Well Penny I will have to think about your dream. Dreams meant something to me once in life, I don't see them or get meaning out of them like I used to, but I also don't discount them. For me the signs are part of my past, something I used to see as a boy, yard limit, railroad property keep out, the whistle sign. On the branch in our town were wooden crossing signs up to the late 60s, maybe early seventies, as the branch only saw limited use. They were all part of the landscape. The towers, frieght houses, crossing shanties, roundhouses, car shops, battery boxes, tell tales, they are all gone now. That and people were a big component. Maybe the feathers represent angels.
Penny, enjoyed your trains. I have enjoyed viewing some of your layouts. For me I have had a good run with the Blue and Orange. I just enjoy trains; real, model or other.
Because of you I had a dream the other night about looking through blue and orange boxes at a resale shop! And one of the boxes in my dream was for the yard sign set! But it didn't have any Lionel stuff inside it! Just feathers!
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
I think we all have a few bruises. I got lucky Saturday, I was going to pass on the Yard Set signs, but was able to negoiate a better price. Looking at E-bay I am right in the mix of what they are showing. I wanted the signs as that is what I would see around the railroad in my youth, thought they would just be a nice display piece.
Got a few of those bruises myself!
Firelock76 Not only is kicking yourself in the butt a hard thing to do, but if you manage to connect, OW!
Not only is kicking yourself in the butt a hard thing to do, but if you manage to connect, OW!
Still got a bruise back there I think!
;)
"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"
Yeah, I learned that a long time ago, better to just walk away than suffer a bad case of "buyers remorse" later on. Not only is kicking yourself in the butt a hard thing to do, but if you manage to connect, OW!
Once. I got a marx windup there, which I accidentally overpayed on big time (turned out it was a complete parts loco- oops!)
wow it was something. I’m hoping I can go with my friend to the next one, think it’s coming up in about two weeks? I find that the trick to these things, is holding yourself to what you are, and aren’t, willing to pay for something. If a seller isn’t willing to let it go for what feels reasonable to you, then you have to leave it, otherwise you’ll regret it (as I have learned from experience). My haul was nothing too impressive then, but with any luck, future expeditions of this nature, will yield more prolific results. Me? I’m after toy trains. My friend? She’s looking for a cello. It’s tough pickings, eh? ;)
yeah, generally you get good deals at the messier places. Sometimes not the case. But when that happens, I do rather wonder how the heck they make their buisness keep rolling. Why buy junk for steep prices, when you can go to a fancy multi-dealer place and buy their stuff? The junk shop is becoming much harder to find in today’s day and age. But it truly is perhaps the only kind of antique store I can stand. Because everywhere else, things are just, er... wee bit ‘pricey’.
I love getting to know the folks to run these places, we generally get along well. They give me deals, I keep coming back to buy more of their stuff. It works out well for us both, I think.
Western Massachusetts? I have to ask, have you ever "made a raid" at the big Brimfield Antique show? We've been there several times. I don't remember getting any toy trains stuff there, but plenty of other collectables.
I don't know if we'll be back there anytime soon. Not sure if we can handle all the walking. My God, the place is huge!
PS: I'm with you, sometimes an antique shop that looks like a bomb went off in it is where you find the best stuff!
Same here my friend, more or less!
Penny Trains I love them. My driver, mom, not so much. I found a KW at the Hartville flea market for fifty bucks.
I love them. My driver, mom, not so much. I found a KW at the Hartville flea market for fifty bucks.
I live in western mass, I love junk shops, and flea markets. My mom is always exasperated whenever I come home with more “train junk” in my arms! Me however, I’m always in a good mood when I find treasure. And at least she tolerates my hobby, even if she doesn’t exactly like the massive inventory of “stuff” that’s piled up, thanks to it.
I like to a frequent an antique store with lots of loose this and that junk and whatevers in bins, and once I collected up a small pile of little things, like track clips, old manuals, and stuff. But I needed to carry it in something. There’s lots of cardboard boxes there, but the one that I brought to the counter, with my stuff in it, wasn’t just a box, it was a box for a KW! I got a good deal, I don’t think they charged me for the box, either way I did well. And now my KW (assuming I ever finish fixing it) has an original box! Now all I need is the instruction manual, if I ever happen across one.
My wife and I enjoy outdoor antique shows and flea markets. You never know what you can find. We went to one yesterday. There were several vendors with Lionel trains, but nothing I wanted to bring home. I did purchase a set of pilot pin punches and a set of brass pin punches, both new and made by Mayhew.
You never know what you're going to find at antique shows/flea markets.
For example, at the DC Big Flea Market held several times a year in Chantilly VA (It's down the road from Dulles Airport) I've found a complete K-Line Hershey's Anniversary Set new and unused and in the original box, and an MTH "Texas" 4-4-0 (PS-1), used but as new. Paid $85 for the K-Line set and $90 for the "Texas."
And no, I didn't rip my pants getting the wallet out.
So, if there's a flea market in your area, and if you've got the time to go, I'd say "Go!" There's no guarantee's, but you never know, do you?
E unit may be stuck innuetral. Try spraying some electonic cleanner in it and then wait a while to insure it is all evaporated.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Well as a follow up to my post, just took a few minutes to look at the steam engine I picked up yesterday and tried to test it and the transformer. The steamer buzzes, but does not move even with coaxing. No short indication, just doesn't want to move even a little. On the converse, the transformer cord while in good condition and supple, also conducts electricity, so that is good. Putting the steamer on my work bench for another day, and after all, still happy with my fleas.
Yesterday my wife and daughter dragged me off to a flea market that happens a couple time each spring/summer season. I usually don't want to go as I don't want to drag in any more good ideas that I may see, but do enjoy looking at used tools.
As we walked the flea market yesterday looking into a booth I saw a box on a table with orange and blue boxes sticking out the top. It peaked my interest and I went to explore. There was a box of Lionel Trains, some cars and accessories that I quickly discounted and had no interest in, but amongst the stuff was one box that had a Madison Hardware sticker on it and was a Lionel box. It was a 309 Yard Set sign kit. Opening it all the pieces were there, the inset, and it was in generally real good condition, other than a slight fading of the orange. I was able to negoiate a price and brought it home to display on my bookshelf Lionel display. I also found a 646 steamer in real good shape minus the tender, and a nice 1015 transformer, original power cord good shape and supple. While it was hot and I didn't want to be there, I had a good day and found these little "wheat pennies" as I call them. Other than the signs, I don't know what I will do with the others, but gather enough of this stuff and I can gives someone a good train set. I still find I like finding postwar cars and other trains. There were other more modern Lionel at some other booths, but generally speaking I wasn't interested. Good thing the rains held off, but the parking lots were muddy. Girls had fun too.
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