The P&LE A2a Berkshire, a great candidate for Legacy!!!

I would buy that engine in a heartbeat. To me it has that odd smoke box front that just give it a distinct look like some other engines only have. I currently have 0 Berkshire engines, but am waiting for some to come around. I vote heck yeah, please have the tooling to make this beauty.

Here's hoping Skip.

I have the MTH version of that engine and it is truly a winner. Great looking and great running. I particularly like it with the Menards nose art boxcars.

Gerry

Looks like a great candidate for one of Bruk’s legacy upgrades!

@gmorlitz posted:

I have the MTH version of that engine and it is truly a winner. Great looking and great running. I particularly like it with the Menards nose art boxcars.

Gerry

Yes, that's the one in my photo. Problem is I have to run it in conventional because I can't get DCS to work for ****! If Lionel does a Legacy version somebody can have a good deal on this one!

Y’all want the best of the best,…I’d find one ( they are rare but do pop up on occasion) ….get you a MTH version and send it to the legacy doctors Sid & Bruk,…those guys are doing amazing conversions, with a huge emphasis on quality craftsmanship……to be sure they can add all the legacy features your hearts desire,….so you’d have a bullet proof locomotive with personalized care on an install,….if I wanted a legacy A2, I’d be knocking on my buddy Sid’s door, KNOWING Im about to get the best of the best,…..why hope & pray??…..it’s achievable right now,….😉

Pat  

No one knows what happen to the steam tooling from MTH.  Did MTH 2.0 keep it? Was it sold to Lionel?  Maybe the right question ask to the right person at York can find out.  As in ask MTH parts on the side,  maybe someone will slip up and let the cat out of the bag,   ask Lionel see what they say.

@superwarp1 posted:

No one knows what happen to the steam tooling from MTH.  Did MTH 2.0 keep it? Was it sold to Lionel?  Maybe the right question ask to the right person at York can find out.  As in ask MTH parts on the side,  maybe someone will slip up or ask Lionel.

Don't forget about Atlas!

Bryce

@superwarp1 posted:

No one knows what happen to the steam tooling from MTH.  Did MTH 2.0 keep it? Was it sold to Lionel?  Maybe the right question ask to the right person at York can find out.  As in ask MTH parts on the side,  maybe someone will slip up or ask Lionel.

Gary, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you have one or more of your PS2 Hudsons swapped over to legacy by Dr.Bruk?……Id think the swap option is a realistic option for some of these guys,…..from what I’ve seen, both Sid & Bruk are accomplished craftsman,…..

Pat

Last month an A2a went for over $800 on eBay, and they don't come up for sale too often! I'll take a Legacy version too!

@0-Gauge CJ posted:

Last month an A2a went for over $800 on eBay, and they don't come up for sale too often! I'll take a Legacy version too!

I hear ya, and yes it’d be nice to see a Lionel Legacy version of this locomotive…..no doubt….I’m merely pointing out what’s achievable right now,…..yes they are kinda rare, but the bay isn’t the only source, and if your only pricing gauge is the bay, then your missing the bigger picture,…..with current conditions in the world, the bay is the last place I’m shopping right now,…..that’s a fixated audience with eyes glued to their screens,…….plenty other avenues to explore,….those that beat the bushes find the deals,…those that keep their eyes glued to the bay only are herded cattle,…..simple as that,,..

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Gary, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you have one or more of your PS2 Hudsons swapped over to legacy by Dr.Bruk?……Id think the swap option is a realistic option for some of these guys,…..from what I’ve seen, both Sid & Bruk are accomplished craftsman,…..

Pat

Bruk, did my B&A Hudson and did a fantastic job.  Waiting in the wings is my L4 Mohawk and down the road a UP Challenger.  Bruk right now can’t take on any projects due to work and family responsibilities. So everything is on hold but hopefully will change in a month or two.

I do know that about 4-5 months ago, someone had asked Mr. Muffin about his A2 in the comments, and he said that it wasn't for sale, when he got it, and that they occasionally show up on the web for sale. Told the person that if they see it, buy it, it's a great engine.

I also agree too with what Pat said on upgrading. Since I only run Legacy, that would be the route I would go if I ever got my hands on the MTH version, if I chose to. Currently though, I'm not ready to be shopping for one, so I'll have to wait.

About where the toolings went to. You'd have a better chance pulling out an Alabama tick off you. I would suspect that no one will say if they have, was sold to, not a whisper. If we're going to find out, were going to be told. Ryan has to follow the company policy of not releasing any information on any future projects. The only way he would is by the book, if they had a special engine that they would be taking orders at York for(which I doubt).

To be sure, I'm sure that they will possibly have some samples to show us from the earlier catalog and possibly maybe something from the most recent. I wouldn't get my hopes up on any big surprises until hopefully the new year with the next catalog. Just have to hope that they have the toolings we want them to have(and hopefully and then some), and will make what they should.

All that I hope Atlas has got a great selection as well, probably not steam engines(maybe they do, don't know), see what they come out with. I know I ordered their first batch of passenger cars they revealed.

Again, I’m all in favor of seeing you guys get your dream Legacy A2a NYC Berk,…so let’s look at the possibilities,….first, you’ve got to hope Lionel got the tooling,….and that’s a lot of tooling,…..it’s all gotta get moved ….then some of tooling will need to be modified to suit Legacy systems….then pilot samples have to be made for testing….THEN, if  Dave & Ryan need any changes,…it’s back to modifying tooling……IF it all works out, then they can go to production,…..it’s gonna be a while before you guys even see something on the horizon,….and it’s only an If they just so happened to pick up this particular model,…( which they very might as well have done)  So again, I’m not trying to beat a dead horse,….but fellas like Skip that DO have this locomotive, but really can’t enjoy it because of whatever reason, there is an option,….if Bruk is jammed up like Gary has mentioned, Sid is just as capable of doing this swap…..I’m not advertising for either one, but it seems those two have this legacy swap thing down to a science,…I mean Sid took a Williams J and turned it from a toy to fine model,…I was impressed ,………in a nutshell, all I’m saying is if you have one, or you find one, and Legacy is your desire,…don’t wait for maybes and ifs,  the Legacy doctors CAN make it happen,….that A2 produced by MTH is a friggin battle tank,…..heavy casting, ball bearing worm, heavy bronze gear, and ( my personal favorite part) Pittman powered,…..and with Sid or Bruk putting their “ stank” on it,…man, you’ll have one honking hunk of metal,…….the resources are all right here on this very forum…….here’s the skinny with the myriad of extreme talent on this forum,…. way beyond what the factory could ever hope to churn out,……the difficult we do straight away,…the impossible takes just a few minutes longer,…😉….

BTW, I stole that last quote from my buddy Pete,…I really like that!..🤣🤣🤣

Pat

Just out of curiosity, roughly what does one of these Legacy upgrades cost?

Gerry

@gmorlitz posted:

Just out of curiosity, roughly what does one of these Legacy upgrades cost?

Gerry

That’s something you’d discuss with your builder, and I’d suggest that’s y’all’s business, and you keep it between y’all,….

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

That’s something you’d discuss with your builder, and I’d suggest that’s y’all’s business, and you keep it between y’all,….

Pat

Sure, why should people on the Forum have any idea of what things cost? Clearly a terrible thought. I understand that costs can vary, but was curious. Nothing like transparency.

Gerry

@gmorlitz posted:

Sure, why should people on the Forum have any idea of what things cost? Clearly a terrible thought. I understand that costs can vary, but was curious. Nothing like transparency.

Gerry

Every engine is different, every install will have different features.  For my MTH Hudson, if you purchase the parts at full retail you are looking at 350-400 bucks.  I purchase my parts at the warehouse sale for 50% off.   Depending on what Bruk will need to do, (3D parts, special mods, etc, etc)  look at another 300-500 in labor.   I have no Idea what Sid will charge but he may get one of my projects if Bruk can't take it on.

To me it's worth it.  I'm not a fan of the DCS system, sounds are old and stale.  Legacy operation is worlds above DCS not to mention Railsounds,  IMO.  Others will disagree.  I only have three MTH engines anyway.   Will I do any TMCC engines to Legacy?  Maybe someday down the road but I like how they run and sound now.

But lets get back to the A2 Skip posted about.  Really wish I knew where that tooling is.  There's been no steamers announced since the MTH breakup.  This Berk would be a real seller. 

Thanks Gary, I was curious. I realize that to a certain extent they are all different. I've had proto2 upgrades done and have done them myself. I've had Timko can motors installed to be able to do proto2 upgrades. I understand pricing varies. I like DCS. I like the way it works, the different station sounds, etc. So very unlikely that I would do a Legacy upgrade.

Gerry

@gmorlitz posted:

Sure, why should people on the Forum have any idea of what things cost? Clearly a terrible thought. I understand that costs can vary, but was curious. Nothing like transparency.

Gerry

How hard would it be for you to contact one of the Legacy builders and have that conversation with them?….pretty sure if you asked them, they’d give you a quote,…a terrible thought is speculating what somebody else is gonna charge,….no need to beat around the bush,….go to the source for the answers,….

Pat