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HUUuuu ... uuuGe ebay estate sale

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HUUuuu ... uuuGe ebay estate sale
Posted by dinwitty on Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:25 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ULTIMATE-UNBELIEVABLE-HO-SCALE-TRAIN-ESTATE-SALE-HUGE_W0QQitemZ290139524417QQihZ019QQcategoryZ484QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

:faint: 

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:31 PM

Here's a direct link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ULTIMATE-UNBELIEVABLE-HO-SCALE-TRAIN-ESTATE-SALE-HUGE_W0QQitemZ290139524417QQihZ019QQcategoryZ484QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Egads, that should motivate me to be less of a collector and more of a player/operator of the trains.  Pretty sad about him and his son.

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Posted by stokesda on Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:35 PM
Kind of sad, if you ask me. I really feel sorry for the guy. Seems like he had some serious issues.

Dan Stokes

My other car is a tunnel motor

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Posted by Master of Big Sky Blue on Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:46 PM

 stokesda wrote:
Kind of sad, if you ask me. I really feel sorry for the guy. Seems like he had some serious issues.

Same here.

I admit that trains for me is almost an obsession. But looking at that its freaking creepy.

Though I would be well stocked for many years LOL

James

 

P.S. I have kept looking at it for a while now. Giving me goose bumps. This guy is freaking insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No wonder the son wanted nothing to do with him. The listing says there are well over 1000 cars. But I noticed he has alot of copies of the same car. I have 600 cars. But at least all my cars at least have different road numbers.

P.S.S.  The more I look at this listing, the more creeped out I get. The more creeped out I get. the more I want to go thin out my roster.   My dad going into the Hospital made my Creppy-Stuff-O-Meter hit 12. This is ticking a 14.  the scale is from 1-10

"Well, I've sort of commited my self here, so you pop that clowns neck, I will shoot his buddy, and I will probably have to shoot the bartender too." ----- William Adama upon meeting Saul Tigh Building an All Steam Roster from Old Tyco-Mantua, and Bowser kits. Free Drinks in the Dome Car
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:47 PM

This makes me sad.

No way ever is that going to happen at my place.

In fact, I think and agree that this is probably the most creepy and expensive waste of resources ever.

I am a little bit of a pack rat myself, 12 boxes neatly packed, stored and counting but NOT. LIKE. THAT. Ugh!

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Posted by csmith9474 on Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:51 PM
Looks like a lot of "low end" stuff (Tyco, Bachmann, and the likes). The plates look to be about the best thing in this lot. That still is a lot of stuff, though.
Smitty
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Posted by Cox 47 on Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:55 PM
Wow....What a bunch of train stuff..I don't think I would call it a collection....Did he have a layout?....Cox 47
ILLinois and Southern...Serving the Coal belt of southern Illinois with a Smile...
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:07 AM

 Cox 47 wrote:
Wow....What a bunch of train stuff..I don't think I would call it a collection....Did he have a layout?....Cox 47

The description stated that he has some track to run trains on but eventually all tracks were covered in stuff and the whole thing buried to the point of cutting into the walls and basement.

Im still on that page looking over the imagery of the stuff... WHAT a HUGE mess!

The bidding between my first post stood at 23 bids and 99 dollars became 130 dollars and 33 bids and counting.

I think this is going to be a ching ching sale and a monstor for all parties involved.

OMG... 150 and climbing faster than I can refresh the page.

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Posted by Cederstrand on Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:21 AM

Hey Sweety (as I call out to my wife) want me to bid on some HO scale trains for you?....I'll need YOUR credit card. Wink [;)] Seriously though, OMG, what a mess. If you did win, not sure if going through it all would be more like Christmas or Halloween. 

Cowboy [C):-)] Rob 

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Posted by SteamFreak on Sunday, July 15, 2007 1:15 AM

Aside from what might be a few Athearn engines, there doesn't seem to be anything in the whole collection of any quality whatsoever. And while it's disturbing, it could have been a lot worse if he collected cats and dogs instead... those stories are always upsetting and tragic.

Besides, it looks like the inside of my apartment right now. Laugh [(-D]

GEEZ, why did I say that?

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Posted by zxb1 on Sunday, July 15, 2007 5:17 AM
Call it want you want, yeah maybe the guy went a little overboard. Rest his soul, but he lived the way he wanted to live. Is'nt it what were all doing here, maybe not as dramatic. Yeah maybe he should've gotten out a little more, but it's obvious he was'nt bothering anybody and he kept his self occupied.
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Posted by Fergmiester on Sunday, July 15, 2007 6:15 AM

All I can think is

HUUuuu  ...  uuuGe Shipping Cost!

No thank you

But as said before what a shame to see all that stuff piled so high and not properly protected, regardless of quality.

Fergie 

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

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Posted by Dave Vollmer on Sunday, July 15, 2007 7:11 AM

This is eBay.

I don't know that you can trust the "backstory" that goes with the auctions.

They might be trying to elicit sympathy bids.  I had that I have to be this cynical, but this story seems a little wierd.

As Zeke has taught us, not all words on a computer screen are truth.

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 15, 2007 9:23 AM

44 bids, $425.00, Reserve Not Met, not even a 1/10th of the way there! Where are all the "collectors" of these "Rare, Vintage Trains"? Who else wants to bite off more than they can chew(sell)?

Will

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Posted by Driline on Sunday, July 15, 2007 10:18 AM
 SteamFreak wrote:

Aside from what might be a few Athearn engines, there doesn't seem to be anything in the whole collection of any quality whatsoever. And while it's disturbing, it could have been a lot worse if he collected cats and dogs instead... those stories are always upsetting and tragic.

Besides, it looks like the inside of my apartment right now. Laugh [(-D]

GEEZ, why did I say that?

I agree. It looks like cheap stuff that an 8 year old would play with. Not serious model railroaders like ourselvesWink [;)]

My father in law is similar in that he collects and builds model airplanes. He has a small house and EVERY room has airplane junk in it.(When I say junk, its not nice looking stuff, but mediocre). Living room, dinette, bedrooms, basement. You have to follow a path to get around the house. His wifes just as bad with her stuff too. They are both EXTREME packrats. He's got a sink in the kitchen still sitting out on their front porch he was supposed to install 30 years ago. Thats typical for him though. Ignoring the kids/wife and only concentrating on his obsession, I mean hobby. Needless to say he does not have a close relationship with any of his kids. We see them on holidays about twice a year and only live 20 minutes away.

So there are lots of these hobby hermits out there; you only read about a few. I however will not succumb to such a life. Family is much more important than a hobby.

Modeling the Davenport Rock Island & Northwestern 1995 in HO
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Posted by loathar on Sunday, July 15, 2007 10:21 AM

HUGE TYCO SALE!!!

I'm with DaveV! Haven't we all learned that you can't beleive sad sob stories on the internet?

SteamFreak-So how much did you bid on it?Whistling [:-^]

It'd be worth a few hundo. Break it down into more managable lots and make some money on it. There's a lot of duplicates but you need that for coal drags and such.

 

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Posted by Driline on Sunday, July 15, 2007 10:26 AM
 loathar wrote:

HUGE TYCO SALE!!!

I'm with DaveV! Haven't we all learned that you can't beleive sad sob stories on the internet?

SteamFreak-So how much did you bid on it?Whistling [:-^]

It'd be worth a few hundo. Break it down into more managable lots and make some money on it. There's a lot of duplicates but you need that for coal drags and such.

 

LOLBig Smile [:D] Now you're gonna make all those "Tyco" boys mad.

They really think that stuff is good! LOL

They also believe that the USS Enterprise E is actually orbiting the earth as we speak.

Hmmmm well maybe it is, but thats besides the point.

Modeling the Davenport Rock Island & Northwestern 1995 in HO
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 15, 2007 10:35 AM
 Fergmiester wrote:

All I can think is

HUUuuu  ...  uuuGe Shipping Cost!

No thank you

But as said before what a shame to see all that stuff piled so high and not properly protected, regardless of quality.

Fergie 

The description stated the Demo Crew was 3 days hence, and they only had so much time to get the stuff out of there. Apparently what they didnt get went to the landfill.

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Posted by JON168 on Sunday, July 15, 2007 10:41 AM

HMMMM....I've got kin in the Grand Rapids area......they might go pick it up for me and then they can bring it to me when they come visit!Tongue [:P]Laugh [(-D]

 Seriously though.....that is a huge lot of stuff.....even if I was inclined to bid I don't have that much room to store it....my basement is already half filled with my layout and I need more cabinets for my current roster of goodies. Someone is gonna have an early Christmas!...I think a dealer will most likely buy it and then sell it off piece by piece....on EBAY probably....so we will likely see that stuff again.

 I know people like the former owner of that mass of trains....they neglect family for the go fast old cars they tinker with every evening and weekend.....or they spend tons of money buying sports ball game shows on pay-per-view and then sit and waste time watching them.......sad that people don't understand they're missing special time with the family.

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Posted by SteamFreak on Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:08 PM
 loathar wrote:

HUGE TYCO SALE!!!

I'm with DaveV! Haven't we all learned that you can't beleive sad sob stories on the internet?

SteamFreak-So how much did you bid on it?Whistling [:-^]

You guys are just heartless cynics! Don't you know those bids are going to help out some poor dead guy? Dead [xx(]

By the way, my back is acting up today, and I gave myself a hangnail yesterday. Does anyone have anything they want to donate to the cause? Angel [angel]

 

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Posted by canazar on Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:42 PM

Well, they way I see it, the man lived alone in a small house.   Sounds like collecting his trains was the only thing he had.   I do feel bad for him and it is sad..

 

Chances are, his collection will be bought by some one who hits the train show circuts or sells on Ebay.   Looks like there is more than enough to keep someone busy.

Best Regards, Big John

Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona.  Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the  Kiva Valley Railway

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Posted by Cederstrand on Sunday, July 15, 2007 1:07 PM

***Big John, ever figured out how many feet of track is on your layout? Do you run AC in the summer in there? Kiva is neat RR name...I take it a fictional one? Kiva was also the name of the elementary school I went to in Scottsdale. Ever run into a fella with a huge O scale collection with the last name Mays? (or was it Meyers?) Better drink a second cup of coffee and rev up the ol' brain. Anyway, nice layout you have going there.

Cowboy [C):-)] Rob

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Posted by Midnight Railroader on Sunday, July 15, 2007 1:16 PM
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

This is eBay.

I don't know that you can trust the "backstory" that goes with the auctions.

I certainly don't.

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Posted by SteamFreak on Sunday, July 15, 2007 1:31 PM
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

This is eBay.

I don't know that you can trust the "backstory" that goes with the auctions.

They might be trying to elicit sympathy bids.  I had that I have to be this cynical, but this story seems a little wierd.

As Zeke has taught us, not all words on a computer screen are truth.

Sympathy for whom? For the dealer having to remove and store all of that dust-laden crap? By their account the old guy is gone now, and his family has nothing to do with the disposition of his worldly possessions, so it just comes down to an explanation of how the dealer acquired such a huge collection of schmutz. If they're trying to elicit sympathies with that story, they'd better go back to the word processor.

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Posted by Gandy Dancer on Sunday, July 15, 2007 2:07 PM
 csmith9474 wrote:
Looks like a lot of "low end" stuff (Tyco, Bachmann, and the likes).
I think I see a single LGB C&S box car in there....
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Posted by csmith9474 on Sunday, July 15, 2007 2:13 PM

 Gandy Dancer wrote:
 csmith9474 wrote:
Looks like a lot of "low end" stuff (Tyco, Bachmann, and the likes).
I think I see a single LGB C&S box car in there....

There are a couple of gems in there, but it looks like a huge pile of junk more than anything. I would hate to see how many stirrups and other details were broken off in the hasty packing job. As hinted to before, it is better to see someone that hoarded model trains rather than animals.

Smitty
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Sunday, July 15, 2007 2:16 PM

From what I can see in the pictures none of it looks like anything special - mostly TYCO type stuff.  You have to wonder what kind of shape any of it is in - it is all just stuffed into boxes with no packing. If I was in HO I'd still pass on it.

Enjoy

Paul 

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
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Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, July 15, 2007 2:35 PM
 Midnight Railroader wrote:
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

This is eBay.

I don't know that you can trust the "backstory" that goes with the auctions.

I certainly don't.

I don't believe that sob story either...I doubt if a train show junk dealer would buy that mess.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by snagletooth on Sunday, July 15, 2007 2:37 PM
 Does it come with a big empty box?
Snagletooth
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Posted by JON168 on Sunday, July 15, 2007 8:09 PM

$1225 as of 2100 EST....and reserve not met?   thats already about $700 more than a sane person would even THINK of bidding!!! I foresee this thing getting out of hand towards the end, with rampant ''auction fever'' infecting all those involved.

 The only bidder that could possibly want all that stuff and be willing to pay that much  is a dealer.

 Good deal for the seller, maybe not such a good deal for the buyer.

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