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The best deal I ever got was...............

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  • Member since
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  • From: In the State of insanity!
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The best deal I ever got was...............
Posted by pcarrell on Friday, August 24, 2007 1:51 PM

What was the best deal you ever got on train stuff?

Me?

I got 20 brand new heavyweight passenger cars for $2 each.  And since I model the steam era, they fit right in!

 

Now how about you?

Philip
  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Mankato MN
  • 1,358 posts
Posted by secondhandmodeler on Friday, August 24, 2007 3:20 PM
I found a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 for $74.95.  This also included shipping.  I'm not sure it was the best deal ever but, it was the best I've found.  It was the only model railroad purchase I've made online.  I usually by everything from my LHS.  His price was $140 for the same loco.  I have an extremely tight budget so I 'cheated' on my LHS!
Corey
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    June 2007
  • From: Prattville AL
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Posted by UP2CSX on Friday, August 24, 2007 3:31 PM
An original, sealed in the box, Revell Weekly Herald Building for a buck at a yard sale. They are really hard to find now and a Revell SIB goes for about $35. I don't know what it is about that kit but I've always loved it. Even today, the detail still stands up with the best of the new structure kits. 
Regards, Jim
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Posted by SOU Fan on Friday, August 24, 2007 3:50 PM
A KATO SD80MAC for $77 shipped!!
  • Member since
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  • From: Memphis, Tennessee
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Posted by SD60M on Friday, August 24, 2007 3:57 PM
Lets see I got an Atlas C30-7 for $20.00 at my LHS and im going back to get a BN U33C this weekend for $30. They have really good deals compared to HobbytownDead [xx(]. The only problem with the U33C is im going to have to paint the handrails green to match BN practice but its still a good deal!
Long Live The Burlington Northern!
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 24, 2007 4:17 PM

I dunno.. both of my LHS's sometimes have items that are just too good to pass up. I think once there was a Christmas sale at one store and I walked out with like 2 for 1 worth a few dollars example one Proto Tankcar assembled and one free. I worked the system within the sale rules and went home feeling like a robber.

At the other store I picked up a assembled feedmill that was used on a local layout and adopted it for my railroad. I dont remember what I paid for it but definately less than a retail box kit plus paints, glues etc. I will be adding bins and stuff to it so eventually it wont be such a deal.

I managed to buy a few engines direct for less than what either store would charge for them via the internet but when I think on it, there isnt really that much of a savings at the end of the day.

  • Member since
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  • From: Seattle WA
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Posted by Hoople on Friday, August 24, 2007 4:20 PM
Me? Either a spectrum 2-8-0 with sound for $142.50 (Still at that price too!) or the BLI blueline big boy with sound for $260.
Mark.
  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Friday, August 24, 2007 4:24 PM

Well I could make a REALLY good deal. My LHS has a WC GP38-2 for 55 bucks, and the orginal price was $77. Other wise the best deal I have made was getting a $110 locomotive for 90 bucks.

  • Member since
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  • From: Middleton WI (West of Madison)
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Posted by mj5890 on Friday, August 24, 2007 4:32 PM

 

Bachman Spectrum F40 for $35  retail $105

BNSF Premium heritage SD-75M(fully assembled) for $60 retail $140

and many more but those are the big ones

1 BNSF 2 Amtrak 3 UP 4 everybody else I try really hard not to have to try hard at anything hard at all because that would be hard I never recommend my recommendations
  • Member since
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  • From: Chicagoland
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Posted by cbq9911a on Friday, August 24, 2007 4:37 PM
Best deal I ever got was a Lionel 6460 crane for 75 cents when I was 11 years old.
  • Member since
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  • From: Amish country Tenn.
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Posted by loathar on Friday, August 24, 2007 4:47 PM
It was an old Lionel switcher. (don't remember which model) Gave a friend $5 for it. Sold my O gauge stuff a few years later and got $125 for it from a collector. So it was probably worth twice that.
Moderator
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Posted by tstage on Friday, August 24, 2007 5:22 PM
  • Diesel: Proto 2000 NYC S1 switcher - MSRP $110...$29.99
  • Steam: Proto 2000 Erie 0-8-0 switcher - MSRP $250...$80

Both were brand spankin' new... 

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Canada's Maritime Provinces
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Posted by Railphotog on Friday, August 24, 2007 6:21 PM

Broadway Limited On30 2-8-0 with sound - FREE!   Won it in a magazine photo contest!

One I paid for was earlier this year - A Precision Craft On30 Galloping Goose with sound, list price $300.00 but retailing on sale for $99.00.  Got it from a fellow getting out of the hobby for $60.00 Canadian, postage included!  It cost the guy about $12.00 to mail it! 

 

 

 

Bob Boudreau

CANADA

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

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 191 posts
Posted by bb4884 on Friday, August 24, 2007 6:24 PM

I won't reveal my sources....Shy [8)]

 

I got 12 Walther's' Heavyweights in UP's TTG for $17 eachCool [8D]

  • Member since
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  • From: Central Florida - US
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Posted by kog1027 on Friday, August 24, 2007 6:38 PM

Atlas Wide Vision Caboose, NIB.  $1 out of an estate auction.

Never know what you will find.

Mark Gosdin

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: northern nj
  • 2,477 posts
Posted by lvanhen on Friday, August 24, 2007 7:39 PM
Lionel Veranda Turbine (HO) for 395+ tax!!  Check the current prices on E thing!!!Big Smile [:D]
Lou V H Photo by John
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Posted by elauterbach on Friday, August 24, 2007 7:45 PM

I purchased a brass HO Overland Models Milwaukee Road S2a 4-8-4 for a little over $400. Great engine!

Eric

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Page, AZ
  • 355 posts
Posted by Chuck Geiger on Friday, August 24, 2007 8:13 PM
Revell buildings were the bomb. I found the Yard buildings for $10.00 brand new a few years ago at a local LHS.

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Shenandoah Valley The Home Of Patsy Cline
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Posted by superbe on Friday, August 24, 2007 8:16 PM

 pcarrell wrote:

 

"What was the best deal you ever got on train stuff?"

I picked up a Quick Strip automatic self adjusting Wire Stripper for wires 12 to 24 gauge at Wall Mart along with some other stuff. The Stripper wouldn't scan so I told the clerk that I would be back next week. The same thing happened the next time and the clerk called a supervisor. When she couldn't get it to scan she let me have it for $1. It was around a $20 item.

Bob

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Dallas, GA
  • 2,643 posts
Posted by TrainFreak409 on Friday, August 24, 2007 8:29 PM

An N scale Con-Cor Veranda Turbine for free.

And second to that would probably be a Kato EF-58 for $25.

Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern

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  • From: nebraska
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Posted by slow train Ed on Friday, August 24, 2007 8:29 PM

 Well some one is going to say it doesn't pertain to this forum but I'm going to tell it anyway. I paid $12.00 for a wedding ring and shes still wearing it today after 37 years.LoL.As for train things I have had several times traded a freind for some things he didn't want and I didn't tell him it was just what I was looking for.He was so happy to get the other things I still haven't told him.

slow train Ed

  • Member since
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  • From: BC, CANADA
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Posted by Pathfinder on Friday, August 24, 2007 9:15 PM

A brass SD40-2 for $50 CDN, painted BC Rail.  It would derail on any curves and the LHS owner was fed up with it.

Simple fix, replace the dried out tubing with proper shafts and u joints.  It is now the pride of my CP Rail fleet.

Keep on Trucking, By Train! Where I Live: BC Hobbies: Model Railroading (HO): CP in the 70's in BC and logging in BC
  • Member since
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  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted by selector on Friday, August 24, 2007 9:19 PM
 slow train Ed wrote:

 Well some one is going to say it doesn't pertain to this forum but I'm going to tell it anyway. I paid $12.00 for a wedding ring and shes still wearing it today after 37 years.LoL.

slow train Ed

Approve [^]

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  • From: EASTERN USA
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Posted by LD357 on Friday, August 24, 2007 9:28 PM

Hmmmmm....best deal I've ever gotten? Well I've been very fortunante many times to get excellent deals, some on EBAY, [from people who had no idea what they were selling], some from a little LHS I go to {recently it was a NIB Athearn Bluebox SD60 in Sante Fe livery for  $5}.

  But I'd have to say the best deal I've EVER gotten.....was a trip to an auction.

  My finace saw a listing in the local paper for an auction and it listed ''HO scale trains'',  so we went to it,  it was in a VFD hall and it was an estate auction,  lots of ''antiques'' and home interiors and .......a complete layout minus the benchwork.

  The locos were the first train stuff they brought up and they went for $12 ea. bidders choice.....one guy took 2 locos and the others went back up for bids a while later.

  I bid $2 and it was looking good for me, but 2 others bid it up to $7ea......one guy took a Conrail painted steamer and the other guy got 2 docksiders....I took a Bachmann Spectrum Geep in Pennsy black and a slightly damaged Rivarossi steamer.  {both run beautifully].

  But the best deal came when the layout goodies came up....14 boxes full of buildings,kits, track ad landscaping stuff. I bid $2 but it quickly went up to $10 a box....the high bidder got pick of the boxes and took ONE!

  When they came back up a few mins. later my $2 was the ONLY bid! I took home 13 boxes piled high with goodies for $26 plus tax.....in one box there was at least $300 worth of Woodland Scenics stuff, there was old Bachmann stuff...like a bascule bridge, 9 unbuilt building kits and probably 15 or so Kibri, Faller and Heljan buildings already built [including a nifty little motorized water wheel with a pump].There were bunches of Life-Like figures and diecast cars and trucks. And a lot of TYCO operating accessories.

  It took me hours to sort through all the stuff and get it stored. I have no idea exactly what all that stuff would cost new.....but it's gotta be close to $1000.

 It's sad that all that stuff ended up at auction because no one in the family wanted it. But at least it wasn't just tossed out. I'll be using that stuff for years, and happy every time I do because I got such a deal.

LD357
  • Member since
    May 2006
  • 98 posts
Posted by IRONHORSE77 on Friday, August 24, 2007 10:18 PM

My best buy was a Varney brass Berkshire with a japanese S.P. brass tender for 25.00

Chuck

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    December 2003
  • From: Rhode Island
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Posted by davekelly on Friday, August 24, 2007 10:37 PM
The best deal I ever got?  Joining the forum.  Cost me nothing and I've learned things that would have cost big time bucks to learn the hard way.
If you ain't having fun, you're not doing it right and if you are having fun, don't let anyone tell you you're doing it wrong.
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 24, 2007 10:52 PM
my best deal would probably be my stewart C-630, paid $70 when retail is about $149. I later added dofasco trucks and a coat of CN stripes a few other details and it's now a MLW C-630M which overland makes for about $800 or something like that. so, it turned out to be a great deal
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Central Illinois
  • 245 posts
Posted by Texas Chief on Friday, August 24, 2007 11:50 PM

How about an ATSF brass 4-6-4 Hudson in very good condition and running for $35?

 Dick

 Texas Chief

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Colorado
  • 707 posts
Posted by joe-daddy on Saturday, August 25, 2007 12:20 AM

CVP T9000E wireless throttle, NIB, mint, $99 bucks free shipping, eBay. . .

 

My website and blog are now at http://www.joe-daddy.com
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Posted by NYCentral1 on Saturday, August 25, 2007 4:02 AM

 davekelly wrote:
The best deal I ever got?  Joining the forum.  Cost me nothing and I've learned things that would have cost big time bucks to learn the hard way.

I'll second that one...Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

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