Looking though 1940s Model Builder Magazines ads I see Lionel and American Flyer made and sold kits to build their locomotives, the same ones they sold in stores ready to go. At that time a ready built Lionel loco was $65 and kit was $56 and AF loco was $42 and the kit was $30 for examples.
Since labor costs are a major factor in most of items being made in India, So. Korea, especially China, etc. maybe US train companies could make kits here in the USA and save much of the labor on the expensive $600 and up detailed steam locos. These detailed locomotives take a lot of labor to apply all those details that often involve on sticking numerous items in holes on the loco. This could happen faster than them bringing the casting and making of all the parts to the USA and be a first step. With the higher cost per hour for labor now, the price of the kits should now be a lower percentage of the retail price than it was in 1940.
Charlie
