Overwhelmed - inherited trains from a 83 year young man that would like me to sell them for him.

[Anonymous]

I don't know where to start...I have been on the web for five days straight (22 hours a day) trying to gain some insight as to what Walter has and what might be a fair price and who to sell them to and whether to sell as individual pieces or a set.

I will try to give you some information, but I am going to sound pretty stupid. Here goes anyway...They are Lionel trains purchased in/around 1946. I will list some of the trains...221 with tunnel (?), 2028 with tunnel, 6457, 6017, (2) X6014, (2) 6012, (2) 2030, 2031. I have three chests that I brought back from Nevada that are filled with tracks, plastic telephone posts, freeway signs, trees, etc. There are numerous Bachmann ho scale trains in individual boxes that I believe are electric because the box states so, but there is no train number on the box identifying the item inside. Just hundreds and hundreds of pieces. HELP. Should I call an appraiser?, sell on eBay?, spend the rest of my life trying to identifying all of these items??????

[Anonymous]

I would say to sell on ebay, although with the proviso that you already have a good feedback record there (bidders don't like big-money items from people with low feedback - items won't reach their full value). If you list them fully and honestly, put all the data on the boxes in the listings, you may be surprised as to the high bids. I know one store over here that puts G scale locos worth £500 on ebay with a 99p starting bid and no reserve, they always reach very good prices!

P.S. Don't expect huge sums on the Bachmann HO - they haven't as yet attracted much interest from collectors.

[Munster518]

Grasshopper-

I would be interested in the postwar pieces, drop me a line, thanks[:)].

John
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Well, first of all, some basics. All of the trains you have are electric, not just the Bachmann ones, as most model trains are. The Lionel trains are O gauge and are what we refer to as postwar (a term for any trains made betwen 1945 and 1969). When you say, "tunnel", do you mean a car hauling coal that goes with the engine? That would be what is called a tender (where you got tunnel from, I can't imagine). As far as value goes, whether or not you sell them on ebay, it's a good place to look for values by seeing what the same items sell for. However, there are price guides out there, the major one being Greenberg's. I have a Greenberg guide with me and these are the values listed for the Lionel items you have mentioned. If you give me the numbers of the others, I will look up the values for them as well.

-221 steam locomotive and tender: $75 good condition, $135 excellent condition
-2028 Pennsylvania GP-7 diesel locomotive (perhaps I assumed wrong in what you meant by tunnel, as diesels don't have tenders, unless you typed the number wrong): The value depends on certain variations:
Gold Lettering: $165 good, $295 excellent
Yellow Lettering: $140 good, $260 excellent
If the frame on it is tan, however, the value is listed as $275 good, $540 excellent
-6457 caboose: $17 good, $33 excellent
-6017 caboose: $3 good, $7 excellent
-X6014 boxcar: Value depends on the colour. White: $5 good, $9 excellent, Red: $10 good, $26 excellent
-6012 gondola car: $2 good, $7 excellent
-2030: Lionel never made anything with the number 2030, so I assume that this is a typo.
-2031 Rock Island Alco FA powered and dummy diesel locomotives: $135 good, $285 excellent for the pair

The Bachmann HO probably aren't going to have a great deal of value. Unlike O gauge trains, there isn't as big of a collector following for HO and so there aren't difinitive priceguides for it. I would search ebay for the same trains to see what they bring in. While many of us here do have knowledge of HO, if you want more information on the Bachmann, the Model Railroader forum would probably be a better place to ask about it. Bachmann first started making HO trains in 1970, so that's the very oldest these trains could be.

If you want to know anything else, there are a lot of smart people on here, so please do ask. We're more than hapy to help you.

[More to restore]

It must be hard time for you, selling your husbands hobby. It one of those things one does not like to do, but has to be done.
The responses on your question have been honest (as is usual for this forum). Sell the items on Ebay sounds is the best thing to do.
Much strength with this emotionally difficult task for you.

[jimhaleyscomet]

You will definately get the most money (and the most work) by selling individually on ebay. If you have never done it find someone who has and get some help. It is really easy once you do it a few times. Start with less expensive items and get a few positive feedbacks before listing expensive items. You can also get good feedbacks by purchasing things (any price, inexpensive is o.k.) and then promptly paying.

Another option is to go to a hobby shop and try to sell the entire lot. Expect to get about 25% of what you would get on ebay.

A final option is to locate train clubs in your area and try and sell to them. My club (in Houston, TX) is always looking for older locomotives to run on the club layout. You might get 50% of ebay prices that way. Even if the club is not interested, individual members would probably be interested. They could also help you get going on Ebay.

As far as the HO stuff goes, it is probably not worth much. Still if you list on ebay you might do o.k. Even better would be to find a person who would like to use it and is willing to purchase it. Another option...depending on your tax bracket is to donate it to a good cause and take the tax deduction.

Be sure to get the Greenburg guide (available at Amazon.com or your local hobby shop). You should know the values of these trains so you can evaluate offers. It should more than pay for itself when you sell your trains.

Below is informatino from the Amazon.com listing

Greenberg's Guides Lionel Trains 2006 Pocket Price Guide (Greenberg's Pocket Price Guide Lionel Trains) (Paperback)
by Roger Carp (Editor), Lesley Weiss (Editor)
List Price: $16.95
Price: $11.02 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $5.93 (35%)

Good luck. By finding this forum you are on the right path.

Jim H