Lionel Non-Powered Units Value?

Look at it this way: that is that much less electronics to fail at a later date.

Maybe, but it's as if the electronics have already failed!

Ali

@Ali Maleki posted:

To lower the cost of my recent CSX Heritage ES44AC acquisition, I chose (x2) non-powered units to go with my (x2) standard units.

I should have done more research! I thought "non-powered" referred to lack of motors and maybe smoke. I didn't realize that they don't even include lights or sound; essentially rolling stock!

I was initially happy to save 43% by buying non-powered units vs. standard units but I now realize that I actually paid 57% of the cost of a standard unit for a plastic body (with great detail) on non-powered trucks!

Ali

I feel your pain, when I bought the EMD SD 45 demonstrators I was going to go one powered one not. Then I looked at pricing and thought 100 bucks less for nothing? Hmmmmmm two powered.

Now you know why I have only a couple non-powered units.  I also have none that doesn't even have lights, most have smoke, lights, and sound at least.

I'm glad I saw this post, I had every intention of picking up the newly released ATSF non-powered FT Lionchief for my Super Chief set. I was sure, just sure, that it had lighting.  Bummer it doesn't, but I guess I will get something else instead.

https://www.lionel.com/product...-powered-ft-2434229/

I feel for the most part unpowered units are an answer to a question that shouldn't have been asked.

Another thing you need to ask yourself is do you want a "dead" engine in your consist?  To me it is very noticeable when a non-powered/no sound engine goes by.  Because of this, I do not have any engines on my layout that do not have at least sound, but it was costly.

When you buy a Lionel AA set (PA AA, F-3 AA, etc.), you get one powered/sound and one non-powered unit.  That means you have to buy two of these AA sets to get two powered A units, then you have to swap shells to get two different cab numbers.  A real pain.  I now have four boxes with two non-powered A units that are just taking up space.

Then there is the B-units (and an A-unit) that are powered but no sound.  I never understood this.  Another cost to add sound to these.

I do have one powered B-unit that has a speaker that is hard wired connected to the A-unit's sound board.

I have a SuperBass B-unit between two powered with sound A-units; sounds great!

What I am saying is, for these newer diesels like the ES44AC, forget the non-powered ones and buy the full featured ones - you will not regret it.