Old Model Trains - Help Me Out!

[Hokie_Engineer]

Hello all! New to the site and the forums, and looking forward to connecting with you all.

 

Several years back, my grandfather left me his collection of model trains.  My siblings and I grew up playing with them in the basement of my grandfather's house, and his collection is what got me started on model trains to begin with.  When I was around 10 or 11, I built a track around the top of my room (with my father's help! :D), and the trains have remained there for the past decade, largely unused now.

 

I was hoping that some of you might be able to help me identify some of the older models in the collection.  I've been able to identify a few online by number, but most, I have no idea what they are, how rare they are, or when they come from.  I would love to learn more about the trains that I used to love as a kid, and would appreciate any help from you all.

 

Imgur link: http://imgur.com/a/xbzFr

[rrswede]

Welcome to the site. Am sure others will respond and be willing to further assist you in identifying the items you have. The passenger car you posted is a Lima "O" guage MKI LMS 1st Class Passenger Coach # 15865. 

The following is an Ebay link that may assist you in determining value 

Here is another link that is worth reviewing if your collection is primarily comprised of Lima cars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima_(models)

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LIMA-O-GAUGE-MK1-LMS-1ST-CLASS-PASSENGER-COACH-NO-15865-BOXED-004-/252185859567?hash=item3ab772d5ef

swede

[fifedog]

Hokie ---> .

Grandfather had a pretty good cross-section of Lionel postwar and mpc equipment.  That Lionel 1875 WARR coach is a very rare version, and fetches big $ among collectors.  The early tankcars are also collector's pieces (especially if the decals are still in good shape).

 

[KRM]

Hokie

As Fife said nice stuff and some Marx to. Here are some links that can help with the PostWar "Lionel".

Enjoy, Watching E-bay will give you a feel for value.

http://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionelident.htm

http://www.postwarlionel.com/

http://olsenstoy.com/searchcd2a.htm

Some on the 1875.

http://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_1875_passenger_car.htm

 

[cwburfle]

You have some pretty nice pieces there.
a couple of words of caution:

Be careful how you handle the #51 navy yard switcher (blue). The window muttons are often cracked or broken. They are rather fragile, and unfortunately, people tend to push them in with their fingers when they pick up the engine.

 

Same goes for the rocket launching engine. The front bumper is often broken off. This might be caused by rough handling, but it is more likely that they get damaged when people try to remove the body from the chassis for service.

Enjoy your trains.

[tinplatacis]

I can tell you that the baby Ruth car, yellow tank car, the black gondola, 6017 caboose, and Erie switcher are outfit 1001 from 1955. I have this same outfit. I suspect the large steam engine and most of the lionel cars were part of a set as well. The 201 Switcher is prewar, I think that the whistle circuit will reverse it. I might be wrong however.

[rtraincollector]

The 45 missile firing engine, the marine helo car, the marine rocket launcher car, marine sub car, 6428 marine work caboose all come from one set and that is a very desireable set you need if you can put them on a shelf or pack them up carefully as those cars and the engine could be worth $700 - $1000 each of those items alone can be worth over $200 You have some really nice stuff that someone some how knew what to buy for the future for you. 

[ADCX Rob]

The blue caboose was in only one set too, depending on condition is worth $200+.

[ADCX Rob]

fifedog

That Lionel 1875 WARR coach is a very rare version, and fetches big $ among collectors...

Yes, because it is the version without the whistle.

[M636C]

While I can't help with the manufacturer, the black electric locomotive is almost certainly a Japanese prototype being a model of class ED14, unit number 4, hence ED14 4.

Photos of similar types are shown at http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr2448.htm

(although he shows classes ED4, ED15 and ED 16...

The E is for Electric, the D for four powered axles.

The model is almost certainly Japanese made. The Milwaukee Road decal may have been added for sale in the USA.

The Santa Fe cab unit is an Italian made Rivarossi model, which was a vey good scale model, although Santa Fe had an earlier type of Fairbanks Morse locomotive and none of that type (CPA16-4).

You have a vey good collection there, regardless of value.

M636C

[tinplatacis]

I actually suspected the electric might have been a heavily Kitbashed prewar engine. I might be wrong though.

[jwse30]

That old Milwaukee electric engine looks like it may have started out as a Sakai model. Never saw one with those types of trucks though.

 

You've got some very interesting items there.

 

J White