Newer F-3 or early 50's F-3?

[FEClionel]

If you had the option to purchase a 2343 early 50's in very good condition or a New in the box early 90's F-3 which would you purchase? I'm looking for a pair to run very infrequently. Mostly to build a layout around and run only a few times a year and to serve duty under the tree around the holidays.Thanks!

[brianel027]

FEC, from your other posts, sounds like you really like not only the F3, but the postwar trains as well.
You might want to consider the MTH Railking F3 that comes with the their trains set. It's a littler shorter than scale, but a very nice running unit and looks great too. You can probably watch ebay or check the train mags and find it for a good price. It's not an F3, but the K-Line double A Alco in Santa Fe is also a sharp looking engine. Each unit is powered. For around $110, also a good deal without spendning a lot of money. The newer items in general are going to look nicer than the postwar units... painting and lettering techniques are so much better today than during the 1950's. But those old powtwar Lionel F3's were built well. And you can always take them apart and see what's going on. With DC can motors, when they don't work, you replace them.
Williams Electric Trains make some mighty nice units: good looking, good running and decent pricing too. Funny how Williams makes repros of Lionel items and makes them better than Lionel makes them.
ALSO bear in mind, that if you want to lash up your postwar F3 to another engine that the PW F3 will use a lot more current than a modern piece with DC motors. You want to run powered units with similar power needs, or run a dummy unit.
brianel

[msacco]

Go with the postwar f3. I purchased a pair of nyc 2354's a few years back and they are in excellent condition. I love them. they growl alot and vibrate, but they have that great ozone smell from the open frame motors. If something goes wrong you can fix them. I have new stuff from k-line and mth but i still favor postwar. They will probably run forever.

new to the forum by the way. Having spent time at the other mags forum

mike s.

[Anonymous]

If I were you I'd go for the postwar F3. There's just something about postwar trains that makes them special that modern era trains just don't have.

[lionelsoni]

If you are going for postwar F3's, I recommend the later, vertical motor ones, like the 2243 or 2383--they don't growl and vibrate. Mine has been running smoothly since 1955.