For postwar, I'll only buy it if there is an emotional connection. For example, as a kid I had a Texas Special 1055, like those described above. It got tossed when we moved and I'd like to have it back. If I saw one in decent shape for $20 - 30, I'd grab it. So if the piece has some meaning and the price is right, I'll buy. Every now and then it is fun to run my postwar stuff. It is a pleasant reminder of my childhood.
Otherwise, I prefer new equipment, which is nicely painted, runs more smoothly and does many more things. I can easily run 25 car trains behind Williams locomotives for as long as I'd like. Modern cars roll easily and track well through switches. Postwar cars have higher rolling resistance limiting the size of trains you can pull (and yes, I do oil the axles!).
To me from an operating standpoint, modern equipment is far superior. From an emotional standpoint, there's something wonderful about a 736 pulling a freight or a 2353 pulling an aluminum streamliner. A collector's standpoint would be entirely different.
Too much postwar on dealers' tables is dirty, rusty, with no price on it. Then you ask and wonder if you are getting the best price. Or you get the story about how rare and valuable the piece is. Who cares if the piece has chipped decals, scratches and may run poorly? For collectors, the piece should be in excellent condition to command the prices in the guides. For operators it should be clean and a good value. A clean piece with normal wear should not command the guide price for a like new piece, but many dealers seem to think it should and carry these pieces back and forth to show after show. My choice is not to buy; their choice is to hold out for the price they want, and that is what makes the world go around. As long as the choices are freely made it is all good. That's how a free market should work. The best sellers price items to sell and put money in their pockets, then hustle to gather new merchandise and repeat the process.
I like to run my trains, so the newer equipment does the job for me. But every now and then I do enjoy a nostalgic postwar night! When my son comes over, he always asks to run the postwar stuff, which was all we had when he was a child.
