Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

train collection on ebay

5951 views
51 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: Jersey City
  • 1,925 posts
Posted by steemtrayn on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 10:42 PM

 SteamFreak wrote:
I just noticed that the "Triplex" has two fireboxes. Dunce [D)]

It needs 'em to make all that steam, Lack of an extra firebox is what did in the Matt Shay.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: US
  • 625 posts
Posted by jondrd on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 11:31 PM

 The clincher for getting the $8500 is when he adds a comment that one of the engine tenders has a weathered pattern that looks like the Virgin Mary and one of the weathered cars has a pattern that resembles Christ.

Actually he may have done some research and observed how many bidders submit winning bids that are over prices you could buy same item via mail order. The $8500 is just his way of fast tracking(sorry couldn't resist) them to their eventual overbid.

 

 Jon

"We have met the enemy and he is us" Pogo via the art of Walt Kelly
  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 4,367 posts
Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 10:38 AM
I went ahead and calculated how much you could get selling all those in separate auctions. It came up to about $4,000, and that may even be generous. Now if you brought everything up to RETAIL (which few people ever pay), it might be $8,500.

_________________________________________________________________

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: New Brighton, MN
  • 4,393 posts
Posted by ARTHILL on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 11:31 AM

I come from the other side of this fanticy, if someone gave this to me what would I ever do with it. It does not fit on my layout, I have no place to store it, selling on Ebay is NOT my hobby. I could take it to a flea market and get a few hundred for about 1/4 of it and then what to do with the rest. Collectibles presuppose another collector to sell them. I hope he finds one, but I am into building a layout and running trains. I don't even want to unpack that many boxes.

My kids will have the same problem, what to do with all my foam mountains. The answer - rent a dumpster.

If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: Wylie, Texas
  • 259 posts
Posted by UNIONPACIFIC4018 on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 12:15 PM
I think we all suffer from "overpriceitus" at some point.  I have seen other modelers purchase something for a few dollars only to later list it at an incredible price and I ask why and they haver some fantasy belief that its "rare" or "valuable".  Due to changes in my life I have had to list a bunch of my train stuff on ebay and I think I list it pretty fairly.  Now I do have some pieces I would never part with no matter how much money you threw at me because of sentimetal value. Yeah they may just be old riv pizza cutter passenger coaches but they are lettered for my grandpa's model railroad.  Mostly it seems if I list it for like a dollar starting price I end up with way more than I expected and I think that is attributed to the auction frenzy.
Sean Steam is still king
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 12:38 PM

 Now if you brought everything up to RETAIL (which few people ever pay), it might be $8,500.

Really? Even at the prices those things sold for in their day??Confused [%-)]

I was looking at some similar trains on E-bay last night and was surprised how cheap some of the old stuff was going for.

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Port Huron Michigan
  • 611 posts
Posted by oscaletrains on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 4:41 PM
putting money into old trains is only worthwhile if you put it in o & standard. prewar or rare postwar.
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Naples, FL
  • 848 posts
Posted by Ted Marshall on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 4:45 PM
Some sucker will buy it eventually, but not until the asking price is substantially reduced.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Posted by Budliner on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 5:42 PM
I bet he's rethinking his shipping policies
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:29 PM
This has got to be a commercial seller and not an individual -- has been a member of e-Bay since 1999 with a 100 percent rating.  Only 4 days left and still no bids.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Canada's Maritime Provinces
  • 1,760 posts
Posted by Railphotog on Monday, December 17, 2007 7:30 PM

Anyone surprised this $8500.00 collection DID NOT SELL on eBay?  Not me!

 

 

Bob Boudreau

CANADA

Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • 2,844 posts
Posted by dinwitty on Monday, December 17, 2007 8:55 PM

people whose items didnt sell sometimes relist with changes.

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Wayne County Michigan
  • 678 posts
Posted by dale8chevyss on Monday, December 17, 2007 10:31 PM

No bids, and the auction has ended.

 

 

HAHAHAHAHHAHAA 

Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.

 Daniel G.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Joizey
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by SteamFreak on Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:56 PM
It's been relisted with a starting bid of $5,900. If you can't wait a week, it can all be yours right now for $9,500. Fantastic HO Train Steam Engine Collection Many Rare NR
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,264 posts
Posted by CAZEPHYR on Saturday, January 19, 2008 2:35 PM
 Soo Line fan wrote:

That looks like a typical GATs train show table, only in vertical format. One thing is missing, the A Team Tyco set.

Jim

 

Nothing like old Junk Rivarossi with the large flanges.  I did notice the C&O 2-6-6-6 and one of two others like the BLI PRR T1, but for the most part, they are display only.

It is surprising they sold for the high price that was bid.   Correction, it did not sell and is still way too high.    Dealers would pay about $25 to $50 each for this group as a lot.  

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Rhododendron, OR
  • 1,516 posts
Posted by challenger3980 on Saturday, January 19, 2008 2:49 PM

This collection HASN'T sold, as yet there have not even been any bids, even at the REDUCED (obviously still too high price) of $5900.00

                         Doug

May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,264 posts
Posted by CAZEPHYR on Saturday, January 19, 2008 4:07 PM
 challenger3980 wrote:

This collection HASN'T sold, as yet there have not even been any bids, even at the REDUCED (obviously still too high price) of $5900.00

                         Doug

Rivarossi with high flanges just don't bring good prices, and as a group, they bring less. 

I count less than six good models in the whole lot that could be run and enjoyed.   I can't image this collection not including TYCO, but there is a Texas Chugger, which is a Santa Fe Texas with a NYC tender. 

 Now that is the Cat's meow.    

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,264 posts
Posted by CAZEPHYR on Saturday, January 19, 2008 11:23 PM

 cacole wrote:
This has got to be a commercial seller and not an individual -- has been a member of e-Bay since 1999 with a 100 percent rating.  Only 4 days left and still no bids.

 

The reason I think he has no bids is the starting price is about $4500 higher than the price the older junk is worth.    This is not a collection that anyone I know of would consider.  Out of the total models, eight of them are useable on a good layout. 

When they offer the lot at $1500 to $1800, someone will probably pony up.

Just my thought on this.  Decent brass is purchased in this size lots for peanuts on the dollar when an estate is sold.   Why would anyone pay good money for mostly Old Rivarossi and Bach.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Michigan
  • 1,550 posts
Posted by rolleiman on Sunday, January 20, 2008 12:01 AM

'Cause it's Cherry!!! 

Whistling [:-^]Sign - Dots [#dots]

Modeling the Wabash from Detroit to Montpelier Jeff
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Central Illinois
  • 806 posts
Posted by ICRR1964 on Sunday, January 20, 2008 10:21 AM

I don't know what the deal is, the seller really thinks this is all high priced items, If he would have started the bidding even at $1000 and set some sort of reserve, it might have sold. Personally I really don't think the person selling really knows what it is worth. Some one has advised them I think of the price and they are trying to move it.

I aquired a small collection awhile back from a family that had the same idea this guy had, tried to sell it for a small fortune, but nothing ever came of the sale, about 6 months later they asked me if I was still interested in it. It contained, AHM, Athearn, and Atlas items, loco's cars, buildings, track, you name it. Allot of the items were damaged while in storage in a damp basement and the packing. There were some good items, but allot of cleaning and repairs were needed. I ended up with the small collection for about a 1/10th of what they were asking. Thats why I instructed my daughters and do keep a record of what and about what all my train items are worth. I do have some brass, but I told them to have a auction when their mother and I are gone. I keep my data base up to date on what I have, what I bought and so on. I figure if they get a 1/4 of what I paid for all my MR items they will be doing good.

I have seen this before though with entire train collection, it involves someone who does not have 2 nickles in their pocket and want the collection at new retail price, they do some reserch and advise the family it is wirth "this".

What are our new items, with DCC, Proto's, Rapido, Atlas, and other items going to be worth someday? Who knows!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Canada's Maritime Provinces
  • 1,760 posts
Posted by Railphotog on Sunday, January 20, 2008 10:38 AM

Too many people, especially non model railroaders, automatically think that older train models have great value.  No doubt because of stories that go around about very rare collectible Lionel stuff; they assume all old trains have great value.  They are just toys!

A friend heard of a widow wanting to sell off her late husband's trains.  He took a look and he determined most of it was cheap old toys, and was prepared to offer the lady $200.00 for the lot.  Before he could, the lady commented that the trains wouldn't leave her place until she had $2000.00 in her hands.  I imagine she still has them.

At at train show our local club operates we had a request for a table from a young fellow in his late teens.  He wanted to sell off his old trains to help him pay for schooling.  He showed up with a bunch of military toy trains - the kinds with big guns on them, all decorated for the army, really no real interest to model railroaders.  He left in the middle of the afternoon pretty disgusted, don't think he sold one thing.  Again he assumed his old toys were valuable and that he'd make a fortune selling them.

 

 

Bob Boudreau

CANADA

Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!