I have a nice 2243 (very good +) relatively low mileage but loved condition. The old diesel runs greats and just as well as dual motor engine I have. I use this engine primarily a Holiday only use engine. Should I have this unit repainted/restored to better than new condition and upgrade the eunit to railsounds and TMCC. Or should I keep her stock and run it with dad’s LW and through in a fresh ever-ready D cell and call it a day? I know this is a “common” F3 but its still a piece of history to me - would you do it?
I’d leave it alone.
The 2243 is as good a locomotive mechanically as anything Lionel made. I have two, one that I got new in 1955 with a drivetrain so smooth that you can turn the motor (through the worm gears) by pulling the unit along the track.
If you have the 2243C B-unit, you should know that it is worth more than the 2243P A-unit, since it is the only B-unit that matches the later 2383.
Leave it alone. If you want sounds, add a box car that ha diesel sounds in it. If you want to make the puppy creep around the track, use a TPC to run it.
Yeah I think I will keep her stock - I have a railsounds boxcar from the 90th Anniversary set - is it possibel to upgrade that car with a kit from TA Studios?