| Berkshire Steam Locomotives The Nickel Plate Road, Erie, and Pere Marquette railroads were all controlled by real estate magnates, Otis P. and Mantis J. Van Sweringen. Nothing but the finest motive power would do for the Van Sweringen brothers' railroads and the fast, powerful new 2-8-4 Berkshire type was their choice for a freight workhorse. First created in 1925 by William E. Woodard, chief designer for the Lima Locomotive Works, the 2-8-4 Berkshire typified the new locomotive design concept dubbed "Superpower." Rather than just increase boiler dimensions and adhesion weight, as had been common practice, the "Superpower" concept focused on increasing the steaming capacity of a locomotive of a given size. The four wheel trailing truck pioneered on the 2-8-4 Berkshires was a revolutionary improvement to that end. This new type of trailing truck could support a larger firebox thereby generating more steam and more power. The scale-sized Lionel Berkshires capture the look of this late steam era classic with distinctive separately applied details and performance worthy of the prototype. Two new FatBoy speakers with the improved RailSounds sound system and improved smoke output provide a state-of-the-art experience. The new Lionel Berkshires capture the look and sounds of these "Superpower" steam locomotives streaking across the smokestack dotted landscape. On the Nickel Plate, Erie, and Pere Marquette long consists of drag freight coal were still an important load for their Berkshires to haul. However, during the thirties and forties each road prided itself on capturing the most profitable sector of the business, fast freight. Less-than-Carload service, perishable loads and manufactured goods were freight runs that demanded a fast locomotive like the Berkshire. The Nickel Plate and Pere Marquette also had to keep pace with the steadily growing auto industry around Detroit, supplying raw materials and delivering finished goods. A truly modern steam locomotive, the Berkshires served into the 1950s, including ALCo-built Erie #3315 which was constructed in 1927. Nickel Plate Road #779, built in 1949, was the last steam locomotive made by Lima, and survives today at the Allen County Museum in Lima, Ohio. Pere Marquette #1225 was restored to running condition by the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation, Inc. in Owosso, MI and still makes periodic runs under her own power. |
- Die-cast Body
- Body
- Trainmaster Command Control
- Odyssey System for Speed Control
- Control
- Electrocouplers
- Couplers
- Die-cast Frame
- Frame
- Headlights
- Directional Lighting
- Lighted cab interior
- Lighting
- Smoke Unit
- Separately applied metal details
- Variable ashpan glow
- "Glass" in cab windows
- Engineer and fireman figures
- Authentically detailed interior
- Miscellaneous
- High-torque Pittman® motor with momentum flywheel
- Motor
- Traction Tires
- Traction
- Trucks
- Die-cast Metal Trucks
- Rail Line: Erie
- Road Number: 3315
- Gauge: Standard O Scale
- Brand: Lionel
- Min Curve: O-54
- Dimensions: Length: 26 1/2"
- Most Recent Catalog: Classic Trains Vol. 1 2003
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