Lionel's offshore move

[Frank53]

Frank, Put in TMCC and railsounds and you wll have a real winner.

can I just stab myself in the eye with a pitchfork instead?

[Jumijo]

I HATE it when you do that, Frank! 

do what?

 

No backdrops for you, fella! Now cut that out! 

[Deputy]

There is a finite supply of postwar stuff, and the price on that supply is going up like a skyrocket.

Dep

not sure what leads you to that conclusion. Post war prices have been dropping for years, and will continue to fall.

I deleted all those pics you posted. Since you had NO S2 turbines in there, they didn't interest me

Take a stroll over to E-Bay and check out what the S2 Turbines are going for. There was one "minty" 682 on  there and last I saw it was over $600. And the bidding was still going strong when I stopped watching it. I got tired of my jaw hitting the floor. Yes, some of the postwar Lionel stuff is pretty available. But much of it needs MAJOR restoration. So figure that into the price of the "bargains".
Others are in VERY short supply. The 682 Turbines being the one I am talking about. They are also unavailable from stores online selling postwar stuff. 681 and 671 can still be found at decent prices, but they often need a good deal of work.

What leads me to say there's a finite supply of postwarstuff? Well I think the fact it's NO LONGER MADE is a pretty good reason. Plus people have been buying the really good stuff up for investment purposes. Which means when they sell it, the price is in the stratosphere. Just look at the forum posts for guys who prefer postwar over current. The supply and demand factor is catching up with postwar Lionel. The prices quoted in Greenberg and McComas' books are pretty much out the window when it comes to postwar stuff. It's now become "whatever the market will bear"....and the market is REALLY shelling out big $$$ for that stuff. Anyone who sells their Lionel postwar stuff at Greenbergs prices certainly isn't getting the maximum amount they can get for their stuff.

Now if you know where I can get a 682 Turbine and 2671 or 2046 Pennsy tender, both in excellent or even restored condition, for the prices Greenberg or McComas are listing them for, please e-mail me the location and I'll be whipping out my VISA card or signing a check.

Dep

 

[Jumijo]

I find high quality post war at great prices all the time. Although sometimes I'm too stupid to buy when I have the chance.

Here's a "minty" 2056 of mine that was had for under $150.00 on eBay. That's less than half of guide price, and represents my most expensive purchase. I've never paid close to guide price for any post war item. Say, isn't that a 2046W with a Pennsy shell? Why yes, I-think-it-is. I got another one just like it for $30.00 with a Lionel Lines tender.

This stuff is abundant. One just has to know where to look and when. Now is not the right time of year to be buying trains at auction, unless you like spending too much for something. 

 

 

 

Jim 

[Frank53]

What leads me to say there's a finite supply of postwarstuff? Well I think the fact it's NO LONGER MADE is a pretty good reason.

There is also a much smaller market willing to buy it.

However, it appears you are referring to "new", "mint in box" and "excellent" examples. Having zero interest in that type of material jades my thinking as to availability, as whatever I buy - I run. 

Plus people have been buying the really good stuff up for investment purposes.

I'm thinking poeple who buy Lionel trains for investment purposes need to rethink that strategy. Anything that has BIG investment value, ties up a lot of dough, and can't be enjoyed. The number of "collectors" who would be willing to pay top dollar for that material is declining. I believe that is a fact. 

Which means when they sell it, the price is in the stratosphere.

It's only worth what someone will pay. 

Just look at the forum posts for guys who prefer postwar over current. The supply and demand factor is catching up with postwar Lionel. The prices quoted in Greenberg and McComas' books are pretty much out the window when it comes to postwar stuff. It's now become "whatever the market will bear"....and the market is REALLY shelling out big $$$ for that stuff. Anyone who sells their Lionel postwar stuff at Greenbergs prices certainly isn't getting the maximum amount they can get for their stuff.

I showed a number of examples of very nice post war material picked up for a song.

Now if you know where I can get a 682 Turbine and 2671 or 2046 Pennsy tender, both in excellent or even restored condition, for the prices Greenberg or McComas are listing them for, please e-mail me the location and I'll be whipping out my VISA card or signing a check.

There's a nice 671 with a Pennsy tender on the left.

[Kooljock1]

Post War stuff is cool, but Post War Lionel had a tough time with unions and strikes even in the 50's and 60's. Today, labor unions are a quaint anachronism of the 19th Century that still hang on to this day. My wife bought a brand-spanking new 1993 Toyota Carolla. We took it in to the shop Monday for its first tune-up. In the time she's had that car I've had a Dodge, a Buick, another Dodge, and a Jeep! But they were built here with good old fashioned union labor, just like Lionel used to have! Jon

[Deputy]

<Sigh>...why did I know there was gonna be a post saying that there is tons of super high quality Lionel postwar stuff readily available? I swear if I said the sun was hot, SOMEBODY would counter with "no it's not, I know for a fact it's cold". Anyway, many of us are limited on WHERE we find train stuff. I have NO hobby shops in my town, so I am limited to E-Bay or online stores. There are also NO "train shows" in my area, so that option is also out. Obviously, if you live in certain areas of the country (Midwest and East for example), and have a plethora of hobby shops and hobby shows, you will run into more examples of postwar trains. I actually contacted a few Eastern and Midwestern sellers of postwar trains and have requests in to be contacted if 682 turbines in excellent-to-mint condition show up.

Frank: You are correct...I have ZERO interest in picking up a beat-to-heck 682 turbine. I have already scored a 671 AND a 681 turbine that need relatively little work to make them perfect. I am not all that crazy about rebuilding or repairing stuff. I prefer to run it too. I can pick up clunkers on E-Bay all day. That's not what I'm looking for.

As to buying for investment purposes being a bad idea, no idea why you would say that. I have seen locos that had a LOT of run time still go for premium prices. If people want something bad enough, and it's in great shape, THEY WILL PAY! "It's only worth what someone will pay." Exactly right. And on E-Bay people are paying through the nose for stuff. WAY BEYOND what Greenberg recommends as a buy price.

Yes...you have a very nice postwar collection. But WHEN did you buy those items? But most all of what you have displayed is readily available. Trainz had THREE postwar Santa Fe AA combos for sale yesterday and all were in excellent condition. They are ALL on E-Bay now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lionel-2353-Santa-Fe-F-3-AA-Diesel-Locomotive-Set-EX_W0QQitemZ230065006771QQihZ013QQcategoryZ4146QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

That's just one of them. Watch what it climbs to compared to what Greenberg prices it at.

Dep

[jakeoregano]

For the postwar stuff it seems like many people want the same thing (i.e. 671's, 675's, GG-1's and those Santa Fe f3's), so for particular items with high demand you may see higher prices.  Plus this time of year as someone else said on this thread, is not a good time for bargain hunting.  It's a feeding frenzy for some of the desireable items. 

I've made most of my purchases from Ebay, because where I live, the shows that do come to town have a few vendors with postwar equipment, and they want top dollar for junk IMHO.  Over the last few years I've seen fewer and fewer items worth buying in person.  I suspect because all the good stuff is on Ebay now. 

Patience and timing are everything to getting good quality at prices I'm willing to pay.  I'll wait until after the holidays to hopefully score some buyer's remorse sales online. 

 

[Deputy]

 

I'll wait until after the holidays to hopefully score some buyer's remorse sales online. 

Ahhh...my "Plan B".

Hope I won't be bidding against you!!!

Dep