Rusty: You didn't note that the FlyerChief and Flyonel Baldwins do have add on handrails where the Gilbert does not. There are even some add on railings low on both ends of the engine.
I think it is interesting that when I went to the Charles Ro site the Northwestern is the only one of the Baldwins marked Sold Out.
There seems to be weights added to both ends of the chassis to give the engine more traction. Is that so?