Over on the 3 Rail Side...

The Vision Line Big Boy has an MSRP of $2699, and it being offered at $1899, so my answer is no, that doesn't seem to be that much money.

Strummer, in my little world, yes, that IS a lot of money.   WOW!!!  $1,500.  So, does that mean if it was HO it would be $750.

Rick

Come on now, you're SUPPOSED to be poking fun at the fact it's advertised as a SCALE model of a CARTOON locomotive.  Price is secondary. 

Don't forget the center rail pickups are included at no extra charge

Cartoon? Next you'll be saying Santa Claus isn't real

They copied the Polar Express steam locomotive exactly from the Pere Marquette locomotive. It was a nearly exact digital model.

Andrew

Digital model?

Lobaugh has not held its value - I could buy a Pacific or Berk for $300 in 1980, and I can still buy them for around that today.  Mikes and Mountains $500, Challengers $800-$1000, 1980 or 2014.  Guess what else is sagging in value - the 700E!

However, consider:

I bought my Max Gray  Mountain for $235 in 1961.  That is $1850 or so today's money, and nowhere near as well detailed as pieces costing less than that today.

I still like Lobaugh better.

Mostly opinion.

RickO, take a look at the pilot on the gold Lionel model.  It is the same as the cartoon, certainly not the PM Berk. 

Yea but I like it!

So if the pilot is different, what else is different?   How can it be a scale model of the 1225?    And anyway does not scale model of something mean that a real prototype had to exist, not a cartoon?

It seems that that is part of the issue here,and with most (if not all) of these "limited editions"; you pay top dollar now, and trust that sometime down the road it'll be worth more. I think it's called "speculation".

In any case,it still seems like a lot to pay for what I think is supposed to be a "toy train": Lionels are still in that category,if I'm not mistaken...

And yes,Bob,I'm with you; I like the Lobaugh better as well. 

Mark in Oregon

Now now. That isn't a model; it's a collectible. Personally, it's not my cup of tea, but I'm sure there are collectors out there who will buy it. I think it's about $1200 too high for die cast, especially given I got a really nice brass 3rd Rail H1 Northern last year for $1600 including tax and shipping.

For me, the MSRP price means nothing anymore. It seems like it is a marketing tool to get some people to "think" they are getting a good deal. In reality, we are paying the market price for these items and the MSRP is just a number. I try to never pay MSRP for anything. "Almost" Every where one looks, the MSRP price is marked down to make us feel better.

Just my humble opinion and with respect to all readers here!