The Jim Seacrest Auction

Roo posted:

Auctions like this are to confusing for me it's really for you blokes, of course if you live overseas and don't have a financial problem and not worried about expensive shipping costs bid as much as you like.

I'm confident that a couple of things I like at the auction will eventually come up elsewhere with the shipping costs to West Australia clearly stated, then I might make a move. You have to be patient if your an O scaler overseas and wait your turn. Roo.

Roo,

No doubt about it that folks like You and Max are at a distinct disadvantage having  to pay for shipping charges halfway around the world! They can eat you alive just from East coast to West coast or vice versa here in the states.

I am guessing the best bet for you would be one of the dealers or the BIG internet auction, where stuff can slip by unnoticed sometimes

Then there is the concern of  shipping damage or loss, most of which is due to inadequate packing.

Another caveat for me is trying to determine accurate condition from photos.

Cheers,

Simon

One thing I will definitely give Stout credit for is a superior packing job.  I have won auctions for everything from brass locomotives to a full size switch lantern.  Every shipment from Stout has arrived safely with no damage to the auction items.

Other than the brass engines and passenger cars, I think 99% of that stuff will be bought cheap and show up on ebay.

Simon.

The thing is for "ordinary" people, (I was going to say peasant, bit harsh!) like myself, you have to be sure of the shipping costs that's why I like that other place the shipping costs for Australia are written right in front of you if you don't like them don't bid. I just bought seven hoppers and the shipping costs to West Australia were $45 that is good, not good for one hopper, but good for seven and the Steel mill.

I once sent a parcel to America not that long ago FedEx wanted $496..... Aust Post $123 of course I went for Aust Post and it arrived safely if you want to send a real expensive item worth thousands of course you would pay the equivalent in shipping and register and insure it,  but for my plastic fantastic's that I buy I look for cheap shipping takes longer but who cares not me, I get what I want, no complaints, I'm enjoying myself. Roo.

Roo posted:

Simon.

The thing is for "ordinary" people, (I was going to say peasant, bit harsh!) like myself, you have to be sure of the shipping costs that's why I like that other place the shipping costs for Australia are written right in front of you if you don't like them don't bid. I just bought seven hoppers and the shipping costs to West Australia were $45 that is good, not good for one hopper, but good for seven and the Steel mill.      I'm enjoying myself. Roo.

Roo,

If ever there be a peasant, it is I. I am always careful with shipping, as it adds up very quickly! Considering the size of the box needed to ship 7 hoppers, you did extremely well! As long as you are enjoying yourself, you have won the game! Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks!

Simon

This second lot for the most part is selling for way more than I would have guessed.

Some item much more... some of the items, box lots of old boxcars, you would have a hard time getting anything for at a major show but went for good money. There was one lot of passenger cars that simply can not be explained. I was able to get what I went down for so it was a good day here :-)

VGN64 posted:

I went thru the process to get authorized to bid on ebay, would place bids and the screen would say you bid x  dollars then nothing would show up on the auction.........I wonder how many other people had this problem.

That's what happened to me.  None of my bids showed up.

I bid on a bunch, but only won two lots:  PSC drop bottom gon and a o/b single door.    Pricing for the Pac Limited models was firm; the single Protocraft RI 1937 modified car for $375+ premium???  Yikes!      Its a great model, but wow...

The passenger cars and some diesels were cheap, then I watched some stuff go for a price that shocked.    Someone got a steal: the lot of San Juan o/b GN cars and the CN versions---  built up and ready for paint.

Ugh I hate the bidding system... I'm done with it. 

It was an affair of irrational exuberance!

I reckon a lot of that stuff will be on that other place soon.

Hey Simon! I just picked up six Atlas gondolas for $78 + $45 shipping, which when converted to Aussie dollars means I paid $A27 each delivered to my door. For me that's a bargain. I'm happy. I love America! Roo. 

If you see those Lionel MoPac PA Diesels drift by, let me know.

BradA posted:

I bid on a bunch, but only won two lots:  PSC drop bottom gon and a o/b single door.    Pricing for the Pac Limited models was firm; the single Protocraft RI 1937 modified car for $375+ premium???  Yikes!      Its a great model, but wow...

 

The passenger cars and some diesels were cheap, then I watched some stuff go for a price that shocked.    Someone got a steal: the lot of San Juan o/b GN cars and the CN versions---  built up and ready for paint.

 

Being blessed with having almost all I need for my humble coal patch railroad I didn't partake in this iteration of the auction. 

My wallet is working on bulking up for things to come. 

Is there going to be a third auction of this collection, I read some ware that Jim had a large collection of Joe Fischer cars, or were some of the best models sold before the auction ?

Derek took me in he back room. There will be two more auctions. June 17th and the other TBA  The Fischer cars are in the next auction. They were lined up ready for pictures.

Let the fun begin - auction #3 is up with all of the Fischer cars. 

I guess this will prove that O scale brass ain't dead yet. 

Rule292 posted:

Let the fun begin - auction #3 is up with all of the Fischer cars. 

I guess this will prove that O scale brass ain't dead yet. 

I would have thought you might have said:

I guess this will prove that O scale Strathmore board ain't dead yet. 

Simon

Simon Winter posted:

Rule292 posted:

Let the fun begin - auction #3 is up with all of the Fischer cars. 

I guess this will prove that O scale brass ain't dead yet. 

I would have thought you might have said:

I guess this will prove that O scale Strathmore board ain't dead yet. 

Simon

I should have - that might have gotten a bigger rise out of the fellas here.

Bidding seems to be starting... Would almost be nice to go and see the show in person.

Rule292 posted:

Would almost be nice to go and see the show in person.

Almost, indeed. I have to reorganize my sock drawer that day and so will miss it.

mwb posted:

Rule292 posted:

Would almost be nice to go and see the show in person.

Almost, indeed. I have to reorganize my sock drawer that day and so will miss it.

You're keeping your trains in your sock drawer? 

I've no room for passenger operation but seeing a collection of Fischer cars would make it worthwhile for  me.   Old fashioned craftsmanship by a true artist.

Rule292 posted:

mwb posted:

Rule292 posted:

Would almost be nice to go and see the show in person.

Almost, indeed. I have to reorganize my sock drawer that day and so will miss it.

You're keeping your trains in your sock drawer? 

Pretty sure you are drawing an inaccurate conclusion there - just socks....that need to be aligned to magnetic North.

I've no room for passenger operation but seeing a collection of Fischer cars would make it worthwhile for  me.   Old fashioned craftsmanship by a true artist.

Then by all means go if it is indeed worthwhile to you.

Some day I will get around to building passenger cars............ I can see them now in the queue and I may get to them this decade. 

mwb posted:

 

Some day I will get around to building passenger cars............ I can see them now in the queue and I may get to them this decade. 

Just listen to a subliminal tape with soothing voices chanting: "Yellow Kid, Yellow Kid. Yellow Kid, Yellow Kid, Yellow Kid, Yellow Kid"

Simon

Auction underway.  Seems as if the price of both brass and Strathmore is holding steady.

Certainly no deals for the casual collector.  If you saw a desirable item you just had to have then you were going to pay a big premium for it.  Even if you wanted anything else with less demand it would not sell below a certain point I believe due to certain parties simply picking up inventory. I passed on several GGD and 3rd Rail passenger cars.

Another nice collection and collector gone. In all sincerety I hope the estate did well. Sounds like one last group to come.

Stout does a nice job.  I was happy with my experience on Seacrest I.

Interesting but your right. Just saw what I won and lost. Several items I had front loaded with a high bids that should of won and still lost. At least I picked up another CB&Q waycar.

I was glad to see many things receiving good bidding.  It means there is still a decent market for high end O Scale.  I could certainly see why many things I've been looking for never showed up over the past 10 years or so.  I guess he cornered the market in PRB Pine sleepers.  At last count I think 13 have shown up in the 3 auctions.

I wonder what was so special with a brass Milwaukee L3 Mikado that didn't look to special to me but went for $2400, more than 3 times the max estimate.

Apparently  at least 2 bidders with deep pockets had to have it. JMO

The Milw L3 Mike is a Bill Lenoir model.

I'm 99% sure I saw it in a hobby shop years ago for $2995. With fee, it went for about the same today.

I too was surprised at the strength of bids. The Pecos and PL brass went at current market prices, and the PL flat cars even seemed a little above market.

The few items that seemed "reasonable" were the bunch of Fisher NYC baggage cars at around 200 each, and if its as good in person as it looks on line, whoever got the Fisher Southern 10 car Heavyweight set for 1800 did really well (I just couldn't bid it up without seeing it in person).

I must say that I was delighted with my single auction win, a bunch of Weaver coal hoppers. I couldn't tell from the photos that they already had Kadee couplers and replacement Intermountain wheel sets. Factoring that into the equation, I actually paid less than $10/car body after subtracting the current cost of replacement metal IM wheels and couplers.

I finally got a pair of Sunset E7s CB&Q FOR $525. Pretty pleased with that: however, they aren't brass. The brass E units were $1000+ each more or less.

Dick 

good bids!!!! we can tell our wife's that our trains are an investment

I was trying to follow up on the Auction yesterday, but I was riding the 765 Trips Out of Joliet on Saturday, and I missed out on some excellent deals, hopefully in the next installment, they're have more of the GGD Passenger Car's for sale.

marty track posted:

good bids!!!! we can tell our wife's that our trains are an investment

Well, technically, all we can say is Jim's collection was an investment.

I was trying to follow up on the Auction yesterday, but I was riding the 765 Trips Out of Joliet on Saturday, and I missed out on some excellent deals, hopefully in the next installment, they're have more of the GGD Passenger Car's for sale.

I'm fed up with ebay and auctions. Nonetheless, I popped a couple of bids for the Seacrest auction.  The items in which I had interest, a gondola mounted snowplow, went for $350 and a a Santa Fe fish belly baggage car, painted in CB&Q MOW orange, went for $225.  I was aced out - will watch for these pieces to show up (perhaps) on the secondary market. Auctions remain irritating !

I won three single door o/b boxcars at a good rate.    I cannot believe the price paid for the PAC limited sp drop bottom gondola--$800?!

also got aced out of the Pecos atsf stock cars-- again!!!

 Arghhh

Mark, @"Santa Fe fish belly baggage car, painted in CB&Q MOW orange" that will probably be off the market for a while (unless you have a Pecos straight side sill baggage car that you'd like to trade for it ;-) )

WITZ 41 posted:

Certainly no deals for the casual collector.

The reason for this is pretty simple and common to all auctions, not just trains. They are often packed with dealers looking to buy on the cheap and resell.

If something GOOD went cheap you can rest assured you'll see it on eBay.