Run or Save for posterity

Yes, you should save it for posterity.  While enjoying the ride.  

It's a toy that was intended to be used, not wall art. I would run it but carefully lol.

A trains a train, no matter what shape. Run it kamerade!

sometimes posterity never comes....enjoy now!!

George,

Enjoy the warm and fuzzy feeling of knowing where it came from....while you run it. Abuse it by no means but give it the care and respect it deserves.

If you feel a little guilty about running it, sell it to a collector who will put it on the shelf and buy some cars you want to run with the money.

In my experience, when adults run their trains, they tend not to get banged up. There is a more risk when children are involved. So, if it were mine, I'd run it when kids aren't around, and leave it on the shelf when they are. I have plenty of other stuff to run when the kids are around, and it sounds like you do too.

Richard Kuhn ran it, so why not?

I too bought from that stout collectiona dn in the same quandry. The two steamers, the PRR s2 with smoke lifters and the PRR h9 have not been run.

I don't mean this post to be snarky, but why is it special if it was in the Carail Collection?  Is it a regular piece that was owned by Richard Kuhn or is it something rare?  Do collectors put a significant premium on pieces that came out of Kuhn's collection?

Unless it was a very rare piece, I would run it and enjoy it. 

Jim

As mentioned by JD above,

"Do collectors put a significant premium on pieces that came out of Kuhn's collection?"

Some might but I would ask myself "Do I?"

If not I'd stick that piece out there on the auction site and see what it'll bring.

I don't enjoy sitting on my posterior much.  

To give you some perspective, from Doyle's book from 2007, the rarity is a 6 in your color with value VG $175; EXC $275; LN $425, so let that help with the decision.

Thank you everyone for the comments!  From the Doyle values it appears I jeopardize about $100 to $150 in value by running it. 

To the comment about whether it matters that Richard Kuhn owned it, I do think that adds intrinsic value.  Collectors like to be able to tell the history of an item.  

I probably should run it but be careful.  It is likely not worth it to me to try to sell it on an auction site.