conrailman wrote:I got that trainset in 1982 or 1983. I love that train.
Like the VISA commercial says, some things are priceless!
"Great shape" doesn't tell us a lot. Has it been played with? How much? 1 hour running? 100 hours running? is it complete with box, track, transformer, etc? Any nicks, scratches, etc?
Figure a played with set is worth $100 to $175 tops depending how well played with and complete. The three rules to value are condition, condition, condition.
Quicksilvers were getting top dollar in the early to mid 90's but that just isn't the case anymore. The bottom fell out when Lionel and MTH started importing similar sets that run better and have more features.
You're dreaming CRman on that last wish. Alhtough as they say, there's a sucker born every minute, so who knows? Some foolish prices have been paid on eBay for sure, and if you found someone who HAD TO have the set, who knows?
But the last time I was at a show I saw the powered A unit for $50 or $60 and the passenger cars were between $20-$25 each. I was tempted on one of the passenger cars but some guy took them all for $20 each.
As a note on MPC, I think most of us guys who like MPC are budget operators. MPC is what it is. It ain't bad, but it ain't postwar either - not in quality or in collectible price. I (as I think with many others) buy MPC stuff because we can find it at reasonable prices and it runs pretty well for the money. It's also pretty easy to fix and parts are out there.
A decade ago, prices were crazy on a lot of trains including MPC. Many MPC box cars were going for $40 each easy. Not now. For example, I bought my 9223 Reading box car for $15 (with the box and both like new) though I believe it booked at $45 at one point. I got an MPC NW-2 for $40 some years ago and it still runs fine.
So I'd say keep the set and run it... even repaint it to your favorite road. I imagine you probaby got a good deal on the set, so count that as a victory. You know, Conrail had an inspection train that was orginally painted CR blue before Stanely Crane had the cars redone to pullman green, so there's two ideas for you train. I've never seen the gold/yellow lettering to decal your own pullman green CR cars, but the white decals are readily available to do them in CR blue. You can see photos on those cars in the Morning Sun book on Conrail freight cars. Conrail even had a few grey painted passenger cars for MOW crew service, so there's another idea.
I think the days of buying trains and then turning over a huge profit the next day are pretty much over, save for a few curious exceptions.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
Mint in Box examples show up on eBay in the $250 range, but they rarely go for that. If you get $150 out of yours, you'll be doing pretty good. MPC trains aren't held in high esteem by a significant fraction of the hobby fraternity, and this one suffers from being plane-Jane: no bells, whistles, horns, or other sounds. Unfortunately, the powered engine struggles to pull its consist, even if the one you have is the later version with the added weight for traction.
On the plus side, it's a beautiful train, and it comes with the mechanical semaphore kit for additional play value.
Good luck!
How much is my Lionel Quicksilver Express Set Worth in 2007.
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