I see that Lionel has come out with newer versions of the 464 sawmill. One version has a swirl type image on the window and also has strobe lights. Others seem to be releases of the 464 although with different product numbers.
Are any of these versions better than any other ?
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Strobe lights? What's the effect? I don't think sawmills make sparks.
I didn't think so either. If they did, they would set the bags of sawdust someone on Evilbay is selling. Yes, believe it or not, someone is selling small plastic bags of sawdust to use around your Lionel sawmill. I could have made a fortune if I had thought of this forty-five years ago when I joined the carpenters union.
He who misses out on the money didn't save his dust......LOL
Maybe to simulate the sawmill burning which they usually did.
I think the strobe light that is referred to is the red blinking light on the side of the building. How that adds to realism I haven't a clue!
Oh for Pete's sake! Lionel has been reproducing the 464 about every three years since 1979. The newest have flashing warning lights at the entry and exit ports that strobe while in operation, and a spinning blade you can see through the front window.
Jon 
The strobe light is on the outside of the building. Just like any other machine you see at a factory when its running, it blinks to indicate its in operation. The latest sawmill being released later (6-82023) this year will also have sounds, which previous models do not and its command control and plug and play compatible. That's the main difference in this year's model. Its also double the price!
The latest sawmill being released later (6-82023) this year will also have sounds, which previous models do not and its command control and plug and play compatible.
The original postwar Lionel 464 sawmill makes a buzzing sound that sounds sort of like a sawmill. Sounds good to me. I can live without the strobe. 
I have one of the older sawmills, the one with the vibrator motor. Interestingly, the sound it makes leads some people to believe that the logs really are being sawed, and they have asked me, "are the logs actually sawed now?" At first it was only the much younger generation who asked, but I have had several adults ask as well; they sound skeptical when they ask, but they are not sure.
Here is a video of the Shay No. 6 and the Sawmill - the Saw Mill starts at 5:40.
Alex
A realistic sawmill would make loud horrific screeching sounds, smoke from the saw dust burner, thuds and crashing of heavy equipment ,hoots from steam whistles and an occasional fire that might burn the whole place down. I really don't think you would need a light to tell you that it was operating. I saw a real steam operated saw mill work a few years ago.
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