We are here in Williamsport, IN at Stout Actions looking over the Jim Seacrest O Scale collection. This will be one of three auctions. Saturday will be mostly brass, about 400+ lots. Other actions to follow next month. I suspect most bidding will be on-line but a few of the usual suspects showed up today. We can not post from the auction tomorrow because Verzion has NO signal in the area but will recap in the next issue of The O Scale Resource.
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Dan,
it should be interesting to see how strong interest is.
Interest looks real high.
Dick
I want to know who won the atsf stock cars. That was a really high bid.
A few of us were looking at each other in disbelief of some of the higher biding but then other items went way below what I though so it was a typical auction. Maybe 15 people there bought maybe 30% of the items. Of course the few things I wanted went way high ...
I am sure Norm went back to Maine with a full load, thought the Sofue model would have went higher and the PRB cars for the most part went lower. JMO
If you add the nearly 20% sellers premium to the PRB cars that brings many of them to near the market rate of $500 or more. I thought some of the Key diesels went very low. They are`nt making those again.
Key 2001 run E7 custom paint Rock Island Lot 852
Hey guys a missed bid on this guy.. whomever bought this E7 could you please contact us? We would like to buy it. The original painter of it was unable to bid and really wants to own it. Thank you
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Hmmm... I got one car at about what the regular eBay price would be (factoring in the buyers premium). Some of the locos were dirt cheap and some of the cars ridiculous.
I bid on a caboose but didn't win it. Found it for less money elsewhere after buyers premium so I'm not sorry
I drove to the auction this morning and had a fantastic time.
This collection is incredible. Seeing all those high end brass items in one place is a memory maker in its self!
I scored an item and I'm happy. As always, it's exactly as described by Stout's.
Erik, I looked at that model you posted in depth and what struck me at the time was how beautiful the paint was on it. It really stood out and that's saying something with the caliber of models in that collection. Hope the painter gets it back. Good luck!
hibar posted:I am sure Norm went back to Maine with a full load, thought the Sofue model would have went higher and the PRB cars for the most part went lower. JMO
Anything northeast related Norm bought The Sofue was painted and that held the price down.
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Interesting experience. I was happy to score one of the items I wanted. Sad to have missed out on many other wonderful models. I have a pretty long horizon in this hobby. I expect I'll see similar items come up again over the next few decades.
It was my first Stout auction activity. The on-line experience was quick but very straightforward. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to pre-bid, observe, and use the bidding system from my smart phone.
A question for those who have done online/absentee bidding before: How long should one expect the process to take for invoicing, payment processing, shipping etc.? Just curious...
It was fun, but some nice pieces got away.......
WITZ 41 posted:A question for those who have done online/absentee bidding before: How long should one expect the process to take for invoicing, payment processing, shipping etc.? Just curious...
Just depends where you are in the que. Maybe two weeks to get an invoice. Once they receive payment, shipping happens quickly. UPS ground. If you have special needs you can call and they will try to take care of you. Biggest hazard is shipping damage. They usually wrap in bubble wrap, then styrofoam peanuts. But UPS is hard on things. I have tried to get them to ship Fedex as I have less damage with them, but Stout's is stuck on UPS.
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.
How much did that Sofue model go for?
$4700
Thanks Matt
Plus the 16% (was it, in fact, 16%) plus shipping?
I believe 16% cash, 18% credit + shipping.
Thanks HIBAR
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.
Why go thru ebay when you can register and bid directly on Stout's website?
Yeah, that always threw me too. I registered right with stout
You really can't use the Ebay system on may lots, things just go to fast and the Ebay to Stout translation can result in a lot ending before you have a chance to keep up.
I bid on 9 lots, wanted to win 4, won the 4. 1 above what I expected 2 near what I expected and 1 way below what I expected. Bill Davis tends to have buyers already lined up at high prices on many things so I worried if I was bidding against him. I thought most of the passenger cars went where I expected.
I just couldn't get over the endless lots of boxcars in the auction. I'd get through a lot I was interested and then there would be 20-30 lots of boxcars to sit through.
Erik,
It depends on who won the Rock Island E7. If it was Bill Davis or Norm Pullen then it may show up at O Scale West or another show they attend. You could contact them directly and see if they won that lot. If a lot was won by someone who wanted the lot for themselves it is pretty much gone for the time being.
You live and learn..........I won't use Deathbay next time. I didn't realize they had their own site to bid thru.
VGN64 posted:You live and learn..........I won't use Deathbay next time. I didn't realize they had their own site to bid thru.
There is more that one of us who has been there before. Happened to me when some Smithsonian cars showed up about 6 or 7 years ago and I went through the ebay method. Didn't win one single car but not for lack of trying.
rdunniii posted:You really can't use the Ebay system on may lots, things just go to fast and the Ebay to Stout translation can result in a lot ending before you have a chance to keep up.
I bid on 9 lots, wanted to win 4, won the 4. 1 above what I expected 2 near what I expected and 1 way below what I expected. Bill Davis tends to have buyers already lined up at high prices on many things so I worried if I was bidding against him. I thought most of the passenger cars went where I expected.
I just couldn't get over the endless lots of boxcars in the auction. I'd get through a lot I was interested and then there would be 20-30 lots of boxcars to sit through.
Funny to go through the entire auction list and note the PSC or Pacific Limited boxcars.
PSC did lots of SP outside braced cars along with the B&O M15/M53 and the PRR X29. Their single door 1937 box car, while not as road-specific as Norm Buckhart's Protocraft cars, is a nice model in its own right and quite accuately done.
Jim had most of the PL cars but a few were missing from the auction as of yet. Considering how flimsy/sloppy the MP 1932 cars are they fetched a ridiculous premium price. He had quite the number of PL-1450 NYC cars... but then again so do we, don't we Brad?
Looking at the Auction photo I can see why it's called the Senior Scale! Roo.
rdunniii posted:Erik,
It depends on who won the Rock Island E7. If it was Bill Davis or Norm Pullen then it may show up at O Scale West or another show they attend. You could contact them directly and see if they won that lot. If a lot was won by someone who wanted the lot for themselves it is pretty much gone for the time being.
Thank you Richard that's a great plan. And if you see it let me know asap.
hibar posted:I believe the Diesel Eric was referring to was a Rock Island DL 109.
Hibar no its the E unit as pictured below Lot 852 Key UP E7 custom paint in Late Rocket white sides
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I was surprised at some bids, happy to get a Pecos baggage car for $180--- a steal imo. I was shocked at the price paid for the stock cars... and the low prices on diesels. Overall, it was a chance to get cars if you wanted them, some will show again. I.e. NYC boxcars. The crr and hcrr are harder to acquire.
Robbie,
i concur on your comments on the MP cars... I did not buy them nor the NYC. There are variances in quality of the NYC build too. The single door cars are better then the door and a half. The SP PAC limited are the best built of all and fetched good prices. I got four PSC o/b cars which many overlook and pan, but I feel offer real value at $180-220. I can add more images of my weathered models when I get back.
i expect to see more boxcars in the next round....
Erik C Lindgren posted:hibar posted:I believe the Diesel Eric was referring to was a Rock Island DL 109.
Hibar no its the E unit as pictured below Lot 852 Key UP E7 custom paint in Late Rocket white sides
Erik, drop me a line directly about the E7.
Thanks,
Derek
BradA posted:I was surprised at some bids, happy to get a Pecos baggage car for $180--- a steal imo. I was shocked at the price paid for the stock cars... and the low prices on diesels. Overall, it was a chance to get cars if you wanted them, some will show again. I.e. NYC boxcars. The crr and hcrr are harder to acquire.
What's interesting is that Pat's "One of 15 made" or "One of 20 made" for the CRR and HCRR cars seems to drive up interest... and price. Great for collectors as the cars aren't that common to be needed for operators.
The CRR is the garden variety 4/4 DN end 1932 car whose only difference with the very common MEC model is a different hand brake. The HCRR car is the very commonly seen NB car but without the plate soldered on the bottom panel of the Gilroy door. AND the HCRR cars would likely have been seen with K brakes in that era (before US Steel dispersed the cars to the Atlas and the N&B RR). Neat stuff.
I originally entertained the thought of updating the hand brake and also the door hardware to Union Duplex on one of my CRR cars to make it into an MP car.
Just remember demand will continue soften over the next few years and more collections will become available. So if you missed out on something, it will likely become available in the near future and probably for less.
Still seeking the NS, cen of GA and L&A. Hope you are right.
BradA posted:Still seeking the NS, cen of GA and L&A. Hope you are right.
Twenty cars made four of us collecting them. Match made in heaven!
I was following this one too. Even though I not into 2R there was a lot that I was interested in. Had to make choices thought and went after the GN and CB&Q waycars. Once again another GN Waycar gets away. The other two also do to Internet issues with spectrum I was unable to bid. Spectrum's system went down about midnight last night and wasn't restored until almost 6:00 this morning. No phone, No Internet, No Cable and 3G network was off line. I guess they had to finally find a new way to feed the squirrels.
As to why anybody would use ebay instead of registering with Stout is beyond me.
Robbie, I just need to find the right trade bait for ya!
When are you guys going to post some quality photos of your victories? Or is everyone waiting on shipping?
WITZ 41 posted:When are you guys going to post some quality photos of your victories? Or is everyone waiting on shipping?
Probably are waiting to see what their money bought them for real......
swrr posted:Just remember demand will continue soften over the next few years and more collections will become available. So if you missed out on something, it will likely become available in the near future and probably for less.
Sir,
I sure hope you are correct, there's a lot of stuff out there I want to find and add to my collection. Let several items slip through my hands Saturday...
The trains are out there, and with the average age of most 2 rail guys, many more estates in the near future will pop up for sale. While its sad to see the ranks shrink as those pass on, its part of life. Congrats to those that picked up some nice models, lots of eye candy for sure. And I thought the Indy meet had lots of brass eye candy! Mike
Well, the JS auction realized some $166, 365. I don't think much of it brought in more than it cost new so this first auction could have represented close to a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of O Train stuff.
The Stout take would have been about $30K from this first auction.
The fact that one person aquired this much train stuff is amazing. 500 plus items(because some of them sold in more than one item per lot), averages to about $400 per item total realized. Figuring maybe you could spend 10 minutes per item to retrieve, unbox it, admire it, then rebox and replace each one would be over 83 hours, or if you did it 8 hours per day, about 10 days to just look at all that stuff you had aquired. And this is just the first auction...
Looks like Norm (of Norm's O Scale) bagged the Sofue Burlington 4-8-4, judging from the photo posted at the top of the thread.
WITZ 41 posted:When are you guys going to post some quality photos of your victories? Or is everyone waiting on shipping?
Nobody will receive anything for a couple of weeks except for the local attendees who paid at the end of the auction and took stuff with them.
oscaletrains posted:Well, the JS auction realized some $166, 365. I don't think much of it brought in more than it cost new so this first auction could have represented close to a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of O Train stuff.
The Stout take would have been about $30K from this first auction.
The hammer price is all paid to the seller. Stout doesn't get anything from that. Stout Auctions gets the buyers premium. So if the hammer price was $166,365 then the seller gets the 166,365 and Stout gets 14%+ depending on whether the buyer was local or remote and pays with cash or credit card. So Stout get about $23,500.
Ok, whatever, I thought someone said the premium was 17% - 19%. My mistake.
oscaletrains posted:Well, the JS auction realized some $166, 365. I don't think much of it brought in more than it cost new so this first auction could have represented close to a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of O Train stuff.
The Stout take would have been about $30K from this first auction.
The fact that one person aquired this much train stuff is amazing. 500 plus items(because some of them sold in more than one item per lot), averages to about $400 per item total realized. Figuring maybe you could spend 10 minutes per item to retrieve, unbox it, admire it, then rebox and replace each one would be over 83 hours, or if you did it 8 hours per day, about 10 days to just look at all that stuff you had aquired. And this is just the first auction...
Not sure of the part about what the items cost new.
Pacific Limited 7##/11## SP B-50-14 boxcars went for $165 each when I bought them new. I don't think one fetched less than $300.
rdunniii posted:oscaletrains posted:Well, the JS auction realized some $166, 365. I don't think much of it brought in more than it cost new so this first auction could have represented close to a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of O Train stuff.
The Stout take would have been about $30K from this first auction.
The hammer price is all paid to the seller. Stout doesn't get anything from that. Stout Auctions gets the buyers premium. So if the hammer price was $166,365 then the seller gets the 166,365 and Stout gets 14%+ depending on whether the buyer was local or remote and pays with cash or credit card. So Stout get about $23,500.
No... not really...
"Pacific Limited 7##/11## SP B-50-14 boxcars went for $165 each when I bought them new. I don't think one fetched less than $300"
Well, at least those have appreciated in price.
The $165 Pacific Limited box cars your refer to were unpainted and in most cases less trucks. Think about how many hours a pro paint and lettering job takes, add in trucks with good metal wheels and one is easily in the mid $200 range back 15- 20 years ago. I'd say the Pac Limited brass has done nicely. The big depreciators are Max Gray and USH freight cars. In the 60's and very early 70's they were in the teens. By the 1980's MG/USH hoppers were selling on tables at O scale Nationals in the $75-$100 range. Now they don't sell at half that price as even plastic and some die cast hoppers are better detailed. My observation is that the best version of a given prototype (or distinctive cars like Overland Pickle cars) hold their value, inferior versions sit unsold on tables or decline in selling price.
oscaletrains posted:Well, the JS auction realized some $166, 365. I don't think much of it brought in more than it cost new so this first auction could have represented close to a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of O Train stuff.
The fact that one person aquired this much train stuff is amazing.
A lot of it was bought second hand or more so. JS had long running ads in O Scale Trains magazine. He no doubt picked up items at other sources. If you look at the boxes of many of the E units, you will note that they were originally painted for other roads than CB&Q. I think several of the pilots were incorrect, which may account for some of the lower prices.
It's not that tough to acquire stuff if you have the LOOT to do so.
Simon
Keystoned Ed posted:The $165 Pacific Limited box cars your refer to were unpainted and in most cases less trucks. Think about how many hours a pro paint and lettering job takes, add in trucks with good metal wheels and one is easily in the mid $200 range back 15- 20 years ago. I'd say the Pac Limited brass has done nicely. The big depreciators are Max Gray and USH freight cars. In the 60's and very early 70's they were in the teens. By the 1980's MG/USH hoppers were selling on tables at O scale Nationals in the $75-$100 range. Now they don't sell at half that price as even plastic and some die cast hoppers are better detailed. My observation is that the best version of a given prototype (or distinctive cars like Overland Pickle cars) hold their value, inferior versions sit unsold on tables or decline in selling price.
oscaletrains posted:"Pacific Limited 7##/11## SP B-50-14 boxcars went for $165 each when I bought them new. I don't think one fetched less than $300"
Well, at least those have appreciated in price.
The last of the PL cars, the NYC clone cars such as the N&B were up to $279 list when they sold. Slow sellers at the time but nice cars.
The SP B-50-15 cars actually came with T-section Bettendorf trucks that were nicely done for their time. The SP gons came with a very nice set of Dalman trucks. They look as good now as they did then. Certainly premium stuff.
And you're right Ed, most of the older run brass has not held its value.
It's worth paying for the better quality, at least now until everyone is buying ACEs and ES44's.
I noticed that the collection did not contain much in the way of Kohs stuff, one engine or so?
And you're right Ed, most of the older run brass has not held its value.
It's worth paying for the better quality, at least now until everyone is buying ACEs and ES44's.
And that might not be all that bad a thing for the average more budget aware modeler that wants a lot of cars in their trains, cannot afford $300/car, and is also satisfied with how those older cars look rolling by on the track from 3+' away.
There are also only so many PL PRR X23's that I'm willing to acquire, and then put in the time to paint & letter for the CVRR.
railroad-guy posted:rdunniii posted:oscaletrains posted:Well, the JS auction realized some $166, 365. I don't think much of it brought in more than it cost new so this first auction could have represented close to a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of O Train stuff.
The Stout take would have been about $30K from this first auction.
The hammer price is all paid to the seller. Stout doesn't get anything from that. Stout Auctions gets the buyers premium. So if the hammer price was $166,365 then the seller gets the 166,365 and Stout gets 14%+ depending on whether the buyer was local or remote and pays with cash or credit card. So Stout get about $23,500.
No... not really...
I have both purchased and sold through numerous auction houses in my lifetime-not just train related but also antiques when I had an antiques business years ago. The auction house collects on both ends. As stated above, they collect money from the "buyers premium" whatever the percentage may be once the item is sold. But they also charge the seller a commission, usually in the 10%-35% range of what the items sell for. The selling commission percentage usually depends on the quantity and quality of the goods. Most times this commission is a privately negotiated process between the seller and the auction house.
Nick
I have personally sold through Stout Auctions and they collected a commission on the low end of the range that MACHINIST posted. The idea that "The hammer price is all paid to the seller" is nonsense.
Bob posted:I have personally sold through Stout Auctions and they collected a commission on the low end of the range that MACHINIST posted. The idea that "The hammer price is all paid to the seller" is nonsense.
This is correct - I worked as a runner for Greg for several years and sellers didn't get the final hammered price - they paid a fee. Buyers paid a premium in the 15% zone back when I was holding up trains at Stout's Indianapolis auctions, and the earliest auctions at the Williamsport site before the glass cases were installed.
mwb posted:And you're right Ed, most of the older run brass has not held its value.
It's worth paying for the better quality, at least now until everyone is buying ACEs and ES44's.
And that might not be all that bad a thing for the average more budget aware modeler that wants a lot of cars in their trains, cannot afford $300/car, and is also satisfied with how those older cars look rolling by on the track from 3+' away.
There are also only so many PL PRR X23's that I'm willing to acquire, and then put in the time to paint & letter for the CVRR.
If you had a time machine back to 1995 you could pick up Pacific Limited x23/r7's for a hundred bucks Martin! Did that at the Merchantville show back then. Of course back then money was much tighter and that was like a $600 Kohs car is nowadays.
Simon, Many of those Key units were bought new by Jim Seacrest. Some he even negotiated with Key to be unpainted. All of them were put away and never saw time on the rails. He had an excellent painter in Omaha. Indeed he was essentially a collector. He also had a conservative side,[hard to believe!] that he thought Kohs was not worth the price. He liked a bargain and you will see the indiscriminate side of his collecting on later auctions although there are more nice things to be brought out, unless someone creamed the collection.
MTN posted:Bob posted:I have personally sold through Stout Auctions and they collected a commission on the low end of the range that MACHINIST posted. The idea that "The hammer price is all paid to the seller" is nonsense.
This is correct - I worked as a runner for Greg for several years and sellers didn't get the final hammered price - they paid a fee. Buyers paid a premium in the 15% zone back when I was holding up trains at Stout's Indianapolis auctions, and the earliest auctions at the Williamsport site before the glass cases were installed.
That is what my understanding of how these auctions work, the house is collecting from buyer and seller.
Now, I wonder how many of those items sold will find their way onto ebay for a profit?
Rule292 posted:mwb posted:And you're right Ed, most of the older run brass has not held its value.
It's worth paying for the better quality, at least now until everyone is buying ACEs and ES44's.
And that might not be all that bad a thing for the average more budget aware modeler that wants a lot of cars in their trains, cannot afford $300/car, and is also satisfied with how those older cars look rolling by on the track from 3+' away.
There are also only so many PL PRR X23's that I'm willing to acquire, and then put in the time to paint & letter for the CVRR.
If you had a time machine back to 1995 you could pick up Pacific Limited x23/r7's for a hundred bucks Martin! Did that at the Merchantville show back then. Of course back then money was much tighter and that was like a $600 Kohs car is nowadays.
If............If wishes were butterflies, mine would be crushed on the front grill of someone’s car.
And if pigs could fly.........although I am given to understand that with sufficient thrust pigs are surprisingly aerodynamic.
And a $100 in 1995 was far more than I could freely spend on just about anything. Something about family and career topping the list and consuming all funds and time....
oscaletrains posted:Now, I wonder how many of those items sold will find their way onto ebay for a profit?
Well, wonder no more. The PRB Rock Island cars are there. I'm sure the same seller has more items from the auction, but those are the ones I recognized immediately.
ecd15 posted:oscaletrains posted:Now, I wonder how many of those items sold will find their way onto ebay for a profit?
Well, wonder no more. The PRB Rock Island cars are there. I'm sure the same seller has more items from the auction, but those are the ones I recognized immediately.
He is fishing in a bigger pond!
Who is the seller?
oscaletrains posted:Who is the seller?
108spoplar
mwb posted:Rule292 posted:mwb posted:And you're right Ed, most of the older run brass has not held its value.
It's worth paying for the better quality, at least now until everyone is buying ACEs and ES44's.
And that might not be all that bad a thing for the average more budget aware modeler that wants a lot of cars in their trains, cannot afford $300/car, and is also satisfied with how those older cars look rolling by on the track from 3+' away.
There are also only so many PL PRR X23's that I'm willing to acquire, and then put in the time to paint & letter for the CVRR.
If you had a time machine back to 1995 you could pick up Pacific Limited x23/r7's for a hundred bucks Martin! Did that at the Merchantville show back then. Of course back then money was much tighter and that was like a $600 Kohs car is nowadays.
If............If wishes were butterflies, mine would be crushed on the front grill of someone’s car.
And if pigs could fly.........although I am given to understand that with sufficient thrust pigs are surprisingly aerodynamic.
And a $100 in 1995 was far more than I could freely spend on just about anything. Something about family and career topping the list and consuming all funds and time....
Best ever was my best bud's Hungarian dad (in his thick accent) - "If your aunt had a wheel she'd be a wheelbarrow". .
I think I bought one or two brass pieces a year back then, given the funds available and the price. Interestingly, PSC cars were fetching around a hundred bucks back then. Not much different from now.
jefferson posted:Simon, Many of those Key units were bought new by Jim Seacrest. Some he even negotiated with Key to be unpainted. All of them were put away and never saw time on the rails. He had an excellent painter in Omaha. Indeed he was essentially a collector. He also had a conservative side,[hard to believe!] that he thought Kohs was not worth the price. He liked a bargain and you will see the indiscriminate side of his collecting on later auctions although there are more nice things to be brought out, unless someone creamed the collection.
Jefferson, I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Jim personally, but he seemed like a nice guy with a good sense of humor. I never talked with him, nor do I know what he bought in the way of models. That said, not trying to be a know it all or petulant, but looking at the road names on the boxes, I only recall one that had CB&Q on it. Most of the others that were painted CB&Q had DIFFERENT road names on the boxes and had what I would call "shovel nose" style pilots, like the early E1 thru E6 units. I'm NOT a CB&Q expert by any stretch, but I don't recall any of their E7 or E8/9 diesels having any type pilot other than the passenger style. (Anyone knowing otherwise, feel free to correct that.)
For those who are interested, Part 2 of the Jim Seacrest collection has been posted on the Stout Auction website.
http://www.stoutauctions.com/?p=331
If this doesn't knock the bottom out of O scale freight car prices nothing will.
Not a lot to go crazy over here.... With credit quality deteriorating globally and a slowing economy in the US; prices are going to come down more.
Even with the economy going sideways as it has over the past many years I surely didn't see any slowing in the prices that the PSC and Pac Limited cars fetched in the last auction!
I have bought items from 108spoplar with no problems and I live 16,000 miles away.
I have that name listed as one of the sellers I deal with because they have done the right thing by me.
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.
I Bet that so few folks will have the patience to go through all 22 pages of that mess that some real bargains will transpire. After the third page, I gave up.
Set the per page to 200... makes it much easier...
Rule292 posted:Even with the economy going sideways as it has over the past many years I surely didn't see any slowing in the prices that the PSC and Pac Limited cars fetched in the last auction!
There is obviously a limited core market still into these cars, after all you can not own just one. Similarly I would think for quality passenger cars Wasach, Key, PRB etc, it does not take many bidders who are willing to spend for models they want to keep prices high. JMO
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.
I do not believe there are that many O scale[2 rail] dealers out there but there are clearly enough collectors/modelers to ensure that even a collection this large sells out and most items go at estimates or over depending on how many want a particular item add in "buyers premium" and shipping for most items and there are few real bargains, more perhaps in this collection because of the size and I think there is one more lot to be auctioned. JMO
hibar posted:I do not believe there are that many O scale[2 rail] dealers out there but there are clearly enough collectors/modelers to ensure that even a collection this large sells out and most items go at estimates or over depending on how many want a particular item add in "buyers premium" and shipping for most items and there are few real bargains, more perhaps in this collection because of the size and I think there is one more lot to be auctioned. JMO
In O scale there are not, but it's pretty safe to say that Norm Pullen and Bill Davis were at the auction for the sole purpose of buying to resell. That is their livelihood.
With that said, there weren't all that many bargains. I thought I got two things according to my bids but when I check I guess I didn't (nor did I get a notice of winning anything). God must have known I didn't need them.
Dear Forum List,
I won both of my bids-Overland B&M buggie and CN grey slab side hopper car - and I felt both were fair purchases when 19% and shipping are included. Considering both painted and weathered I am pleased and at the end of the day that is all that matters.
I was also pleased that if this collection is a barometer of the O scale brass collector and odd and unusual pieces, the O scale community is doing quite well,Thank You.
There was some bargains- Overland Powhatan Arrow set and Sunset UP cars to name a few but overall the 3 auctions have generally been quite successful for the Seacrest family and I anticipate the last 2 remaining will do well also.
A great time to be in O scale 2rail model railroading !!!!!!
John P.Dunn Sr. Scale2Rail Promotions.
Strasburg show 08-12-2017 & 10-14-2017
Bob3 - - - Put me in your will !! Thought that item would pair up nicely with my Colorado & Southern steam wrecking derrick #99001, in a wreck train. Congrats.......looks like a nice piece.
About how long does it take the auction company to send billing for won items?
Thanks for the info.
Dick
CBQer posted:About how long does it take the auction company to send billing for won items?
Thanks for the info.
Dick
By the end of this week.
hibar posted:I do not believe there are that many O scale[2 rail] dealers out there but there are clearly enough collectors/modelers to ensure that even a collection this large sells out and most items go at estimates or over depending on how many want a particular item add in "buyers premium" and shipping for most items and there are few real bargains, more perhaps in this collection because of the size and I think there is one more lot to be auctioned. JMO
No sour grapes here, as I didn't bid on any of the lots, but I think anyone at the auction had a distinct advantage as to getting in the last bid. The listings on Ebay were (in my opinion) nothing more than a distraction.
I agree that there were likely very few bargains.
As for lack of O 2R dealers, not too many Pros, but someone is always selling this or that on the auction or at local shows.
Simon
Simon Winter posted:No sour grapes here, as I didn't bid on any of the lots, but I think anyone at the auction had a distinct advantage as to getting in the last bid. The listings on Ebay were (in my opinion) nothing more than a distraction.
Simon
That is not true. If you were bidding online via Stout / invaluable.com you were live and the floor has no advantage. I was there for the first two auctions and wrote about it on the May/June O Scale Resource http://oscaleresource.com/
If you watch the short video linked from there watch the auctioneer go to the monitor (Internet) for the opening bid and then back to the floor. One person is always watching the monitor for bids. There were may times that people on the floor, and remember we are talking less then 10 to15 that actually show up in person, were not happy as the Internet bids kept popping up at the last second and he would go back to the floor and start the "fair warning" all over again.
railroad-guy posted:Simon Winter posted:No sour grapes here, as I didn't bid on any of the lots, but I think anyone at the auction had a distinct advantage as to getting in the last bid. The listings on Ebay were (in my opinion) nothing more than a distraction.
Simon
That is not true. If you were bidding online via Stout / invaluable.com you were live and the floor has no advantage. I was there for the first two auctions and wrote about it on the May/June O Scale Resource http://oscaleresource.com/
If you watch the short video linked from there watch the auctioneer go to the monitor (Internet) for the opening bid and then back to the floor. One person is always watching the monitor for bids. There were may times that people on the floor, and remember we are talking less then 10 to15 that actually show up in person, were not happy as the Internet bids kept popping up at the last second and he would go back to the floor and start the "fair warning" all over again.
If you are there, all you need do is raise your hand. Unless all that was needed was to punch ONE key, they were at a distinct advantage. My typing skills are less than stellar, and sometimes the old PC gets a bit balky/ stupid........couldn't be me! Ever hit a key and have NOTHING happen? My right arm seldom malfunctions.
Simon
PS: Forgot to mention, but had a bit of a thunder storm pass through last evening, and the power went off for a bit. Any of your relatives named Murphy?
By the way, THANKS for the GREAT job you do with the "O Scale Resource"
Simon Winter posted:If you are there, all you need do is raise your hand. Unless all that was needed was to punch ONE key, they were at a distinct advantage. My typing skills are less than stellar, and sometimes the old PC gets a bit balky/ stupid........couldn't be me! Ever hit a key and have NOTHING happen? My right arm seldom malfunctions.
Simon
That is it. One click of the mouse IF you were bidding and watching via the Stout site. Ane because it's so easy, just as if you were there, you can get "auction fever" and do really stupid things
railroad-guy posted:Simon Winter posted:If you are there, all you need do is raise your hand. Unless all that was needed was to punch ONE key, they were at a distinct advantage. My typing skills are less than stellar, and sometimes the old PC gets a bit balky/ stupid........couldn't be me! Ever hit a key and have NOTHING happen? My right arm seldom malfunctions.
Simon
That is it. One click of the mouse IF you were bidding and watching via the Stout site. Ane because it's so easy, just as if you were there, you can get "auction fever" and do really stupid things
I dunno Dan.
I bid on two items via the bidding console and placed multiple bids online was certain that I was high bidder at auction end according to the "green" number and bids displayed. I won neither.
I suspect someone onsite got in and the hammer fell because I was ready to bid up on both as soon as the console flashed the new bid price but it never did.
So at least to me, using the bidding console wasn't fruitful.
I likewise bid online (for the first time) twice and both were before bidding had stopped on the items I wanted. I won one item and did not win the next even though my bid was higher than the winning bid! Whatever happened to my online bid that did not win I don't know.
Bear in mind the speed of your internet connection can be a factor, I have a Verizon copper wire connection and speeds typically are well under 3 Mbps [no Fios available here] in comparison Comcast offers up to 25 Mbps speed. I would never attempt to bid on Ebay or an Ebay auction with a last second bid[snipe] with my service [learned that a long time ago] JMO
hibar posted:Bear in mind the speed of your internet connection can be a factor, I have a Verizon copper wire connection and speeds typically are well under 3 Mbps [no Fios available here] in comparison Comcast offers up to 25 Mbps speed. I would never attempt to bid on Ebay or an Ebay auction with a last second bid[snipe] with my service [learned that a long time ago] JMO
Yep, internet speed can play a part but in my case it was not. The bid console refreshed quickly, at least for me, though the initial load was kind of slow.
I wasn't physically there so I can't refute the bid system. I just know that I was green and the last bid on two things yet didn't win.
NBD, the LORD knows I don't need any other trains I was hoping to get some unpainted and then sell off my painted pieces that aren't good for my RR area.
Rule292 posted:I wasn't physically there so I can't refute the bid system. I just know that I was green and the last bid on two things yet didn't win.
Awwwwww Rob,
Doncha know the whole thing is run by computer, and NOTHING can ever go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong
Simon
I don't know how God feels about it, but my wife knows I have way too many trains. She is usually right.
Simon Winter posted:Rule292 posted:I wasn't physically there so I can't refute the bid system. I just know that I was green and the last bid on two things yet didn't win.
Awwwwww Rob,
Doncha know the whole thing is run by computer, and NOTHING can ever go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong
Simon
Not a computer problem... keyboard operator problem for me I'm sure!
I had one item at the part II auction that the system wasn't even quite sure I had won because it didn't show a winner until the after the auction email. There has always been a delay after the highest bid to see if someone else wants to bid for a couple of seconds. It's the longest ~2 seconds in the world.
I have Comcast and live in California so my delays are probably similiar to anyone other than a modem user. Speed has little to do with the delay only distance. If you are still a modem user its time to upgrade or stay away from ALL real time online activities, too frustrating.
But, IMO prebidding or Ebay bidding is silly and, unless you do a closeout bid high enough to scare others away you won't win. And by that I mean a thousand dollar bid on something that shouldn't go for more than a hundred dollars. The real time online bidding is equal to being there and I have never lost a lot I wanted in almost 8 years of participating in their online auctions.
I have noticed some of the Jim Seacrest GGD Car's have already shown up On eBay, pretty modestly priced too.
I have noticed some of the Jim Seacrest GGD Passenger Car's have already shown up On eBay, pretty modestly priced too.
rdunniii "But, IMO prebidding or Ebay bidding is silly and, unless you do a closeout bid high enough to scare others away you won't win".
I'm not sure what you mean by that. On ebay I look at an item after I am convinced it's what I want and happy with the seller's information I put in a bid for the highest price I want to go PLUS the shipping to West Australia that is important as it is a part of the cost then I leave it and hope for the best. Of course if it's "buy it now" and the price is right there is no waiting or hoping. I have won many Auctions doing this maybe you would consider my offers are high and they might be, but I can't go to shows to compare anything so my offer is what I consider it's worth to me only I don't resell any of my trains.
If there is a case of really desperately wanting something and that is unusual for me I will try sniping them at the end I only try this with certain items (not Trains). Trains I don't care if I lose the auction for me there are plenty more sooner or later but these other items I am interested in are few and far between so I adopt a different tactic.
I only use auctions on eBay not anywhere else because I like to see the shipping costs in front of me before I bid I think at other auctions you don't have this control again this is shipping to West Australia where the shipping costs can go through the roof if you leave it to someone else to do believe you me I know I have been caught but only once on shipping sometimes something might be damaged I just fix it and live with it again this is rare and I buy a lot of things. Funny enough most of the well known American hobby shops are usually very good with shipping costs they seem to know what overseas customers expect to pay and charge a fair price mostly dealing through the US post office some of them will tell you the shipping costs before sending so everybody is happy.
I don't want to get into naming and recommending hobby shops and I state I am not a regular customer with NassauHobby but I wanted six covered 2 bay EL hoppers they had them listed on their website they do international shipping I had them within three weeks and the shipping charge was good they had my credit card details they are trusted I had no hassles and I had never dealt with them before it's just at the time I wanted what they had I was happy. I'm going to bed I have had enough of this I'm tired. Roo.
Got the wrong locos. We will see what happens.
Dick
Got a call from the auction house. They will get it figured out.
Dick
Looks like they got it straightened. Got a 2 day air return tag. Great service.
Dick
looks like you might have my main central E-7s . Just got my return tags. we should be reunited with our purchases in the very near future. those 3RD rail E-7 Burlington units are a work of art . you probably out bid me on them. enjoy!!!
Yes , I did. Sent them back yesterday. I was worried that I would have to paint those MECs CB&Q colors. When you get them I pulled back the foam sheeting to look at them but never moved them from the cradle.
Enjoy.
Dick
When is the next group to be presented?
bob2 posted:When is the next group to be presented?
There is this handy gizmo called the Internet. If you search for the Stout site, I'm sure they will have it listed.
Simon
Stoutauctions.com. Auctions are announced about a week in advance. Sign up for their newsletter and they will email you with upcoming dates.
I got my pair of beautiful, fantastic E7 CB&Q locos today. Happy as a pig in stuff.
My thanks to Strout Auctions.
Dick
Everything I’ve bought, 3 large boxes worth came immaculate and very well packed. Nice job Stout Auctions top marks. Looking forward with great enthusiasm to the next shipment.
And I got my main Centrals that Dick got by mistake . Although it was tough to part with the cb&q s that were his.Enjoy!!!
Funny or not funny you guys finally got your engines. I just got my invoice for the same auction yesterday for the CB&Q waycars that I won.
suzukovich posted:Funny or not funny you guys finally got your engines. I just got my invoice for the same auction yesterday for the CB&Q waycars that I won.
Ha, I just got my invoice yesterday too... i am sure they are busy, will be happy to receive my items, everything was perfect from the last 2 times so no doubt this will be great too!
I didn't bid on any models and only gave the list a cursory look. But, a 3R friend who is converting to 2R, bid and purchased a USH 2-10-2. Turns out, it was the same highly modified USH model I purchased from a UK builder back in 1995 and had to sell in 1999 due to a family need.
My friend graciously agreed to sell it to me and now it's back home. I looked for this model for 18 years, questioned any dealer I spoke with, but all to no avail. Now, knowing it was in Jim's collection, answers why it just vanished.
Anyway, I too am a happy camper due to this auction and never let it be said O scalers don't take care of each other. Thanks again Will.
Hopefully, Jim can see how much joy he's spread throughout the O community.
BH
Hello O scalers ...the next Seacrest auction is online and ready for you to bid
http://www.stoutauctions.com/?p=366
very happy with the two lots I won last auction ...excellent shipping
Cheers Carey
Thank you. I did bid.
How do these people organize this stuff? Why are similar or identical cars showing up in different auctions? I got a PSC 60 Harriman car that was painted but I wanted an unpainted one. Since there was no other like it I bid. Now the same car shows unpainted... this means whoever wanted that rock island baggage is now gonna have to paint the undecirated and I'm gonna have to remove a paint job I didn't need to.
The big problem is that they did not have everything at one time. Two trailers came in and were sorted. The after the first or second auction they went back and loaded more. There was absolutely no rhyme or reason as to how these stuff was stored at Jim's place. There was no possible way to bring everything thing in at once.
SANTIAGOP23 posted:How do these people organize this stuff? Why are similar or identical cars showing up in different auctions? I got a PSC 60 Harriman car that was painted but I wanted an unpainted one. Since there was no other like it I bid. Now the same car shows unpainted... this means whoever wanted that rock island baggage is now gonna have to paint the undecirated and I'm gonna have to remove a paint job I didn't need to.
Boy are they going to lose money on that deal!
Wonder what it will cost them to not only take your car back from Santiago but to ship your car to you!
railroad-guy posted:The big problem is that they did not have everything at one time. Two trailers came in and were sorted. The after the first or second auction they went back and loaded more. There was absolutely no rhyme or reason as to how these stuff was stored at Jim's place. There was no possible way to bring everything thing in at once.
Someone needs to tell them that when auctioning trains to take pictures of the ends of the trains.
Freight cars all have different kinds of ends and when spending $400 to $500 on some cars the type of ends matter.
Looks like their already planning the 5th Auction for August.
http://www.stoutauctions.com/?...toy-train-auction-23
Williamsport, Indiana: The O scale collection of Jim Seacrest part 5
August 25 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
railroad-guy posted:The big problem is that they did not have everything at one time. Two trailers came in and were sorted. The after the first or second auction they went back and loaded more. There was absolutely no rhyme or reason as to how these stuff was stored at Jim's place. There was no possible way to bring everything thing in at once.
Thanks for the clarification, Dan. I understand, it's just annoying when you're spending this kinda money. These are not "vintage" clothes on Ebay.
My request to the auction company was to make lots of K-Dee couplers available in smaller lots of 12 or so and not a box of 100 pair,
Dick
What still amazes me is the sheer magnitude and scope of his collection. He was the most over-the-top O scale modeler/collector I ever heard of. And it wasn't confined to locos or rolling stoke or brand.....it was lots of everything.
Had a chance to meet him and see his layout about 20 years ago, but had to drive from KCMO to Lincoln, NE, so I blew it and didn't go.
BH
No question a huge collector of O scale, for a number of years his was the only ad running in MR for O scale [now there are none].
I'm also astonished by the size of his collection (I just previewed the 4th installment), but I really don't understand the motivation for buying so much stuff. It seems irrational: what happened to concepts like proportion, moderation, and balance?
Hobbies are almost by definition irrational. My personal collection passed the point of reasonableness some decades ago.
I lost track - how many California Zephyr consists did Jim Seacrest own? I think they spanned several auctions and were from several builders.
up148 posted:What still amazes me is the sheer magnitude and scope of his collection. He was the most over-the-top O scale modeler/collector I ever heard of. And it wasn't confined to locos or rolling stoke or brand.....it was lots of everything.
Had a chance to meet him and see his layout about 20 years ago, but had to drive from KCMO to Lincoln, NE, so I blew it and didn't go.
BH
I’m going to miss him he was a great guy.
I am curious where did he store all the stuff that wasn't on the layout. I will also admit that I developed a taste for All Nation and similar rolling stock, even though Atlas and MTH cars have more detail. This makes it easy to fill that taste.
Erik, do you or anyone else have pics of his layout.
SO MANY TRAINZZZZ
Wasn't his layout the Duluth,m Winnipeg, & Pacific?
suzukovich posted:I am curious where did he store all the stuff that wasn't on the layout. I will also admit that I developed a taste for All Nation and similar rolling stock, even though Atlas and MTH cars have more detail. This makes it easy to fill that taste.
Nice little article here.
https://trainsandtoysoldiers.c...a-layout-first-look/
My friend Scott Anderson and his boys did most of the work. Jefferson was also a participant to some degree. It was later finished up by some other folks.
Was told he also had a full-size, 1'to1', Burlington Trailways bus, in a garage !!
The layout has been featured in several you tube videos after Jims passing, I do not know what the present status is. It is housed in an industrial bldg, with the trains being auctioned the fate of the layout is unclear.
Erik C Lindgren posted:suzukovich posted:I am curious where did he store all the stuff that wasn't on the layout. I will also admit that I developed a taste for All Nation and similar rolling stock, even though Atlas and MTH cars have more detail. This makes it easy to fill that taste.
Nice little article here.
https://trainsandtoysoldiers.c...a-layout-first-look/
My friend Scott Anderson and his boys did most of the work. Jefferson was also a participant to some degree. It was later finished up by some other folks.
That is one huge layout.
hibar posted:The layout has been featured in several you tube videos after Jims passing, I do not know what the present status is. It is housed in an industrial bldg, with the trains being auctioned the fate of the layout is unclear.
My guess it been disassembled which is a shame. It's too bad it couldn't of been saved.
suzukovich posted:hibar posted:The layout has been featured in several you tube videos after Jims passing, I do not know what the present status is. It is housed in an industrial bldg, with the trains being auctioned the fate of the layout is unclear.
My guess it been disassembled which is a shame. It's too bad it couldn't of been saved.
The layout is alive and well. Last time I talked with the family it was under the care of another organization and slated to move at some point this year. I believe the public Will eventually get to see all the years of hard work.
suzukovich posted:Well I am truly disgusted with stout. My waycars arrived and two were damaged in the shipment. Since the they weren't in boxes, instead of bubble wrapping the cars. They just wrapped them in thin foam thats used to protect the finish, dropped them into the box full of peanuts. One the truck was in pieces, the other has a lot of parts rattling around on the insides. None of which was in the listing. Looks like I am calling them on monday. CB&Q Waycar trucks are hard to come by. I am trying to repair the truck.
I was able to repair the NE-1 waycar truck, the other one is also an easy fix.
I disagree with the opinion that every hobby is by definition "irrational." Most hobbies are perfectly rational. But as with any activity, hobby or otherwise, I think it is desirable to maintain a sense of proportion: not doing so leads to counter-productive, like becoming a workaholic, a compulsive collector, or worse.
B Smith posted:I disagree with the opinion that every hobby is by definition "irrational." Most hobbies are perfectly rational. But as with any activity, hobby or otherwise, I think it is desirable to maintain a sense of proportion: not doing so leads to counter-productive, like becoming a workaholic, a compulsive collector, or worse.
I don't know after seeing the size of his layout, I can understand why there was so much stuff. I am just surprised he kept a lot of the rolling stock boxes.
Depends on your definition of rational. I can see nothing rational in spending 300 hours building a model steam engine, with no intention of selling it. A hundred forty such models is the same amount of irrationality, just spread over more time.
If rationality needs only enjoyment, then Jim's hobby was as rational as ours.
bob2 posted:I can see nothing rational in spending 300 hours building a model steam engine, with no intention of selling it.
So if there's not an endpoint of commerce involved, it's irrational? Now that's an interesting definition. Probably derived from a Ferengi.....
I'm obsessive, compulsive, dedicated and irrational when it comes to "his trains."
Just ask She Who Must Always Be Obeyed.
But visitors are always directed by her to the train room on their first visit.
If you have endless money to spend who cares what you spend it on and why should model trains be exempted from wealthy people.
It's when people with limited money go crazy and try to keep up, that is the danger, getting in debt for model trains or any hobby is not the way to go leave it to the money people, putting on the Ritz is all right to sing but nothing else. Be aware of your limitations and your bank account. I don't have any money but my house is paid off I own a small car which I replace every three years with a new one (no repairs or servicing and no sales tax because I'm a disabled veteran) and I live frugally so I can afford my trains I'm also very happy with what I have and so are my operators!
I expect there will be items from this auction that will be on eBay sooner or later, I'll be watching for anything I could use on the layout. Roo.
Roo posted:If you have endless money to spend who cares what you spend it on and why should model trains be exempted from wealthy people.
It's when people with limited money go crazy and try to keep up, that is the danger, getting in debt for model trains or any hobby is not the way to go leave it to the money people, putting on the Ritz is all right to sing but nothing else. Be aware of your limitations and your bank account. I don't have any money but my house is paid off I own a small car which I replace every three years with a new one (no repairs or servicing and no sales tax because I'm a disabled veteran) and I live frugally so I can afford my trains I'm also very happy with what I have and so are my operators!
I expect there will be items from this auction that will be on eBay sooner or later, I'll be watching for anything I could use on the layout. Roo.
I agree as I am in the same boat but with three school age kids and trust me at times they seam to be a bottomless pit when it come to money. But this auction has allowed me to go after some hard to find items that otherwise I would pay an arm and a leg on E Bay..
MaxSouthOz posted:I'm obsessive, compulsive, dedicated and irrational when it comes to "his trains."
Just ask She Who Must Always Be Obeyed.
But visitors are always directed by her to the train room on their first visit.
And when she has had enough will read or see the reporting on FOX.
This may already have been covered in an earlier post....but what did he do for a living that he could afford all this great stuff? I want that job....
Owned a newspaper among others and his family is old money.
Jim Seacrest had a huge layout .... considering 4 auctions and one more on the way ...did Jim have show cases and miles of shelving displaying his collection ? ..... Any photos out there of his collection ? ... in his want ads Jim was looking for vintage pieces ....very little vintage has run through the auction .... could there be auction #6 & 7 in the future ?
Cheers Carey
The warehouse layout was only built in recent years, I believe what you have seen in the auction to date represents Jims idea of "vintage" [postwar].JMO
Just ask She Who Must Always Be Obeyed.
Max - Good to see a fellow "Rumpole of the Bailey" fan !