Lionel 6-8100 N&W 611 or later version with railsounds?

[FEClionel]

Hi there,

My local dealer is in the middle of a summer sale and he has an old N&W 611 and the newer N&W form 1996 or so with railsounds and TMCC - The 611 is $289 and the other is $399 - I want to use this one to run under the tree. Which would you pick - I plan on running it with some PWC cars to make it look like a late 50's set.

[Anonymous]

Yet another tough choice!  I would buy the N&W from 1996 because it has TMCC and Railsounds 2.  The 611 is from 1981, and it only has the Mighty Sound of Steam.  However, both locomotives are nearly identical to the postwar 736 and 746 from a mechanical standpoint.  This makes them excellent runners.  I would buy the one from 1996, because it is newer and it has all of Lionel's best features.

 

                                                                                                  Jim