This is certainly not a fair comparison due to the build dates of these 2 ATSF E6's which are close to 2 decades apart, but it clearly shows how different each model can appear. Both are representative of a popular passenger diesel but look at how the ride height affects our perception. The Lionel unit on the right shows what was common and actually not as bad as some of their E7's and F7's of the period - early 2000s. Are modern Lionel E and F units seated better on their chassis now?
Some years ago several of our forum members posted good pieces on how to lower their engines using various methods