leapinlarry posted:BREEZINUP, Yes, your exactly right, The Tooling Cost is the Big Expense, and I think the Demand for these Super Nice Heavy Locomotives is there....If Lionel did a proper Upgrade looking at whatever are problem area's, upgraded the electronics and made some new Road Names, as well as the Original Road Names, I think there would be a lot of orders....Since Lionel is Venturing into Brass/Hybrid Steam Locomotives, then, they should re-consider making these Die-Cast ES44's....
I'm wondering how big a demand when the ABS version that cost hundreds less is nearly the exact engine minus the faults? I think current availability, not collector value and surely not quality engineering is the only reason the original die-cast ES44's command a slight premium which then drives blind interest for a reissue today. If Lionel were foolish enough to reissue the engine with the same faults that plagued the original (weak handrails etc.) price will be high, demand will be weak, the same problems will resurface and value of the originals will plummet. Bottom line, if I really wanted a die-cast ES44, I'd look for a deal on a original and be done with it.
joe
