Model Train Journal

Wow - if it were to sell for $10k, the auctioneer would almost make enough from her commission to be able to buy one for herself, eg:
Ebay #304406058492, RARE Lionel Original Prewar Late Nickel Blue Comet #400E Loco and Tender, sold for US $2,550.00 on March 27, 2022

There is no saving that paint.
You gotta remember the 8-10K was the SET with all the cars.
If I was collecting standard gauge, I would not have bid over 2500 bucks for something of unknown running capabilities (allegedly runs but binds.....personal experience says original Zamac Drivers going bad) and in need of a full respray to be "presentable".

"The tender also features the harder to find red plates. Both are all original with no touchup or repaint ever. The boiler front on the loco has been nicely replaced. The frame and steam chests are original. The steam chests have an old repair underneath. Both pieces are nice, with a few scratches throughout, as seen. The loco has all original wheels, and does run, with a great working E-unit. However, the drive wheels have a slight bind, which would need to be addressed for the loco to run well. The light works as well, but the whistle in the tender did not work when tested. All trim is intact on both pieces. Both are clean, shiny, and display wonderfully!"

No touchup or repaint ever. Yet steam chests have an old repair underneath. And boiler front has been nicely replaced, yet if you believe seller, never painted. A few scratches? shitohdear. Driver bind needs addressing...yeah. But the lights work! Oh dear, the whistle does not.

Too many things show red flag for me. But 41 bids, somebody wanted it!

Should the DeSantis collection go to auction, prices might plummet. He probably had fifty Blue Comet sets.

6 years ago......wonder if there is any follow up of what really happened thereafter?

My first thought was "yeah, but did they have the original boxes?"

I'm pathetic...

I love original boxes. Lionel, LGB, Botchman, doesn't matter. They all make great tinder to get the kindling going.

Same here; I'm not a box collector, nor do I see any value in having original boxes. Just takes up more space, something at a premium around here. My understanding is that some folks hang onto set boxes primarily for storage, but I just don’t have the space for it.

One thing I have found handy when making up sets for kids is the boxes made for storing baseball card collections. They are nice and sturdy, and have well-spaced partitions for keeping loco, cars, track, etc. separated.