Re: the Texas Special PWC F3 set, the finish has always been admired. I have a friend (who actually works for TW Trainworx) who bought a complete set when they first came out, and has been running them regularly, including constantly at many, many trainshows for years. "Running the wheels off" describes it - he says he has no idea how many hours it has on it, but a ton, and it has been extremely popular with visitors over the years. These PWC engines are very reliable runners. These F3s also have some of the best horns ever put in a Lionel engines (those on the Geeps are also outstanding). Speaking of paint finishes, the ones on other PWC engines I have are also great. The finishes on the PWC B&O and Rio Grande sets are terrific.
Besides the PWC F3 roster, Lionel made a couple other sets that are essentially the same thing, but without the PWC labelling. These include the Kansas City Southern set (no. 14500). Lionel called this an "Archive" set, being engines that were designed by Lionel in the Postwar years, but for whatever reason were never produced. Another F3 set that is similar to the PWC versions but without the PWC labeling is the Milwaukee Road set, no. 18140.
One thing I have enjoyed with the PWC engines is the ability to swap shells with other Postwar style engines. I have taken several PWC engine sets and swapped the shells. Very easy to do. So I have essentially converted the MPC era Illinois Central and Southern Pacific F3 sets to PWC sets, and done the same with the LTI era blue Santa Fe freight version F3s, as well as with an EP-5 and a number of Geeps.
(I agree on the vinyl record sound vs. CD and streaming. There's a reason for the resurgence in vinyl (and sale of turntables). Many audiophiles agree that vinyl gives a smoother sound.)
