OK Mike,
You did not ask, but it's the "X" that is significant to me. According to Louis Hertz, the "X" means the engine was assembled with blind center drive wheels, and tinplate flanges to run on tubular track. Some folks do not believe Mr. Hertz was correct. I'd would be interested to read what Dennis Waldron had to say about it. Here is a couple of links:
As far as getting your buddy to join is concerned: I am the only person in my group of collector friends participating on this forum.
CW,
Although I'm late coming to this party, Lionel did indeed build a EW X version of the 700E with blind center drivers and taller flanges on the other wheels. Contrat to some comment posted here, the Hudson Products boiler will not fit a Lionel 700E or 763E frame and the Hudson Product boiler is too short by .130 (more than 1/8 of an inch) - which means the ladders in front don't fit properly.
