I have finally bought a 726 Berk, and it’s cab number is stamped in silver, but the numbers on the 2426 tender is stamped in white. Is the color of the lettering supposed to match? Also the tender’s trucks are made of plastic, is this correct also? I paid 475 dollars for this engine, which was probably way too much. I definitly should have waited longer for one of these. The guy I bought it from sounded money hungry, or “Greedy” and this purchase definatly soured my enjoyment of toy trains. The engine’s boiler is in pretty good condition with little scratches, but the boilerfront was busted. Oh well, I might get rid of this engine and save up my money again and look for a better one somewhere else. This is definitly a purchase I regret dearly.
Berk, I have a '47 berk work train set with all the boxes and it came with silver rubber stamped cab numbers and white heat stamped tender letters. ( I think, got to double check now) As weird as it may seem I think that is correct. Question is when you clean your engine and tender up and rewire as needed etc, basically do a good service, what condition do you think your engine is in? Does it run well and does it satisfy you? If it does, then keep it! These are great smooth engines. Oh and the tender trucks all have plastic overlay sideframe covers on sheetmetal trucks That is normal. Same truck as on a 2460 crane (different mount stud and length coupler though). You probably could have done better than 475, but maybe the condition would not be as good. If it makes you feel better, I paid 800 for my work train in 1992! I probably could not get 800 for it now, but I like it on the shelf or on the layout!.
Keep it and enjoy
Sorry to read that you are so unhappy about your purchase. How did you buy it? Was it through Ebay or some internet board?
I bought it at a train show. It shows plenty of wear on the contact rollers, there is a groove wore into them.
According to this article at the Lionel Trains Library you probably have the correct tender. I have heard that the above mentioned site has some mistakes but from what you said and the picture of the first tender they linked to all looks well for you. Hope this helps.
Mike
The only 2426W tenders which have silver lettering are the early 46’ versions. The rest all had white through 1950. In 1948 the whistle changed to the plastic type. You have the correct tender.
Thanks everyone!!
The stamping color on the tender depends on the year it was produced. You need to determine what year engine you have. The trucks for the 2426W will have six wheels. Don,t be discourage, but certainly do your homework before you continue to purchase these postwar engines. They are very nice and will give you many hours of continued enjoyment if serviced and maintained properly. I just bought a 1946 726 Berkshire with the 2426W tender for $310. It didn’t have the original smoke unit, the whistle didn’t work and needed several other parts. I completely disassembled everything, cleaned and reassembled everything. I have also just purchased another 726 without the tender. The tender, if operational, is worth between $200 and $300. The train now runs like a swiss watch. Parts cost me $9. Pick up the collectors bible for about $25 before you go on your next hunt. It explains all the differences between the many different 726’s. When I get this next 726 and go threw it I will be selling the one I just finished working on. I your interested I’ll probably be asking in the $200 to $250 range for the engine only. Keep your tender, if its in good shape.
Darn it!!! I had 260 dollars left but I spent most of that on track and other stuff. My 726 has the three window cab, and a pilot with a molded in coupler, and blackened flag staffs. The smoke unit works, and the whistle in the tender works also, but it is alittle weak. I have to turn up the power alittle bit in neutral for the whistle to work good though.
I know mine is not the 1946 model, because it doesn’t have the bulb type smoke unit and it has pins holding the handrails on it’s boiler in place. Well, I hope you have a good day sir.