Mine is the original with the smaller motor. Common sense would tell me that as popular as this set would is all the old stock would be long gone. As long as dealers rotated their inventory!
Thoughts?
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Never assume. Given the collectible nature of train products there could certainly be "new" PE sets that over six years old.
Jeff,
Why not find a forum sponsor that has one in stock? Buy it with the understanding that if it's not the dealer will pay return shipping and find the proper replacement. BTW Be sure you get it in writing.
No.
I have seen engines that should have been sold a long time ago on the websites of hobby stores. I'm sure if you look hard enough you can find MTH PS1 engines.
Yes, one of the local shops here bought the inventory of a store going out of business and most of their PE sets are over 6 years old.
Isn't it funny how when you post something like this you get a few offers. Anyway, I have a PE LC coming for a reasonable rate, big motor, remote, more sounds!! Such a deal!
Thanks to all that responded!!
Is there a way to tell the difference between old and newer by set #, or other means?
Paul Kallus posted:Is there a way to tell the difference between old and newer by set #, or other means?
Lionel changed none of the numbers in production. The only way to tell in the basic PE set 31960 is to pop the shell off.
Since all the Lion Chief is newer "I would assume" they have the newer motors as the have been since the 6 years Jon Z mentioned.
You can see the difference on the Lionel parts page.
This spring I bought a Weaver CP1800/1801 E8 A-A set "new."
They have not been produced since, when? The nineties? I don't understand it, but apparently some shops actually DO have stuff sitting around "new" for decades!
Jeff, the one that is coming has the large motor. 
Get the LionChief version and IMHO you've got the best PE engine of all.
Gilly@N&W posted:Get the LionChief version and IMHO you've got the best PE engine of all.
And I do!! 
I'm with the ones that think it would be easier to find the old one, as any one who bought since the change would have opted for the newer version.
Paul Kallus posted:Is there a way to tell the difference between old and newer by set #, or other means?
The packaging changed between the small motor conventional sets and the large motor conventional sets. The newest LC has different packaging again and a different set number.
Look at pics of 6-31960 for sale. There was also a separate sale conventional engine with a cast tender and whistle steam.
GVDobler posted:I'm with the ones that think it would be easier to find the old one, as any one who bought since the change would have opted for the newer version.
Maybe... maybe not. The target market for these are folks that might be buying their first set, and most of them will have no idea what size motor is in the set.
GVDobler posted:I'm with the ones that think it would be easier to find the old one, as any one who bought since the change would have opted for the newer version.
Outside of a hobbyist, how many average John Doe's would even know or care of a motor size. To the average consumer it's a non issue.
JMHO.
Is there an echo in here.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Is there an echo in here.
It's positive reinforcement!
