General Discussion (Model Railroader)

Yesterday I drove 100 miles one way to do an Indian trade with my Brother from another Tribe.

After a meal and a meeting together and some 4 hours of bartering I later ended up taking home the HO scale Locomotives in the pics below.

I traded about $350.00 worth of Native American instruments for these, and my question is HOW DID I DO?

I'm brand spaking new to HO model Rail roading so I don't know if I did  him a good trade  or not, I hope so?

I really like this one below, I don't know why, maybe reminds me of the old "Iron Horses" of the old west.

This one seemed a bit small for an HO Locomotive, don't know a thing about this one either (it does fit and run on the HO test track.

This Diesel don't run??

It looks cheap to me?

I beleive this next one is called a "switcher" and it has RCA radio on it, and has wire railings.

This spot light caboose is awesome and still very clean from being in a box, don't know its age but the light does work?

I got 3 of these box cars, all perfect in boxes???

And last but not least, a pic of my test track and proving grounds.

I was also testing the weight of the Army train cars and found they need weight,all of them!

Thanks for any ino you can supply on these locos.

He also threw in tons of track (must be cleaned up) some silver and some brass looking all straight sections and curves no crossing ones or forks..

About 5 small shacks (plastic kits) already made.

10 box cars, 2tankers, 4cabooses, and 5 or 6 other types of train cars,150 tele poles, 300people, 2 dozen HO size cars and trucks, 15 trees, a nice station, 2 transformers, 6 or more bridge structures, I pipe loader, A structure that looks like you pull the train under it and it fills hoppers with sand or something?, 4 Tressel bridges 2 iron sided ones and all kinds of what look to be track elevation pilons???

The military train I bought car by car at eBay.

Again, I hope it was a fair trade at least???

 You did a pretty good job Redhorse! You have just got enough stuff to start a layout!

Red Horse wrote:

I traded about $350.00 worth of Native American instruments for these, and my question is HOW DID I DO?

I wont sugar coat this.  I think you made a horrible trade.  Most of these units you traded for could be had for 5-10 dollars each.  All of them are of 70's toy train quality. 

David B

davidmbedard wrote:

Red Horse wrote: I traded about $350.00 worth of Native American instruments for these, and my question is HOW DID I DO? I wont sugar coat this.  I think you made a horrible trade.  Most of these units you traded for could be had for 5-10 dollars each.  All of them are of 70's toy train quality.  David B

All not worth 40 dollars...tops.

David B

davidmbedard wrote:

Red Horse wrote: I traded about $350.00 worth of Native American instruments for these, and my question is HOW DID I DO? I wont sugar coat this.  I think you made a horrible trade.  Most of these units you traded for could be had for 5-10 dollars each.  All of them are of 70's toy train quality.  David B

I agree with David, sorry Red Horse you got taken advantage of. 

davidmbedard wrote:

Red Horse wrote: I traded about $350.00 worth of Native American instruments for these, and my question is HOW DID I DO? I wont sugar coat this.  I think you made a horrible trade.  Most of these units you traded for could be had for 5-10 dollars each.  All of them are of 70's toy train quality.  David B

DavidB is correct.

Those steamers went for about $25-$30 in the 70's, and they are train set quality. Sorry Red Horse.

http://tycotrain.tripod.com/steamengines/id10.html

http://tycotrain.tripod.com/tycotrains/id88.html

As a matter of fact for the "Chatanooga Choo Choo" he should have paid you to take it off of his hands.  That is without a doubt the worst model train ever built.

Rick 

On a side note, the title of this thread gives us no idea of the content.  You never asked which locomotives you traded for, rather you asked if you got a good deal.  If you want more 'thread' traffic, I would reconsider how you title them.

David B

Actually the chatanooga Was built originally by Tyco which I have 1 of from my early days before I stopped model railroading. Now with that said Mine still runs and it still smokes and it was in storage for 10 yrs.. Also Bachmann Did a version of the Chatanooga as a train set deal back in 2000 or maybe late 90's.. I did some research. Now red horse I have to agree they arent wroth 350.00 of anything specially indian instruments.  Most of those new are 40.00 I believe and resale is low. Now I dont know what manufactures you got for Vehicles or buildings etc. So maybe you did ok on that end I dont know.

I know its hard starting into the hobby my first locomotive when I got back into it was a cheap bachmann that I got for 10.00 at a swap meet and it ran then broke in 3 weeks now mind you this was the low low end. But after doing some reaserch and joining various model railroad forums (asking atoo many questions to count) I was introduced to Athearn Blue Box locomotives.  And now I'm a  Kato. Atlas. Life-likfe P2K, Athearn, and Bachmann Spectrum person. Sorry for how rude some of these guys can be I doubt they started off with Athearn or anything other than Tyco and life like low grade.

TA462 wrote:

davidmbedard wrote:  Red Horse wrote: I traded about $350.00 worth of Native American instruments for these, and my question is HOW DID I DO? I wont sugar coat this.  I think you made a horrible trade.  Most of these units you traded for could be had for 5-10 dollars each.  All of them are of 70's toy train quality.  David B I agree with David, sorry Red Horse you got taken advantage of.

Sorry for how rude some of these guys can be I doubt they started off with Athearn or anything other than Tyco and life like low grade.

Rude?  No.  He asked a specific question and got the correct answer.  Would you have prefered that I told him that he made a good deal?  Im my mind, that would be worse. 

Yes, I started out 25 years ago with Athearns and as a child I had some Tyco.  Tyco was the worst of the worst when it came to model train equipment. 

David B

I traded about $350.00 worth of Native American instruments for these, and my question is HOW DID I DO?

I don't see any rude posts, and yes, my first loco was exactly like that Tyco 0-4-0 ,in the early 70's, it burned up in 3 hours.

I too think you got taken advantage of, however if you are satisfied then that is what is important. I don't think there is any model railroader who hasn't made similar mistakes when starting out. Live and learn.

Don't expect too much performance from that Tyco steam loco. I wouldn't pay $5 for it, (although I paid alot more for one when starting out, only to have it die after a few loops) however there are people who collect these things, maybe you could unload it for a few dollars and put it towards a used Bachman Spectrum steamer. Research what they cost first before paying too much. Do some checking around on ebay to get some idea what people are willing to pay for something.