What to do with the Lionel Postwar Trains

Classic Toy Trains Forum
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Hi,
I usually post on the MR section but this is about a postwar Lionel collection.

I suspect my situation is similar to many others. I’ve been collecting and displaying Lionel postwar for about 40 years now. I’ve got several steam and diesel locos, about 70 pieces of rolling stock, lots of track and accessories.

All the powered units work, and while nothing is “pristine”, everything is in pretty decent shape (there is no junk). At one time I would run them, but had to give up the room and now most are on display, the rest nicely boxed.

Ok, that sounds pretty good, so what’s the problem? Well, I just turned 81, and while I’m okay now, I’m on that downhill slide. So what happens to the trains when my time comes?

Well, none of my adult kids or grandkids or other relatives have an interest in them. And while the collection had decent value 20 years ago, today they are worth maybe 25 percent of what they once were.

Yesterday I reviewed Ebay sales again, and while I’m a pretty active “Ebayer”, the going prices just don’t make it worth the effort to sell there.

Now please know, I’m not looking to get rid of them now, but it may only be a year or two when it would be the time to do this.

As I said, I know I’m not the “Lone Ranger” here, and I was wondering what others have done.

Oh, as I live just north of Houston, know that it is not the Lionel haven that I enjoyed growing up in Chicago. I know of no one here who has Lionel trains.

Thank you all for your input!

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I told DW she had my permission to dumpsterize the whole lot. Or she could have a used store buyer come in and probably give 20 cents on the dollar. I had to sell my dad’s HO trains on Ebay and I don’t wish that experience on anybody.

Those trains aren’t owed to anybody, so if she wants to minimize her time wasted and get on with her life, I’m all for it.

Fred W

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I can’t agree with fwright. DO NOT THROW THEM OUT!!! If you do, then I will be very sad and maybe cry–I do love trains. :sob: I would recommend that either you find someone who wants to buy them cheap (I’m always interested…) or just give them away. Would a local museum take them? Since they work, maybe a museum would be interested in a basic display layout. Of course, you could also take them to Trainz.com.

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DON’T PUT THEM IN THE DUMPSTER! If all else fails donate them to Goodwill Industries. Take a look at shopgoodwill.com. Nowadays they auction the best of the donated items on their own eBay style website. You probably have a Goodwill store or donation center nearby. Those who need to deal with cleaning up your estate can do a lot of good by donating them. And on the Goodwill site the prices are much closer to actual value than on eBay.

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Good suggestions from both Engine_1988 and pennytrains, DON’T throw them out! Aside from donating them to Goodwill check around for any O Gauge operating or collectors clubs in your area who might want to re-home them. You CAN try a local auction house to see if they’re interested in selling your collection. If it’s not terribly large they can always “bundle” it with other collections for a “themed” sale.
But don’t toss them.

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I am still hoping to build a tinplate layout in another basement room, but I am also getting old and still haven’t finished the HO and N layout. Our local museum just acquired another building and I am thinking about offering to build a permanent layout there and leaving it behind when I am gone.
Since you live North of Houston, contact the San Jacinto Model Railroad Club. They have a website and see if anyone there has an idea.

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One thing you can maybe consider is, if it hasn’t been done yet, organizing your collection and cataloging everything in a way that will reduce confusion and simplify knowing where everything is when the time comes to see your trains out- best case, you don’t need it, worst case, it will reduce the trouble anyone has to go through finishing up what you couldn’t get to while you had the time.

I volunteer with a smaller museum that received an individual’s collection of 3-rail trains maybe 5-6 years ago. Quite a bit has been successfully sold off, but a not insignificant number of items remain. Having a list of most of the things helped make some sense of everything, though it was not perfect.

-El

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Hi,
Thank you all for your input - it is appreciated.
While the trains dollar value is a fraction of what it once was, I still value them highly. Said another way, I would love them to go to someone that would appreciate them as I do. Yes, its sad that the monetary value went down the tubes, but frankly that is the way a lot of our old stuff is going.

Four years ago I (for various reasons) sold off an extensive HO collection and dismantled a large two level layout. Everything went on Ebay, and it all sold, netting over $6k. But while it was a lot of effort, I felt that the buyers all wanted the pieces they were bidding on.

Have to say, I love looking at them, for it takes me back to when Lionel (and Flyer) was the stuff of every boy’s dreams. So I doubt they will go anywhere while I’m above ground (or cognizant).

I will advise my executor/sons about the San Jac club and “Papa Ben’s” train store, and that may be the best course of action.

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Hi, that’s an interesting dilemma, one that many of us face or will face. I have 4 grandchildren and even though “I put my trains (all 50’s Lionels) back together”, for them, I can’t say any of them have shown serious intent. I would suggest possibly donating them to a club or if you truly don’t want to go through the hassle of selling them on Ebay, again possibly some charitable cause would take them. And there are always dealers more than willing to take them.

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We have an article about how to sell your trains: How to sell toy trains - Trains

If you’re interested in donating items, you might contact a local club. For instance the Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club will put together “starter kits” for beginners and sell them at a discount to encourage newcomers to the hobby.

Rene