Dave Warburton posted:Lionel retired the PW 726/36 mold after one last production run in 2000 or so. It was touted as the final loco made in America before production was shipped to China. It carried the Nickel Plate livery
I assume the LC+ Berkshire will be from the newer Conventional Classic mold. I have that one and it is very nice, indeed.
My bet is on Lionel in hopes of making this the first engine to be at least assembled back here in America. The original PW 726/736 die-cast body mold had its final run with the L&N Big Bertha Berk back in 1986. From then on Lionel's iconic engine was built with mostly new tooling.
joe