ns1001 posted:Just received a C&O AF Lionel USRA light 2-8-2 imported in 2006 for $500 on Ebay still new in box. Running in conventional mode. Does not smoke much - maybe with 5-6 cars it may smoke more. It runs well and as long as it doesn't blow a board it was a good purchase. It certainly looks good with as much detail as a Legacy Lionel O Gauge USRA 2-8-2 (K-Line tooling). Why was the USRA 2-8-2 and 4-6-2 not better sellers? Certainly a better performer/looker than the ERIE 2-8-4 that I paid $380 at Charles Ro.
I think the Mikado's and Pacific's sold pretty well, it's more likely that Lionel apparently lost access to the tooling. Perhaps the tooling is being used as doorstops at Sanda Kan.
There's no doubt these were much better detailed than the FlyerChief Berkshires, but when these things were conceived there were different people in charge at Lionel.
A Western Pacific Mikado and Southern Railway Pacific passenger set were announced, but were cancelled no reason given. Pity, I was interested in the Southern Passenger set.
Rusty
