Is there anyone out there who actually believes a 30-35 year old PFM locomotive is worth $4,000

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I just had to post this as a poll. I can’t believe anyone would bid nearly $4,000 for this locomotive.

Especially since you could get one custom built for less.

Andre

2

Seller with 0 feedback, bidders with 0 feedback - looks like a spoof to me.

3

Now that you mention it, you could be right. But what’s the point? Anyone with the slightest shred of knowledge about brass locomotives wouldn’t fall for it. And anyone dumb enough to fall for it probably doesn’t look at the model railroad section of Ebay anyhow.

Andre

4

In giving the seller the benefit of the doubt…IS THIS THING GOLD PLATED?..Does the engineer wave at you?

Definelty either a joke, or this guys is thinking “Why not try?” [banghead][X-)]
BTW: in case some of you are not aware, you can click on the “Ask seller a question” line on the right side and send him a “note”. If you do it, Be Nice (even though you might want to ask him if was exposed to paint fumes for extended periods!)
Who knows, this guy might actually respond![%-)][(-D][zzz]

5

I don’t think my entire locomotive fleet cost that much. Tell the seller that you just want a model, not the real thing!!

6

Looks like the same loco that Howard Zane has on his page, www.brasstrains.com [image] http://www.brasstrains.com/inventoryimages/001262_small.jpg[/image]
for $1095.00. This make a whole lot more sense!
Yes, the tender is different and there are some slight differences in paint, but it’s still a PFM K3!!
What a joke ebay can be![(-D]

7

I guess the old saying that things are worth what someone will pay for them is applicable here, though as someone else suggested this does look like a little dubious. Personally, I wouldn’t spend that much on a G-scale loco, let alone in HO. Even LGB’s top of the range (and very nice) locos are a fraction of this price!

Talking of crazy eBay prices, I recall a few months back seeing a rare OO scale diesel railcar model (Dapol Class 150 - these have been out of production since the mid '90s and are now highly desirable as the real thing is very common on UK railways and no new model has been forthcoming) going for well over £100, at the same time that a retailer had managed to secure the last stocks of the model and was asking around £80… Interestingly, the retailer’s stocks ran out about 2 weeks after I bought my example, so I was obviously lucky to get one!

8

I’ll take that engine as shown by Howard Zane for $1000- and some change. But it better run like a jewel, flawless and strong. The WM Potomac Brass painted is in the same neighborhood. I probably will “invest” that kind of money in one of these.

There is NO way in HAY-UL am I going to put up 4000 dollars for a model. Some one will have to pay the high bid when this thing is over. And there had better be an engine to the winner or heads are going to roll.

I can think of better and more beneficial things to do with that 4 grand. Such as debt reduction, schooling and house keep.

Come to think of it I dont think I spent that much in the hobby these last 3 years. My engine fleet alone is about 1200- and the rest I think is another 1000- the value of the whole goes down over time.

I will keep watching this partictuar sale simply because I am curious at this outrageous price.

Lee

9

Hold the horses and stop the steam I discovered this by reading the bid history.

Aug-14-04 23:30:35 PDT – bnofreak ( 0 )
Aug-14-04 23:32:05 PDT – benniehonnia ( 0 )
Aug-14-04 23:31:54 PDT – benniehonnia ( 0 )
Aug-14-04 23:31:38 PDT – benniehonnia ( 0 )

In the space of 40 seconds on the 14th august benniehonnia clicked the bid from 1000- to near 4000-

As all parties involved shows 0 history there is a good chance of a major problem with this sale.

I humbly suggest the seller take this trashed sale to eBay and try to determine if there was a case of “Having Fun no intent to pay Bidding”

10

Many rare locomotives do sell for one to three thousand dollars and a few handbuilt early models have been offered for close to five thousand dollars, but you will also notice that they are on the list for many monts or years.

I hope this engine has a rebate check in the tender for about four thousand to help the new buyer purchase it.

11

I was just about to bid on it but I thought the shipping price was unreasonable![:D]

12

That’s not the only weird stuff on Ebay. One seller has a W’side GN H-7, its tender and the box for the engine and tender for sale…

as SEPARATE items.

Engine:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=484&item=5915032566&rd=1

Tender:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=484&item=5914506055&rd=1

Box:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=484&item=5914502860&rd=1

Andre

13

Shipping: Sparkingbolt. I get it, I get it ! ! ! A little humour there, BUT he really wants $25.00 S&H I just got an engine shipped from California to Canada, his rate was $2.75 for S&H. Also someone is selling a T-1 Selkirk (“Texas” to you guys south of the border) for $41.00- but who knows what it will sell for, probably cheaper than $4.000.00 buyer beware eh??

14

The only way this would make sense would be if there was a reserve, but it doesn’t say “reserve met” so this can’t be. either way it’s really, really, really-and did I say really-rediculious.

Noah

15

Just two newbies on eBay who don’t know any better. One thing I tell everyone to eBay, you have to be knowledgeable about what you’re bidding on. It is obvious these two don’t have a clue.

Even though each newbie created their IDs in the last two weeks, they have bid on a couple of other items. In any event, the seller will still have to pay eBay the listing fees. I doubt any seller is stupid enough to shill bid one of his own auctions to four times the actual value of an item.

16

Well I have a PFM CNW 4-8-4 that is also a Crown model. Caboose Hobbies in Denver in 1995? had one listed for $3995.00. I only paid $156.00 for mine back in the ''50s. Still runs like a fine Swiss watch. Guess it all depends on who you are and how badly you want a model as to how much you will pay for an older brass model.

17

No model on earth can ever be worth $4000 to me! It can be totally accurate, as an exact repilca shrunken down. It can weigh 3 pounds and have all wheel electrical pick up. It can run smooth as silk and have ultra real sound system. And I still would never pay more than $420 for a locomotive! That’s the absolute MAX. $4000 is out of the question.

18

This is exactly what I like with eBay…no armtwisting.The good old offer vs demand law which can at times beneficiate the seller and often times the buyer.One has something he’d like to part with,offers it and let the better offer have it.Fair and square,isn’t it?

I have started myself a collection of “N” scale steamers,and as my budget allows,I purchase them.New when possible(or available is more like it) and used for other models(from eBay).But there’s a catch to this,as I forbid myself to pay unreasonable if not crazy prices.I bid what I guess is the fair value and stick with it.I also make it a point to complete the transaction quickly and hassle free.

What is frustrating however is that many will indeed pay “out of this world” prices as they can afford the “price is no object” policy when they want something really bad.“N” scale “Big Boys” and “Challengers” are a good example as they call for twice or more times their original values,meaning that I probably never will own one.I guess I don’t want them that bad after all.If they were newer technology…may be.

19

A couple of years ago I owned a United/Tenshodo Crown ATSF 2-10-4. In 1956 their were only 12 of them built. When I got out the Brown Book and saw what they were worth, I couln’t enjoy it anymore. I was always afraid that something would break and devalue the loco. I finally sent it to Caboose Hobbies and they sold it for $3495.00. It took them 2 months to sell it. I purchased a lot of train stuff with that money. The reason that mine sold so fast was the other one that they had, the guy wanted $4995.00. That was a good return for a loco that I bought new (in1957) for , I think, $79.95. But money was so scarce that I had to put it on layaway and pay it out at no less then $5.00 and not more then $10.00 a week. Of course I was only making $1.95 per hour, which then was a lot of money.

Have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY

Bob

20

Well I am glad to hear your story Teffy. Now I understand the feelings behind such expensive engines.

I think the listing costs for eBay is based on the winning bid’s value. I will try to look it up later but it is going to be significant for everyone involved.

Andrechapelon’s post about the tender,engine and box being sold seprately shows plain greed to me. One would think I can pay a dollar for the box, 10 for the tender and maybe 20 for the engine because it does not have a tender and the seller probably will not get the full value of the product. Or worse 3 bidding wars erupt and the profit far exceeds the values. I will check items against any possible division of sales in the future.

I have witnessed some 4 figure sales already that are legitimate on eBay and these people obviously have the ability to compete against one another.

Good Luck!