I just bought a set of Lionel's Conventional Classics Santa Fe F3s and I seem to recall that Lionel made new shells for them with a shiny paint to replace the dull painted shell that was supplied with the set. Is my memory correct and if so could someone tell me if they are still available and where to find them? One more question regarding this set, was there a B unit available for this set and if not is there a suitable B unit that would match these engines?
Thanks for any help,
John.
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John,
I do not believe that the shiny, replacement shells for your Conventional Classics Santa Fe 2343AAs are still available from Lionel. I have seen some available on the secondary market, but the going price seems to be $150 for the pair.
It can't hurt to contact Lionel Service in Canfield, OH and see if any replacement shells are available, although I would not hold out much hope at this point.
Lionel did not produce a Santa Fe B unit for these Conventional Classics AAs.
Ed Boyle
With the amount of money it costs to buy those reproductions and then the replacement shells on top of it, you are better off just buying the real deal. Decent C-7 runners are plentiful and cost about the same.
Thanks Ed I appreciate the info. I don't think I'd be willing to spend $150 on the replacement shells since I only paid about $230 for the set which was still factory sealed.
Since they didn't make a matching B unit are you aware of an acceptable match from a different set?
Thanks again,
John.
You can't match the B unit for the new CC F3s with any of the old ones, although the body shell from a 2353C would be a somewhat close match for the new replacement series of AT&SF shells. I used my free replacement set of A unit shells on a set of old PW Lionel F3 guts and then mated 'em with a 2343 B unit...not a real bad match. The issue with the newer CC F3 is the truck sideframes, which are unique to this series of locomotives, and doesn't match anything made previously.
I've begged and pestered Lionel about doing the correct B units for these CC F3 A+A sets, but all they want to do is NASCAR !!! The NYCS guys have no recourse but to hope that Lionel someday changes their minds.
John,
OK. So other B units are not an exact match for your Conventional Classics. Most Lionel SF B units will look close enough for running with the CC AA.s Besides, in the real world, Santa Fe teamed A and B units that were not cosmetically an exact match, so why can't you do the same with a Lionel B unit.
A quick look on the internet says the prices for Lionel F-3 B units have gone down a bit, so you should be able to get one for a decent price.
When I run a B unit with my CC AAs, I use a B unit from any of several other sets and eras, depending on what is easily reachable when the mood strikes me. From any distance at all, the combination looks fine. Lately have been using a B unit from the 1991 A,B unit F-3s.
What the heck, they are toys after all.
Ed Boyle
Thanks everybody for the info and opinions, I appreciate it.
John.
Glad we could help.
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