Eric's Trains posted a pic on his Facebook page. Hopefully @ericstrains.com will post the pic here. The box alone is pretty sweet. I'd post the pics, but I'll leave that up to him since they are his.
I have one on order and am looking forward to this one. Probably one of the last few big purchases for me for the foreseeable future.
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What about the cars?
I am expecting the loco tomorrow, we'll see how that goes after opening. Keeping my fingers crossed that there will not be any "drama" to deal with.
Big Jim posted:What about the cars?
I am expecting the loco tomorrow, we'll see how that goes after opening. Keeping my fingers crossed that there will not be any "drama" to deal with.
The cars will come later this year before Christmas per Ryan and Dave.
MartyE posted:Big Jim posted:What about the cars?
I am expecting the loco tomorrow, we'll see how that goes after opening. Keeping my fingers crossed that there will not be any "drama" to deal with.The cars will come later this year before Christmas per Ryan and Dave.
Yeah
... Just like the 21" cars of 2018! No worries! I have the completed old set to carry me this holiday season!
prrhorseshoecurve posted:Yeah
There's an optimist! LOL!
Went to Eric's Facebook page and saw his pic of the scale Polar Express; looks good and the box too; since he got it, does that mean there is a light at the end of the tunnel? Trainworld has it scheduled for Dec 30, 2018.
AND
Eric, have you done a test run of the engine yet???
prrhorseshoecurve posted:MartyE posted:Big Jim posted:What about the cars?
I am expecting the loco tomorrow, we'll see how that goes after opening. Keeping my fingers crossed that there will not be any "drama" to deal with.The cars will come later this year before Christmas per Ryan and Dave.
Yeah
Yep, me too, I have a completed old set; just waiting for the loco to show up at TW.
Hey kids, just got a call from C. at Train World and they are going to ship the loco tomorrow; for those who have already got it, is there any news on its performance?
RickM46 posted:Hey kids, just got a call from C. at Train World and they are going to ship the loco tomorrow; for those who have already got it, is there any news on its performance?
Oh Boy!
"Hey! Hey, you! Yeah, you! Do you know what kind of train this is?"
"Yeah, I know it's a magic train. Actually, it's a Baldwin 2-8-4 S3-class Berkshire type steam locomotive built in 1931 at the Baldwin Locomotive Works. It weighs 456,100 pounds and..."
Big Jim posted:What about the cars?
I am expecting the loco tomorrow, we'll see how that goes after opening. Keeping my fingers crossed that there will not be any "drama" to deal with.
Jim, let us know how the loco performs; mine will not be showing up till Tuesday.
MartyE posted:RickM46 posted:Hey kids, just got a call from C. at Train World and they are going to ship the loco tomorrow; for those who have already got it, is there any news on its performance?
Oh Boy!
"Hey! Hey, you! Yeah, you! Do you know what kind of train this is?"
"Yeah, I know it's a magic train. Actually, it's a Baldwin 2-8-4 S3-class Berkshire type steam locomotive built in 1931 at the Baldwin Locomotive Works. It weighs 456,100 pounds and..."
Right from the Polar Express movie; got the DVD; holiday tradition viewed at least 3 times; can't wait till Christmas to set up the living room floor tracks with tree and village.
I hope Lionel decides to reissue the abandoned toy car. I would be in for one.
I would be in for the abandoned toy car too!
Can’t wait to get Berkshire next week.
I'll be in the LHS this weekend but I suspect the Polar Berks will arrive next week or later there. Looking forward to any videos from you folks to hold me over.
Does anyone else see the humor in the oxymoron?
Specifically: "The Scale Polar Express Berks"...
I get what the excitement is about for PE fans. But still, I got a chuckle out of the above.
Andre
laming posted:Does anyone else see the humor in the oxymoron?
Specifically: "The Scale Polar Express Berks"...
I get what the excitement is about for PE fans. But still, I got a chuckle out of the above.
Whats the issue Andre? It says Polar Express right on the tender
:
Apparently......you can't hear the bell
I reckon' I don't hear that bell. I shake it... but silence.
Oh well...
Andre
laming posted:I reckon' I don't hear that bell. I shake it... but silence.
Oh well...
Andre
Took a look on Google for info about Baldwin and Berks. Baldwin factories were in Philly and Eddystone Pa from 1825 to 1956; many ups and downs and financial woes; best year 1906 with 2,666 locomotives; no mention of a Berk in their history. However, Lima Locomotive works in Ohio produced the first Berk A1 in 1925; later models were tested on the Berkshire Hills summit; hence, Berk.
The bell, I hear it every Christmas while running the Lionchief polar express around the tree.
Google "2-8-4 Wikipedia"
Shows Baldwin built several S-3s for the Erie RR
#3350 to #3384 in 1928.
15 for the ATSF
#4101 to #4115 in 1927
For the Northfolk and Southern
F-1 type
#600 to #604 in 1940
For the Louisville and Nashville RR
Type M-1
#1950 to #1963 in 1942
#1964 to #1969 in 1944
justakid posted:Google "2-8-4 Wikipedia"
Or you could just post a direct link.
Big Jim posted:
That's a sweet looking box.
I'm kind of busy today, so, it will at least till tomorrow before I will be able to post any photos. I did open it up to check the engine truck bearings to see them OK. It's a nice looking engine.
*** One must beware when putting it back in the box to be sure that it sits exactly where it was when it came out. There is a very firm (and I do mean FIRM) protective foam piece that sits over the headlight that will hit on the inside of the lid if the engine isn't sitting just right in the lower section. If you feel any untoward resistance putting the lid on, don't! You could break your headlight off. Remove the lid and make sure the loco is in the proper place. The pilot on mine made a slight indention in the bottom of the styrofoam box. Be sure the pilot lines up with that when you put it back in.
Jim, thanks for the info, priceless; especially on repacking the loco. Now, with all my new locos, before I lift the loco and tender out of the styrofoam for the first time, I take a ball point pen and draw lines around where their fronts and backs sit in the foam. Makes repacking easier.
Big Jim posted:I'm kind of busy today, so, it will at least till tomorrow before I will be able to post any photos. I did open it up to check the engine truck bearings to see them OK. It's a nice looking engine.
*** One must beware when putting it back in the box to be sure that it sits exactly where it was when it came out. There is a very firm (and I do mean FIRM) protective foam piece that sits over the headlight that will hit on the inside of the lid if the engine isn't sitting just right in the lower section. If you feel any untoward resistance putting the lid on, don't! You could break your headlight off. Remove the lid and make sure the loco is in the proper place. The pilot on mine made a slight indention in the bottom of the styrofoam box. Be sure the pilot lines up with that when you put it back in.
Does the locomotive sit in the foam wheels down with a top/bottom foam insert or side loaded? Hopefully they are seeing that the wheels down top/bottom method is much better.
Remember the good old days when we were done using our trains, we'd throw them in an old cardboard box, put them away and take them out again and they were fine....
Train Nut posted:Remember the good old days when we were done using our trains, we'd throw them in an old cardboard box, put them away and take them out again and they were fine....
and they were lack many of the fine scale, added on, details we have today... Apple to Oranges.
I remember the strength of the 50's Lionel and American Flyer locomotives that could take a child's beating and still run and look good even after high speed derailments; BUT, never looking back; would not be satisfied with them now.
MartyE posted:Train Nut posted:Remember the good old days when we were done using our trains, we'd throw them in an old cardboard box, put them away and take them out again and they were fine....
and they were lack many of the fine scale, added on, details we have today... Apple to Oranges.
Yep. A lot of trains are similar in size, shape, they are both trains.......
Just like apples and oranges are similar in size, shape, they are both fruit...
I always thought the apples-to-oranges was a stupid analogy. 🤔
I almost heard the bell once... sounded like a very, very, distant faint tinkling: I was tempted to purchase the S scale Polar Express after it came out for Christmas Tree duty. BUT...
... the bell went silent before I purchased... so it didn't happen.
I'm such a sad case.
Andre
Scale Polar Express showed up today; shipper box was in a double box by Train World - talk about protection! No damage and the loco runs with all functions working using CAB2 including movie talk. DOM was 03/27/18. Happy Camper! Will make a nice display around the Christmas tree.
However, a few small issues with the tender.
Tender - rear most truck: Out of the box, the rearmost axle and its brass bearing had fallen out of the side rail on one side. Fiddled with the 2 screws for the side rail and got the axle and bearing back in place.
Tender - front most truck: Same situation with the front most axle and bearing but it had not dislodged from the side rail completely. The rearmost axle was was OK but the wheel flange on the right rearmost wheel rubbed against the side rail's mounting stanchion. Fiddled with the 4 screws for the side rails but no amount could could keep the wheel flange from rubbing but it still turned freely. After running the loco and tender for a bit, the wheel flange wore more room into the stanchion. Seems on both tender's trucks there is considerable end play as compared to the Milwaukee S3 and the axle bearings are loose in the side rails. Will just keep an eye them.
Have attached pictures showing that big black block over the headlight; note, when repacking, rotate the bell rearward so that it does not rest on the top of the block.
MartyE posted:Does the locomotive sit in the foam wheels down with a top/bottom foam insert or side loaded? Hopefully they are seeing that the wheels down top/bottom method is much better.
Marty,
Wheels down.
UPDATE to the tender brass axle bearing issues: there was one loose axle bearing per truck. Took all 4 tender side rails off and pressed each bearing into its side rail, they're all press fitted. Glued the 2 loose ones (after cleaning with alcohol) into their side rails and re-assembled and re-lubed (being careful not to damage their mounting screws). Now, there is no problem with wheel flanges rubbing a stanchion - all spin freely. Just a little bit of tinkering - it doesn't get any better than this; Happy Camper!
Love the Tom Hanks dialogue!
you would think the quality would be better for spending over $1k for an engine - i have noticed a number of issues with other Lionel Products - had a new legacy engine with the front coupler completely disconnected in the box, 21" Southern Passenger Cars with pieces loose in the box - mostly small pieces that look like they were not glued on. Have not had any issues with MTH products - is Lionel slipping on quality checks?
I see "Christmas in July" is alive and well with the delivery of the latest run of Lionel's scale PE Berkshires. I have the 10th anniversary version - and I see Lionel used a similar box for this run as well.
With Hallmark playing around the clock Christmas movies - and Christmas concerts on another cable channel, there's no shortage of holiday treats in what has been one of the hottest summers I can remember.
Really surprised no videos posted here . 😔
Here are some photos of my PE. I checked the bearing and there were no problems at all. Just a few things that you might notice, the crew is not the characters depicted in the movie, there is no whistle cord and there is no injector under the engineer's side, even though there is plenty of room for one. The stoker motor sits too far back under the cab, but, at least it is there. So, for anyone wanting to do some super detailing under the cab, the room is there for the taking.
Yet another UPDATE to the P.E. Tender brass axle bearings: one more axle bearing worked loose on the rearmost axle of the front truck; it worked outward about 1/16"; took its side rail off, pressed it back into the rail till it clicked but was still easily finger tip removable; glued it in place and reinstalled axle and rail; now the flange of one of the wheels rubs against the side rail mounting screw or stanchion but only at the extreme end of the freeplay and it does still spin; tried adjusting the rail mounting screws to no avail; eventually I figure it will wear in. Have checked that wheel to see if it is dragging on the track and see no wear signs of dragging. Still a Happy Camper.
PS. Compared the trucks on the Milwaukee S3 tender to the PE. tender; the Milwaukee trucks are longer with more separation between the axles so no danger of the their wheel flanges contacting a mounting point.
ted K posted:you would think the quality would be better for spending over $1k for an engine - i have noticed a number of issues with other Lionel Products - had a new legacy engine with the front coupler completely disconnected in the box, 21" Southern Passenger Cars with pieces loose in the box - mostly small pieces that look like they were not glued on. Have not had any issues with MTH products - is Lionel slipping on quality checks?
Quality, what?
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