Lionel 6-38103 TX Special:Is this a good buy?

I would say no.  It's not to scale, and doesn't have the detail as say an Atlas F3A.

Given the surplus of more modern toy train items that have exerted a downward pressure on all prices in general, I have no problem concluding that the Greenberg price guides are pretty much well-outdated before they're even printed nowadays.  They're largely useless now, since the true collector heydays have been long gone for almost two decades. 

I think you paid a fair price for a very nice "tradional-sized" non-scale locomotive in new condition.  Some roadnames are prone to carry a premium, and Texas Special tends to be one of them.  OTOH, I've always maintained that stuff in this hobby is only worth what the next buyer is willing to pay for it.  Enjoy!!!

David

According to what I am seeing on the internet, its supposed to be the same scale as the vintage post war ones. Also, I cannot find a single "Post War Celebration" F3 A unit of that model number for that price.

When you're in this hobby long enough, you learn to spot trends for what they are.  Dealers, LHS's, as well as individual sellers often try to cash in on complete sets that contain items produced in smaller quantities.  B-units are a prime example.

The problem with that approach is they don't take into account what OTHER items in similar condition (both recent and older offerings) are selling for in general TODAY.  

So an item that may have been considered "rare" 10-15 (or more) years ago and carried an associated price premium in those days, may no longer be "as desirable" in today's more relevant marketplace.  This is often true when former offerings have been superseded/outdated -- no matter how rare they were -- by more recent offerings with greater detail and more modern levels of electronics (i.e., efficient can motors vs. current-hungry pulmor motors; Legacy electronics vs. TMCC vs. conventional control locomotives; etc...).

It's always buyer-beware.  Don't go by asking prices and pricing guides.  Like I said earlier, you paid a fair price -- especially if YOU are happy.  But I would never pay $500 for a non-scale A-unit today.  And $1700 for the AB is COMPLETELY out of the question -- not when I could probably pay $1500+ for a Vision Line Centipede AA set.  That's what I'm talking about!

David

The term "scale" has several connotations depending on context.  My comments (along with those of the other posters here) are referring to "scale" to mean 1/4" to the foot, well-detailed models.  When you say "it's supposed to be the same scale as the vintage post war ones...", you're referring to scale in a more general model railroad sense -- namely N, HO, O "gauge" -- to name a few.

So yes... the locomotive you mentioned may be the same "size" as those produced during Lionel's post-war era, but it is not considered a scale-sized product in terms of true 1/4" to-the-foot dimensions (and levels of detail) typical of today's O-scale products.

Hope that helps.

David

The "tin" 2245 TS with the red and white body is a "pretty" diesel, even though the MKT NEVER has any F3's painted like that.

The SCALE set with the 21" passenger cars and E7's on the other hand looks like the original MKT trainset from the early 1950's period.

Actually, the Lionel Postwar-size F-3s are pretty much scale in size (length, width, height), just like Postwar Geeps. But they don't have the extra detailing like today's "scale" engines. And certain things are a little off in dimension, like the windshields on the F-3s are a bit too small (made that way to withstand rough handling, probably). 

But a big problem with buying something like a single TX Special A unit is: What are you going to run it with? These lone straggler engines (and the cars, too) are going to have less value, for that reason. It will be extremely difficult to find another stray engine to put with it, because most of these engines are tied up in sets that won't be broken up, and they're scarce anyway. And then there's the problem with the passenger cars - almost impossible to find, especially outside of complete sets.

So if someone wants to buy an engine like this to run by itself, and use it to pull freight cars, then it's fine. A lot of folks would be perfectly satisfied to do that. Personally, with the new Neil Young series TX Special set coming out later this year, there's that much less incentive to invest in the older PWC set, but that's just my opinion.

Chip,  your purchase is indeed a handsome piece but as others have posted here, it is an older item that was released to play on the postwar nostalgia factor of Lionel's iconic F3s from that era. The PWC Series  added early TMCC and Railsounds to the traditional Pulmor motored diesels and included the full line of detail parts from the 1950-51 F units such as nose grab irons and screen vents. 

Lionel issued a No 2245 AB pair in 1999 with two additional B units and a second A unit following within a few yeras. The Texas Special is probably the most popular of this series and has commanded some relatively high prices until recently. The drop is probably due to the announced Neil Young Texas Special F3 coming soon from Lionel.

MTH released a TS ABA in the late 1990s and then again a few years ago with PS2, full sound, and smoke. With can motors and cruise control, the Mike's units are much better performers than the older Lionel model and are virtual clones of the PW Texas Special (except for the better detailed fuel tanks on the MTH)

We recently picked up a New In the Box MTH ABA for slightly more than what you paid for your single unit. It's a beauty and performs great. These are RailKing 'Scale' and are similar to Lionel's F3s as well as the Williams F3s. All of these aforementioned F3's are slightly below scale height which is why the windshields are 'squinted'.

Still, some will say "But it's not a Lionel"...

This post was supposed to be in the 3-Rail section and NOT 3-rail scale, not sure how it got here...Anyway...

I only run conventional on my upper layout...I already have a DCC NYC&HRR layout thats scale, for my lower level.

I already have a vintage Post War Texas Special B unit to run with this A unit.

I do not buy MTH anymore only Lionel and maybe a WBB..I am kind of addicted to Lionel Post War F3's.

The Neil Young Texas Special and PRR are TOO expensive for me.

My buying criteria was as follows:

1) Vintage PostWar F3 Texas Special (too expensive in decent condition).

2) Lionel Conventional Classics or Post War Celebration Texas Special

3) Same size and scale as the original Lionel 2245 from the 1950's

4) Under $300.

Well then, with these stated criteria - You did GREAT!

Theres no denying that the 2245 is a handsome set. How close are they as a matched pair?

For powered A units, that pretty well narrowed the options down to about two engines, didn't it?   

Maybe you can get some Williams TS passenger cars to run behind the engines.

Chipset,

Great buy!  Now you can  easily resurrect the 1954 set #1517W if you'd like to.  This consisted of the AB Texas Special,a 6464 boxcar,gondola with barrels,depressed flat with cable spools,and a tuscan porthole caboose.  I added an operating cattle car and operating log car.  My parents got me this set and it lives on today.  Have fun.

Norm

Here's my 1517w set that I just acquired. Postwar at it best.

franktrain

I don't think you did badly at all.  The Texas Special is on my list of post war locos (PWC remake or original) that I would like to own, and typically the A units at $300-$400, and the entire ABA set for roughly $800 or so.  You can probably add a RS B unit for less than $300 and be all in to the AB for under $600.  If you like the post war equipment, I think it's a nice buy.  The real issue, however, is that you like it and it sounds like you do so congrats!  Post some photos with a nice post war consist in tow.

It is only a good buy if you wanted it and can afford it . Never ever buy a train because it is cheap. Get the best price, yes but never because it is cheap.

I only buy what I want and if I can afford it, nothing else matters.

If you can get the Williams 15" AL passenger cars, or the recent Arista "O" O-27 TS cars, you would have a nice looking, but not scale, passenger train.  BTW, the TS never had a dome.