Lionel's FM C Liner Questions

Personally I like to collect and run locomotives that are prototypically correct.  However everyone’s definitions of correct and prototypical are different.

For me, it has to be the right dimensions +/- 5-10%, the right paint scheme, and roughly the right equipment.  However, I’m not as picky about road numbers for instance.

I mostly collect PRR stuff so MARS light is not something I often consider, so I’d probably let it slide.  The PRR C-Liner is the wrong color and has the incorrect rear truck, so there is little chance I would buy them.

As for the B-unit, yeah that’s a bummer.  Had the PRR A-units been otherwise correct, I may have picked a pair up, but I would have really wanted a SuperBass unit to go with them too.

So, no I don’t think you are looking at it to deeply, these are the same things I go through when I’m mulling over a purchase.  

Other than the Demonstrators, only 2 NYC CPA-24-5's had MARS lights, the rest did not.  None of NYC's CFA-16-44 or CFA-20-44's had MARS lights.

All of the Milwaukee Road CFA-16-4's had MARS lights.

The Demonstrators were sold to the New Haven after having the MARS lights and Dynamic Braking deleted.

Rusty

I’m also a PRR fan. But in this case I would buy the demonstrators. Wish they would do it correctly with the Mars light. It had to be part of Lionel’s purchase of the molds.