Who buys very expensive locomotives ($500 +)

[CP5415]

I haven't yet. I'm sure the word DIVORCE will come up if I do.
While they are nice models, they are way out of the price range I can pay for a locomotive right now.
I'll stick with my Proto PA's I have coming & my Athearns for the time being.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

I purchase brass passenger cars, however, I have to be very selective when I purchase my cars. 16 cars for the SF, 11 for the SP, 16 for the UP and 7 for the BN would set me back enough to buy a good used Ford Ranger 4x4 in excellent condition. So I have limited myself to 5 cars per road and use plastic locos for power, however, have lucked out as a good friend is a dealer and am able to get the BLI ATSF 3751 for his cost.
Ch

[PistolPete]

Expensive for me is currently anything above $50. In time when things are up and running I intend to go for higher quality equipment but not brass or the $500+ loco. It can still be fairly good looking and inexpensive, that way I can still afford to travel some on vacation.

[Anonymous]

not me, I expect to build half of my layout on $500 !

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

QUOTE: Originally posted by lupo

Hello mr. vsmith,
the models that are in the link I posted are 1:32 what scale is that?
thanks for answer
LUPO

Hey Lupo

welcome to the Land of Confusion, IE Large Scale...

Those 1/32 models are designated as Gauge 1. 1/32 is getting rare in large scale even thought 1/32 is CORRECT scale for 45mm track representing 4'-8 1/2" gauge track. The defact "scale" for standard guage item in LS is now 1/29 scale or A scale. Heres the breakdown FYI:

1/32 scale = Gauge 1
1/29 scale = A scale -or- nmra X scale
1/24 scale = 1/2" scale -or- nmra H scale
1/22.5 scale = Gn3 scale -or- nmra Gscale
1/20.3 scale = Fn3 scale -or- nmra F scale
1/13 scale = M scale or more commonly as 7/8"n2 scale

All run on the same 45mm guage track, Confused? Good, So are we!

Vic,

Good thing your a arkiteckt and good with numbers and figurin...cause that hurt my head....[%-)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

The overall train is something to see hear and experience and the Mallet will pull 4 litres of wine up a 4 % gradient.It has about 7 sounds and can be heard across the street.

Regards

Ian; Kawana Island Tropical Railway.

That wouldn't be hauling into Banrock Station, would it?

As far as G scale is concerned and as interested in it's concept as I am the fact you're paying so much for so little, especially track. This is a rip off.

[Anonymous]

Here in Australia just about everyone does that is into Garden railways. A number of us from several countries have opined that LGB's pricing policy is stifling the pasttime in our individual countries I am also of the opinion that our local LGB people act as if they have no compettition.

I have an LGB G gauge DR Mallet 99201 that cost me A$1700 second ahnd and I have spent about A$400 on it to bring it up to full digital MTS standard. The same engine new would cost a bit less than A$4000 new. We paid nearly A $600 e for several Golden Mountain carriages to go with the Mallet. The overall train is something to see hear and experience and the Mallet will pull 4 litres of wine up a 4 % gradient.It has about 7 sounds and can be heard across the street.

My wife is an accountant and we have agreed to anly buy good stuff anf not a lot of junk that doesn't do anything.

Regards

Ian; Kawana Island Tropical Railway.

[Anonymous]

Here in Australia everyone does, my pride and joy a G guage DR Mallet 99201 cost me A$1,700 second hand and I have spent another $400.00 on it to bring it up to full digital MTS. But it can be heard right across the street with about 7 different sounds and it will pull 4 litres of wine up a 4 % gradient!
My wife is an accountant and she allocates the money and she reckons its better to have a few really good trains than a whole lot of junk that does't do anything. We apid $600 e for several Golden Mountain coaches to go with the mallet and the overall train is really something to see, hear and experience

Ian; Kawana Island Tropical Railway.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lupo

Hello mr. vsmith,
the models that are in the link I posted are 1:32 what scale is that?
thanks for answer
LUPO

Hey Lupo

welcome to the Land of Confusion, IE Large Scale...

Those 1/32 models are designated as Gauge 1. 1/32 is getting rare in large scale even thought 1/32 is CORRECT scale for 45mm track representing 4'-8 1/2" gauge track. The defact "scale" for standard guage item in LS is now 1/29 scale or A scale. Heres the breakdown FYI:

1/32 scale = Gauge 1
1/29 scale = A scale -or- nmra X scale
1/24 scale = 1/2" scale -or- nmra H scale
1/22.5 scale = Gn3 scale -or- nmra Gscale
1/20.3 scale = Fn3 scale -or- nmra F scale
1/13 scale = M scale or more commonly as 7/8"n2 scale

All run on the same 45mm guage track, Confused? Good, So are we!

[Anonymous]

I'm in the "if you want it, you'll pay for it" camp. I'm not rich, and the few locos I now own are on the cheap end (highest was $240 for a BLI GG1), but there are a few things I'd pay top dollar for if I had it. One of them being a brass streamlined Dreyfuss Hudson with prototypically correct 20th Century Limited consist - I've seen the cars modeled in HO (doubt they're still available, and it was about $4,000 for the set when I did see them) and the loco modeled in O but I'd honestly like to have the entire train (including loco) in HO with a separate O scale brass loco as a mantlepiece. I realize this would be around $6,000 if bought new. If I had the money I'd probably pay it. Then I'd happily go back to my $100 plastic diesels and $5-$10 plastic cars for actually running.

I don't know how many others are like me but I would imagine most modelers also have some display pieces. And model railroad display pieces are like any other display pieces; I mean why pay thousands of dollars for an original portrait or landscape that's going to just hang on your wall? Everybody likes to have nice things for people to look at, and to look at themselves. Nothing wrong with it.

[MAbruce]

Wow, suddenly I'm not complaining as much about the prices in N-scale. But then again, since you can model and run more in the same space...

[CNJ831]

While I'm willing to agree with the first paragraph of orsonroy's post, much of the remainder simply isn't true. Based on recent eBay sales figures I could expect 2, 3, and even sometimes 4 times what I originally paid for most of the brass locomotives I've acquired over the years. Although venues such as eBay have brought wild brass speculation more or less under control, brass locomotives are still an excellent investiment. On the other hand, it is unlikely plastic ever will be.

As for "quality" plastic killing the brass market, I challenge anyone to actually compare side-by-side a well done large brass steam made within the last 10 years with the very best current plastic version and still say they are comparable. I've actually done this and the idea is a myth. Incidentally, one of my better models is a brass CNJ Mikado with so much separate piping and appurtenances that a similar plastic version would undoubtedly end up costing more than the brass example did!

CNJ831

[lupo]

Hello mr. vsmith,
the models that are in the link I posted are 1:32 what scale is that?
thanks for answer
LUPO

[vsmith]

Try G gauge, shheeesh ! Everything new coming out is over $500 bucks.

USA'a new die-cast 4-6-4 Hudson is $1600,
LGB engines AVERAGE between $400 and $900 some up to $1400,
AristoCrafts new 2-8-8-2 Y-6 is going to be around $800,
Bachmann's new Hiesler is around $400
These are for PLASTIC engines, folks!

Freight cars average between $40 to $100
Streamliner passenger cars are $120

EACH!

In the past most engines seam to average between $150 and $350, but there is a new trend towards bigger mainline engines and the prices have gone right up along with the sizes of the engines. I limit myself to $100 for a new engine, thats OK because I like smaller industrial type engines, but I dont know who's buying these big monster engines and who has 4 acres of land for the big radius curves needed.

[lupo]

deschane and orsonroy
I had my mind set on an Overland UP 8500 HP Turbine, it was priced around $ 1695,= but sold out at Overland, well I thought lets look at the second-hand market maybe you can one cheaper, but all I found were unit priced from $2800 - $ 3500 so that is a RAISE of about 65 - 100 % lot of modern investors would lick their fingers at such figures.
btw If you know one going out for less. . . . . .

if you really want to see models at staggering prices, check this out, what they make looks awesome, but their prices?

http://www.fine-art-models.com/e/model/trains/bigboy/default.asp

[Anonymous]

Orsonroy,
My opinion is I can not agree with you about brass as an investment. I see nothing of the leveling of brass prices you mentioned, because of e commerce. I see brass prices being mostly stable. As a matter of fact one of the locos I own, was for sale recently on Ebay and sold for what I paid for mine 8 years ago. How much of your original investment would be returned to you for your plastic loco bought eight years ago?

It's also my opinion that nothing in this hobby should be looked upon as an investment which will produce monitary growth! Even your artistically built, detailed and weathered resin cars which might sell way above market likely do not afford their builders a living wage.

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by deschane
I also think alot of the folks in brass are collectors and that they have had some responsibility for brass prices getting out-of-hand. Also, Like I said, when it's time to cash out of the hobby, brass pieces will give a better return on your investment! None of you seem to want to acknowledge this fact!

The vast majority of brass models made over the past 20-25 years have been bought by brass collectors and not by modelers who actually run trains. Take an engine out of the box, and the value goes down. Get fingerprints on it, and the value goes down. Test run it, and the value goes down. There's a subculture in model railroading that does nothing but buy brass and put it on a shelf, and they're VERY quiet about their part of the hobby, mostly because of all the money they've got floating around in their collections. They're the ones who have driven up brass prices.

As for getting a return on your "investment" in brass, not anymore! Ebay has become the great leveller in the field of stupidly high brass prices. In the days before E-commerce, you'd search for years looking for a "rare" brass engine, and bought it as soon as you found one, price be damned! Hobbiests knew this, and artificially inflated the prices. Nowadays, the same "rare" model will pop up on Ebay twice a month. Since they're no longer rare, prices are going DOWN dramatically.

And if you have a brass engine that pops up on Ebay regularly that's just been released in quality plastic, you might as well use it as a doorstop, 'cause you're not gonna get SQUAT for it!

Believe it or not, the single BEST investment to be made in this hobby (in HO, at least) are resin freight car kits. I've seen Sunshine cars made four years ago and retailed for $30 go for $150! If you're good at building and painting resin cars, basically any resin box car will fetch upwards of $150 as well.

Quality weathering jobs are also yielding a better "return" on Ebay than brass. Stock Genesis box cars run about $25 and sell for $85 and up with a high-quality weathering job. Add custom tagging decals, and the price jumps tp $100 plus. I've seen $6 Blue Box cars with good weathering jobs go for $50!

[AggroJones]

I wondered what kind of people could afford these $500+ locomotives so I started this.....

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8639

[Anonymous]

Im with Iron rooster, S is expensive. Bought an American Flyer B&O Alco A-B-A set last year brand new in the box. Gave to much for it but at the time had to have it and now afraid to run it (devalue)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by deschane
I also think alot of the folks in brass are collectors and that they have had some responsibility for brass prices getting out-of-hand. Also, Like I said, when it's time to cash out of the hobby, brass pieces will give a better return on your investment! None of you seem to want to acknowledge this fact!

Consumer interest and demand certainly causes brass manufacturers to take notice--and prices most assuredly will rise. Greater profits, in any language, elicits the same response: an adrenaline rush.

I've no beef with collectors who can purchase brass products with as much ease as I buy it plastic's counterparts. If it were me however, I'd purchase brass for the pleasure of owning something I desired, not because of an anticipated high yield on my investment.

[Anonymous]

At one point today Ebay had 23,676 items listed in HO today. At the same time, there were 990 brass items listed. This works out to 4% of the items listed being brass pieces; locos, freight & passenger cars, structures and brass track (which sorta puts a wrench into the figures). I think the ratio of modelers who have some brass pieces is likely around 10-20%. I also think alot of the folks in brass are collectors and that they have had some responsibility for brass prices getting out-of-hand. Also, Like I said, when it's time to cash out of the hobby, brass pieces will give a better return on your investment! None of you seem to want to acknowledge this fact!

[Anonymous]

Brass locomotives would be worth the money I feel. My wallet dictates otherwise.[:(]

Frankly, I think anything you really like is (in most cases) worth purchasing, and that includes expensive equipment. Of course we all realize that we can be just as happy spending $100.00 bucks on a locomotive of quality as we could with the higher-end stuff. It all boils down to desire and economics.[^]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fiatfan

Not quite on topic but...

I actually bought a brass locomotive once when I was in high school. How many of you rmember the Ken Kidder (I think that was the name) 0-4-0T brass switcher? It sold for around $10 or $15. It was the first engine I ever bought. I mowed lawns for 35 cents an hour so it took me most of the summer to save up for it. It didn't run ll that well and I pretty much destroyed it trying to "fix" it. I would love to have it back now and try to remotor it.

sounds lik your signature

[fiatfan]

Excellent point! : )

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fiatfan

Not quite on topic but...

I actually bought a brass locomotive once when I was in high school. How many of you rmember the Ken Kidder (I think that was the name) 0-4-0T brass switcher? It sold for around $10 or $15. It was the first engine I ever bought. I mowed lawns for 35 cents an hour so it took me most of the summer to save up for it. It didn't run ll that well and I pretty much destroyed it trying to "fix" it. I would love to have it back now and try to remotor it.

sounds lik your signature

[fiatfan]

Not quite on topic but...

I actually bought a brass locomotive once when I was in high school. How many of you rmember the Ken Kidder (I think that was the name) 0-4-0T brass switcher? It sold for around $10 or $15. It was the first engine I ever bought. I mowed lawns for 35 cents an hour so it took me most of the summer to save up for it. It didn't run ll that well and I pretty much destroyed it trying to "fix" it. I would love to have it back now and try to remotor it.

[Anonymous]

wait does G sacle count cuase i bought a aristocraft Fa1 for 325. that is the most i ever spent on one enigne. My grain trains altogether cost me about 5 or 6 hundered

[cacole]

I certainly don't mean to sound like I'm smarting off, but someone obviously purchases those locomotives or they wouldn't be made. If there was no market, there would be no such locomotives. I don't own any of them, but I see them in practically every hobby shop I go to.

[Anonymous]

I wish [sigh]!! The most expensive thing I have is $89.