Thanks for posting, that was very intersting. I did notice all of the prices for things listed in the various ads and it got me thinking...
Using an inflation calculator the 700E at $75 would cost you $1238.57 in 2015. That puts the high price of many modern Lionel steam engines in context. It also demonstrates that engines like the VL Big Boy are in a league all their own.
Just thought it was an interesting observation.
Jay in Ottawa