Another thought if you want to reduce the size of your book collection, but do not want the time and hassle of selling indivudual books.
There are usually book sellers at train shows, you could box up the books you do not want; take them to a book seller at at show; and have them make an offer for the lot. You will not make as much money as selling indivudual books, but will get them off your hands in one go.
Talk to your new RR club friends and see what they think. Maybe someone will help you with the packing and moving to the show.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
I know everybody on this thread has given you ample information, but back in April of this year, when I got re-married, I had quite a large collection of MR's and other model railroad popular press that Ihad to unload in order to consolidate households. I didn't want to throw them away. Someone suggested that I give them to the local VA. I called them and they were glad to take them. All I had to do was tear the mailing labels off them and bring them over there - - about a ten minute drive from where I lived. I paid a high school kid to help me do the tearing off of mailing labels.
Well I joined a model railroad club!
Today was my first official day and what a day it was. I arrived at 7pm and got home a little past 1am.
I learned so much that I am starting a journal tonight so I will be able to use it as reference in the future. There is much more to learn and I'm really looking forward to each and every visit.
Everyone I spoke to was pleasant and welcoming. I learned about the double track mains and single track main, also sidings and why certain places were named.
I'm on my way to becoming a full fledged member. 8 more visits and then I will be voted in and be given the full club benefits which includes a key to the place and the ability to visit 24-7 if I wished.
I'm considering purchasing a couple of locomotives and some rolling stock after a talk I had with a member who made the suggestion that he has just put together a collection of locomotives and rail cars so he may enjoy the hobby without the need of building a home layout.
The fine folks I spoke with are a diversified group, a retired railroad worker a US Army MP a airplane mechanic and a few other retiree's. I was surprised.
I'm so thankful for all the input here that pointed me in the right direction. I was on my feet for most of my time and I'm sure I walked over a mile going through following each track run. I'm surprised that I feel fairly well, but it could catch up in the morning. Maybe the walking and standing will be a benefit in the long run.
Now all I have to do is decide which locomotive i will purchase first. Steam or Diesel and what cars I will pick to make up a small train. A member told me of a Model Train Show coming in February and said I would certainly find some good deals if I could wait until then.
Thanks again to all
mangulator63,
Do yourself a big favour and join the club!!! You will get a lot of pleasure out of it and, if your experience is anything like mine, it will more than make up for your not being able to build your own layout.
As I said earlier, I've had to give up on my dream of building my own layout because of physical limitations just like you. Those same limitations have prevented me from being able to do some things at the club, but there are so many other ways to contribute. It sounds like your club is really well organized. Somebody has to do all that organizing if all of those various activities are going to happen. That is one area where I spend a lot of my club time and it is very rewarding. I can't get under the layout but I sure as heck can make things happen for the club.
You sound a bit concerned about your physical challenges. Don't be. I can guarantee that the club will accept you just as you are. I can only stand for a few minutes at a time before my back starts to hurt. The club totally understands my situation and accepts that I have to sit down periodically. In fact, I often get told to sit down before I need to!
Go ahead, join the club! You will be happy that you did.
Dave
President, Barrie Allandale Railway Modellers Association.
BARM.ca
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I took your advice and visited a local model railroading club. I was in awe of everything I seen and just felt so comfortable there. I had written them about my train / model railroading library and how I was looking for a home for them where they would be useful. A member contacted me within hours and ask me to come to their open house on Saturday. I was confronted with the longest assembled model train I have ever seen. My wife who also attended counted 67 coal cars of what I believe to be 50 footers in HO scale. It was just amazing, it very much reminded me of the long trains I had seen in Arizona and New Mexico.
I talked to a excutive officer about what it takes to become a member and found it to be very fair. I don't have to know or own a layout or do I have to run any trains until I'm ready. I can just visit to learn how trains are operated on a prototypical rail road or help with sections of the layout being changed. I explained my physical limitations and that was not a problem.
To become a full fledge member you have to complete 9 visits at my own pace. The club meets formally every Thursday and each meeting involves different group activities. Some Thursdays they run the layout in a prototypical fashion then other meeting days they have free for all's or may work on the layout. It appears that someone is always in the building. On my first 9 visits I sign in a pay $5.00. I can stay as long as I wish and there is no order to which days I can sign in. It's up to me as how fast I wish to become a full member. After I complete my 9 visits I guess I'm voted in by the excutive board. Then I'll be given a key to the place ! I'm not too comfortable with that responsibility but this may change. The dues after the 9 visits are $30.00 a month.
I'm really considering becoming a full member. If I fill out the membership form I will be welcome at any time to visit. So I could just give it a trial run plus most Saturdays are open house so i could just visit then.
The folks I spoke to were all very friendly and showed me many things answered all my questions with kindness.
The only damper was my back. I broke my hip many years ago and lost almost a inch and a quarter in length of my right leg. When I broke my hip i was unaware I had done so. It was due to a powerful pain medication I was prescribed that a year later was found to be defective. I was unaware of the damage and had developed lower back pain that I could not explain. I have never had back issues so I went for a MRI and it was then the doctor discovered the damage. Since it had gone undetected my lower vertibe had been damaged. I was fitted with inserts for each pair of shoes to level out my hips while walking, but I still need to wear a back brace and use a cane for security. The doctors want to replace both knees and replace my hip along with fixing the 5 damaged vertibre . They also want to repair my right shoulder. I have refused all. I'm tired of being cut up so I use my lift inserts and cane plus back brace. I had not worn my brace or did intake my cane in with me. I was twisting and leaning over trying to video and take pictures with my cellphone, after an hour I started to feel the pressure and pain set in. I told my wife that I will have to wear my back brace for sure on future visits.
I tried to get good video and pictures using my cellphone, something I'm not very accustomed to doing. I have several digital cameras DSLR,'s and HD Video cameras and a couple of Go-Pros. I did not bring any of my equipment because I was unaware that it was ok to photograph or video the layout. I have a few good pictures that I'll up load as soon as I find out how to do it. On my next visit I will be taking better equipment with me.
I also thought about donating some of my modeling tools and supplies. Years ago I was in a model club and I focused on 1/35 scale armor along with 1/350 scale ships. I also liked to build all wood ships of the sail period. I learned a lot about weathering and diorama building. I built scale "Ways" in glass display cases for the ship models. With each passing model build I really got involved in weathering adding resin or photoetch to create a model as close as possible to the real thing. One of the awards I received during our yearly contest was a "Best out of the Box " I had taken a kit and using only the kit parts and built a model that was very realistic just using paint and dry pastels to weather it. It came out great, I had simply mounted it to a board, in was extremely surprised that I had won. I won a few bronze and silver over the years but never a good. I quit building models and have a pretty large inventory of unopened and kits with some assembly. I have all kinds of modeling equipment, tools paint multiple single and two staged airbrushes and air compressors that I think would be appreciated if I were to donate them to the model railroad club along with my library of books. At least these things will be used and not just get collecting dust. A few months back I ran across three brand new in the box visor type magnifiers. I use a type of magnifier that surgeons use. It is a set of safety type glasses with magnifying loupes attached to the frames with a adjustable light mounted in the middle of the frames. It has its own rechargable power supply I can clip to my belt. I spent a small fortune on this set but it allows me to see great detail while working at arm's length. I'm able to use the set up for all my hobbies. So why not donate these that will never be used.
I'm going to look through all my tool boxes and clear out and donate the stuff. I don't see myself building in the future, allthough I ran across a wood and brass kit of a civil war cannon I had forgotten I purchased years ago and thought of putting it together. Maybe?
Again thanks to everyone who suggested a club for my books. I'll post some pictures when I figure out how.
I am the same way. I read or re-read a book and it ends up on the closest stack. I really thought that the book shelves I had designed would help. It was funny, after I completely finished my spare bedroom to office/library remodel I started to fill the shelves. It was long before they were all filled up. I even tried to be creative as I double row a few and had to use a small step stool to stack the top shelves. I ended up even converting the closet by lowering the clothes hanger rod and adding an additional shelf in there. I would have used the entire closet but the wife put her foot down. I had already piled books on shelves in other closets.
Even going digital when the first black and white Nook was released didn't slow the growth. I have many books that are reference or text books that were not digitized . Plus I have many first edition and out of print books. I then went to the Nook Color, that slowed down some of the magazines that would normally come in the mail. When Amazon released their Kindle App for Android, that's when things got a lot better.
I didn't want to get the Kindle Reader because I had just got the Nook Color. So I researched tablets and decided to purchase a 12.2" Samsung Galaxy Note Pro , the problem was that the model I wanted was only available through Sprint Cellular and I have AT&T. I wasn't going to have two cell carrier's so I found I could order one from Germany. I ordered it and am very glad I did. It's my reading tablet plus I watch ,movies through my Amazon Prime Video account on it. Since I ordered it outside of a cellular company it only has wifi, but that's not a problem when I'm home. Plus I upload books and a few movies if I plan to travel with it.
I also have a 10" and 8" android tablet that i use often. They are cellular through my AT&T account. I really like traveling with the 8" tablet. Its just a bit larger in format than a paper back and I can also use it for searching the web etc. The 10" is also handy, I even got a 10" for the wife. She doesn't read as often as I do but plays games that I could never possibly understand.
I'm amazed at how many titles I have accumulated on Kindle, plus Amazon Prime Video. I just hated the idea that of all the money I have spent on books and magazines and movies that it was only my wife and I using them. I found out that you can set up a family type plan to where a certain amount of family members an have access to your libraries. So I have it set up to where my sisters have access and all the perks that go with being a Amazon Prime Member. They are enjoying all the content and I enjoy knowing they are. When I was in the process of setting this access up for them I did a count on my movies and television shows in the library, I had 112 movies and 2 documentaries and 3, multiple season shows. I was shocked to say the least, however my sisters are really enjoying all the movies.
I've been looking at IKEA lately for book shelves, even though I have the equipment to build my own I'm unable to do that type of work right now do to health reasons as I mentioned in my first post. My wife wants to do some lite remodeling and I thought it might be a good idea to add some shelving in the living room. I guess we'll see.
Also to all who posted ideas Thanks so much!
I google'd Model Railroad Clubs Near Me and I was shocked! There is a club that has been active since 1939 a few miles from me. I went to their Web site and found out that they hold " Open House " almost every Saturday of the month from 11am till 5pm. They don't charge anything and I guess they will let you run a train. I seen pictures and video of the layout and it is really nice. I even checked on what it take to become a member and it seems quite reasonable. I am going this coming Saturday and even the wife said she would like to join me. I'm really concidering becoming a member!
So again Thank You to everyone who took the time to give me such good information.
I'll be sure to let everyone know how it goes and if I take some pictures I'll be sure to share them.
Sounds like me - I read anything, anywhere, any time. One summer years ago hooome from college, I decided to just pile all the books I read on the floor instead of putting them back as I finished. Despite working a full 40 hour week, by the time I was ready to go back to school, I had to pile the books up to make a path to get from my bed to the dresser withotu stepping on them. I forget the exact number but it was a lot.
I was an early convert to e-books, with a modern tablet weighing less than a decoent paperback, yet holding hundreds of books - I just have to go witht he modern way. It's so much easier to hold than a standard paperback, and with modern screen resolutions it's not hard on my eyes - especially with the 'night mode' settings that kill the harmful blue colors - I actually enable that 24/7 now. I'm always reading, probably close to half a dozen books a week. The hard part is waiting for the next book from a favorite author.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I wish to thank everyone for their input, it was very informative.
It never crossed my mind to look for a near by Railroading Club. I really wasn't looking to profit or implie that my collection was for sale and I apologise if I came off that way. Like I mentioned I am what I guess you could call a serial reader. I have loved reading all my life and I have amased a large library over the years. Before digital books became so readily available i would stack my books on any available surface. It took me to commandeer a bedroom and turn it into a office / library. I designed and built shelving around a corner computer desk and a drafting table, using every inch of spare wall for floor to ceiling book shelves. Even after I completed the remodeling I still didn't have enough shelf space.
Even though most of what I read is purchased in digital form I still get physical books and magazines for the subjects that I would rather have a physical book or magazine to read.
I don't know why, but I cannot seem to throw away anything that I have purchased. I have catalog's from the late 70,'s. I have taken soon books to my local library in the past. The books I donated were for a " Friends of the Library " drive. But to this day I cannot bring my self to throw any periodical or book in the trash, and let me tell you any new book or magazine subscription that comes to my house causes some tense moments between me and the wife. She has been on me to stop adding to the problem. LOL
I'm glad that model railroad clubs were mentioned, I'm going to look for one close to me for sure. It never crossed my mind and maybe I will find a club with a layout that I may join or visit.
I wish I could build my own and it really doesn't help me forget that I am unable when I'm looking through YouTube and I run across videos of these fantastic layouts and how far and advanced the electronics and scenery building products have come. I'm amazed with each video. I've watched some on scenery building and I am blown away by the Woodland product line. It amazes me how realistic you can make a layout look. Plus all the building kits available today that you can get already built and painted. I wish I could build a layout but I'm also grateful that there are magazines and books and videos available that I can read and enjoy along with these forums.
Again thanks to all who shared. I'll let all know how it goes in my search for a local club.
If your book collection largely involves the Copper Range railroad, then perhaps the best way to sell the books is to involve the Soo Line and Milwaukee Road historical society magazines (I am not aware of a specific Copper Range Railroad historical society). There is a small but intense group of fans of the copper range area's railroads. And certain old books have a value that is often surprising given what I paid (list price) when new.
As regards the magazines, while I like having hard copy and have MR solid from the present back to 1948, with scattered issues back to 1934, I was able to fill gaps in that collection because so many trains shows feature people and clubs and NMRA divisions giving away old issues including entire years. Indeed I have duplicates because often the MR binders are offered cheap with the magazines still in them. I have also seen public libraries get rid of old issues for a dime or so.
Dave Nelson
People keep donating old magazines to the historicla society that I belong to, we've reached the point where they are just set out in our store, free for the taking. I just rhew out all my old MRs, and I ha dfille din quite a collection, pretty much every year back to the 60's and quite a few complete years of older ones. I gave a few away to those that wanted them, but most ended up in the trach - I have the 75 year DVD collection for all the older ones, and there's always the online archive for the ones since then. I may stop by the museum and grab some MRC, since they don;t have an all time electronic version yet and I don;t have very many - and they often covered more northeast railroading than MR.
Books can definitely be worth something. ANything currently available, depending on condition, you might get somewhere near the current price for, but don't be disappointed, if I can get a brand new copy from the publisher for $40 I probably won't pay someone $35 for a used copy, unless it's absolutely pristine. The softcover books put out by MR and others - might get a few bucks for some of those.
There were and maybe still are, people who will sell your stuff on Ebay for a percentage. You would be best served by finding someone local to you. There are neighborhood chat forums where you could ask. Nextdoor.com is one such forum.
Reference books or those big picture books of XYZ RR in color are worth some money. Even the small Kalmbach books are worth maybe more than you paid for them.
Don't have much hope for your magazines. They have always been space hogs rather than references for me. There is also something called Freecycle.com, a craigslist of free stuff. It would at least save you the trouble of carrying it to the dump.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Even before the online archives, I remember clubs I've visited selling bundles of magazines for under $5 for 12 issues.
Figure they had them all in their libraries so just unload them and get some cash for the hassle of bundling.
mangulator63Again I apologise if this is not the right place to post this request.
Hi mangulator63,
There is nothing wrong with asking how to get rid of your collection, but you can't advertize them for sale on the forums.
mangulator63 I will not be able to build a layout due to health and age
That's too bad. I'm in the same boat health wise. My back won't let me carry anything of any weight and I can't get under a layout (partially fused spine). However, I have found a solution. I joined a model railroading club and I have become heavily involved in it. In fact, I'm now the President. We are in the process of building a new permanent layout so, even though I can't do the heavy stuff, there are lots of things that I can do like helping to plan, purchasing, soldering track feeders, making control panels, upgrading turnouts, building structures and scenery just to name a few. It's a lot of fun.
By the way, the club has a library. We keep books on hand that have been donated to the club, but no magazines. However, members are constantly exchanging magazines amongst themselves. There is no money involved but at least they're not going to the dump.
At our annual show last year a family came in with a huge number of model railroading magazines. They were offering bundles of them for free to anybody who was interested. There were a lot of takers, mostly families with kids, who were very happy to get them.
For valuing books. www.abebooks.com is a good reference.
Not much value in most magazines anymore. You might get something for a relatively complete collection over a number of years, but unless the buyer picks them up, shipping will eat up a lot of value.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
From a dollar value, your books are going to be much more valuable than the magazines. MR, Trains, and other magazines are now all available online or via CD-Rom, which means the individual back issues aren't all that desireable.
Even if you don't want to sell on Ebay, you can look up the titles of the books you have and see what other copies of the books have sold for. That will at least give you some idea of their worth.
If it turns out you have a lot of books worth a fair amount of money, someone who specializes in buying and selling used / collectible rail books would probably be willing to come visit you to look them over and make you an offer. MR, Trains, RMC, Classic Trains, and other magazines often have ads from such people.
There are local, regional, and national train shows where you can sell your collection. If that doesn’t appeal to you then you could contact one of the people listed in the classified section of this magazine who buy and sell used collections.
I'm not sure if this would be the place to post this so I apologise if I made a mistake.
I have always wanted to build a HO scale layout. Back in the late 70's my stepmothers father had a really nice HO scale layout in his basement that he and his friends had built. They would get together for running sessions on the weekends. The realistic scenic details and watching the operation of all the different crossings and coal loaders was so fascinating to watch. This was before DCC, everything was analog. I was fascinated by all the little details they had incorporated into the layout. He had hand built most of his locomotives, and these were all brass kits. He had a automated coaling tower that would fill hopper cars and and on the other side of the layout the cars would be unloaded. The switches and turnouts and loaders were controlled from a central panel. I cannot recall how the locomotives were controlled, I just remember that there was this very large panal and a stand up desk like controlling station. It is a shame I never thought to take pictures. He passed in the early 80's, I do not recall what happened to the layout.
I have collection of books on model railroading and trains along with past years of older Modelrailroader and Train magazines.
After years of reading and studying everything I could about model railroading I started to plan a ho scale layout. I had a bedroom freeded up and wanted to create a layout based on Copper Range Railroad located long ago in northern Michigan. However a family emergency put an end to my plans. I still continued to accumulate more books on model railroading along with books on trains, studying all I could about dcc and track laying. I went and obtained every catalog I could find from model supply companies. I figured I would be able to build a layout in the future.
Now I have a problem, I have a pretty large collection and years of train and model railroading magazines.
However I will not be able to build a layout due to health and age and unfortunately I know of nobody who would be interested in or able to use and enjoy this library. I have wondered if the collection might have some value. Unfortunately there are no used book stores in my area in which I would be able to get some sort of appraisal. eBay or Craig's list is something I do not wish to attempt.
I would like to have the collection go to someone who would use and enjoy them.
If anyone here is interested let me know. It may take me some time to round them all up, but I will try to put together a list of titles.
Again I apologise if this is not the right place to post this request.