I could be wrong, but I don’t think you whim will be fulfilled here.
Check on Ebay maybe.
Many of the guys who returned to the hobby here after many years like yourself either get rid of their old stuff by throwing it away, selling on Ebay, or keep only the real “memory” stuff for static {non-workling} display.
Rubberband drives are so out of date it’s not even funny. Even my old mid-late 70’s N scale stuff is hard to run and has the old style couplers on it that are way too big and run rough with the pickups.
MAny improvements have been made over the years, including DCC- Digital Command Control- which might now interest you and would leave your rubberbands in the dust.
You might just find a 0-4-0 that will please you if you peruse the catalogs and train dealer websites. BUt hoping to find one exactly like the one you seek is about as easy as trying to find a real life 1975 Ford Pinto or a 1959 Pontiac in good working order and shape today.
Nostalgia is good, but modern day reality is better.
Also buying and selling here is not allowed on these forums. {But they say nothing about gifting someone something}
The Varney steam locomotive line was taken over by Bowser, as was Penn Line. They revamped and did some improvements on the lines and continued production until about a year ago. You might want to contact them to see what they still have in stock.
Similarly, some Silver Streak models are still available from Ye Olde Huff’n’Puff.
Trout Creek Engineering carries the remaining stocks of Tru-Scale wood roadbed.
Labelle, which produced wood kits similar to Ambroid and Main Line, is still actively in business (I just bought a new kit last week at my LHS). Labelle has updated and improved their kits with laser cut wood and improved castings in the last few years.
A Google search on each of these names should turn up some results, web sites, and addresses.
As for out-of-production (OOP) unbuilt kits (and RTR), the most common place for these to show up is eBay. There are certain hobby shops that sometimes have OOP items on their shelves, and are worth a phone call - Caboose Hobbies in Denver, Jay Cohen in Florida, and Gilbert’s in Gettysburg come to my mind first. A very few dealers at train sh
Welcome back. I returned after a 25 year absence with a similar rooster, including an English 0-4-0 Yardbird. I have had a great time. I learned to love Ebay, eventually finding most of what I wanted there. Sometimes I had to pay too much, but as you said, it is nice to have a few dollars for the hobby. I found a few 1-5000 kits but have not gotten to them yet. I still cruise Ebay almost everyday, though my list is shorter now. Keep us posted. There have been dozens who have returned in my four years here and we have all learned a lot. I have learned to love DCC radio, foam scenery and sound. Keep us posted.
When returning to the hobby after a long hiatus what I learned was most of what I knew was outdated and useless. DCC was the new thing in town and I should have taken the advice of a senior club member when I asked him what advice he had for someone getting back into the hobby like me and you. All he said to me was DCC the rest is easy, like riding a bike. I know a lot of guys like foam scenery but it’s not for me so many of the scenery building techniques still work for me. But I really love all of what the electronics has to offer for the hobby. The one thing I can say is that I am learning new things about the hobby every day.
Do yourself a favor, Chuck, and buy at least one new engine. You will never look back.
If your budget permits, buy at least an inexpensive DCC system, and run a couple trains at a time.
When I re-entered the hobby seven years ago, after a 45 year hiatus, I bought a DCC system and a couple of sound equipped steam engines and took it from there.
Welcome back into the hobby, Chuck. I’ve only returned in the last 5 months myself. What a surprise I got, after being away for 24 years, regarding the quality of products and available information. I’m in a hobby shop desert, so like others, ebay is my favourite shopping store. I’ve actually done quite well there. I had planned on using some of my older rolling stock and locomotives. Most of the rolling stock has been packed away until I can use it for parts, or have the time to upgrade it, and I’m likely going to just display a couple of locomotives. I also pondered over the DC/DCC question, but not for long. The simplicity of DCC and everything associated with it convinced me; that and a friend’s Zephyr. Even some relatively inexpensive locomotives are far superior to the high end plastic available back in the 80’s.
Welcome back! I’ve been in the hobby since '77 and as was mentioned, try and nix the old stuff and get into the new. I know those old metal cars were really stout and hold a good deal of sentimental value but with all the new technology out there now, well… like you said, it’s outdated. DCC is the way to go and the advancement in plastics these days make for some true to life authentic prototype equipment that the old stuff just can’t hold a candle to. Even the track of the past is outdated. Steel and brass track became nickel silver track which is a whole lot easier to keep clean and has fewer continuity problems than the old track. Those old style couplers are gone and the KADEE company among others make more protoype realistic couplers that can be converted for a few dollars. Even the locomotive drive trains of today are state of the art with low amps and heavy flywheels for a more realistic looking train motion when they start and stop.
I hope to be joining you in the retirement ranks soon…Just 5 more years and then i can model railroad all day long until i drop! [:D] …chuck