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Hello,

I am helping a model railroad widow dispose of her husband's huge O-scale railroad in their Atlanta, GA basement. The husband scratch-built a passenger station - looks like a Southwestern Santa Fe style architecture to me (see attached photo). It is in three pieces: station is 40" x 17" x 13" tall; passenger platform is 46" x 9" x 7" tall; left portico is 9" x 9" x 8" tall. According to the widow and her daughters, the husband has won awards for the structure. The widow has agreed to donate the station to the Southeastern Railway Museum in Buford, GA. In this way, a permanent remembrance of her husband will be established at the Museum. The Museum will provide her a donation letter for tax purposes; but they are not allowed to appraise the value. I can fill in an amount; and if the Museum feels it is reasonable, they will sign the donation letter. I'm hoping that some of you O-scale structures folks can provide me with a realistic, optimistic value estimate. If you need more information, or want to talk further, I can be reached at 678-615-2131 (home); 813-610-0295 (cell); fred.rhyne@comcast.net. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

IMG_0290

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  • IMG_0290: O-Scale Southwestern Santa Fe style train station scratch-built model
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That is a model of the Atlantic Coast Line Station in Orlando Florida , that is still standing and used by Amtrak today.

 

If it is well built with interior and is not deteriorated $3000 , it should measure in length well over 8 ft long if it is actually scaled out to the real station. It is a very large station in real life.

 

Looks like HO scale , compared to the 2x4 benchwork above it. I built a model of this in shallow relief for a customer in Orlando.

amtrak 1

amtrak 2

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Last edited by Scratchbuilder1-48

The Sweet lady needs an appraisal, on paper, that would be acceptable to the IRS.    Any value $500 or less is probably no big deal to a related estate settlement.  Values in the thousands may take some justification with associated paper work.  You would think the museum would have a list of appraisers available. The museum would be issuing paper work related to the donation.  

IMO    Mike CT     

Last edited by Mike CT

Hello Scratchbuilder 1-48,

Thanks for your input. This is amazing. I think we now know what and where the prototype building is. If you add up the dimensions in my first post, you get (40" + 46" + 9") 93" long; just shy of 8' long. So if your 8-foot length was for O-scale, then it's right on. I'll look at the interior; I haven't done that yet. How much of the value is determined by the interior?

Hello, Mike CT,

And thanks for your input. The Museum has said they will provide a donation letter. When I asked, they said they couldn't provide appraisals; that was up to us. Perhaps their group of appraisers are for the real prototypes and artifacts. The widow told me her CPA said that she would need a formal appraisal if the value exceeded $5,000.00. I will confirm that with her; because you're $500 figure sounds more correct to me. The widow probably thought she heard $5000 instead of $500.

Hi Bernie,

To my knowledge it was never on the layout. Obviously, from the picture it is not currently on the layout. The next time I am over at the layout I will investigate further. I can say that the facia board along the edge of the layout is not 2 x 4, but is about 2-1/2" to 3" high plywood strip. I'll look at that further as well.

Originally Posted by DaveJfr0:

It all depends on the craftsmanship.  It's really hard to tell what condition or the build quality of the station is actually in with such a photo so far away. (Ie - edges may be beat up from wear, building is just fragile, or the buildings weren't built square, windows/trim/etc. are poorly glued together, etc.)  They look great from the photo, but again, closer up photos would be needed to pinpoint something.  Also, are there interiors, or lighting?  If done right, that adds to the value.

 

 

I totally agree. Assuming fine craftsmanship, $1,200. So-so craftsmanship $200. I've seen the range at York...buildings priced at $100. that I would not want for free, up to a fine handmade "shortened" model of the Hellgate bridge that I was very happy to pay $325. for.

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