Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
QUOTE: Originally posted by ben10ben The Train Collectors Association defines mint as being "all original, unused and unblemished." Notice that no time frame is given. Mint in the context of toy trains(or anything else, for that matter), generally means that the item has not been handled for any purposes since being placed in the original factory box, although technically something can be mint and lacking its original box. Describing a brand new, never removed from the box recent production train as being mint is a perfectly valid use of the word. In the coin collecting world, where I believe the use of the word "mint" to describe condition originated, a 2005 proof coin or federal reserve rolled coin(never touched by human hands) is still given the highest possible grade of MS-65, or MS-70 for proof coins(MS=Mint State). What is not valid, though, although it is very common on Ebay, is to describe a 50 year old Lionel train that looks to have been run over by a dump truck and then left underwater for 10 years as being "mint considering its age".
QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar I am waiting to see the words "Weathered" and "Mint" used together. I dont think I have seen that yet. =)
Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern
QUOTE: Originally posted by csmith9474 I especially like the "rare" and/or "vintage" Tyco Virginian hoppers.[xx(]
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"