Misrepresent?

[ScaleCraft]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LIONEL-2356-SO ... 4884761914

No. 2356's were all dual horizontal motors, not single. Had electromagnetic couplers on nose of A units. This has a button coupler on nose.
Powered A units had horn in loco, battery inserted through cover in fuel tank...this is a plugged tank.
Plastic horn on raised platforms. NOT postwar production. Color seems a bit dark.

I THINK it's much, much later Lionel re-issue, but seller says: Year: 1954
Ain't.
Opinion.

[ScaleCraft]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LIONEL-2356-B- ... 4884761910
$220 plus shipping..."near mint" with coupler ripped out of one end.
DEFINITELY much later production.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LIONEL-2356-SOUTHERN-F3-DIESEL-SINGLE-MOTOR-EXCELLENT-CONDITION/264884761914

No. 2356's were all dual horizontal motors, not single. Had electromagnetic couplers on nose of A units. This has a button coupler on nose.
Powered A units had horn in loco, battery inserted through cover in fuel tank...this is a plugged tank.
Plastic horn on raised platforms. NOT postwar production. Color seems a bit dark.

I THINK it's much, much later Lionel re-issue, but seller says: Year: 1954
Ain't.
Opinion.

Another yard sailing "professional" toy seller; clueless...........

[ScaleCraft]

I recall back in the 90's, when Lionel brass came to shows, telling them that re-issuing with original numbers and letting the Boy Genius make exact knockoffs was gonna come back and bite Lionel....hard.

Seen so much of that...late production MTH Standard Gauge being offered on da bait as "pristine, original 1923 Lionel".

And this. Newbies don't know.

[ScaleCraft]

http://www.albertzwilliams.com/product/ ... ocomotive/
And another, late horn mounts, obvious late trucks and couplers, but with a battery cover and silver frame. Odd. Even the photos of late Lionels show black frame.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Newbies don't know.

A lot more than just newbies know less than they think and are unwilling to be dissuaded of that condition.

[ScaleCraft]

In one distinct way, it was good for the hobbyist to re-issue numbers and paint.
Trash Collectors of America HAD to have EVERY unit and variation...and paid to increase their collection size...which left those who just wanted to run trains out in the cold.
The GOOD thing is Lionel left (at least in this case) a "tell", which is horns and horn mount pads. Without milling a square recess (and destroying paint) you cannot mount metal postwar horns.
Lionel is STILL making these (or did) in Legacy with electronics.

[rogruth]

I must be too frugal, my daughters word-mine is cheap, to be a collector. I don't have anything,new or used, that cost more than $300.00.
If I can find a new Williams before Bachmann repro of a Lionel I would buy it rather than buy a 50 + years old Lionel that needs repaired.
I play with my trains. I don't consider myself to be a collector but realize that probably all model railroaders of any type are to a point.