Picked up my two Berkshires from the hobby store right before the New Year. Finally got to check them out today. I got a Nickle Plate Road and a C&O Berkshire. Both operated as advertised, thank goodness! I have been no stranger to the Lionel repair department! Both operated fine in conventional and Flyer Chief mode, with superior performance in Flyer Chief mode. I am not impressed with the sounds, they are okay but nothing great. I wish that they could be turned down, and they should have been four chuffs per revolution. But I am very satisfied overall. I will mostly run them without smoke as most new locomotives produce too much for me. The automatic coupler is next to useless as it does not open far enough to disengage the coupler on the following car (1980's era). I will later try them with Gilbert, American Models, and S-helper/MTH couplers to see if I have better results. The Flyer Chief controls are also finicky when using the coupler, I end up sounding the whistle most of the time. Overall I am pleased with the new locomotives, I have two new ones for half the cost of the articulated locomotives.
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