Hello fellow train enthusiasts,
Recently, I became the owner of a model train set that was left behind at our home. We’ve found a potential adopter for this beautiful set, but, unfortunately, my knowledge about model trains is fairly limited. Thus, I’m reaching out for your expertise to help determine its potential worth.
From what I understand, the set appears to be of the HO gauge variety, and comes complete with a
Unfortunately I can’t see your pictures (most likely an issue with my computer, not yours - but just in case, maybe post the maker name and set ID number / name from the box?) so can’t give a specific answer, but generally HO trainsets aren’t worth very much. They usually were made from lower-quality items. In fact, low-quality model train items are often referred to as “trainset quality”.
I know there are some people who collect old HO, particularly the short-lived Lionel HO line from the 1950s, but even those are no where near the value of Lionel O gauge or American Flyer S gauge from the same time.
Jacob,
Just as a matter of vocabulary, “model train set” means a square box with a locomotive, a few cars, an an oval of trainset track, and perhaps a “power pack.” What you have here is a complete, and seemingly very nice, complete layout, plus a sizable collection of model trains on the shelves, most of which look to me like standard commercial plastic trains of the last 30 to 45 or so years. Perhaps nothing very old but decent commercial quality stuff. There are also some prototype railroad items displayed.
You might want to change the title of your posting because train sets are one thing, entire layouts and collections are another.
Here is the problem. Many people who “inherit” entire layouts like this actually end up PAYING someone to dismantle it because 1) they don’t want it and 2) it is constructed in such a way that it cannot be moved. Usually the structures can be removed, with care, but sometimes even the structures end up being destroyed because they are integral with the layout. But sadly those interesting mountains and caverns, presumably plaster, are nearly impossible to remove and rebuilt in a new basement, they just can’t survive.
And also if you yourself are not a model railroader do not attempt to remove the structures from the layout unless they easily lift off – you could damage them and destroy their value.
For a variety of reasons existing layouts don’t seem to interest many buyers, perhaps because the fun is in the building, not just the owning. Many model
Jacob,
This does not look like it is in a basement.
Where are you?
-Kevin
Wow - quite the layout!
The value of the layout itself is probably quite small, since it will probably have to be destroyed to remove it.
HOWEVER -
The rolling stock (cars) and motive power is another matter, along with the structures.
Manufacturer and type will have a lot to do with the value. For example, if the steam locomotives are brass, there is significant value there. At the opposite end of the spectrum, if they’re old Bachmann and Tyco, they have only nominal value. Rolling stock is a bit easier - at train shows you could expect to get around $5 to maybe $10 each for the cars; a bit more for some, and a bit less for others.
Structures are less dependent on brand, but might be harder to value anyway. From what I can see they’re nicely constructed, so the larger, more complex ones might be worth a decent amount of money if they can be removed from the layout without damage.
Switches (track turnouts) may be worth a few dollars each, if they can be removed from the layout without damage. Depends somewhat on the maker.
(you wouldn’t happen to be in the vicinity of Wyoming, would you? I wouldn’t mind seeing this layout before it’s disassembled).
Check out the model railroading items for sale on ebay to get an idea of values. A lot of the stuff you can sell there for a fair price (and sometimes a bit more than a fair price, if you’re lucky!).
Another option is to visit a few model train shows in your area. Scope out the prices they’re getting for items similar to what’s on the layout, then sell the stuff at the following show, or another one nearby.
From the photos, and just off the top of my head, I’d say you’ve got somewhat more than a couple grand worth of stuff there if you sell it piecemeal.
Without having more information on the locomotives and cars it would be hard to give a solid value, but if everything is going you should be looking at considerably more than $200. The display cases appear to have more than $200 worth of stuff in them to the right person. I don’t think $2,000 is too high, and may be pretty low for everything depending upon what it is. Certain brands have more value than others, so you may do better to find a local hobby shop and/or train club to help you figure out what you have.
When I remove a layout I get to keep all the hardware and equipment I can salvage. If the layout has been cherry-picked before I get there, I am not interested at all.
Everything looks well used and well-enjoyed. It is doubtful that selling it will be worthwhile unless you have nothing else to do. I don’t see anything really unique, interesting, or collectable. Lots of it does have value, but it would be a lot of work.
Honestly, if someone is willing to pay you, AND remove the layout, I would jump on that offer immediately.
Removing a layout is a lot more work than most people anticipate.
-Kevin
Looks like a nice layout. Shame to see it go!
PMR
As someone that has dealt with a few Estates, I will tell you that it all boils down to what your time is worth. I have handled Estates where people have collected everything from soup to nuts and when they met their end offered up the collections first to the beneficiary(s) and then opened up the home to the public to come take whatever they want. It is the cheapest way to get rid of “stuff”. People will get on their high horse and say these belongings are worth money and should be sold but when I offer it to them for free to do with as they please, I get the usual no-thanks.
When you think of the time spent selling on eBay, first you have to spend time researching what you have and what is it worth, then take photos and place the ad, then monitor the progress of the listing and deal with the bids. When sold you have to find packaging for the item(s), pack and address the item, drive to the Post Office @$.75 a mile, stand in line, and on and on. How long does all that take and what is the return?
Everything I own as far as model trains go may come in at $10,000.00 on the used market, however, actually selling it is not worth the time it would take unless it was sold as a whole, which just would not happen.
I have told the wife and kids to contact a couple of local clubs when I croak and they can come to clean out the layout and sell what they can for the club’s benefit at the train shows in return. If a couple of club members have pickup trucks to haul the carcass to the dump after they harvest the salvageable bits it should be a profitable day for the club.
If you do decide it is worth your time and effort to try and sell the stuff don’t forget the value of the stuff in the drawers at the workbench such as boxes of couplers, wheels, special tools, electronic components like frog juicers or decoders. Those also add up fast, but then again you likely have no idea what you are looking at. The guys from the club will be delighted to get it.
Good luck.
Look online to see if there’s a model railroad club in your area. Give them a call or send them a message. If you can get a few of them to come over and take a look, that could help a lot. If there’s a model train shop around, ask them too. Many of us are retired, and would take a look and advise you just for the heck of it.
Where are you? In more populated areas, there are often train shows with a lot of new and used equipment for sale.
I had a friend show up with a boxed Lionel HO set, complete with track and power pack. He thought it would fetch a fortune. This was a toy train quality set, and I had to warn him it wasn’t worth much. I sold it to a dealer at a show for $20. It had a nuclear waste car, a helicopter car and a giraffe car. Pure kid stuff.
Someone I know found this with their Dads things when he died. They thought it would be worth big bucks for some reason. They couldn’t even get $20.00 for it on eBay. It now sits in my closet waiting for the end of the world.[(-D]
as others said, that is a model railroad, not a trainset. I am sure others, like me, see pieces we would take. They all look like hobby pieces, not trainset stuff. I wonder what is underneithie the layout.
Giving us a general idea where you are at could help if somebody here is nearby and coul help you with removing and distributing it. Also, Look at the NMRA. National model railroad association. there are probably memebers nearby that could help with removing it that would have a much better idea of how to do it.
Shane
You could always donate to a local club. they could seel the componenets to raise money for the club. might even be able to do that as a tax write off. WOuldnt be a big one but something.
Shane
It pains me to see such a well-designed layout get torn down.
Perhaps consider asking a local hobby shop if they have a place to post ads for selling trains. Another idea is craigslist. Whatever option you pick, I hope you get pictures beforehand.
Hello Jacob,
Someone has put a lot of work into that layout! It is too bad that all that work essentially will go to waste, but as others have said, selling an existing layout is next to impossible.
However, the rolling stock may be a different story. There could be some real gems in there. In fact, given the quality of the work on the layout, the odds are that the modeler had decent standards for what equipment they would run as well.
Don’t overlook unbuilt kits. Some older wood kits can fetch a fair bit of money.
As has been suggested, eBay can be a good source of information for gauging value. You can use their detailed search engine to focus on specific cars and locomotives. I would suggest that you look at the ‘sold’ listings rather than the ‘for sale’ listings. Seeing what similar items have actually sold for will give you a better picture of what something is actually worth.
Another approach would be to contact local train clubs (if any) to see if they will accept the layout as a donation on the condition that they remove the layout proper and dispose of it. That doesn’t get you any money but it does take care of a huge headache, i.e. getting the layout out of the house.
There is another option that nobody has mentioned so far, and that is to keep the layout and run it yourself if it can stay where it is. You just might find that you get hooked pretty fast, and you have the huge bonus of not having to start from scratch, nor will you have to put out a ton of money.
Cheers!!
Dave
[quote user=“jacob.trains”]
Hello fellow train enthusiasts,
Recently, I became the owner of a model train set that was left behind at our home. We’ve found a potential adopter for this beautiful set, but, unfortunately, my knowledge about model trains is fairly limited. Thus, I’m reaching out for your expertise to help determine its potential worth.
From what I understand, the set appears to be of th
Not seeing exactly what the engines and rolling stock are or their value, but if you had the time and a way to sell each individual train piece, you have enough of them that I would think you would accumulate over $2,000 no problem, IMO.
Selling them individually on a site like Ebay could be a lot of work.
Estate buyers like Trainz.com will buy the entire collection at discounted prices (so they can sell them at used-retail proces). But, you have to prepare a list, which is helpful if you know what the items are.
You can reach out to Trainz and ask how you go about telling them what you have. I’m sure they have a process for buying trains from folks like you who may have inherited items they know little about. You are not their first customer.
As others have said, the actual structure of the layout is not something that will sell, and you’ll probably end up tearing it out. They are custom built to fit the space and its way easier for most people to just build what they want.
The structures look like they could be built from some rather pricey kits. But structures are notoriously hard to sell because of the high cost of shipping such bulky yet fragile items.
The track is another item that can be sold, but the turnouts (switches) and crossings are the valuable pieces. Used plain track can be sold, but it needs to be bundled into big lots. Selling used track is time consuming. You have to remove it without damaging it in the slightest, and then clean each piece to look as close to brand new as possible. The turnouts could be worth saving and selling, but most folks would probably just pitch the rest of the track along with the layout.
I agree with Douglas on his recommendation to contact Trainz. My understanding is that if a crew is in the area, they would be willing to pay you a visit to help evaluate what you have.
Rich
But Trainz will not help with the initial concern of getting the layout out of the house.
That will be the major task. Trainz will buy all the loose items, but leave the big work behind.
If the main concern is getting the layout removed neatly and without damaging the house, different help will be needed.
I hope we hear from the OP again. I hate moderation delays.
I just went back an re-read the OP’s original post.
He DOES NOT state he wants the layout removed. That was something I read into it.
He also does not state the potential “adopter” will relocate the layout.
Again, we need more information from the original poster about exactly what the situation with this layout is.
-Kevin
Kevin, you’re right. (I guess part of our forum’s culture is to not closely read the OP, and even feed off of what others wrote, thereby exacerbating the drift.)
It sounds like he’s found somebody willing to take the layout, but is wanting to know our opinion of price.
What I would want to know is if the “adopter” is expecting the layout for free, with his “price” being the time, labor, and trouble to free up the room for the OP. Or is the adopter willing to pay cash for the layout but a price has not been struck yet.
As