How to buy used HO locos online

[SeeYou190]

Eric White

If you want to power a passenger car as a rail bus, one route to consider would be a Bowser trolley drive.

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That sounds like a great idea!

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-Kevin

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[ATSFGuy]

I like ebay, sure I don't expect certain diesel locomotives by Athearn, Atlas or Intermountain to always be there, but good things come to those who wait.

If you don't see a particular locomotive or freight car listed, that tells you it's rare.

I use ebay like once or twice a month. 

[tlorey]

I've done pretty well on Ebay, both with N scale and Ho scale. You can get some real bargains on good locomotives, but you do have to pick and choose and be careful.

I've learned that if the seller says the locomotive is untested, it probably doesn't work. If the seller says he has no way to test the locomotive but it worked the last time he used it, it probably doesn't work. If he says its for parts or repair, it definitely doesn't work.

Don't get in bidding wars - have a top price in mind for the item and don't go over that price. Look for sellers who offer free returns and, even better, who don't charge for postage. Always factor in the postage that the seller is asking for - some of them can be quite expensive.

Good luck!

[ATSFGuy]

Thanks, I'll remember that.

[The Gnome]

Before getting all these good tips about buying on ebay, i ordered a box of HO buildings from an inexperienced seller.  It arrived Thursday.  Sure enough, it was O scale instead of HO.  now i am waiting for an answer from the seller about a refund.

I am still batting zero but will be more careful in the future.

 

[ATSFGuy]

Haha that would have been a great April Fools Day Prank!!!

 

So far I haven't had any problems yet....

[The Gnome]

All that ebay shopping was motivated by a desire for an American railbus, Powered by gas or diesel instead of overhead wires. By chance, Bachmann is selling this Bachmann 84601 Peter Witt Street Car wInterior Lights - DCC on Board, Undecorated

SKU: 84601.  Fifty bucks.

 

 I bought one because it comes only partially assembled. The picture did not show a pole on top.  When it arrived, i did not put on the pole and i filled the holes on top with E6000 before painting.  Bingo.  An American railbus.  I am  posting a picture but my craft skills are lacking so please do not be critical.  But it runs nicely, at a sedate pace appropriate for urban transit.

https://pix.sfly.com/aP8Jqg

 

[JimL]

SeeYou190

..... Maybe I am just lucky, but I tend to think most sellers are quite honest.

-Kevin

I feel the same way. In all of my years in buying and selling train things on eBay .... never a problem, even when there was an unintentional hiccup along the way. I think that people that "play with trains" .... are all a bunch of nice, honest folks.

[BNSF UP and others modeler]

Same here.

[mbinsewi]

I've had 98% good experience on buying locos on Ebay.  I insist on a picture of the bottom of the loco, so I can identify it.  A picture with the shell off is even better.

I only buy certain Athearn, Atlas, Spectrum, and Kato locos.  NO Tyco or train set stuff.

Mike.

 

[The Gnome]

Since I could not find a railbus on ebay, I cut down a passenger coach and dropped onto a boxcar chassis.  This one is not motorized so I pull it with a steam loco.