Anyone know what the most expensive collectible Lionel item would be?
I don't have anything in mind, I was just curious.
Hello GV! To date,the single-most expensive Lionel Train was sold at Auction last year for $250,000.00., It was a Standard Gauge set from 1934 Mint in the box with a 400E Engine & State Passenger Cars. All in immaculate condition too. Almost looked like it came from the factory. In second place would be the Brass Protoype for the 700E Hudson that sold for over $77,000.00 & used to sit on a shelf in Joshua Cowen's New York office behind his desk & is a valuable piece of Lionel History in itself. These are two items that come to mind here. Take Care.
thor wrote:The Brute would be my guess!
That's my guess also !!
Thanks, John
Well, the last I heard, the owner of the "Brute" (Allison Cox) was asking $500,000.00 for her. Don't know if anyone has ponied up the cash though. If anyone ever does, methinks that would be your winner right there. The Standard gauge set that Keith mentioned above is the most expensive Lionel item that I have ever heard that ACTUALLY SOLD, though.
- Clint
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
I also would agree with the brute!
Boyd wrote:What is the "Brute"?
The brute was a really big model that was made for JLC when he had items being made in italy. It was a lot bigger then standerd gauge. This is the only info I know.
alex
The "Brute" kind of resembles a Bi-Polier. I think there was 2 made the massive one that is huge that just went up for sale and a identical one but smaller I thing it is O-gauge. I think CTT had a article this year on the big one and that they stripped it of paint and did some kind of preservation to the metal. But the smaller one is still in original shape painted green. Don't remember where I saw the info on the smaller one. Mite of been the same article.
Me I would like the smaller Mini-Brute cause of course if I owned it I would run it.
FOUND IT. May 2007 "The Brute stops here"
The smaller one here it states in a picture is a SUPER 381
The Brute:
http://www.tcaetrain.org/articles/chronicles/ALCOX/index.html
http://www.tinplatetimes.com/profiles/Al%20Cox/cox.htm
Bob Nelson
1688torpedo To date,the single-most expensive Lionel Train was sold at Auction last year for $250,000.00., It was a Standard Gauge set from 1934 Mint in the box with a 400E Engine & State Passenger Cars.
Rob
I'd be VERY happy indeed with a mint Standard Gauge "Blue Comet" set.
Ain't gonna happen. Can't afford one and even if I could I'd have no space to run it, except maybe around the Christmas tree once a year.
Flintlock76I'd be VERY happy indeed...
Here's some more on "The Brute" and MTH's standard gauge adaptation:
https://mthtrains.com/news/405
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-4nU1p2DT0
ADCX Rob Flintlock76 I'd be VERY happy indeed... Do you think this is the most viewed topic on this forum? MSN News linked to it a few days ago.
Flintlock76 I'd be VERY happy indeed...
Do you think this is the most viewed topic on this forum? MSN News linked to it a few days ago.
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Same me, different spelling!
Flintlock76 I'd be VERY happy indeed with a mint Standard Gauge "Blue Comet" set. Ain't gonna happen. Can't afford one and even if I could I'd have no space to run it, except maybe around the Christmas tree once a year.
I'd be happy with a traditional remake but unless you want to watch it chase it's tail in a circle you need at least 4 by 5 to run a 400e and 3 blue comet cars. I do 5 by 7 and doubt that anything bigger than a 385/1835 will grace my rails. And it's a long shot that I'll have the money any time soon to chase that dream . My little number 8 and matching 35 and 36 passenger cars and the handful of 500 series freights look great on a layout this size so I'm happy.
pennytrains¿????¿????
Well I began to look at that MSN article with a jaundiced eye as soon as I spotted the all-too-common misuse of the word "infamous" right at the outset.
Let's get the definition straight, "infamous" refers to someone or something famous for all the wrong reasons. A great example:
Hitler is infamous. On the other hand Churchill is famous. That's how it works.
There's nothing infamous about Lionel.
(Another thing that drives me crazy is the use of the word "decimate" in place of "devastate," but that's another story.)
Anyway, the MSN article's a good example of "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." But then I never expect much from MSN in the way of top-quality journalism anyway.
Flintlock76Anyway, the MSN article's a good example of "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." But then I never expect much from MSN in the way of top-quality journalism anyway.
Flintlock76Let's get the definition straight, "infamous" refers to someone or something famous for all the wrong reasons. A great example:
To be fair, it said model train sets have an infamous reputation in pop culture. I don't think that's completely untrue.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmannTo be fair, it said model train sets have an infamous reputation in pop culture. I don't think that's completely untrue.
ADCX Rob zugmann To be fair, it said model train sets have an infamous reputation in pop culture. I don't think that's completely untrue. Yes, it's used properly here.
zugmann To be fair, it said model train sets have an infamous reputation in pop culture. I don't think that's completely untrue.
Yes, it's used properly here.
One last example:
"Yesterday, December Seventh, 1941, a date which will live in infamy..."
Unless the article is referring to a never before discovered standard gauge M10000 set, there's no such thing as a "1934 Lionel Standard Gauge Diesel Set". . So add as many grains of salt to your opinion of the article as you see fit .
Flintlock76Sorry gents, but I have to respectfully disagree with both of you. The author's use of infamous in this case is poor English.
I don't think so. Pop culture has always shown model RRing in not the best light, or its participants as social outcasts. That's why its reputation (in pop culture) can be seen as infamous rather than famous.
zugmannI don't think so. Pop culture has always shown model RRing in not the best light, or its participants as social outcasts. That's why its reputation (in pop culture) can be seen as infamous rather than famous.
OK Zug, in that respect I can agree with you, model railroading does have in pop culture the aspect of a society of social misfits "living in their mothers basements" which unfortunately many seem hell-bent on living up to! Not many, but some.
Thankfully O, S, and G Gaugers don't fall into that category!
And the "mom's basement" thing seems to be slowly passing over to the computer geeks!
Prob more computer geeks with impressive O scale layouts than anyone else.
zugmann Prob more computer geeks with impressive O scale layouts than anyone else.
Yeah, especially if they're involved in IT equipment sales! Those guys make some GOOD money!
It's funny how quickly society changes it's views on technology isn't it? Between Trevithick, Stevens and all the others that created the practical steam locomotive and 1869 when America "reached the moon" with the driving of the spikes at Promontory, railroads were THE peak of high technology and growth and enginemen were heroes.
By the dawn of the 20th century, automobiles, airplanes, zeppelins and other high tech devices would come along and grow and improve at about the same rate as railroads had in the first half of the 19th century. But probably most important was the advent of home electrification. That advancement made electric model railroading possible and of course electric trains became the high tech toy dujour.
So when did it happen? When did model railroading become a "geek" thing practiced mostly by social outcasts? I think evidence points to the late 1950's. Cars were cool, music was cool, football was cool. Space exploration was the highest of high technology and if you weren't interested in cars, music, sports and girls you were an outcast.
Smart, creative people are often outcasts and model railroading is a perfect outlet for these talents. The high end Legacy trains in the Lionel catalog are smarter than the computers they used to land on the moon 54 years ago but that fact hasn't brought model railroading back to the universe of "cool" in most minds.
They want tok tok, games and drones.
A very cogent and insightful analysis Becky!
(I might have added slot cars pushing model railroading out of the collective conciousness but they've kind of had their day and lost it too.)
The funny thing is though, when I'm at a train club open house, holiday display, or train show I see a lot of young families in attendance with the kids all wide-eyed and Mom and Dad grinning wide enough to eat bananas sideways! Which might bode well for the future.
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