I read on the Model Railroader forum Elliots Diner, like our Coffee Pot, that Athern RTR cars are $26.95, Atlas Flex track is $4.25 six years ago it was $2.25 buildings are way up there too. I was out of the hobby for years and these prices flabbergast me.
Dennis San Fernando Valley CA.
Dennis,
Unfortunately, everything is costlier now-a-days, due to the economy, certain variables and as I like to say; “GREED!!!”
Ralph
The MTH HO locos that have all the bells & whistles like their MTH O Gauge cousins are quite expensive.
It all depends on where you look. You can get good HO equipment pretty cheap in a lot of places. A smooth running diesel may cost as little as $30 at a discount price, and good rollingstock with metal wheels can be had for $10 to $15 a car. I’m not talking older items, either. Most of those high priced models have lots of additional fine details, advanced electronics, and top-of-the-line mechanisms.
From what I’ve seen, HO is still cheaper than O by far. I like the few prewar O trains I have, but HO is a lot easier to afford (unless you’re going for a Marx layout).
You say that like theres something wrong with us Marxists LOL nudge nudge wink wink say no more 
I have no problem with Marx trains.[:)] In fact, I’ve got two of them! I even bought O27 track so I could “properly” run them, and my Marx transformers are my main workhorses for all but the Lionel! Did you ever see my Commodore Vanderbilt restoration?[:D]
It is true that for years, one could get a great many “HO” items for less than “O”. The majority of these items, however, were of the “toy” quality. Bachmann and Lifelike filled the bill.
I’m sure, though, that if one were to think back in time, quality items were selling on a par with the larger stuff. Names that come to mind are Fleischmann, Marklin, Rivarossi and Varney.
When I first started in “HO” some fifty plus years ago, their products were top-of-the-line and more expensive.
I guess that it is all in the perspective. Thanks for reminding me of the “good old days”.
Sounds like HO may be going through the same kind of market decline that Lionel and Flyer went through in the 60’s. On the quantitiy of items sold side things aren’t so great so you either have to do like Ives did and go out of business rather than compromise your standards or cheapen things. Personally I prefer those who maintain high standards but I’m not one who can afford to pay for them. I just hope there’s enough who can to keep the manufacturers in business until things are better all the way around.
Becky
Perhaps it is just getting costlier to package and ship model railroad merchandise half way around the world…
Hey! [I][8D]