2007 - 736 Berkshire

[Wiscred]

    Has anyone seen the new 736 Berkshire in the 50th Anniversary set (p. 56, 2007) and if you have, what is your opinion of the engine. Is it made from the old castings?  

    I've always wanted one but the prices on the old stuff just seem to be getting higher.  It appears that one could get a new engine (plus some cars) that has all the newest features for the price of an excellent older 736 w/boxes.  If I was into collecting that would be the way to go, but I just like running my trains, this would fit right in! Regards, George

[Jumijo]

 

If not mistaken, the old 736 tooling was pretty used up and may actually have been destroyed. So I think the 736 in the 2007 catalog is a new casting. It will have the same type motor and mechanical e-unit as the post war versions, but will have the added benefit of sounds and TMCC. If you aren't a post war collector, but like the way the old stuff looks, than this is a great opportunity to buy a "new" 736 set. A lot of Lionel product has been delayed lately. I don't think the 736 set has been shipped.

Williams trains produces a replica 726 that is also very nice. But it uses a can motor and an electronic e-unit.

Jim

 

[Kooljock1]

I don't think it can have both a mechanical e-unit and TMCC. The reverse functions are done through the R2LC board. The motor is open-frame Universal. As Jim said, the tooling will be newer using the new frame used in the #746 J reissue from last year.

Jon

[Jumijo]

I don't think it can have both a mechanical e-unit and TMCC. The reverse functions are done through the R2LC board. The motor is open-frame Universal. As Jim said, the tooling will be newer using the new frame used in the #746 J reissue from last year.

Jon

DOH! Thanks for the correction, Jon!

Jim

[Chris F]

I agree with Jim that it wouldn't be the Postwar tooling (which actually originated in 1938 with the 226).  The '97 CC #726 was advertised with a backhead (PW versions didn't have one), and the '99 catalog shows a number of Baby Hudsons that are described as having "all new tooling."  Berks and Baby Hudsons shared the same boiler.  I have one of those '99 Hudsons, and the details are much sharper versus those on my '52 #2056 Hudson.

The '07 catalog doesn't indicate if the new #736 Berk has a backhead, but I doubt the tooling is more than 10 years old.

[ben10ben]

I seem to recall about ten years ago Lionel cataloging(or maybe as part of the Century Club) a car which carried an actual piece from the original Berkshire tooling.

Considering all the versions of the Berkshire and Baby Hudson produced through the Postwar and MPC years, and especially all of the Baby Hudsons that they turned out, it's no surprise that the tooling was pretty well shot.

 

[Jim Rotella]

The shipping date for the PWC Berkshire has been pushed back to March '07. The castings for most of the PWC engines are new, but they are faithful reproductions of the postwar originals with a few small changes. The slots for the reversing unit levers are filled in and the boilers are modified to accept stantions rather than cotter pins for the wire handrails. The backheads are not part of the castings, they are just plastic inserts that fit neatly inside the cab area. In all, they are very well done. As previously mentioned, the PWC engines are for those operators who like the TCMM and the Railsounds features but still enjoy the look and feel of the postwar era.

[Wiscred]

To Jim and all,  Thanks for the replys.  It sounds to me that this is what I want.  The looks with all the newest features. 

 It seems that there are any number of Lionel products whose manufacture dates are being pushed back.  Any apparent reason that you know of?  One item that I've preordered has been set back by 6 months!  Thanks, George

[Kooljock1]

I can only guess that the thousands of sets made for Target, Macy*s, Menards, FAO Schwartz, etc took up a bunch of factory space and time. AND the loss of Korea Brass' China factories has thrown a wrench in on top of it.

Jon