Have you ever thrown away a train?

[on30francisco]

Yes. About 20 years ago I had a Model Power deisel loco that had four wheel pickup, deep flanges, and truck-mounted horn hook couplers. It never ran well. One day I got angry at it and tossed it in the trash.

[rrgrassi]

When I got my Tyco Chattanooga Consolidation set as a kid, My parents gave away my SCL Bachmann Spirit of '76 set. Talk about hacked off! I still have the Tyco, and it still runs, and the smoke still flows from the stack. I did find a replacement for the Spirit of 76 on e-bay but I got out bid by $100. I did throw out a Bachmann Spectrum UP GP-20 that was nothing but trouble. But since it was UP it was nit a big loss to me. The only good think about UP is they still have live steamer on the roster!

[JohnT14808]

I haven't...but I think my parents did wa-a-a-a-ay back when my brother went to college and I went into the service and the garage got "cleaned up". I came home on leave and poof...where's the layout??!?[:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

I'm feeling left out now, have never had a lucky find like some of you guys! [:D] Closest I've come is with rebuilding stuff bought on eBay as "spares/repair" (those two magical words that spell bargain for anyone who can clean and solder...). I guess the sellers might possibly be looking to eBay as an alternative to throwing it away. Have had old Mainline diesel locos in very good shape apart from being in bits (simple re-assembly, fix split axle gears, resolder loose wires and away it goes), and most recently a Fleischmann diesel that came as a runner, but with broken footsteps/handrails - cost of new parts £2, loco now in very good condition! [8D]

[Anonymous]

Too many

[Anonymous]

Several years ago, I threw out some Athearn and Bachmann HO stuff. I just got frustrated with the tiny size and breakability.... too hard to work on. I went to O gauge and am very happy now. Don't miss the Half-O junk at all!

[aloco]

Only junk deserves to be thrown away. If I had one of those ugly looking plastic F-units that Model Power is currently manufacturing I'd stomp on it first and then throw it away. On the other hand I know of a case where an Atlas C-424 and a Tech II power pack were thrown in the trash, and they were 'rescued' for a friend of mine by a guy he works with. He got $200 worth of good quality model railroad equipment for free.

[Anonymous]

Im DC & open, Come on lets talk trains.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G

I'm getting ready to throw away a Lionel popcorn train that came with a 10 gallon can of mixed popcorn at Wal-Mart (the can and train set ran me $5 last December--nice can w/Lionel pictures). I'll give the train set (but not the can) away for free if you email me we'll discuss.

NO DAVE, DON'T DO IT!!!! [:0]There is still hope.

Quick guys, we need an intervention here. Anybody in the DC area, Dave needs help.[swg]

Did you eat the popcorn?[:p][dinner][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[FJ and G]

I'm getting ready to throw away a Lionel popcorn train that came with a 10 gallon can of mixed popcorn at Wal-Mart (the can and train set ran me $5 last December--nice can w/Lionel pictures). I'll give the train set (but not the can) away for free if you email me we'll discuss.

[Anonymous]

I also bought a Lionel Pennsy steam turbine and several cars from a kid playing with them in a sandbox for $5.00, with his parents OK. Wasn't that close to throwing them away?

[Anonymous]

I lost a great N-scale layout in a divorce! It was evaluated so high that I decided she could have it. (I kept the houseboat.) Funny thing: when the final split was made she mistakenly sent me a box containing 20 ConCor smooth-side Santa Fe passenger cars. I WAS BACK IN BUSINESS!

[camarokid]

No way. I'll put it back in the box it came in and store it until I either fix it or leave it there until I am no more. Then my family can deal with it.
Archie

[mcouvillion]

I can't bring myself to throw out a train, no matter how bad it is wrecked. I figure I can use it for something. I made the mistake of swapping a car I really liked for one of a kind that I collect. Never again! I wish I hadn't done that.

A friend went to the dump once and stumbled over a whole box of HO trains someone had pitched. He scooped them up and got most running. One was a first-generation Athearn Hustler, totally disassembled. It actually had all of the parts. I had one that I was going to re-gear, so I did his too. Turns out these ended up being our most expensive engines on the layout, once the machinist's time for building the supports for the gear towers is included in the price of the engines. Ernst makes gear sets for second-generation Athearn Hustlers, NOT first-generation. We had two of the wrong ones. By the way, they both run great!

Another friend found out that a neighbor was tossing a bunch of old Lionel, so he collected those. The 1955 Wabash F3 A/B units are worth $700 - $1000 alone. I have a set and tried to get his for an ABBA lashup. No dice!

Some folks don't have a clue as to the value of what they own and discard.

Mark C.

[Glen1]

The only time I've thrown anything out has been because it's too badly damaged to do anything with or it's been an old, cheaper piece of equipment that I've used to practice weathering on. Otherwise, I try to turn them into a credit at a hobby shop or even some cash. There's almost always somone who'll want something you've long since decided is of no use. I've taken quite a few items that I don't want to hobby shops and gotten something for them. A couple of guys I know have put "junk" on the tables at train shows and they it's amazing how fast the stuff goes.

[trainboyH16-44]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G


Why is it that we never throw them away? Would anyone admit ever tossing one?

I have never thrown away a train, because of sentimental value. My first engine, my first SD40-2, my first multimark SD40-2, my first SMALL mulimark SD40-2, my last athearn SD40-2, My first AC4400, So on and so on. I haven't even thrown away that Model Power grain car that I unleashed my collected anger at Model power grain cars on with a large sledgehammer and a power drill.
Trainboy

[Anonymous]

Never throw out a train (they are pratically sacred). I wonder why God had them half
invented so late.

[locomutt]

NO!!!
The wife calls me a 'packrat'.
Have thrown away a few things that I Know I wouldn't,or can't use,
otherwise,I've still got them.

[Anonymous]

No ! If one of my "kids" die, my rail museum expands. I'll sometimes use my dead
4-4-0 for spare parts (I repair my engines). If its in too bad of condition I leave it on my
desk for memories.

[cspmo]

I had two Proto coverhoper, that did a kamikaze dive of the layout, that I threw away.

[METRO]

I've been called crazy more than once for my Model Power rebuilds. (It's like scratchbuilding but a lot more annoying, although once finished, you can brag to anyone about it and get respect.)

So no, I even have several old Tyco toy trains from when I was little and I still have em (abet in my scrap box and canabalized for their weights.) I've been told that my workbench resembles a chop shop. As a college student I really don't have the money to throw anything away, and I've had to be very inventive on many of my modeling projects, so I never know when that old Tyco F-7 power truck will come in use for something or another.

I'm also a master recycler when it comes to equipment. My track cleaner is an old Model Power Industrial switcher that has been modified to poli***he railheads.

~METRO

[rexhea]

I certainly have been tempted to bounce a few trouble makers off the wall or shoot hoops with them, but...no I never followed through and still have them all. I just hung in there until I finally got them working right.

REX

[Anonymous]

NEVER!!! The only model-railroad related item i've ever thrown away was a model car that my sister stepped on. It looked like it had, well, been hit by a train!!!

[Anonymous]

u can take out the engine and use them as dummies

[johncolley]

If it is absolutely junk with no redeeming value tossing it is good for eliminating frustration over poor operating. However...If it has any use at all I would give it to an interested kid who doesn't have any family income to support his/her interest.

[Anonymous]

No way. !!!!!!

[cheese3]

I HAVE NEVER THROWN ANY THING AWAY! I even save the plastic racks model kit pieces are held together in the box with.

[West Coast S]

Never, won't happen in my life! I did aquire several old Cary metal shells for the FT and several E units at a yard sell for a $3.00, too bad I can't use them as I model the SP circa 1946 in S, the deal was too good to pass up and i'm compulsive hoarder regardless on scale.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad I don't throw anything away - one of my German N-scale locos that has been out of action for about 5 years will soon be making a comeback as I've discovered a source for the parts it needs!