My very first train set (at the age of 3 1/2) included a 726/RR. I still have all of the pieces that went with it, including track, but rarely use it due to the lack of magnatraction. I would like to be able to put the shell on a different frame with better traction (and to reduce wear and tear on my very first locomotive). Does such a thing exist? If I recall, the 1952 726/RR was the only year to not have magnatraction. Would a '51 or '53 Berkshire (number TBD) fit? Thanks!
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Lionel introduced the 726 Berkshire in 1946, and promptly gave it a major re-design for the following year, 1947. This model had diecast wheels with nickel tires and no magnetraction. In 1950, Magnetraction made its big debut, with every single locomotive in the catalog that year having the feature. The 736 was introduced to replace the 726. The frame was altered to accept magnetraction, the axles became non-magnetic stainless steel, and the wheels were made of sintered iron instead of diecast metal so that the magnetraction could work.
In the early 1950s, the Korean War caused material shortages that prevented Lionel from putting magnetraction in its models- the worst year was 1952, when all the steam locomotives lost their magnetraction. Lionel reflected this by reverting a number of its models back to their pre-magnetraction counterparts, however they were internally more similar to the magnetraction models.
the 726rr, being one of these 1952 models, is pretty much identical to a 736, except that it would have steel axles, and lack the magnet and pole pieces needed for magnetraction. Otherwise, no real internal difference.
You should be able to simply swap in a 736 chassis without issue, if you so desire- it would be a ‘drop in’ replacement.
-El
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Thanks! That was what I was wondering. We are currently out of town, so I can’t try it, but I do have three 736s that I can pull from to give it a try. I appreciate the explanation and response!
Any 736 from 1950-1967 will work.