How much is a lionel train set from 1948? It has a bridge, original replacement light bulb in its box, tunnel, action accessories ( light tower and crossing guards included), tracks, lube oil, direction’s booklet. The trains are in great condition. The engine is however not from this orginal package but is authentic from that time. Powerbox is there also. We also have older power box’s and WW2 gun cars with other older box cars as well. Every box car is in its orriginal boxs along with the bridge.
Ebay seems to be the true authority on the cost of things.
I’ve kept my Star Wars toys since I was a kid because everyone said, “They’ll be worth a forture”… there were all these “blue books” you could get that had their value in them.
The value is what someone will actually buy it for. I think my star wars toys are worth somewhere around double what they cost in the early 80’s.
Accounting for inflation, I think the value decreased! Bummer! (sorry I asked you to store them for the last 20 years mom…)
Might be an idea to ask this question on one of the other Trains.com forums - where the train collectors hang out - Classic Toy Trains, etc…
Bob Boudreau
Whatever the traffic will bear. There are books though that give an extimate of the value of such items
Bob DeWoody
Michael,
It’s going to depend on WHAT the Lionel train set consists of. Starter sets that were very common won’t be worth much, even in mint shape with the original box. Rare sets can be worth quite a bit. I have a set my family bought used in about 1968 that includes a 1955 Wabash F unit (powered A, unpowered B), extruded aluminum passenger cars and a ZW transformer. With the accessories, track, and some freight rolling stock, and a cast steam engine, we paid $125.00 for it. Ten years ago it appraised for about $2200.00! I had to get it out of the attic and into a climate-controlled environment. It all depends on what you have, the shape it is in, and what someone will pay for it.
Good Luck.
Mark C.
Post what numbers are on the engine and cars are and a description whether it’s steam, diesel, hopper, boxcar, etc. Condition is important too. Scratches, corrosion, broken, or missing pieces. The value ranges considerably depending on this.
Enough to make me cry when I think about what I sold mine for 30 years ago.
loathar
Whew !!! talk about regrets, my parents GAVE AWAY all the family’s Lionel from the early 40’s through the time I was getting the plastic newer issued locos and cars…i.e. the Missile train set with the Army missle loco, missile launcher flat car, another set was the Alaskan RR train set ( 1960’s ), not to mention the older sets. Your case brings me to remember the prices I saw at "The Wall of Trains " in Arvada Colorado and Caboose Hobbies in Denver, both good places to find out prices.
Our neighbor also had an extensive set in Lionel and we would connect all of our track together on the floor and run trains all over the basement, it’s a wonder the electricity found it’s way around the tracks, we had things running everywhere. His set went the way of cleaning out his closet when he went to college.
Every so often I see sets in antique stores around the Southwest and depending upon the knowledge of the store owner, the trains can vary widely for prices, although I don’t collect 0-27 I am always looking for and have found good HO in some cases.
I bought an IHC Mogal 2-6-0 that lists for about $89 ( Wather’s ) priced for $45 in a Durango, CO. antique store, it came complete with the tender and was in the original box…marked as a toy train…hey, what ever it takes… I did not tell the clerk what they really are going for. All prices depend upon variables, product knowledge, availabilty and demand and what you are willing to take for the item.
Also, Hobby Lobby stores sometimes have giant clearance sales, watch for these as well, I bought two—that’s right two HO Proto 2000 F-7s in different road names for $18 each, they were returns and on the clearance shelf, I about fell over when I saw them hidden way back on the shelf with all the other “stuff”. They run better than any Athern and Bachman Spectrum I have and are absolutely quiet on the track. Since my RR consists of several road names I do not get too particular, after all out here in Deming I see all road