Have you ever thrown away a train?

[Jetrock]

Because Goodwill and Salvation Army have no interest in broken and non-functional things. I don't mind donating functional stuff to thrift stores--in fact, after my annual house-clearing yard sale we make a ceremonial trip to Goodwill with the stuff that didn't sell--but we don't bother giving them things that they will obviously toss. I suppose you can fool yourself into thinking that the Goodwill will find a home for that smashed-flat boxcar or that box of several hundred horn-hook couplers, but in truth, they're just going to chuck them out because they can clearly see that the stuff is broken junk. Thrift stores operate like any other store--they want merchandise that will move, and broken junk won't!

As far as giving things away, if I think a model has any salvageable value I DON'T throw it out--but I see little point in keeping things like damaged brass flex track.

As an example: In another thread, I mentioned that I recently purchased sfour large boxes of railroad-related stuff for $50 at a garage sale. Those boxes included some real rarities and treasures (a 1959 Marklin catalog, an Eheim trolley-bus set, a Roundhouse SP 2-8-0 unbuilt kit), some decent stuff (Kibri and Faller structures, built and unbuilt, a couple Roco HO scale American-pattern cars, a Tyco 4-6-2), some toy-train stuff (a bunch of Tyco cars and an engine, with a hatload of old Tyco "toy-train" HO accessories, mostly 60's-70's vintage) and some absolute garbage (badly-bungled and damaged building kits, badly oxidized brass rail, damaged dime-store plastic trees, mangled-beyond-recognition car components.)

Of the above, I'm picking a few of the treasures and the good stuff to keep. The rest will wind up on eBay or I'll get a table at the next train show. The toy-train stuff I'll eBay--whatever doesn't sell will go to my nephew, who has a toy train set and would just love a working Tyco concrete-pipe-loading flatcar set. But the junk is already in the trash can.

[espeefoamer]

Never threw out a train.Many years ago,i found a Lionel Santa Fe FA stuck nose first in a commode at church.[:0]I took it home and it ran!One time while walking along the tracks ,I found an American Flyer gondola.[:)]

[Anonymous]

Yes, two Kato sd40-2 that wouldn't run new out of the box, and a bachmann amtrak passenger set that sounded so loud it was junk! Both hit the basement wall before meeting the trash can. I buy neither bachmann or kato now.

[TrainFreak409]

I HAVE NEVER THROWN A TRAIN AWAY. Even as a little kid, I have always be attached to them. I don't think I could bring myself to the terrible action of trashing a train. How could anyone (in their right mind) do that?

Hey, is anybody offended by the vendors at shows that sell melted locomotive shells? I am not talking about accidently melted, there are people that slightly torch a shell, and sell it to other people. Anybody see this as wrong, other than me?

[8]TrainFreak409[8]

[Jetrock]

Why would people deliberately melt locomotive shells? I mean, I can't see a retailer doing something like that unless there was some specific reason...

[underworld]

Hey....before you guys throw anything out.....send me an email. I work part time with a charity group that gets kids involved in hobbies to keep them from getting into trouble.
If you are going to dump it, let me know and if it is something that we can use...we'd be happy to pay the postage.
underworld
[e-mail]
Thanks!

[vsmith]

Tossed out old broken plastic Marx bottom feeders when i was a kid. Tossed old Tyco POS engine and cars later. Lately I try to recycle everything but I got a bottom of the barrel G scale toy train that a relative gave me as a well meaning gift, salvages some cars but after stripping the engine of parts it got got catapulted into the dumpster!

[Anonymous]

I don't even throw away all the horn-hooks and talgos I cut off when I swapped them out with KD's.... And I've got tons of plastic wheelsets that I will never use. Will I ever throw anything out? I doubt it! Even my current layout that is scheduled for demolition will be mostly recycled. (OK, the Atlas track will hit the dumpster! [xx(] That's about all though.)

[jjbmish]

I still have the first train that I got over 30 years ago. Its an old Tyco "Sante Fe" set. I don't run the engine anymore, and the cars are stored in a box, but there's no way I could throw that out. If it may be needed I keep it. Of course I have finally started to throw out the old horn style couplers. LOL

John

[Anonymous]

I'm glad I don't throw anything away - one of my German N-scale locos that has been out of action for about 5 years will soon be making a comeback as I've discovered a source for the parts it needs!

[West Coast S]

Never, won't happen in my life! I did aquire several old Cary metal shells for the FT and several E units at a yard sell for a $3.00, too bad I can't use them as I model the SP circa 1946 in S, the deal was too good to pass up and i'm compulsive hoarder regardless on scale.

[cheese3]

I HAVE NEVER THROWN ANY THING AWAY! I even save the plastic racks model kit pieces are held together in the box with.

[Anonymous]

No way. !!!!!!

[johncolley]

If it is absolutely junk with no redeeming value tossing it is good for eliminating frustration over poor operating. However...If it has any use at all I would give it to an interested kid who doesn't have any family income to support his/her interest.

[Anonymous]

u can take out the engine and use them as dummies

[Anonymous]

NEVER!!! The only model-railroad related item i've ever thrown away was a model car that my sister stepped on. It looked like it had, well, been hit by a train!!!

[rexhea]

I certainly have been tempted to bounce a few trouble makers off the wall or shoot hoops with them, but...no I never followed through and still have them all. I just hung in there until I finally got them working right.

REX

[METRO]

I've been called crazy more than once for my Model Power rebuilds. (It's like scratchbuilding but a lot more annoying, although once finished, you can brag to anyone about it and get respect.)

So no, I even have several old Tyco toy trains from when I was little and I still have em (abet in my scrap box and canabalized for their weights.) I've been told that my workbench resembles a chop shop. As a college student I really don't have the money to throw anything away, and I've had to be very inventive on many of my modeling projects, so I never know when that old Tyco F-7 power truck will come in use for something or another.

I'm also a master recycler when it comes to equipment. My track cleaner is an old Model Power Industrial switcher that has been modified to poli***he railheads.

~METRO

[cspmo]

I had two Proto coverhoper, that did a kamikaze dive of the layout, that I threw away.

[Anonymous]

No ! If one of my "kids" die, my rail museum expands. I'll sometimes use my dead
4-4-0 for spare parts (I repair my engines). If its in too bad of condition I leave it on my
desk for memories.

[locomutt]

NO!!!
The wife calls me a 'packrat'.
Have thrown away a few things that I Know I wouldn't,or can't use,
otherwise,I've still got them.

[Anonymous]

Never throw out a train (they are pratically sacred). I wonder why God had them half
invented so late.

[trainboyH16-44]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G


Why is it that we never throw them away? Would anyone admit ever tossing one?

I have never thrown away a train, because of sentimental value. My first engine, my first SD40-2, my first multimark SD40-2, my first SMALL mulimark SD40-2, my last athearn SD40-2, My first AC4400, So on and so on. I haven't even thrown away that Model Power grain car that I unleashed my collected anger at Model power grain cars on with a large sledgehammer and a power drill.
Trainboy

[Glen1]

The only time I've thrown anything out has been because it's too badly damaged to do anything with or it's been an old, cheaper piece of equipment that I've used to practice weathering on. Otherwise, I try to turn them into a credit at a hobby shop or even some cash. There's almost always somone who'll want something you've long since decided is of no use. I've taken quite a few items that I don't want to hobby shops and gotten something for them. A couple of guys I know have put "junk" on the tables at train shows and they it's amazing how fast the stuff goes.

[mcouvillion]

I can't bring myself to throw out a train, no matter how bad it is wrecked. I figure I can use it for something. I made the mistake of swapping a car I really liked for one of a kind that I collect. Never again! I wish I hadn't done that.

A friend went to the dump once and stumbled over a whole box of HO trains someone had pitched. He scooped them up and got most running. One was a first-generation Athearn Hustler, totally disassembled. It actually had all of the parts. I had one that I was going to re-gear, so I did his too. Turns out these ended up being our most expensive engines on the layout, once the machinist's time for building the supports for the gear towers is included in the price of the engines. Ernst makes gear sets for second-generation Athearn Hustlers, NOT first-generation. We had two of the wrong ones. By the way, they both run great!

Another friend found out that a neighbor was tossing a bunch of old Lionel, so he collected those. The 1955 Wabash F3 A/B units are worth $700 - $1000 alone. I have a set and tried to get his for an ABBA lashup. No dice!

Some folks don't have a clue as to the value of what they own and discard.

Mark C.

[camarokid]

No way. I'll put it back in the box it came in and store it until I either fix it or leave it there until I am no more. Then my family can deal with it.
Archie

[Anonymous]

I lost a great N-scale layout in a divorce! It was evaluated so high that I decided she could have it. (I kept the houseboat.) Funny thing: when the final split was made she mistakenly sent me a box containing 20 ConCor smooth-side Santa Fe passenger cars. I WAS BACK IN BUSINESS!

[Anonymous]

I also bought a Lionel Pennsy steam turbine and several cars from a kid playing with them in a sandbox for $5.00, with his parents OK. Wasn't that close to throwing them away?

[FJ and G]

I'm getting ready to throw away a Lionel popcorn train that came with a 10 gallon can of mixed popcorn at Wal-Mart (the can and train set ran me $5 last December--nice can w/Lionel pictures). I'll give the train set (but not the can) away for free if you email me we'll discuss.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G

I'm getting ready to throw away a Lionel popcorn train that came with a 10 gallon can of mixed popcorn at Wal-Mart (the can and train set ran me $5 last December--nice can w/Lionel pictures). I'll give the train set (but not the can) away for free if you email me we'll discuss.

NO DAVE, DON'T DO IT!!!! [:0]There is still hope.

Quick guys, we need an intervention here. Anybody in the DC area, Dave needs help.[swg]

Did you eat the popcorn?[:p][dinner][(-D][(-D][(-D]