The books mostly do contain some errors.
Some on purpose so they I.D. their info if plagiarized without credit etc.
I might use a guide to back what I see in SOLD auction results better, but the sold listings are usually the current value if you knock off lowball luck and deep pocket apathic buys. You need a decent sampling for an average.
Some guides do try to raise values and can be victim to MFG. pressures. This is for guides in general, not just trains. I can think of various card, comic book, doll & houses, and general toy guides that are definitely guilty in my eyes. To assume trains are immune is wreckless.
Ive been playing with O trains over fifty years and only recently began associating AF with O as well as S.
