The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => General Discussion => Non-pinball (other coin opp) => Topic started by: ddstoys on April 13, 2013, 09:21:29 PM
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Hi guys unusual question need some advice without any sentimental attachments.
I was given my grandfather HO train set which he built over almost 20 years it takes up a full double car garage. Most points (track changers) are all electrically controlled has mountains turntable etc ill try find some photos.
It has remained in his shed since he died as I have nowhere I can out it I was recently asked to get it out of the shed :(.
I have no where to set it up or even store it had a guy ask what I wanted for it but have no idea and being sentimental to me I don't want to give it away any ideas?
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Anything is worth what someone will pay for it.
A big component of the value in this is subjective because its $ vs hours. ( I might for example prefer to pay retrospectively for your grandfathers time and skill rather than spend the time myself.
I know a train nut - i'll ask him if he can value it if you like ?
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I would look at this way - your Grandfather spent his time and obviously extracted great enjoyment from it. It was HIS hobby not yours.
Why not look for someone who would appreciate it and use it rather than someone who might have the money to buy it and then let it go to ruin??
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Was also my hobby spend countless school holiday helping him and learning how it all works that why its so hard to let it go. Was hoping to put the money away until such time I can build another one just not on this massive scale.
I've tried to work out a way to dismantle it and store it but can't figure out away :(
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Ahh ..the 'bolted to the wall never meant to be portable' style ?. Hard to say without seeing it but im guessing you'll have to cut it into sections and do some repairs to the joins later.
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Can't find the photos ill have to take a drive and sus it out
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Hope its far enough away that you get a fun roadtrip and close enough that you enjoy it ;-)
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I just purchased some of this stuff, and let me tell you, it is all VERY VERY VERY expensive. And if some of it is older, it can be worth alot MORE than some of the brand new stuff because its all highly coolectable and worth big big big bucks.
Do your homework, get a old bloke around who has been into this train stuff like your grandfather.
Some of the locomotives alone can be worth $200 to $1,000 each, track is worth alot per length, everything is worth big bucks, and even the train carriages are worth a few hundred dollars each upwards again to a grand each.
I just bought a locomotive the other day, it owes me $240, and a few carriages each at $160 each, plus some track for a few hundred, and it keeps just adding right up. You need someone who knows what they are doing to tell u what u have.
Put it this way, give it away, or sell it, get heaps of money, and pay for a brand new pinny BNIB potentially. *%* Hope it helps.
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All that is spot on. From what i have seen the biggest value seems to be in brass loco's.
I dug out some completed ebay sales to give you a guide
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171004531418
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/321070625497
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Maybe try a club like this Daniel, could be someone there that could give you some advice.
http://www.truelocal.com.au/business/corio-model-railway-club-incorporated/geelong
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Very expensive hobby. I bought a Diamond Jubilee set with minimal track for about $500 a few months back. I am scared to put together because I know that it will never stop expanding once you get the bug. I saw a personality on TV once where her husband had tracks running through every room of the house.
In your case, the value needs to be assessed on each individual component by an expert. You may find some valuable gold nuggets in there somewhere. One locomotive or carriage could be worth $50 where a rare one could be several thousand dollars.
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Actually that reminds me I have some of the better locomotives tucked away in my shed as for carriages there would have to be hundreds of them.
One of my favorite parts is a building that holds coal you drive te carriage under the hopper push the button ad the coal comes out. You then drive these special carriages to te power station and over the special bit of track and the coal drains from the carriage.
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All worth serious money Daniel. I think u will be surprised how much of a gold mine u are sitting on .
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he's right. I doubt anyone would deny "several thousand dollars" as a reasonable guess ( given its unseen)
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Daniel,
Check with the hobbyists you will be surprised at what is may be worth to someone. A few years back I went to a home in Werribee and the guy had a similar setup in his double garage and it was unbelievable! It looked exactly like a real scene, cars, houses, hills, it really was spectacular and he even had holes in the garage walls where the Loco's would venture out around some of his backyard as well. Like Brett mentioned, he took me in the house and had brand ne Locomotives in boxes some worth over $1500 that were imported from O/S. So ask around and you may do yourself and your grandfather proud!
Brett,
Is there nothing you are not into or know about or have an opinion on?? LOL
Quote "just purchased some of this stuff, and let me tell you, it is all VERY VERY VERY expensive. And if some of it is older, it can be worth alot MORE than some of the brand new stuff because its all highly coolectable and worth big big big bucks."
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my uncle use to be right into this and my wifes uncle is right into as well.
my uncle is getting very old and passed it on to one of his sons, so what he did was he luckily had a shed with a open gable in the roof section and made a mezzanine with a few access service and play holes. he also cut the size of the set in half keeping the best parts and the other half sold off to fund the shed mods.
my wifes uncle modified a few trusses in the roof and put in a bunnings attic ladder ($300) so he could get in there easier and placed some yellow tongue down and has a new area for the grandkids to play, his old property had ride on train sets and track all through the back yard so he was real serious.
I reckon downsize and keep the sentimental parts so your kids could play in a modified shed mezzanine so you play the pinnies down below and kids in the rood section.
good luck mate
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Daniel,
Check with the hobbyists you will be surprised at what is may be worth to someone. A few years back I went to a home in Werribee and the guy had a similar setup in his double garage and it was unbelievable! It looked exactly like a real scene, cars, houses, hills, it really was spectacular and he even had holes in the garage walls where the Loco's would venture out around some of his backyard as well. Like Brett mentioned, he took me in the house and had brand ne Locomotives in boxes some worth over $1500 that were imported from O/S. So ask around and you may do yourself and your grandfather proud!
Brett
I thought their were heaps of guys with opinions on this one.lol
I went into a proper train hobby shop for the first time I my life two weeks ago to buy some stuff for my acdc super mods I have been thinking about for the last month . That's when I found out how expensive this stuff was and how train stuff is only available as very expensive or just junk. People in the shop were buying locomotives for over $800 each. I went a bit overboard for some mods but its good quality stuff . Does anyone want to see the photos of what I got if ya don't believe me.
Is there nothing you are not into or know about or have an opinion on?? LOL
Quote "just purchased some of this stuff, and let me tell you, it is all VERY VERY VERY expensive. And if some of it is older, it can be worth alot MORE than some of the brand new stuff because its all highly coolectable and worth big big big bucks."
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***The last post was screwed up with the quote parts accidentally spread all over the place.
Jeff (PinballHeaven) here is the thread to see how I went into the model train shop a few weeks ago and learnt about all this expensive train stuff for the first time.
Brett
http://aussiepinball.com/index.php?topic=10526.msg137736#msg137736
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in Newcastle is one of the biggest hobby shops in Australia with a huge range of trains, mountains and tracks
I don't understand the scales but check the link out and gives you a huge range of trains but average price bottom of the range is $200 and just goes up.
https://www.frontlinehobbies.com.au/categories/G?%20Model%20Railways
even has prices for out of stock items so might aid you in giving you a new value price for similar items that you may have.
people might even find a good AC/DC train here as well
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Good idea Swinksy, those shops are very cool to visit and even better for someone like Daniel(Ddstoys) to see to work out how much the replacement cost is for the stuff his grand-dad put together.
I gave the link for the Walthers USA company on the other Stern mod thread, which can be a saving of up to 90 percent off aussie prices compared to buying directly from the USA via the internet.
I will be putting in a order thru the USA net site-Walthers, so if anyone wants something that they see at a shop anywhere, or on the Walthers USA website, send me a PM. They have trains new, and trains very very old.
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I'd contact the Corio bay model train club, and ask if a member would be happy to appraise the collection for a small donation to the club. After seeing they may have someone interested in purchasing the collection
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Good Stuff Brett! I did not see that thread till you sent it to me must have been asleep as usual! (((
Jeff