Who Gets the Trains When You're Gone?

[Seaboard]

Many hobbyists who have been at it for more than a few years have amassed several thousand dollars worth of equipment, accessories, etc.

Assuming you don't have any family that really cares about your hobby or layout, where would you want your layout to go?  Would it just go to an estate sale or train buyer, and the proceeds go to your heirs, or is there some worthwhile beneficiary?

[DMUinCT]

IF you are a member of TCA, they can arrange an Auction.  Then again, as soon as a death notice is posted, collectors will be knoking at the door. 

[dwiemer]

Made special arrangements with the big guy upstairs, He likes trains too and wants me to bring em with me.  OK, I know, can't do that, but my son and daughter are both very interested in trains at this point, and I hope to foster the interest as long as I can.  When I am gone, I hope that my kids will have fond memories of running trains with Dad and will pass along the trains and the memories to their kids.  If it comes to having a legacy to leave to some museum/charitable organization, it seems that often these collections are themselves, sold at auction.  In the end, I guess if the kids don't want them, I hope to at least have the kids knowledgeable enough to handle them and pass them along in a way that would honor me.

Kinda sad to think about.

Dennis

[IRONROOSTER]

I told my wife to let the kids have whatever they want, if anything.  Otherwise, they can sell it on eBay.  Once I'm gone it won't matter to me.

Enjoy

Paul 

[laz 57]

Don't know I'm dead, wife will have a good time.

laz57

[Fortkentdad]

Well my wife is into here Teddy Bears and my son isn't terribly excited by toy trains nor is my daughter.  So I've done the only thing I can do - keep on living. 

 

[Lenny the Lion]

Since I have no children my trains and railroad actifacts will probably be split up and be given to two of my favorite railroad museums in Ohio.

Hey wait a minute......if there are'nt any trains in heaven, then I'm not going!!!!

[BDT in Minnesota]

Most likely, my grandsons will get some of mine...I have also put in a special request with the Big Guy to be re-incarnated as a 1:48 scale engineer....

[Jumijo]

My kids will get them. And since my dad and his dad died in their 40's, my guess is that the kids will get them sooner rather than later.

Jim 

[traindaddy1]

Trainmommy 1

[trigtrax]

E-bay !

[Anonymous]

All depends on when I meet my maker!

BK (before kids) - Wife, and she will do with them as she sees fit
AK (after kids) - Hopefully I will have a son or daughter who appreciates them and will give them a good home, if not they will go to the wife and she will do with them as she sees fit.

If I had it my way I would be burried under the roundhouse...

Just Kidding... it would get a bit smelly in the house after a few days... ewww

Brent

[fifedog]

As long as my loved ones don't go to a certain LHS, where the owner has been known to make his bread & butter by buying ridiculously low from widows, then quoting Greenburg prices on resale, I will rest in peace...

[mersenne6]

 

  I've put together a reasonably complete inventory along with purchase price and a guesstimate at current value. The inventory sheet also has the names and addresses of several auction houses.  I've told my family that if I go first they are welcome to keep what they want and sell the rest.  Afterall it is my hobby and it is I who gives the collection meaning.  Once I'm gone it will just be a bunch of stuff so I think it is better for the heirs to get what money they can out of the trains and use that money for something they enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Well, when I'm gone my train(s) will go into storage until the resurrection when I'll get to play with them again.   Maybe I'll let my kids play with them in the mean time.

[RR Redneck]

If I have kids, then they get my trains, if not then my brothers kids get them.

[palallin]

Unless something changes radically, my boys will get them.  Or maybe I'll last long enough that *their* kids will get them.  I don't know, but I suspect my wife will want the same thing for her trains; I suppose that will depend on which of us two lasts longer.

 

OTOH, I'm sure that the Good Lord only plays with trains that come out of Orange-and-Blue boxes . . .

 

[FJ and G]

the beagle

 

 

[A&Y Ry]

Some YOF[young old fart]who likes steam, pre-1954 diesel, the Southern Railway and the N&W.

Harley the Beagle prefers cats and rabbits. Also chases Deer when they get in the pasture with the goats.

[Dr. John]

Well, my kids are a lost cause when it comes to trains.

I'll just have to pass them along to the future grandkids!

[Anonymous]

My son is only 2, but assuming his enthusiam for trains continues he will get them all.  I really hope he still like "Choo Choos" when he is 10.  We'll see.

Scott 

[Anonymous]

Well some of my trains wound up from my great gradfather dating to the 30's. I'm keepin the tradition alive :D

[BMRR]

My grandson will get mine. He loves trains just like his "papa" does.

Stan.

[rtraincollector]

local train club has been decieded by wife and I.

[Seaboard]

How about  places like an orphanage or Boys Town type facility, or childrens hospital, e.g. Shriners, or if you model a particular historical line, historical society for that area?  Otherwise, a local train club, an Ebay proficient relative, or a wholesale estate train buyer seem to be the way if no one in the family claims an interest.

[4kitties]

With no heirs, I want them to be sold by one of the auction houses that understands toy trains.  If my wife outlives me, she will get the proceeds.  If not, then the TCA will.

Joel

[Track1]

I'm takin them with me

long time reader, first time poster

Enjoy

Bill

[Anonymous]

Each of the collections that I have; comic books from childhood; football cards as a child and adult; and now train(s) will each be passed on to my children.  Hopefully they will see as much value in them as I see in them.  I just can't stand the thought of my collections being sold off on ebay at bargain prices.

[anjdevil2]

I have determined that my step son will get the new stuff I have and the old stuff my Dad will give me(some day...)will go to my daughter.  Their still fighting over the RoadRunner convertible, and I'm not even close to going Tango Uniform!!!