Vintage miniature model trains

[Anonymous]

I am new to toy trains.

 My father was cleaning out a garage to a rent house and found a box full of miniature train models.

Not all boxes have dates but I would say they are from the '40's to '60's.  I would like to find a website to try and find the value of these trains.

Does anyone have a suggestion for me?  I would really appreciate it.

RDH

[dwiemer]

We will need more information to better direct you.  Do you know what gauge trains they are?  If you look under the train, is there a name?  How wide is the space between the wheels (Left to right)?  What numbers are on the sides of the trains?  Answer these and we may be able to help you.  The biggest thing is the gauge and name, then we can work out the rest.

Dennis

[Anonymous]

I only brought 2 home with me.  One is The Penn Line, HO gauge. The other box says Camel Back, 0-4-0, Diamond Back Mather Hubbard, H. O. Train Co., Central Hobbies Corp.

Does that help?

[dwiemer]

Helps a lot.  HO is the gauge and you would be able to get better direction from the folks over on the "Model Railroader" forum (also by the folks that host this one).  They are into the smaller trains and I am sure they can direct you.  If you have any that look any bigger, as in S, O, or even G gauge, a good number of folks here can help.  This is mainly a O gauge crowd, but we dable in scales on either side.  Good Luck.

Dennis

[IRONROOSTER]

These are HO trains.  While there are some people that collect HO trains, there is no established marketplace or value for old HO trains like there is for old Lionel and American Flyer, and a few other O / S gauge trains.  The one exception to this is brass trains, that is the whole locomotive or car is made of brass and may or may not be painted - while there are no current brass price guides there is a small collector's market.  If any of the trains are brass, a search in Google for "brass trains" should turn up some dealers in used brass.  In any case your best bet for sales is probably eBay or other on line auction site.   A local hobby store might sell them on a consignment basis - use eBay to find out what they are selling for. 

Good luck

Paul