LIONEL 726 VS 736 STEAM ENGINES

Magnetraction for one.

The 726 and 736 are both postwar issues. As with each locomotive, there are different variations that have different motors, smoke units, e unit positioning, magnetraction, and details.

A good place to start reading about the variations and differences:

http://www.tandem-associates.c..._trains_726_loco.htm

http://www.tandem-associates.c..._trains_736_loco.htm

One thing to note when shopping, the tender play into the pricing, especially with the 726 which would come with 2426 die cast 12 wheel tender. That tender alone can be worth as much as a nice 736 Berkshire. To put things in perspective, that tender is the same tender that was issued with the 1950 773 scale Hudson.

Since you mentioned prewar, the 226e Hudson with the 2226W tender would be the forerunner to the 726. This locomotive arguably has the best smoothest running AC motor Lionel ever produced and has firebox glow!

I guess it won't hurt to mention that there are three major variations of the 726 Berkshire:

1946 version with smoke bulb and removable nickel rim wheel sets, with die cast metal tender
1947-1949 version with worm drive motor, nickel rim wheels and die cast metal tender
1952 version with worm drive motor, sintered iron wheels and plastic tender. May or may not be marked "RR" under the 726 number on the cab sides.

There are also minor variations within the 1947-49 locos.

The 736 Berkshire also has a fair number of variations.
For me, the most noticeable are the trailing truck (metal or plastic), and the tender (6 wheel trucks or 4 wheel trucks).

I think the nickel rim wheels on the early version of the 726 is a fantastic look.  The tender is the other critical feature which CW mentioned above.  

The 26 came with better looking wheels!

You have asked a great question, many pre-war operators of conventional trains should chime in. The 736 with magne-traction, 1950  model, with 6 wheel tender trucks would seem to me to be a good puller...The older post war freight cars were heavy..The 726 was a beautiul engine but I wonder about the pulling power. All that being said, they were both nice engines...Win Win... The Century Club 1 modern version of the 726, with TMCC and Railsounds gets my Vote.  It's in my opinion the best made to date...Great thread....

I am willing to be proven wrong but I think the 2046 is more efficient than either the 726 or 736.

I have both and now that the 726 was rebuilt correctly it is a hard choice to make. A good one though.

I think the 2046 is a nice engine too.

I am absolutely crazy about all of Lionel's post war Berkies with special affection for the 1946 726 with the smoke Bulb, nickel rimmed drivers and the dual worm drive.  This engine is a real pleasure to work on and maintain.   All of the Berkshires run well but I have to admit the 2046 Baby Hudson runs extremely well and is a reliable puller.  Actually,  you can't go wrong with either locomotive.

Like the above poster i favor the "46" version 726 great puller also.

At night the smoke unit has smoke coming out with a light beam reflecting thru the smoke due to the smoke bulb and the flapper pushes it out nicely.

Also like our 736 have several versions and good runners great pullers.

Have all the baby hudsons and yes the 2046 is nice with its spur gear motor and another great puller.

Could go on and on about postwar steam "46" turbine the 681 turbine etc etc

It can be explained in this clip

c. lee colbert posted:

So other than one is PRE WAR, & one is POST WAR what is the big difference between the 726 & 736?

Several difference but the one I love the most is the 726 has Baldwin center drivers the 736 has spokes. If wheels can be beautiful the Baldwins are "drop dead".

Bogie

True dat !!

For a 9x6 layout, the 726 pulls enough cars!  I have run 4 HWX Potter cars with it!

I've always heard that the early 726s were superior to the later 736. With the 12-wheel diecast tender, the 726s sure looked great. I had one maybe 15 years years ago now; I don't recall if it was a '46 or '47, but it ran like a Swiss watch. Really incredibly smooth. One of those engines I wish I still had.

The 736 I just acquired came with a 4 wheel tender, 2046W.  How can I tell when it was made (year/era)?

c. lee colbert posted:

The 736 I just acquired came with a 4 wheel tender, 2046W.  How can I tell when it was made (year/era)?

Over the years there has been a lot of mixing and matching of Berkshires and tenders.  If your tender has plastic four wheel trucks and is lettered PENNSYLVANIA rather than LIONEL LINES the tender was manufactured between 1961 and 1966.  As far as your 736 Locomotive is concerned if it has a small wedge placed on the bracket underneath the headlamp it was manufactured anywhere form 1953 to 1966.  Also, in 1955 the trailing truck went from being die-cast to sheet metal with plastic side frames.  There was one additional change which occurred in 1957 when the pickup assembly was made smaller and mounted with only one screw rather than two.  As best that can be determined the last 736 Berkshire was manufactured in 1966 although there were apparently some leftovers which were cataloged in 1968.  If you want additional information on all of the Berkshires produced reference  Tom McComas and James Tuohy's , "A COLLECTOR'S GUIDE AND HISTORY FOR LIONEL POSTWAR TRAINS".  Hope this helps.

And there is the 726RR from 1952. Due to a shortage of magnet material during the Korean War, Lionel steam locos did not come with magnetraction in 1952. The 726RR was like the previous years 736 without magnetraction, a different number, but with smoke and also with the die cast trailing truck.   

I have a fine example and it is one of the smoothest running and quiet postwar locos I have. Also a strong puller.

Jeff