Ordered mth 44 tonner, wrong number in the box

If it is brand new in the box I would have to believe it could of been a factory packaging error. If by chance it was an after market error  that someone switched it and I did not have the number already I would keep it. That is unless you really have to have a certain number............Paul

More than likely, it was messed up at the store. At one point, both numbers were in the store, one sold, went in the wrong box, and yours went in the only remaining box for that roadname. Handrails bend in shipping sometimes. MTH has kinda backed off on the snugness of the packaging lately. If the locomotive runs, move on to something that actually matters. 

How does it run?Can you post a pic of the bent handrail?

Runs normally. This one will take a bit of work as it goes into the frame

76 was an actual WM 44-tonner.  I have a picture of it working the Baltimore yards.

I knew 76 was real. Im just worried about the wrong number in this case.

"Should I take it back?"

I think WM locos sell out pretty quickly.

The rails are so delicate and well done, that I have not opened the loco up to check out the board size.

The bent handrails don’t qualify as damage. The MTH 44-ton diesels use thin wire handrails that are easily bent during common usage. Just bend them back. I have had to reposition my Milwaukee Road unit’s handrails many times when transferring it to and from my home and the club. I have also had to apply some CA cement to resecure the handrail ends when they occasionally pop out of their holes.

As for the box and model mix up, it’s easily explained. Hobby shops often display at least one sample of each of their models on a shelf and then store the boxes elsewhere  If this shop had each road number out of the box to display, it’s likely an employee grabbed the wrong box when someone purchased the other road number earlier. Note: the stock number will also be different for each road number.

Either way, nothing to worry about.