Trevize,
You might want to contact Stout as well, as they would auction your collection for a fee versus selling it outright to Trainz. I think a straight up auction would probably bring in my dollars to you, the seller.
Jim
Everyone is giving great advice.
I would advise selling only because 10 years is a long time-stuff gets damaged, moved around or disappears.
Not to mention the technology of this hobby is bursting at the seams with great innovations showing up almost monthly.
I would keep sentimental pieces(no brainer) and perhaps enough to put around a Christmas Tree where-ever you are.
One of my patients ended up in an assisted living one bedroom apt and managed to have a nice layout in his unit which my kids loved to see when I brought them to visit
Why not leave at least part of the decision to the kids?
I'm sure they are going to keep some toys right?
I was heart broken when my Grandfathers collection was sold.
I also had to move states a few times, and choose what toys to take. and which to leave. Given a choice over any toys, my trains always stayed.
I cant help to think with moving overseas, your used personal items would be exempt from some importing costs, allowing time to decide to keep, or pass on the equipment to some Aussie O-gauge fans. Id think they could save a buck, & you could gain one.
I bet you'd have more fun in a hunt for Krokodil, before crocodile
.
If you sell it all, it is gone forever-no getting it back. I would be reluctant to part with it all, a least keep some even if it is stored somewhere. Good luck.
I spent 20 years in the military often moving and never having enough room to run my trains. I kept everything I had in storage and don't regret it at all. When you come back to America your sons will be older and you all can enjoy them together and have a great appreciation for them
Originally Posted by Trevize:
I know that by very nature of this forum and our love for trains pretty much everybody will say "Don't do it!"
Do I love model trains. YES very much so. I have great enjoyment from modeling the ATSF steam era and I also really enjoy messing with control systems, computer control, PS/2 upgrades and all the tech that goes along with it. I'm a UNIX guy by trade so hacking and tinkering are in my very nature.
Reality check - Wife, 2 sons and myself are moving. We're moving overseas and will likely move many more times in the next 5-8 years. We'll be in small apartments and likely other interim arrangements. There's won't be a permanent layout for at least 10 years if ever. Some of the cities that we will likely end up in just don't have the space at my price point to build anything unless it is a small carpet central. Honestly, I don't see running 3rd Rail engines and GGD cars on a carpet central.
Next reality check - Where would all the trains GO? Storage? If storage where? In the USA? Seems a poor location as I'll be in Australia. Ship and store in Australia for 10 years? That doesn't seem like a good plan either. Even after 10 years it won't be likely that I'll be building a new layout.
Taking a hard look at it.... Choices... I don't see giving up on a great job opportunity and a really nice future for my family simply because I want a basement full of trains. That just doesn't jive at all. Also, it isn't like model trains are my only hobby. Astronomy/Astro-Physics is also a big deal in my world. I presently own a very nice telescope and while cumbersome all the telescope gear is portable and can by stored in a closet. Astronomy, can travel with me where ever I end up. That's a big plus!
As, you can see I'm strongly leaning toward selling. It just kills me tho. I love model trains. Will, I regret it? No doubt, of course I will. Is it the better choice? I think so. Storing trains for 10+ years doesn't exactly allow me to enjoy them. I'd only be stressing over them, paying for storage and insurance for quite some time. At present I figure sell it all, take the cash, invest it in some long term stocks and if in 10 years I'm someplace where I can do model trains again I will have made some money (hopefully) instead of spent money on storage and insurance, and I can start again. I'd likely switch to 2-Rail and I've always had a desire to do On3. On3 is great from a size and space issue. I'd likely be in a much smaller space in the future anyway.
When you come back to America your sons will be older and you all can enjoy them together and have a great appreciation for them
That's just it tho... We're likely not coming back! In fact this whole thing is based on a 1 way trip.
Aw, you can come back. Obama will be out of the White House in two years.
What, me worry?
