10 years ago my grandson wanted me to get out the trains from my dad's collection. They had been in boxes wrapped in news paper from the 50's. I begrudgingly got them out and we started laying track on the floor. I told him I had to go upstairs for a moment. While I was gone the little **** had the transformer hooked up and one of the engines running. Wow I thought after all these years and it still runs. I then thought these have got to be worth big money. After checking in train collectibles and there value reality hit home. That engine was listed for $80 to $150. Now if l had the original box that was a different story. Seems the box had more value than the engine. But the big thing was that started a love for this hobby . Seeing that old train running on the tracks and the delight in my grandsons face triggered my emotions and made me a kid again.
Well here I am at 80 still running trains , building a layout for who ME. Value for me is remembering how I felt 70yrs ago when my dad and I were running trains. Now it's seeing the excitement in little and old when they visit my layout. That to me is VALUE.