So I buy a “Large Scale” Santa Fe 4-4-2 on ebay, C5 rated contition (no missing parts). I need it to complete my Lionel Large Scale collection (now just need two U.P. GP20’s and I’m there!). So it arrives and this thing is like brand new, but it’s missing a TON of parts. The whistle and bell have been replaced with brass castings (love the bell, hate the whistle). The couplers have been changed out to LGB, the rear engine truck is missing a big fat spring, the front headlight assemble is gone…And worst of all, one of the short connecting rods between the drivers is totally missing. I paid a “fair” price but I would not have bought it had I known.
So I go to Lionels website for giggles, keeping in mind they haven’t built these things for 20 years. They have exploded parts diagrams with part numbers! I look up the part numbers and with the exception of the headlight housing they are all in stock! Cost me a whopping $3.20 + 5 bucks for shipping.
So why does the oft scoffed at Lionel give me exploded diagrams and part numbers but no one else can? Or am I blind and Aristo, USA, LGB, Bachman have them too and I just don’t know it.
Hats off to Lionel for a valuable tool and really fast shipping.
As for the ebay seller, I can’t be mad…not sure how I would have rated it either. It is in really great condition, runs very well (better after I modded it), just missing a few parts. I don’t think it was run more than a few minutes judging by the wheels. With a little work it’s an easy C-8, maybe C-9. Of course it won’t be when I run the snot out of it.
Sad to say I can get “large Scale” parts easier than LGB ones.