Lionel 726 Berkshire Variations 1946-49

[Terry]

Before I built the layout I put aside a nice 1950 736 Berkshire to run, but when I saw it on the  layout I decided I wanted a 1946 726 loco instead. The '46 berkshire has a cleaner boiler with stantions, an open area for the ecentric crank,  and no protruding e-unit lever.

Here's a 1946 berkshire (Top) with a later version:

 

The 1946 (right) also has a different frame and motor.:

 

Since I wanted one, I've been putting all the 726 locos I get aside with the idea I'd make up a nice one for the layout and sell the others.  The other night I sat down to look them over and found a weird one.

Here's four 726 locos in order with earliest at left:

 

The one on the far right has a simulated coupler on the pilot, but is otherwise the same as the one next to it so it's removed from the following photos.

Did you see the weird one? Here's another view:

 

Here's a bottom view of the the two '46 berks:

 

Might just be a later frame and motor in a 1946 shell? 

Compare the handrails:

 

Here's the earlier photo of the tops so you can  compare the handrails on three locos.

 

The odd one has cotter pins holding the handrails, but no raised collars like the later berk.

I think the parts are interchangable so this could be a construction by a former owner or repair shop. I'd rather have the better stantions, but it's pretty much what I was going to build for my self.

My work desk is a mess since I'm putting up more shelves in that room.  Later, I'll open these up and see what's inside.

[Terry]

I was packing the 1950 736 Berkshire up and took these quick photos:

 

 

The loco box is dated 1950 and tender box is 2671X. The X means it has Lionel Lines lettering rather than the Pennsylvania lettering of the turbine tender.

 

In 1950, the 2671WX tender came with two types of lettering. The first type was short and thin which is much harder to find, and then later the tall fat letters were used.

Here's the two types of tender lettering:

 

 

In 1951, the 12-wheel tender was dropped and the cheaper 8-wheel 2046W was used. Here's a photo of the 2046W and the two versions of the 2671WX:

 

[CNJRR]

Good case study, info should come in handy for someone looking. 
Now I got to look and see if I have one.

[starfire700]

To me the most important and unique features of the 1946 Berk are the Smoke Bulb and the diecast removable pick-up plate. These features are unique to the 1946 Berk only. The 1946 671 and 2020 turbines are the only other locos to have smoke-bulb chambers. The 196 pellets were made for the 1946 locos only, with SP pellets replacing them in 1947 when wire-coil type smoke units replaced the smoke bulbs. As Lionel offered conversion kits (bulb to coil type) 1946 locos can be found with coil type units that look factory. I did a video on SP smoking locos that explains this further. I have provided the link below for those that are interested.

https://tinyurl.com/bk7txx8k