Searching for older engines online

[OldEngineman]

There was recently-posted an interesting thread about buying used locomotives.

I was wondering how others go about searching online for older-run engines, etc.

Using a search engine such as google, I'll enter (for example):

"Atlas HO HO Trainmaster 10002250"  (last number is Atlas' product number)

A search string like this will produce hits, but many of them are "false".

I also believe at least some "online sources" are getting passed by.

And too many "ebay hits".

Can folks offer some suggestions/experiences...?

One unrelated question:

When I compose a reply to this forum, I hit "return" on my keyboard (Mac OS) and always seem to get "double-spaces". Like here, where I want single spacing to the next sentence, but I hit "return" and get this instead:

...again, DOUBLE-spacing.

How does one achieve single-spacing in this forum?

[jjdamnit]

Hello all,

Welcome fellow Mac user.

To answer your last question first- -If you absolutely have to have single spacing between paragraphs (which I don’t recommend because it produces a single block of text that is quite frankly hard to read) it’s the old hold the Shift Key while hitting the Return Key.

Or, simply keep typing and the sentence, if long enough, will automatically wrap to the next line...just like this!

As far as used locomotives, rolling stock, structures, parts, etc., I use eBay almost 100% of the time. 

The advantage I find with eBay is their Return Refund policy. Even if the seller lists “No Refunds or Returns” there are exceptions so you don’t get stuck with a pile of junk.

Hope this helps.

[gregc]

OldEngineman

A search string like this will produce hits, but many of them are "false". I also believe at least some "online sources" are getting passed by.

i think searching is still a bit of an art. 

i found this, which matches your part number 1000250.

i found it through an image search.

i also put atlas trainmaster in quotes.   this returns searches where what is within the quotes appears exactly in the page.

 

i use saved Ebay searches to look for locomotives that have been out of production for decades.   it's take years for search to be successful.

[Southgate]

I use ebay too. I just obtained a locomotive I have wanted a long time. I've had the same results in the past. Just be persistent and keep watching. It takes time. And you have to want it bad enough to pay more that the next guy. Dan

[emdmike]

I use ebay and a couple different groups on facebook to locate long out of production models.  Many of these are high enough demand that they change hands without ever getting posted outside of private messaging between the seller and the buyer.  As I model mostly traction, most cars I am looking for are long gone from the hobby shops.  If I am searching for one, I watch that brand on ebay, put a wanted post in the groups on facebook.  At that point, atleast during the summer times its a waiting game.   Once fall arrives and brings the local trains shows back, I also take a list of my "wants" to shows and canvas tables looking for them.   Part of the fun is the hunt for me.  I might attend sevearl shows and go home with next to nothing.  Then I will hit the jackpot at the next show out of the blue.  I find, espically on the facebook or forum groups that allow sale adds, most sellers have way more on hand than they ever list.  So a wanted post with pics of what your looking for go a long ways toward finding that model you desire.       Mike the Aspie

[BRAKIE]

For my "treasure" hunts I use e-Bay and train shows. I will say my hunt for a Bev-Bel/Athearn ACF 50' Berwin Mills Ry boxcar took several years to find at the price I was willing to pay. Needless to say that was one of the IPD boxcars I kept when I sold my Blue Box and Roundhouse cars.

 

[RR_Mel]

I’m also a eBayer for the same reasons as jjdamnit, for the eBay protection.  I’ve bought over 50 locomotives off eBay with very good results.  I mostely look for clunkers to restore, that’s my thing.  I have only bought a few “new in the box” locomotives and overall I’ve never had any problems buying new or used.

 

I bought several non working Bachmann pancake motor GS-4s for their shell and resold the innards as “parts only” for the same price.

 

As mentioned above there is a learning curve to searching eBay and it can be very interesting too.

 

Have fun!

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[rrebell]

I use e-bay, Just got a building I wanted for a 1/3 of retail.

[Lone Wolf and Santa Fe]

    I had a very strict English teacher in 9th grade who would have slapped your wrists with a ruler for not indenting the beginning of a paragraph. That is the correct way to avoid a wall of words.
    Anyway, unless you know the proper way to search google, every single work you type will bring results. You have to use the advanced search to find pages with all of the words. Image search works pretty good for finding some items. It narrows down the results.
    And like most of the others said above, eBay is the best resource for used or out of production items. Just be the expert in what you are looking for to avoid the eBurn.