Hot Water is right. There were other more useful engines for freight, still serviceable in the early 1950's.
There was still intermittent passenger work for the 3460's and all classes of 4-8-4's even after the final rednose F7's were delivered in 1953, because of second and third sections of regular trains during the summer and the holiday season. The 3460's were first of those classes to be laid up good, because they were unsuitable as dual service engines and also unsuitable for grades west of Wellington. The Santa Fe Locomotive Assignment Lists available from the Santa Fe Historical and Modeling Society archives in Temple, Texas have good information about the fading fortunes of steam power throughout the 1950's.
I have a Lionel 2-8-2 as well as a 2-10-2 and a 4-8-2 from Sunset. The 2-8-2 should be able to run on any layout. The other two are larger, but manageable. The Sunset 2900 Class 4-8-4 is definitely a large engine that does not like O72 reverse curves. Beautiful, yes, but temperamental on small layouts. "O72 minimum radius" is not the same as "recommended for O72 curves."
