I recently found a Bachmann Auto Train N scale loco U36B diesel in a thrift store. It has the #4000 on the cab. 8 wheel drive. After doing some research I found that they made the auto train between 71 and 81. I think 4000 was the first # they used. It's in VG condition, in the box. They also seem to be fairly rare, 0 listings on ebay or amazon. Does any one have any info on this and if you were to sell it what would be a fair price? Thanks in advance.
that version of the Bachman U36B has a less then stellar motor/gear combination. Even with work they were never great runners. The shell detail is also not up to modern standards - the hand rails are nearly a scale foot in diameter as but one challenge. I have 3 in other paint schemes that I am doing motor transplants in because its the only U36B in town. If you do sell it and can do an accurate assessment of wheel wear (which indicates running time sort of) you might get in the $30 range owing to the unique paint scheme.
I've got a bunch of the AT domes and auto carriers they offered in the set. The Auto carriers are based on the cars they got from CN at startup which were once used in Car-Go-Rail service offered on some of the CN long distance trains in the 1960s. My goal is to get a complete 1970s AT train put together. The old brass (Hallmark?) U33B units are sort of close and can be modified to be U36Bs without a lot of work.