Has this LIONEL F3A ever been opened?

@Pingman posted:

Question: Has this scarce 2002 Lionel 6-14561 NP dummy F3A unit ever been unpacked?

I received this today and have never opened anything like this.

The outer box was pristine, not a mark or crease, in a fitted plastic sleeve.

One of the box end flaps appeared as if it had never been opened. And the other end was stiff, undamaged, and showed no signs of use; its tab ends on the flap weren't engaged with the side flaps as the other end was so I opened this end.

The engine shell appears to be partially covered by paper inside the plastic.

The lift ribbons appear unused for removing the unit.

So, for those of you familiar with LIONEL's packaging in 2002, is it your opinion that this item has been removed from its styrofoam container?

I would say no. Never been opened before.

Thank for the reply.

Update:  I emailed the ebay seller and asked him. He said he bought the NP dummy F3A years ago to go with NP AB units, but his were the NP freight livery.

He said the engine has never been removed from the styrofoam.

I believe him.