Lionel Steam Engine Question

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

If you are selling or buying a lionel steam engine how much should you discount the price if the original or any tender is not included. The price guides that I have are not very specific on this point. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks STEVE

2

No one straight answer ----- what Locomotive, what year, what Tender is missing.

You should get a lot of answers to this question, here is my take:

  1. A steam Locomotive is always priced with the Tender.

  2. If without a Tender, the buyer must find the proper or compatible Tender. Not always easy. A Collector will want the production Tender, an operator may agree to a similar Tender.

  3. The Locomotive alone will NOT couple to the train cars. Either a pin or hook system connects the Locomotive to the Tender with proper spacing, the back of the Tender has the Coulper for the rest of the train cars.

  4. If “Pre 1960”, the proper tender may be as much as 50% of the Locomotive price, in a very few cases more than the locomotive. Example: Long Stripe vs Short Stripe, 6 wheel vs 4 wheel trucks, Plastic vs Die-Cast body, scale vs simi-scale.

  5. Newer Locomotives, built in the age of Electronics, may not even run without the tender. Any Locomotive with an electrical cable or plug will fall into that group. Even early American Flyer Locomotives had either the “E” unit or Smoke in the Tender.

3

In most cases I will not even concider an engine without the tender coming with it. for those trying to get a few extra bucks on ebay by selling them seperate I won’t bid unless I somehow have already have an extra tender that goes or will go with that engine. I’m an opperator more than collector but I also know if I should want/need to see the engine I have a better chance with the correct tender and will get a better price than just the engine alone.

4

In my own experience buying just engines on Ebay, they usually go for 60 to 95 dollars. It will of course, depend on what you have. If you have a 726 or 736 it will be higher.

Roger

5

I think a fair way to look at it, if you will, get an idea of what it would cost to pick up the tender of equal quality as a separate deal. This of course would take into account the difficulty in finding one. I have some spare tenders from engines that either are no more, or, some sellers have included a extra tender in a deal. If you are not concerned with original, then this would work. If so, expect the sale price to be what the quality would normally sell for, minus the cost of a replacement tender and a little extra for the trouble. If I were looking at a piece that I wanted to purchase, I know there is a dealer, I think in Yonkers, New York who specializes in replacement tenders. I would call him up, get the price and availability. Then, make the purchase of the locomotive and call to get the tender.

Dennis

6

I will not even take a second look at a locomotive for sale without it’s tender. I purchased a Lionel 2046 at a garage sale about 18 years ago and still do not have a tender for it. Two reasons, one the locomotive was only $5.00 and the second is a matching tender is around $100.00 in decent shape, there are other items I need for my layout under construction more than a tender now, maybe some day I will start looking serously.

Paul

7

What I did Paul after buying a 2025 engine, was to buy the 2466wx tender in pieces and build my own. Very cheap that way.

Roger