There’s an old and gold rule on the internet… don’t feed the trolls.
-El
3 Likes
Probably a good idea.
Maybe, however, I should start a train rescue service…
1 Like
There was a guy, 20 years ago? who had a business selling LGB trains. He bought collections. Nice, often NIB. Had a warehouse, all categorized and stored. Then 2008 hit, he quit buying, and said, when asked about selling…“for what I paid for this stuff, in this economy I’d be lucky to get 50 cents on every dollar invested” best I can recall.
Then the LGB bankruptcies, the cessation of North American prototypes (always a joke) and the guy just flat disappeared.
Go ahead…seriously! If you want them for free, then the “seller” has to pay shipping…it just gets worse.
And mass-produced plastic equipment really has no value. Someone wants $50 for a “rare, collectible, vintage” plastic boxcar…you can buy a new one, in the box, at a train show for $10.
That was my experience.
Never could understand how a 6464 series boxcar could be worth between $10 and $250, depending on road name…or variation!
TOC
1 Like
Boomers still trying to out do one another? The “it’s not good enough to ‘only’ win” mentality that dominates in football circles? The only American way in the 20th Century was “greed is good”. So if you could shell out the moolah you won with the best pile of toys.
However. Destroying that which can never be manufactured again, i.e. vintage anything because we can’t mess with time, simply to save anyone from exerting some energy to save what can be saved is selfish in my view.
You may now commence your attacks but there’s a very low probability that I will respond to those attacks.
2 Likes
It’s not that there isn’t stuff I could say, but rather, I just don’t see the point in trying to fuss with what feels like an argument/point being made in bad faith.
-El
1 Like
Oh, I’ve tried. Since the diagnosis over three years ago!
Every which way but loose!
Stupidity and arrogance, with some greed, then no offers at all.
Buddy died, oh, 10-12 years ago, Sacramento Museum wanted the custom 0 2-rail engines and full passenger sets. One of the “helpers” during inventory stole an unbelievable amount of stuff…out to his car!
Guy in charge said it was okay, he’s helping…himself! Suddenly he had to run off to see his doctor about Kumadin. Outright theft and greed.
My Lionel is NOT collector stuff! Repaints (good reason) and relettered NP, all the 675’s have 225E boilers (and I know how to do it) so much have functional front couplers, not operational, retaining “cowcatcher” and NOT underslung.
Some have QSI ACRU, some Dallee, most e-units.
2349, stock, two postwar chassis with repro 2349 shells, QSI ACRU wired up back to back, run as branchline engines.2343’s, ABA in NP Loewy, AB in earlier NP, pro done on hopeless paint shells. Heavyweight NP passenger set. Lionel (later) NP aluminum set.Kasiner shorties with Lionel ends.
Custom AC&F NP short wood cabooses. Three or four GM or A-N NW2’s, all with QSI or Dallee, all in NP, two 726/736 with long cast tenders, couple of Baby Hudsons, FM with blank shell, have original in a box, beautiful.
Walthers gas-electric, shortie, Lionel power. Lionel NW2, long ago painted green NP.
Long and short gons, whole train, so many 6464’s I don’t even know. Whole string of ore cars, lots NP.
Whole train of tanks…2555? Tin tanks, cast frame, typical rusted tank, tanks stripped, forget the old decal maker, painted black, NP.
RailRax with all sorts of oddball stuff.
Not counting all the bags and boxes of scenery, bridges, under layout switch machines, ACME controllers.
And all they want is “original in the box dirt cheap for a flip”.
When I had no money, but had parts, I made an 0-6-0 by cutting the Belpaire off a 674, splicing a 1615 cab on, bobbing the nose, homemade switching pilot, slopeback tender from St Vinnies.
See my dilemna? Gotta stop so the Oxycodone can kick in. That list is not all of it.
TOC
1 Like
I hope, Penny and Ellie, you aren’t referring to me. I am not trying to maximize profit, but if you read what I wrote last, I wanted it gone so the family wouldn’t have to deal with it. Every avenue has failed. I tried to list the ones and why.
This is hard. I’m down to one hand typing, can hardly get into the basement anymore.
Test Friday will give us a better idea on longevity.
You have any good idea where this stuff can go, that you know works?
I know what clubs do. They will take “donations” and sell the stuff off to support their club. I have asked.
Been at this since 1952. Lifetime of operation, and…nobody interested.
I am not bitter, nor trying to send a kid to college with my TCA Lionel nobody will buy at even guide prices.
Frustrated.
I know who is in charge, have asked Him to send me someone…and I’m waiting.
Don’t misread me, please.
TOC
1 Like
Oh, I see. Sorry, I think I misunderstood your frustrations for a dismissal of stuff as “not being worth saving”.
I don’t really see there being money in old toy trains- with few exceptions, nothing I own is in collector condition. I would be lucky to get back as much money as I have put into my trains. I’m always amazed at what people are willing to sometimes pay on eBay for trains that are in poor condition. Selling has to be worth the while, but many items just aren’t worth enough to turn a profit, let alone break even.
I’m sorry you’re struggling so much to find avenues for your stuff.
-El
1 Like
Oxy starting to kick in.
If I wanted what I had in them, you’d freak! I can’t ship them. No way can I go down, wrap and box each part…the EMT’s would have to carry me out!
I know a guy who told me if he knew there was a way to put couplers on the front of Lionel steam, he’d never have gone to 2-rail.
I have been struggling for 3 years and three months on Wednesday.
That on top of 25 years of Fibromyalgia. So much fun!
TOC
2 Likes
A Greenberg American Flyer Price Guide would be a good place to start, you would be able to look up each item and get a good idea what it’s worth. At least then you would have some idea if an offer to buy something is reasonable or not. An online search should turn one up; you might even find one at your local library.
As El said, if you really want the most, you may have to put some work into it, like selling it one piece at a time rather than the whole thing at once.
I know I had a situation a while back where I needed to sell a vintage electric guitar. I took it to a local (nationally known) dealer in vintage guitars, and they offered I think $1500 for it. I put it on Ebay instead, and it sold for $4650. BTW I took it to a UPS store and they boxed it for me so it was easy to do.
1 Like
Yeah. Not much time. One piece a day, I’d get maybe half done before my expiration date!
It’s postwar Lionel…mostly.
Blows minds when we did shows, double-head 225E, another 60% back in tonnage, another in front of my short NP caboose…and 100 cars.
2 Likes
April fool right? Seriously dude, if you feel that way just run an add on Craigslist , 'Free-come get it!
