Hello everyone I am cleaning out my attic and I came across a train set I had as a child unsure exactly what year made sometime in early to mid 1970’s or posibly late 1960’s I was born in 1963. it is a Lionel Cannonball steam locomotive 027 gauge #07294 on top of box # 6-1381 on side of box inside locomotive is #8300-5 has all parts except black stakes for flat yellow car transformer is a 120v 60hz 7.5va. all cars and locomotive in excellent condition in original box. I have not found the track yet. Does anyone know the value of this both with and without the track. Thank you all very much for your help please contact me on this forum with any info and if you need more info. Thank you.
I’d start by searching for similar items in the “Completed Items” section of eBay to see what similar items might have sold for. There’s a lot of variation in what a train set could be worth; depending on many factors of which you’ve only listed a couple. One of the most important factors is usually its condition, and you’ve not posted any pictures.
Welcome to the forum,
Roland
If you’re even remotely interested in toy trains then I bet your set’s probably worth more to you as a sentimental childhood toy then they might bring in dollars should you decide to sell them.
I’m not 100% sure what you have but complete 1976 Lionel Cannonball sets go for an average of $50.
However there were some other sets but I don’t think any of them will get you more than a few tanks of gas.
The above price is an average and it may be more or less based on several factors.
Scott, as others have said, the value of any train set is dependent on condition of the components (are they clean, do they still all work as original?), and are all the original part still with the set as well as original packing materials and set box?
The “Cannoball” set was made by Lionel during the years Lionel was controlled by General Foods, commonly called the MPC period. The set is pretty common and was intended to be a low cost introductory set to the hobby. Depending on condition and who much someone wants the set, I’d agree and say $50 would be an average ballpark price.
I have some of those locos that came with that set, and though it is a cheaper loco, with a little work, it can be improved greatly both operationally and visually.
There was one Cannonball set made by Lionel that came with an uncataloged orange colored Erie Lackawanna plug door box car with white lettering (the common car is a grey one with reddish maroon colored lettering). This particular car is worth just about as much as the whole set. If you happned to have that car in the set and found a buyer who wanted that car, you could probably get some extra money out of it.
But I agree that the set is REALLY worth more as being your childhood set. Regardless of monetary value, most train collectors today would love to have their original first train set (regardless of the type of set) if they don’t have it… I know I would. And it has little to do with the financial value… it’s all personal.
Hello Brianel! General Mills, Not General Foods; Owned Lionel in the 70s. You made a Typo there. Take Care.
I agree with the others, that $50 is a good ballpark figure. Missing track won’t affect the value too badly; it most likely came with 10-12 pieces of track and used Lionel O27 track is worth 50 cents to a dollar per section.