Why Buy Brass?

[espeefoamer]

Because a South Shore Little Joe isn't available in plastic.

[Anonymous]

I only own one brass item. A PRR caboose that I got on ebay. I could probably do up a Bowser model to get the same level of detail (am currently trying to do that), but the detail was simply amazing!! Besides - I always told myself that one day I'd have a brass model - now I do :)

In case you're wondering - I was like a kid at christmas opening the box that day!!!!

[Anonymous]

I understand brass steam. If you have money and find your unique prototype, fine. But diesels? With all the super plastic diesels out within the last few years, why would anyone on earth buy brass? Like every powered boxcar has been made in high quality and more are on the way. If I ever buy a diesel, you better believe it'll be plasic. A fraction of the cost of expensive imports.

[dano99a]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cjcrescent

Dano;
I think that its great you're being given these locos and cars. Wish I could find a benefactor like that. You asked for thoughts. OK here goes.
How active is he in the hobby? Is he currently active or hasn't been in many years? If it has been many years since he was active he may not know or even care what the stuff is "worth". If he is currently active maybe he has seen something you've done and sees in you what he once saw in himself.
Does he have children? I personally know of one man who gave away, sold, and threw away a large, (100 loco and 1500 car), collection of trains because he said he didn't have anyone to leave it to and he has 6 kids.
Maybe a relative gave it to him and he doesn't know a thing about the hobby but someone told him you are a MRR so he is giving it to you.
Last thought along similar lines. A new family moved into the house next door. The husband saw me in my MRR club shirt one day and asked if I liked trains?"Sure do" I answered. "Wait right here." He went into his garage and brought out a new in the box Aurora postage stamp n-gauge train set, with two diesel locos and 10 cars and about twenty extra pieces of track. He said he didn't like trains and had gotten the set as a Xmas gift over thirty years ago and said they were mine if I wanted them.

Thanks for your thoughts, I've thought about this more and more and couldn't come to a conclusion as to why one would want to trash a bunch of really nice loco's. But I'm sure one of those reasons are exactly the case.

[Anonymous]

Specific models not withstanding, one advantage I have found with brass is servicability. Most brass steamers are easy to disassemble, and repair, and usually worth the time and money spent. A lot of plastic steamers are just not worth remotoring or repairing after failure.

[darth9x9]

Because I can!

[Anonymous]

Brass does a better job of holding value. If you pay $300.00 for a good quality brass piece, you can likely get that much or more when you decide to sell. Some brass crown pieces may be considered better investments than other things you can put money into.

[Jetrock]

Another big answer: TRACTION. Nobody makes plastic steeple-cab locomotives, and even trolleys are limited to half a dozen or so offerings from Bowser and Bachmann. There used to be more variety and availability in traction, both freight and passenger, almost invariably brass from the Fifties and Sixties. So if you want that, you HAVE to buy brass.

I feel that the $300 I have spent on three brass electrics was quite worth it, thank you. They need some attention, sure--but most engines 40+ years old do anyhow!

[Anonymous]

'cause I couldn't get a model of a B&O L2 0-8-0 in plastic.

Thats my reason.

Alvie.

[cjcrescent]

Dano;
I think that its great you're being given these locos and cars. Wish I could find a benefactor like that. You asked for thoughts. OK here goes.
How active is he in the hobby? Is he currently active or hasn't been in many years? If it has been many years since he was active he may not know or even care what the stuff is "worth". If he is currently active maybe he has seen something you've done and sees in you what he once saw in himself.
Does he have children? I personally know of one man who gave away, sold, and threw away a large, (100 loco and 1500 car), collection of trains because he said he didn't have anyone to leave it to and he has 6 kids.
Maybe a relative gave it to him and he doesn't know a thing about the hobby but someone told him you are a MRR so he is giving it to you.
Last thought along similar lines. A new family moved into the house next door. The husband saw me in my MRR club shirt one day and asked if I liked trains?"Sure do" I answered. "Wait right here." He went into his garage and brought out a new in the box Aurora postage stamp n-gauge train set, with two diesel locos and 10 cars and about twenty extra pieces of track. He said he didn't like trains and had gotten the set as a Xmas gift over thirty years ago and said they were mine if I wanted them.

[Paul3]

To echo the above stated reasons, it's because what I want is not available in a cheaper form.

New Haven steam engines like:
I-4 4-6-2
I-5 4-6-4
L-1 2-10-2
R-3a 4-8-2
K-1 2-6-0
Y-4 0-8-0
J-1 2-8-2
etc.

New Haven electrics like:
EF-1
EF-2
EF-3
EP-1
EP-2
EP-3
EP-4

New Haven oddballs like
The Comet

New Haven diesels like:
LS1200
DEY-3
HH600
CPA-24-5
RDC-4

New Haven Cabooses like:
NE
NE-3
NE-4
NE-5

New Haven passenger cars like:
With the exception of coaches, all of them.

All of these have been made in brass, but not in plastic. If you want to really model a certain RR, then you have to buy brass.

Oh, and it used to be far worse, but it's gotten a lot better lately.

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[dano99a]

ok, so why would someone want to throw a dozen or so brass locomotives in the dumpster? All Steam...

Yeah it sounds like a dumb question but I have a gentleman that is "giving" (yes you read that correctly) me this collection of a dozen brass steam locos and about 130 pieces of rolling stock, all with boxes. I have never met the guy before in my life but seemed pretty determined and happy to be getting rid of these?? Thoughts anyone??

[twhite]

One big answer: Rio Grande standard gauge steam power. Only thing available in plastic is the UP 4-6-6-4 clone, which the Rio Grande got assigned in WWII and promptly got rid of because it was too light for the mountain grades, OR you can get a P2K 'USRA' 2-8-8-2 which is a N&W Y-3 and try to back-date it. Every Rio Grande prototype I have is brass, because that's all you can get! And generic USRA plastic locos just won't convert, because the Grande was a kind of oddball railroad that had handsome and very DISTINCTIVE motive power. So, if you're like me and DMIR230, who model specific railroads, you go brass or you go diesel. And I don't like diesel.

[Anonymous]

Why I buy brass, odd types of locomotives, and the fact that I do not have to spend countless hours building a locomotive to match DM&IR prototypes. I would much rather spend my time building scenery or buildings.

[Anonymous]

Because it isnt made in plastic.
A union pacific type 9000 class is only available in brass
so is a 1st gen challenger only in brass
rare in brass higher detail in brass

these are theonly things I can think of

[Anonymous]

I'm just wondering what the attraction is? Is it worth the money you spend?