$900 locos???? A few recent locos I'd not mind owning are more along the $2K level. I can not buy that to see it crumble.
Rot is rare?? Maybe but between die cast model cars and model trains I have seen more than I want. All the trucks on my K-Line HW passenger set turned to dust. Lucky K-Line was still around. If I'd provide the labor K-Line will send me the parts. All good. But what about someone else that has the same issue today.
It can be fixed.....My few 40's era Lionel's are fine and never had the rot issue in any HO that have die cast parts.
