an 027 layout and using 1122 switches with no problem.   The 736 however has magnetraction, and it got me thinking of the cintered drivers.  Using my Greenbergs's Repair Manual, I tried to see if I could determine what difference there may be between a 2035/2046 cintered driver and a 736 cintered driver with regards to flange.   I couldn't.   However reading the section on 736/746, it is under the 746 that it says the motor on the 736 is identical to the 746 motor.   Later it says the size of the locomotive makes it unsuitable for use on 027 layouts, as the collector rollers will short the frog rail to the swivel rail when negotiating curved switch branches.   I haven't experienced this with my 726, but before taking my thoughts based on my 726 experience, I would want to hear from someone who has experience of a 736 using 027 and 1122 switches.

[ADCX Rob]

alank

...before taking my thoughts based on my 726 experience, I would want to hear from someone who has experience of a 736 using 027 and 1122 switches.

 

I've been doing it since at least 1972, no problems with 1122E switches, sometimes the running gear will bop a housing on an 1122 switch.  No damage, though.

Rob

[lionelsoni]

Generally, steam locomotives have an easy time with the switch machines on 1022 turnouts and 5121-5122 turnouts with the flag removed.  The bottom inch or so is all wheels, which tend to stay with the track.  I run a Big Boy through O27 turnouts with no problem.

The 736's pickup rollers are unfortunately not between the flanged drivers, which is the ideal location for them because it keeps them right at the center of the track, no matter what the curve is.  They are each a little forward of the drivers; so the wander away from the center rail somewhat on curves.  This can cause trouble on O27 turnouts; but I don't know how serious it might be with this locomotive.

[LL675]

my 736 (and all my Postwar steamers) run fine on my O27 tube track and 1121,1122,1024, and manual Marx switches.

[Lev2AL]

I just started a similar layout using 27 gauge and using 42 inch curves I think the issue might lie in connecting the 1121 1122 switches with the 42 inch curves but the Berkshire 736 should easily handle that layout with those wider curves.  My Lionell authorized repair man mentioned to me that the old gauge track sits a little bit higher off the ground making it more conducive for diesel engines to roll such as the 2344P  for New York central

I would hate to rebuy all zero gauge track at this point because I'm loaded up with 27 gauge

[Kmaster2007]

it will work, if you look at any lionel scale steam engine (pre/postwar) you will notice that one of the wheels doesent have a flange, except for the x-4-x engines. anything x-6-x and above will have a O 27 style wheel base, take for example the 2026,2046, and the postwar hudsons. the sets, to my knowladge, had O 27 track as it was either that or O track back then.

Try it, if it doesn't work, the O 42 will definetly work.

[Flintlock76]

Kmaster2007 and Lev2AL,    aboard gentlemen!

[ADCX Rob]

Lev2AL

My Lionell authorized repair man mentioned to me that the old gauge track sits a little bit higher off the ground...

"O" gauge, yes, higher rail height, but these diesels run on O-27 just fine.

[stuartmit]

late to this party, but I have two Berks--736--and have constant aggravation running through the 1122's, and i have even swapped the 1122--one out and different in-- and had identcial problems no matter what combination of loco and switch. . In another thread 3-4 days ago, Bob Nelson commented that Lionel has an unfortunate mounting on the pony truck which leads to the pivot being too far off the center. What I observe is that  as the loco come throught the switch from the "back" or branch end first, as  the lead truck  gets to the frog, there is enough length to the gap from stock rail to  the movable switch rails that the wheels can move sideways and derail.  It is interesting to me that my 773 has had no trouble even tho it is a much larger locomotive;  the 4 wheel leading truck is retained on the rails because there are  two wheel sets, so one keeps the other "in line"--literally!