Then there's this one which is in a current auction and listed as unused. Notice the cardboard spacer between the loco and tender.
Rich,
I also have a mint/unrun version of the 1960 23099 set as pictured. It sure looks like a separate spacer between the loco and tender in the picture you posted. Same thing in the 23099 set still up for auction on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Americ...;hash=item20e6b11fff
When I checked my set what I find is a folded tab that is actually part of the second insert (the plain cardboard one that goes underneath the white insert with the cutouts). It looks pretty much like the "spacer" in the pictures, but it's hard to tell with 100% certainty. Thanks for spotting the picture.
My 23099 set is as perfect as I've ever seen, with a nicer box than either the Stout or eBay auctions. Still, I've registered for the Stout auction just to see how the pricing will go on the set you posted. As if I needed another one ...
