Lionel 1946 No. 726 Berkshire 2-8-4 w/ 2426W Tender

This is the top of the line in Lionel Berkshires. This is the rare 1946 Lionel No. 726 steam engine, and its No. 2426W Tender. Lionel placed the most detail and best running gear on this engine. Instead of cotter pins as used in the following years, Lionel used stanchions to hold the handrails on the engine. Instead of having the motor drive the rear axle and using the main rod to drive the rest of the axles, Lionel placed the motor horizontally and used a drive shaft to drive the front and rear axles. Plus of course no e-unit slot through the top of the boiler. 

This is an outstanding example of this Engine and Tender. Excellent plus condition - as seen in the pictures. I think the pictures speak for themselves, but I will detail what I see. The engine overall is in like new shape. Has its original smoke bulb holder - which is currently working. Some small amount of wear on the high areas. The engine ran in forward and reverse. The light on the front worked. The 2626W Tender shows little wear. Curiously, when I looked at the graphics on the sides with a magnifying glass, it looks as if some one bolstered the stamps by painting some white inside the lines. It was done so well you could only tell by the magnifying glass, and I am not sure when or how that was done. Just wanted to point it out. The whistle worked fine. Overall, a beautiful train that should not be missed. Thanks. 

Price: $650 SORRY! SOLD!