latest Lionel S3 Northern and Berkshire locomotives

Trainworld uploaded this video of the Hiawatha paint scheme for the S3...

I'm hoping to see how both variants of the 759 turn out soon.

S3 is a Northern, not a Hudson. 

Thanks for correction, I already have 261 and 267, just a mistake. Thanks

I really like the bell cord.  It seems like most of my Lionel steamers do not have bell or whistle cords.  Did the original offering have a bell cord?  

I noticed that the S-3 has white classification lights like the brass hybrid Mikado did, but the Berks had the more familiar green lights. Interesting detail?

Mikado 4501 posted:

I noticed that the S-3 has white classification lights like the brass hybrid Mikado did, but the Berks had the more familiar green lights. Interesting detail?

Interesting and sort of incorrect, especially since the Berk is even more of a freight hauling locomotive, and should also have white class lights.

Anyone have a video of any of the new berks yet?

Trainworld shot the Pere Marquette 1225 on Instagram today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkn3-IdFQNs/

Though I’m pretty sure all will sound and act almost exactly the same as the 2014 runs minus the Bluetooth feature.

I pick my S3 up in the AM.

anyone purchase the no. 260 what if version?

Lets see pictures of new S3 please.

Picked up my 260 S3 today.  It is taking it's first trip on the turntable.  Looks like a good one.

Marty, that’s a beautiful engine, on a famous turntable, and an even more famous and beautiful layout.  Wow. Enjoy your new Locomotive...

T4TT posted:

I really like the bell cord.  It seems like most of my Lionel steamers do not have bell or whistle cords.  Did the original offering have a bell cord?  

The original first run of S3's did not have bell cord.  I also notice the Mars Light is not automatically turned on like the first run unless Trainworld & Marty turned it off before running it.  

Larry, thank you.  I purchased the first 261 when it came out and still have it.  I was going to pass on this one until I observed it.  I am a huge fan of the what if paint jobs.  Things like that are great for toy train guys like myself.

White walls are back! Love it.

I didn't think I would ever purchase what if engines. The 260 Northern and the Niagara are my first. I wish they would have added whistle steam to the S3.

I have one Hiawatha left. 

The S3 Hiawatha is one neat engine. From the video and pictures the gap between engine and tender is as prototypically accurate as it gets for model trains - which I believe is due to kinematic drawbar feature on this model. I look forward to receiving mine - I think it'll look great pulling my slightly older Lionel aluminum streamliners.

T4TT posted:

I really like the bell cord.  It seems like most of my Lionel steamers do not have bell or whistle cords.  Did the original offering have a bell cord?  

The real 261 had a hand rung bell in both revenue, and the early years of excursions. At one point, 261's bell was converted to an electric bell.

Peter Araujo posted:

T4TT posted:

I really like the bell cord.  It seems like most of my Lionel steamers do not have bell or whistle cords.  Did the original offering have a bell cord?  

The real 261 had a hand rung bell in both revenue, and the early years of excursions. At one point, 261's bell was converted to an electric bell.

You ARE kidding, right? An "electric bell" on a steam locomotive with only 32volts DC for electric light power? Want to bet that the real 261 has an air operated piston on the arm of the bell, thus an air bell ringer?

Pretty much an automatic bell.

Peter Araujo posted:

Pretty much an automatic bell.

How is an air operated swinging bell "automatic"? Even the air operated internal ringer, is not really "automatic". The Engineer still has to turn on and off the air to the bell ringer mechanism.

I don't know what it is then. Like Non-swinging bell.

I was just curious if the S3 that Lionel made a few years ago had the bell cord.  If it did not have a cord, then my hope is that Lionel is starting to add that detail to all of the engines that had manually operated bells.  For those engines that had pneumatically operated bells (like the big boy) I would not like a cord added.  Ultimately, I am hoping the bell cord on the new S3s is a sign of increased attention to detail from Lionel.  

In order to attempt and clear up some of the confusion concerning steam locomotive bells, there are basically three types of bells throughout steam locomotive development:

1) The original swinging bell with corresponding pull cord/rope/cable.

2) A swinging bell that has been up graded with the external air operated double-acting piston, which attaches to part of the bell-crank arm, and thus once the air pressure is "turned on" by the Engineer, causes the bell to swing & ring. Most/many of these types also have a pull cord/rope/cable, in case the bell gets stuck.

3) A ridged bell, either a formerly swing bell that has been modified to non-swinging (like what is on Milwaukee Road #261), with an internal air operated ringer, or the later more modern totally rigid bell (like what is on UP 3900s and 4000s & SP 4449, or a diesel unit) with the internal air operated bell ringer. Both of these types of non-swinging bells usually have the small air supply line going into the very top of the bell (again, like what is on Milwaukee Road #261), and do NOT have any pull rope/cord/cable going to the bell.

Any questions on the real 261 can be best answered by Rich Melvin.  He has operated the real one.

I hate to say it, but looks like 261 has both a clapper ringer on a flexible air line and a pull chord:

Rusty

Has anyone received/run their new Berkshires yet??

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Picked up my 260 S3 today.  It is taking it's first trip on the turntable.  Looks like a good one.

 

Hi Marty, just to verify the model number on your S3 - is it 6-80467?  Looked at it on the Lionel website, and that one has no whitewalls.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Thanks Marty!!

I haven't seen 261 or 759 in the Golden Spike Paint yet.

Peter Araujo posted:

I haven't seen 261 or 759 in the Golden Spike Paint yet.

Why would they paint a Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 (261) in the "Golden Spike Paint" anyway? NKP 759 was the ONLY steam locomotive involved with the "Golden Spike Special", run from New York to Kansas City, back in 1969.

They didn't.

Have pre-ordered and been keeping track of the BTO scale Lionel Polar Express Berk 6-84685 that was scheduled to arrive in July ; just checked the Trainworld site and now that has changed to December; well, would be nice to get it before Christmas.

RickM46 posted:

Have pre-ordered and been keeping track of the BTO scale Lionel Polar Express Berk 6-84685 that was scheduled to arrive in July ; just checked the Trainworld site and now that has changed to December; well, would be nice to get it before Christmas.

 

Ryan said on the Ryan and Dave show they're about a month or so behind the ones just delivered as they are on the water. Coaches due well before Christmas. 

Peter Araujo posted:

I haven't seen 261 or 759 in the Golden Spike Paint yet.

759's Golden Spike is coming in the American Flyer Legacy Breks:

Rusty