World of Disney Train Set-6-31947

[Anonymous]

How good of a set is that from a collectors view.

[brianel027]

I agree with the sentiment that not much produced today is of real collectible value. Most of the collector "value" seems to be driven more today by dealer speculation than by true market demand. Look at prices on MPC era trains... for the most part, they're way down. Or take the first Vapor Records box car... when dealers found out it was made for Neil Young in very limited numbers the price went overnight from $45 to $250. You can find them now for under $100. Or the Lionel gold aquarium car from '95. Dealers horded them hoping to cash in. Prices initially went from $50 to $250. You can easily find them now for $50-$75. Even many recently made Disney items have been advertised as blow out prices. From an operator view, that general-type steamer on the current Disney set is not the highest quality of engines being it is nearly all plastic. Not to mention made in China, which I have noticed some small backlash from collectors who will not buy any Lionel product not made in America.

The problem with the hobby today is there are no kids! Most postwar trains have collectible value (if they're in good shape) because WE adults in the hobby NOW all had trains when we were kids. Maybe we had an Alco FA instead of a Trainmaster. Or a scout steamer instead of a hudson. But we all looked through those catalogs and dreamed of what we would like to have. Angela Trott has made a good living from illustrating those golden dreams of the postwar Lionel era. If those pictures were to be reflective of today, she would have to show old men instead of young boys ooogling at the trains. For now it is the adults who are buying back their childhood memories that has driven prices up on postwar trains. Since today, there are very few kids who even know what Lionel trains are, there's no frame of reference. Many parents today believe Lionel trains aren't even being made... you certainly don't see them in toy departments at the big stores as we did when we were kids. I remember Sears always had a huge Lionel display with an operating layout. You don't see Lionel Trains for sale at Target, K-Mart, Walmart or Toys-R-Us, nevermind an operating layout. And how about hardware stores? I remember going to the local hardware store with dad and seeing Lionel Trains!

Most toys that are collectible were made in quantity, readily available, owned by many, well known and played with. Which gives them a frame of reference to many. As the toys were played with (and sometimes broken) the numbers of these toys in prime condition decreased. As more consumers seek out these toys (because they once had them) the prices naturally increase by market demand. This is true of Buddy L Trucks, Erector Sets, Barbie Dolls, Beatles Lunch Boxes and Toys, and older Lionel Trains.

But since this hobby is so so so focused on expensive electronics and scale adult operators, the kids have been nearly forgotten about. I know Lionel is trying to reach kids, but I don't think nearly enough is being done. So the future prices on most newer items IMHO, including the Disney set will vary more on factory production numbers and dealer speculation rather than true market demand.

brianel