Yes, I agree. Allow me to clarify. The El Capitan #158 engine was never sold separately. It was part of an entire train set. Here is the description of what you got for your $369.
- SET INCLUDES:
- FT diesel locomotive, two streamliner coach cars, one streamliner observation car, three straight FasTrack sections, eight curved FasTrack sections, a FasTrack terminal section, CW-80 Transformer
What I bought was the engine only. None of the rest.
So, if you subtract out the retail price of all of those cars, tracks, transformers, etc. that came in the set, I do believe that the retail price of the engine, had they sold it alone, would have been far less than the $369.
I'm just pointing out, that there are traditional conventional engines out there, at fairly modest prices, that have a nice assortment of sounds, without going to the remote only system that the Menard's Sante Fe has. Yes, somewhat apples to oranges, but only demonstrating that an informed buyer who searches the web can actually find NIB conventionals, with prices and features comparable to the Menards, and without the current problems of the Menards.
This is why Menards should offer their loco with a conventional operation mode. That's all I meant to say. I apologize that I was definitely not clear.
Mannyrock
