o27 Guage Southern Express - looking for Info

[Hammockhugger]

My dad gave me his old set - an o27 Guage Lionel Southern Express boxed set with all track and master transformer.  The number on it is 2-4-0. Can anyone give me some information about this train

1: era

2: value/resale value

3: parts/adding track

 

The set includes the Locomotive, Tender car, Hopper Car, Gondola car (w canisters), Flat Car, Caboose, master transformer, safety plug and remote control w/ Forward and Reverse. Has a working headlight and chugging steam sound. The set is in original box and includes a figure 8 track. I really don't want to keep it due to size needed for the track for it to work well.

 

Thanks.

[alank]

era...early 1970s, value at resale $25.00, should have figure 8 of track with crossover...

[brianel027]

Hammock, these are the sorts of trains that I buy and run. If everything is clean, looks new and is operating properly, this set should easily fetch $50-$75. If the set box is in like new condition, maybe a little more especially on eBay, especially near the CHRISTmas buying season.

But I gather you are not a train guy. A locomotive that has been test run with maintenace and a fresh lubrication, will go a long way for helping get the best price. With a working transformer and no rust on the track. Otherwise, it is a case of the buyer taking his chances, which means a much lower price.

The individual cars in this set a very common and probably have plastic wheel sets. Some came with metal wheel sets and are worth a little more. The loco is an attractive one for being one of the bottom end Lionel sets. The biggest visual liability of this loco is paint chipping if it has been abused at all. The motors vary quite a bit on these as far as operating. I've had some that pull a good train with no alterations. Others have needed some weight added.

Now some food for thought.

Among us train guys, surveys have been done that say the trains most collectors wish they still had was the very first one they got from their dad. Since this set was your father's, and isn't really worth a ton of money, why not either keep it for the future or give it to a close relative with children who might appreciate it.

Most folks put a higher value on their first train set than the set might actually be worth monetarily... some things you cannot put a dollar sign on. Unless you are desperate for money, what you might get for this set on eBay will not be worth the possible future regret, or the joy of seeing the set in the hands of family or a very close friend.

While the set you have might be considered to be a cheap beginners set - which it is - it is not a bad set and the items can easily be improved for better operation. I have several of this similar model loco that are now over 35 years and still running just fine... not bad for a low end Lionel set with plastic gears on the loco. There are lots of new expensive high end locomotives that are breaking long before they get 35 years of running on them.

As far as space goes for making a layout, using a hollow core door with 027 track will permit a nice operating layout with plenty of room for trains and some operating accessories - and without breaking the bank either!!