I agree. I started collecting again two years ago and went for the trains of my childhood. I ending up buying the postwar engines. Then I saw Mr Muffins post on the Monon and living on a old Monon siding I had to have it. After running it with dcs I began looking for more. After the Big Boy with legacy, my 773 (1950 version) that I hunted all over for just didn't seem that special. I haven't run a post war engine since. I just purchased the scale Texas special and compared it to my postwar Texas special.
See picture which would you pick?
I was just thinking about selling my postwar collection, given my luck it makes sense that the prices are dropping!!!
While I'm a scale operator, the postwar Lionel Texas Special remains one of my favorite engines. Thus, I would chose the engine on the right!
Jim