Mth/ lionel 265E

If you mean the black 265e with a traditional setup, it's in.

Looked at it Saturday night online.

It's in stock, and ready for order straight from MTH.

listed at 429.99 but checkout price in the cart was 299.00!

don't you all go geting one before I get a chance.

I have to chime in on this one. You can buy an original, AND get the motor refurbished by a reputable hobby shop for less than this new MTH engine costs. It's just food for thought. Now is the time to buy originals, and when available at the same or lower cost as a reproduction, I can't see a down side.

265e, eh?  That’s one of the Commodore Vanderbilts from the latest LCT catalog. I wonder if this means that some of the other versions are close to being delivered? There were several of them in the 2012 catalog, including the Red Comet.

You may like original but the guy I'm buying this for ( my brother) as a Christmas present detest any original that is not like the day it left the factory. Beides he likes and runs reproductions from MTH and Lionel. He could give a rats behind if it was an original.  original means nothing to him. So why would I buy him one?

I looked this morning too and saw the price you note above with the orginal MSRP of $449 with a line through it.  I believe this model has no sounds, but your brother may not want those either.  Have no information on why the price mark down.  Could speculate why, but it would be speculation.

Thanks.

I really don't give a rat's behind how anyone spends their money. I don't hide the fact that I prefer originals over reproductions, and at the risk of opening the whole can of worms again, all I was trying to say is that now, prices on the originals are as low as I've seen in 10 or 15 years.

If new and shiny is your thing (or your brother's), then buy MTH. But read this forum, that does not guarantee your new engine will be defect free in either appearance or functionality.

Again, my opinion only here, but spend $300 on the MTH engine and it will always be worth $150. Buy a nice original for $300, that has held up for about 80 years, and it will always be worth at least $300, most likely more with the passage of time, and especially if the depressed economy turns around. With MTH, you're stuck. There's just too much of it in decent condition to retain its value, unless it is a one off item like the Brute. If it's a reproduction, forget it.

As for your brother detesting any original that's not like the day it left the factory, and if original means nothing to him,  then I guess MTH is the way to go. Wait six months and buy one for $200 or less on ebay. Send me $50, and you'd still be $50 ahead.

tisk tisk ... enough bantering, Hatfield and McCoy. Take that to the drag strip or the boxing ring... I always thought tinplaters were a kinder, gentler crop. Don't change my perspective please!

In an effort to be fair and learn some here...

Since one person on the thread claims the originals are just as good with some reasonable effort and elbow grease. Okay, I'm willing to be objective. Even if the MTH model is easy to buy, unpack, run and can serve a like-kind purpose...

Therefore, where does one go to get one or more of these vintage units?

I honestly don't have time to crawl the bay, the web, stalk every online auction house, beg my friend who owns an LHS to look for me, nor travel to York from Kansas and back w/o a Tornado and ruby slippers.

How easy and where then, does one buy vintage locos/consists of the calibur you state? If they are on the verge of scrap iron...okay. I'm game for a good challenge. But again, my time is limited these days.

Regarding vintage tinplate as a whole...I'm open minded and can appreciate the orginals, the era and time in US history they served whilst new.

Please list contacts for locos, parts, and restoration services. If they're on the forum already, names are all that is necessary...I'll be happy to dig through existing posts to cull the info.

I just need a point of reference so I know which set of rails to head down.

Respectfully.

I went to buy a car the other day. It was a Buick LEGACY. AC, cruise, anti slip, heated mirrors, heated seats, puddle lights, moon roof, back up sensors and computer cotrolled fuel system.  Totally state of the art loaded. 

My brother in law gave me a ride to buy it. He is a mechanic. Grew up building SS Chevys to run in the striplings. He was driving a 1969 Chevelle SS...fully restored. He tried to sell I to me. He said it was a great runner. I looked at it. No AC, no fancy lights! No computer, no fuel injection, no heated mirrors. I told him it wasn't for me but it was beautiful; which it was.

We broke down on the way. He said no problem, it's a basic car can fix. 

I called my son to pick me up. He was driving his Toyato. He insists it's the only car truly  made in the USA. He wants to buy all US made.

My brother in law got his car fixed and met us at the dealers.

We all left in our favorite cars very happy. We met for a beer and and laughed and shared tales at the bar.

Several more people came in talking. We overheard them. One said did you see that old piece junk out there. One said look at that pretty boy fancy car. the other said I can't believe someone bought a Toyota when the US plants are struggling. 

My family shook hands and went home. The guys at the bar kept trashing anything that they didn't like.

I got home and ran my DCS train on my Legacy layout using a vintage ZW. 

I certainly agree that everyone should be happy with what they buy and run. I think it's no different than politics. No argument from one person is going to change the opinion of another.

As for the trains, I've owned both new repro and old. If any one who only has experience with reproductions is remotely interested in originals, all I'm saying is now is the time to buy. This time of year, prices do go up because of the Christmas holiday, but generally, the market pricing is lower than it was 5 years ago. With the cost of certain new items as much or exceeding that of some originals, it's just an opportunity, that's all.

A portion of modern tinplate buyers won't like originals, but for some, I'm sure that once they actually spend some time with the originals, they won't go back,or will at least want some for their collection.

It's like drinking beer. You start with what you know and is easily obtainable. Budweiser, for instance, and you may stay with it, or you may go on to micro brews. After that, you probably will still drink a Bud, but you know there's something else out there.