POLL QUESTION: What Is Your Price Range For "O" Rolling Stock?

Depending on the item, probably up to $40. Of course, there have been a couple cars that I had to have, and they had a higher price.

If it's a postwar car I have to have, I would say 100, but that's rare. I like the 20-30 range for most of my stock

In my case it depends on how accurate to prototype the piece is, and how badly I want it. I have a truly spectacular brass model of a Santa Fe "panel side" boxcar by Rich Yoder. Cost me about $400. Then there is my New York Central 19,000 series wood caboose model; the kit has been offered by Mullet River, and I had to have the Mr. Ray Grossier custom build and finish it. 

The most I ever paid for a piece of rolling stock was $85...an LCCA scale sized item.

I have to say in the $30 - $50 range depending on the car and how it was decorated.

That said I'd love to see this:

Jerry

My rolling stock represents the lines and industry I am modeling. I have paid a lot and a little to fill in the consists. Due to my track configuration I only run 18" units so the price has been moderate. Given the track limitations, I try very hard to find scale equipment and I am not afraid to pay the price for quality detailed units. Whatever the price is for such a unit I will shop until I find it and pay the best price I can find.

Scale sized cars, just bought some of the 86' Hycubes from Lionel. Paid around $70. 

In reality, I pay what they are asking for what I want.  But I am happy when freight is $25-30 each, $40 for scale, and $50-60 for passenger cars.  At least those were the prices when I started in the O scale hobby.  But I was coming from N scale and thought those were so high (That and I was a poor college student too.), but now I long for those days again with $70 freight and $110 passenger car prices becoming the new norm.

I have all MTH Primer rolling stock.  Not counting the Passenger train set I bought.  New freight cars that I had to have could be in the $60 to $70 range.  Most of the used rolling stock I have picked up has been in the $20 to $30 range.  Some times you get a deal when you buy multiple items.

I usually can find ones in the $30-$40 range, but will go up to $70 for something special.  I love to find left over or lightly used K-Line stock.

Really depends. For the "right" piece, I've been known to cross over into the realm of "stupid $$". Typically less than $100 for factory made stuff.

Gilly

49.99, anything above, I wait for someone to sell theirs, discounts or sales.

I bought almost all of my rolling stock used in the $20-30 range. I have a small layout so I don't need a lot of cars and can be picky, looking for good buys. The problem is that I can only buy what is available. I'm willing to pay the price for new if it's a car I really want and can't get used.

I'm with car guy. $35 to $40 is an easy buy. $40 to $60 only for a car that I have been looking for for a long time or otherwise really want.

Anything with a 7 or 8 in front of it - forget it. I'll look on the used market.

That's usually my price range as well.

However I have bought a few pieces of rolling stock that I just had to have for my layout and they were a little more.

Sometimes I find a nice set of cars for a really good price on the used market.

Lee Fritz

Like most of the others, $25-30 is a "don't even think about it - just get it" type decision.  I'd probably go on up from there if there was something that I just absolutely had to have. Can't think of anything that comes close - oh, wait a minute...I haven't even researched this to know if a modern equivalent exists, but if they had new or original SCALE freight cars from the 700E Hudson consist, I'd probably get stupid about shelling out for them.

At this point, I have all the rolling stock I could possibly want or need for the layout. The only time I buy new rolling stock is when something very special comes along, like Atlas special runs or the annual Milwaukee LRRC club car. I ordered all four numbers of the very limited Chicago, Milwaukee, and Puget Sound reefers, and I just unpacked the Cascade Apples car. So now I'm mostly at the high end. The limited Atlas items are in the $90 per car range. In the past, I've tried to buy most of my rolling stock on the secondary market and keep it under $40-50 per car. 

The most I ever spent for a freight car was a rare Atlas beer car that I grabbed for $125, since I wanted it and I'd seen them go for over twice that. It takes something pretty special for me to go over $100. I do have a few brass cabooses; obviously those are in a different price class altogether. 

I like to pay $50 or less for most pieces. It wasn't that many years ago when that number was $25. The dollar just ain't what it used to be.

New Freight in the area of $40 to $50.

But I am particular in what I buy. I'm not requiring scale and I'm not buying modern style.

I Run Steam and I run equipment made in that time frame.

I have cheated a bit on pieces for charities and such.

I will probably resell those at whatever I can get for them.

I also have a tight budget so I'm careful what I look for.

Dave,

A somewhat unfair question to those that do not purchase plastic on a regular basis.

Special Interest Scale.   $85.00+

Other than passenger cars, most of mine has been $25 or under.  If it is something I really want and don't think I will find cheaper I might pay $30-$35.  Beyond that... I'm not terribly inclined to buy.   That said there are the rare exceptions where eye candy like the Alaska caboose John posted would easily fetch more from my wallet.

This is a great Question and lately, I have been purchasing Lionel Aluminum Dining Station Sound Cars, so, $30 to $250 range. I try to purchase New, or Like New.

I make most of my purchases through my local hobby shops, Evansville, Nashville, and this wonderful OGR FORUM. Thanks for asking...Happy Railroading

I think $70-$80 is a fair price for a new rolling stock car. 

Of course I would love to have that same car for $50 or $25 or free, but if the manufacturer can still make money at $70-80 for a realistic car, then I am confortable paying that.

I try to keep $40 as my ceiling for freight cars. 

But if something I really want comes along I am flexible on that amount.

Really iffy when approaching $100 for anything.

The only exception I can think of is the Lionel Gold Caboose that accompanied the Lionel Gold Hudson.

I should mention that I went all out and purchased a L&N Big Woody by Brother Love (Malcolm)

  Having a car is enough for me, I don't need shelf queens.

 Average of $15 gon/flat, $22 tank/box, $33 operating or nicer stuff.

$40 or more needs to be "special".

$25-$60 is my passenger range.

Tin, I'm not shelling out more than $20 for lionel. I don't like lionel tin as much as 6" Marx. And with $5 and $10 Marx all day, Marx is a longer train for the buck.

I'm looking at 2 pieces (caboose and boxcar) that will cost me upwards of $200 apiece by the time I get trucks, Kadees, paint, and decals.  Haven't pulled the trigger yet, but that's the price for wanting something not mass-produced.

For a mass-produced car, $50-$60.  I figure I'm getting twice the quality in one car for the price of two so-so cars, plus I'm not one to accumulate just to have it.

Folks who are interested in modern unit trains probably spend a fortune to acquire multiples.

I spent $75 on a GGD ATSF 54' Steel Express Refer.  It is a very detailed car but I would not have paid any more for it.  I would have spent up to 125 bucks on your Drover Caboose.  While I have a "range" of money I am willing to spend for a type of car, I am not interested in products that do not have a specified price.    

That is why we have the MSRP for each item at our auctions. Hopefully no one will bid past that. But, you never know. Right?

Dave, LBR

Postwar stuff I look for the cheapest stuff I can find.  I like a good project, so most of the old stuff I've gotten for under $10.  If it's an operating car I need, I try to find one under $20.  Occasionally i'll buy traditionally sized new stuff, which is still usually secondhand, but still like new in box.  for that I'll try to stay under $30. 

Normal rolling stock, meaning its not a crane or something with sound or animation, etc:

Premium (scale, detailed) freight - maybe to $120 for a special car, but about $85 normally.  passenger cars, perhaps to $250 each if special, $175 max otherwise. 

Traditional size and level of "detail" - maybe to $40 if its exceptional for some reason. 

$40-$65 is about my comfort range for scale freight cars. I have no passenger cars, so I am not current on their prices. However, I hope to add some someday and somewhere in the upper price range for the freight cars would be nice, maybe like $60-$80 if that is possible these days? They don't have to be aluminum and O-63 is my largest curve so don't need the long ones either.

My preference is 1950's Lionel and I would probably go up to $ 75, but only for something really special in my mind. 

Other than that, my purchases are $15-40 for something that is nice but not perfect and usually without a box.