Appraisal of HO Trains

[Anonymous]

I have my father’s estate HO gauge trains that I would like to get accurate appraisals on. They have been stored for years and should be used by someone who appreciates the old quality. Of particular interest are two B&O passenger cars that my dad said were published in some railroad magazine in the 50s or 60s. I have digital photos of some of the more notable pieces. I would appreciate suggestions on how to reach collectors out there that can appreciate these old wonderful pieces.

Thanks for any help,
TBrannon
Dumfries,VA ([e-mail])

[orsonroy]

Hmm...double post...sorry!

[orsonroy]

Unfortunately, old doesn't necessarily mean good, rare, notable, quality or collectible. Without more information on exactly what you have, it's impossible for anyone to help you.

Frankly, the absolute BEST place to get an appraisal on your pieces is Ebay. While not a "true" appraisal service, by studying Ebay, you'll get a good picture of the real market value of what you have. It's probably the best place for you to sell your items as well, since you'll be exposing them to the largest audience possible. But be advised; just because something is old doesn't mean it's actually worth anything. If you decide to sell on Ebay, be prepared to not sell a lot of it, since no one wants the stuff. And your chances of making sales is better the lower you have your opening price.

There are professional appraisal services out there. Check advertisements in Model Railroader. Unfortunately, they'll give you a much inflated, "insurance" price on everything, rather than a real price for items. Most of the hands-on appraisal services and "value books" can't keep up with the market forces that the internet has unleashed, and how it's evened out and rationalized the antiques market (not that stuff from the 1950s is antique...)

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice.