Skip to main content

I've noticed the asking prices for electronically old engines are quite high, considering. I'm not interested in them, but do they actually sell at near their former list price? There have been great strides made recently in sound and smoke, not to mention the action scenarios, and IR transmitter. These observations have made the auction sites and old as new stock at many stores little more than a walk down memory lane for me.

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I've noticed the asking prices for electronically old engines are quite high, considering. I'm not interested in them, but do they actually sell at near their former list price?

yes and no....

  

Keep in mind this is "Train/ Holiday" Season so prices are more toward MSRP than discounted. The economy and the public's buying power will ultimately dictate the worth.

 

For the Astute hobbyist, they will "stay Clear of this scenario" unless they "desparately" have to have it. for the uninformed....  There is the old Adage... "a Sucka Born every minute"

Last edited by prrhorseshoecurve
Originally Posted by cjack:

I've noticed the asking prices for electronically old engines are quite high, considering....but do they actually sell at near their former list price?

Yes, I'm seeing PS-1 and Locosounds items that are approaching the original MSRP. I'm wondering if the market has already bottomed out of this generation of items.

Last edited by Gilly@N&W

I'm just getting started but this is mostly the market I'm in. I'm pulling the electronics out to swap them for alternative control so price is very important to me. While the scale detail maybe better on newer models, I actually prefer the durability to scale ratio of the Weaver/MTH offerings in the late 90s-early 00s as well as the Scaleking / Trainman models.  

 

Based on my research of past sales, I won't pay more than $130 for a PS/1 premier engine - I'll up it for PS2 but not much. I often will test the waters - make offers on over-priced auctions and provide data - some sellers will come down to reality.  I've bought four MTH Premier engines this year - 2 PS2 and 2 PS/1 all for just under $125 per engine. 

 

As always, the road (and availability at that moment) really effects the price.  

Last edited by Jacobpaul81

With few exceptions, I will no longer buy older product.  Because my layout is centered around Lionel's Layout Control System, any product I buy now will probably have Lionel's Legacy system and especially with the sensor. The exceptions are items that have not been recently released, or will never again be made, that I want such as 3rd Rail's PRR N1 or Q1.  In these cases, I'll buy them knowing that they will need to be upgraded.

Originally Posted by cjack:

I've noticed the asking prices for electronically old engines are quite high, considering. I'm not interested in them, but do they actually sell at near their former list price?

Wow, this is a loaded questions!

 

Generally speaking, TMCC locomotives are selling well below MSRP on the secondary market. Sometimes at less than 50%. I could cite several but won't bore you. Sellers asking MSRP for TMCC locomotives have had them for sale for years. There's a reason those items don't sell-true hobbyist know better. Reality-the person who has occasional interest and thinks the item is 'cool' or anyone who doesn't know the market prices are their prey.  I'm sure they 'hook' one every now and then.

 

I don't use the Bay as a reference. Several different auction company results, estate sales, and other means are a much better way of determining a sale price-Opinion. A bidding war will skew any auction result. Besides, it's just an 'ideal price' to determine anyhow.  Actual price determined by seller/buyer.

There have been great strides made recently in sound and smoke, not to mention the action scenarios, and IR transmitter. These observations have made the auction sites and old as new stock at many stores little more than a walk down memory lane for me.

I really agree with you.  I have several TMCC locomotives, and enjoy them, but I much prefer the late Legacy stuff.  I could care less about the newest electronic 'gizmo'-I like the operating characteristics, latest clear sound, quilable whistles, and other parts of Legacy. 

 

Actually, I'd do without all that stuff for a truly accurate, detailed, scale locomotive-that's just me.

 

For upgrades, I have to buy it cheap.  Otherwise, not worth the money in the end.  Exception is something I really want, never made in command control, and I 'have' to put in my collection.  But, most of those items have been made by Lionel, MTH, or 3rd Rail by now.

Originally Posted by Norton:

I factor in the cost of replacement electronics when buying used engines. I assume they are bad ahead of time. I have noticed a few older items with asking prices higher than they were new but I doubt many are being sold. 

 

Pete

My thoughts exactly. You never know what the poor thing has been through before you purchase it. Figuring in the new electronics from the start, you are covered when they do give out. That could very well be on your first trial run.  

 

And as CAPPilot stated, you need a post 2010-2011 or later Legacy engine to get the sensor for use with the new sensor tracks and control items. Also a good point.

Originally Posted by N&W 1218:
Luck you Chuck! Looks like a FEF Northern may be in your future with all of those great features. The 844 Greyhound was my first Legacy Steamer. I can remember blowing the quilling whistle over and over and over again. Still one of my favorites.  I'll have to get a Black one now.

Ehhhhhh...

Not sure about the FEF...looks pretty nice.

 

I would want to buy an H7 if it weren't weathered. Why don't they offer both?

 

I think the weathering is way too much streaking and grime and rust...I don't remember real steamers looking that awful when I was a kid.

cjack - steamers were often even more "awful"-looking than those in the catalogue. Of course, I find proper weathering to be very appealing - the shiny toy look does not appeal to me (Tinplate is an exception, naturally). Some steamers - depending on service and road and when they were last shopped - did look relatively "sparkly" for a while.

All you have to do is look on the Internet to see the real things (NOT excursion locos) to see just how beautifully dirty these things could be.

 

=====

 

I have found Lionel (and MTH, to a lesser degree) electronics to be very reliable over the years, and I do not hesitate to buy an older loco if I want it. Some locos are abused, but most of these things are bought by older adults and have been gently used, intentionally or not.

 

Personally I have not noticed a spike in older loco (I pay attention to steam, mostly, so...)

prices on Mr Bay; in fact, I continue to find them hard-to-resist low. Of course, there are many high-priced ones out there - and there they continue to sit, unsold.

 

There is an interesting brass articulated out there right now - over-priced in general plus the seller openly says (as he should) "does not run". I think that the s/h is high, too.

It will stay there, I imagine. Been there a while. He is asking $550 for a $150 (as is) loco.

Not worth $550 in pristine shape.

 

But, the bargains abound, at least on Mr Bay. 

Last edited by D500

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×