To run new in box Ameriacan flyer or not?

[Anonymous]

I bought last year an American Flyer Baltimore and Ohio Alco A-B-A set new in box from a older hobby store. After paying for ity the man at the counter said" it'll be woth alot if you keep it in the box". I kind of want to run it but I'm really more into the scale side of S. I feel it might be better to sell to a collector than to run it. Any imput would be helpful on my decision with this moral delema.

Carpenter Matt

[cbq9911a]

Run it. Trains are meant to be run, not kept in their boxes as trophies.

[Chris F]

It sounds like you're an operator who bought a collector-grade set. Why did you buy it?

cbq, would you feel the same way if the AF model were a Nebraska Zephyr set?[;)]

[arnoldafl]

For me it all depends on how much the item is appreciating. The set you bought does not appear to be raising in price very much over the years so I run it on my layout. I would not run the Southern Pacific set or the Boston and Maine since they have appreciated. When Lionel first came out with American Flyer sets and cars, I thought they would appreciate over the years so I began buying extra items. This has not turned out to be the case for some engines and cars that were produced. Look at how much the item costs to buy today over what it originally cost when first marketed. If the price hasn't changed much, run it. Sure it may go up over the years, but by how much.
Compare that to the value of having it on your layout.