accumilated 12 boxes!!

[Anonymous]

hi, im a new member & i just iherited 12 boxes of lionel trains from my dad and want to get started doing something. just dont know where to start. should i start with putting western, northern, union, etc in saperate boxes or is there certain cars that go with each other? new at this hobby & looking for some advise. need to organize for insurance purposes i guess too. any good way or faster way to value them? books? sites?

thx, cade

[Anonymous]

I'd say to go through it and get a general idea of condition, jot down some info such as numbers and determine age, etc. and set up some trains and run them. Get a few issues of CTT and determine what you like most. and ahh run some trains. Did I say run some trains!![:D]

Quick way to get rough value might be to compare the exact pieces you have to similar pieces for sale on ebay, ie. the same number piece. Condition is of great importance when valuing toy trains, and keep in mind, there were always both cheap, middle, and expensive trains made by Lionel, in other words, every old train lionel made will not put your kids through college as some might have you belive.

So, run soome trains already!!

[palallin]

There are primers on collecting and operating Toy Trains/Model Trains available from Kalmbach. One, Starting with toy Trains, is even offered as a premium with a CTT subscription right now.

I would highly recommend reading as much as possible before making any long-term plans, ogage's advise to run the trains is valuable. And ask questions here.

[Big_Boy_4005]

If you have access to a digital camera and some web storage space, it would be most helpful to post photos of the individual pieces.

Short of posting photos, we might be able to help you, if you posted a list of the pieces including the numbers. There are books, but they get expensive, and many of the best ones, with photos, are out of date or out of print.

Keep in mind that value is based on condition and rarity for each piece.

[Anonymous]

here is a link to some post war lionel trains that may help you if you are not sure of the trains that you have. you will have to copy and past it.
http://www.postwarlionel.com