Just throwing it out there, there are a number of 'like new' lionel and mth mohawk 4-8-2 engines on the big auction site at the moment in the $350-450 range if your heart is set on that type. The lionel ones all appear to be conventional models with chuffing sound. Not sure what the quality is on these, but they look nice. You might also find one posting a 'looking for' ad here on the forum.
I'm particularly partial to the hudson Jr's from the early 2000's if you're looking for a fairly good looking engine that will slip right through O27 curves and pull a small mountain. They tend to go for $200-$350 with tmcc and railsounds in my experience.
