Untouched Layout For 45+ Years. Anything Worth Anything?

It looks like the track is a product called “Truescale”. Don’t know if they are still in business. It was popular a number of years ago and came in different versions - roadbed with molded ties assembled with track, roadbed and ties without track, or just plain roadbed. As can be seen in the pictures the assembly was made wood and came in different radiuses.

You definitely have some value in the Lobaugh locos.  I don't really keep up with them, but I seem to remember a C&NW 2-8-4 selling on Ebay for around $500.  The challenger and SP mountain would be similar at least, if not more..  Many of those brass cars might just be typical kits for their era, stamped metal sides, ends and roof over a wooden floor.  The All Nation F units are pretty cool, and that cast E unit set!  Looks like an E6.  Curious who made that.  The yellow Train Master looks kind of like a converted Lionel unit.

Yes, you might have stumbled across a really nice find.  Let us know how you do.

Causes the mind to wonder........maybe the owner passed away around his 50th birthday and his widow could not bare to go into the basment   for 4 1/2 decades???? 

What a slice of model history.

I'm guessing $2500 to $4000, depending upon how  much work you want to put into it.

The only good thing is no outside third rail.

The motors need replacement, gearboxes should be cleaned and repacked if serviceable/desirable.   Oxidation in an unsealed cinder block celler could have been a real gremlin.  More than likely oversized brass rail or rusted steel.

Like finding a 1967 home entertainment center.

Restoring this stuff would be a chore.

Everything has some sort of value. IF you want to make some $$, and don't care just place auctions up on da bay for $.99 start bid and see where they go. All track, building transformers freight cars, details, etc will fetch you some sort of cash.... more than the $2500.00 as stated above.

just make sure you state no returns and all sales final with no warranties expressed or implied. Also learn how to pack these item well for shipping. nothing is more heartbreaking than winning an auction but recieving the item damaged due to bad packing!

Quite possibly the saddest post I have ever seen.

My guess is that there's a whole lot more value in that collection than some here may realize.  I would seek out a knowledgeable 2-rail enthusiast (or two) who is/are not personally interested in buying the items to help evaluate their condition and worth.  It may be hard to find such individuals, but it likely will be worth the effort.

The first step would be to separate the items from the layout; dust them off if necessary; and box them in their original boxes, if available.

An alternative would be to do the above and then approach an established auction house to see if they might be interested.

You don't mention where the layout is located but consider contacting the Citrus Empire Model Railroad Club regarding the sign in the photo.  If there is a connection, they might be interested in it and provide help with the value of the railroad items.

Matt

Link to Citrus Empire Model Railroad Club:

http://www.railroadinfo.com/modelrr/empire.html 

That is amazing. Definitely take more pictures to preserve that history. But time marches on and save what you can. Brass is worth a lot. AT least I have not seen many cases where it isn't. The track, you won't get much for but if you can sell it at a train show, that should be good enough. Those circus items might have been kits by Wardie-Jay and if they were built nicely can be worth selling. Unbuilt kits are worth about 30 a piece. Nicely painted, could be more. Save all the boxes even if the item is built. Plasticville is hit or miss but if you see any that has marbled plastic, its gold. Don't underestimate anything even the smallest parts. I mistakenly tossed the small parts that connect the track with the thin center rail -name escapes me now. Ooops. Wiring and boards are probably the only thing for the dump.

I helped a realtor clear out a layout once. They just needed it cleared out and I was able to take whatever was not part of the house. But I had to bag up the garbage and the heir had removed the engines/rolling stock but I was able to harvest some great stuff. It took me a day and I filled up the SUV and its taking years to part with. Good situation for all really except my wife who was ****ed that I spent the day doing that. Wear masks when tearing this out. Its dusty and potential for some asbestos materials.  Also bag it up and try to clean it outside before bringing it into your home. I might be interested in that coaling tower

I apologize to anyone who finds this disgusting, abrasive or offensive. It just is what it is. Sad but true. Please keep us posted on the adventure.

What an amazing time capsule! Nearly everything I can see has value.I also see a Thomas Industries 4-4-0.The F3's are General Models,the E6's appears to be Adams and Son.Looks like Kasiner and Walthers Streamliners. Most of the rolling stock can be cleaned up an reused by two and three railers.The unbuilt Lobaugh locomotives are very desirable. The circus train is very cool,Walthers cars with Wardie Jay loads.Feel free to contact me through my profile and I would be happy to give you more information on what I see.

Ricky

looks like he used "del Aire" swith machines.

All I can say is WOW!

Maybe it's time you and your friend went into 2-rail

I wonder how many more hidden treasures like this are around the country?

Sad and interesting.  There is some value there - but not much profit depending on the value you place on your time to clear out the stuff anit list it on eBay. I recommend you post this over on the Model Trains Journal forum where a number of historically interested O scalers post along with Bob Turner.  Bob can give you a good idea of the going price on eBay for the  brass Lobaugh 4-6-6-4 and SP 4-8-2, as well as All Nation 4-6-0's.  You can look on EBay to see what built up All Nation, Athearn, Lobaugh, and Walthers cars go for.  Many old time O scalers had more projects and un-built kits under the railroad than finished ones on it - there may be some additional value there.

Ed Rappe

I came across this post quite by accident and it does have a flavor of sadness about it. For 45 years lay a mans dream of a sizable model railroad, only to be left idle, untouched and to gather dust. The table work seems to be made of a hardwood like oak and most likely valuable. Unless this home was located in a very dry area, I would say that the condition of all of the equipment is very questionable. There are some good scale pieces there but IMO they would take considerable work to restore. Value is undetermined until each piece is at least tested and thoroughly inspected.

What is especially sad is that no next of kin were there to take over the layout...no siblings, children, nephews??  

A lot of work and loads of kit building went into that scale layout. Now someone will go disassemble this mans work. Much of it will be scrapped and it will be a memory lost forever like most layouts are.

Have you fired up the layout or tried to test any of the engines to see if they still work?  You can use an HO power pack if there is no power source there on the layout.  Even after sitting all these years I would think they should still work even though they might need some TLC.

I agree that those engines could be worth a lot of money.  I would definitely clean them up as best as you can.  Maybe lube them also.  The better their condition the more money there is.

You may want to call an auction house that deals in trains rather than a hobby shop.  The auction house, if a good one,  will advertise this stuff and bring in people from all around.

Good luck, Rick

If you have the time to not rush to get back your investment money and dilligent organizing skills there is plenty of value and treasure to be enjoyed by all. I hope Im not the only one who will take aloss on something if I can see or sense that where its going it will be used and treasured. after all whats a whole room full of pristine vintage trains actually worth when no one sees plays or touches them ever. Its all about the joy and the ability to share it. cause if it truely is all about the benjamins what a sad species we have become. Now my walls are almost full of built passenger cars and I need to practice what I preach andf start tradeing and selling 

What an incredible time-capsule and really sad to see those photos - especially for a 2-railer like myself! As mentioned by others try contacting some of the auction houses that specialize in model train auctions. I would suggest contacting Stout Auctions, New England Toy Train Exchange, Maurer Toy Train Auctions, or maybe Ambrose Bauer Trains to get some idea as to what they might or might not be worth on the secondary market. All these auction houses are on the internet.

As Ed Rappe suggested, the All Nations and Lobaugh stuff in particular have value on ebay, but definitely find out their approximate value before sell them off on ebay or anywhere else. And good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Lobaugh collector here.  I agree with the above price estimates, but if the deal is you give us lots of money and remove all of this stuff right down to a bare basement I would walk away.  If the deal is you can buy what you want and leave the rest, then you could make a nice profit by giving them $1500 and just taking the trains.  The Challenger will bring $800, and that Mountain ( May be a Scale Craft) maybe $500.  Freight cars are always good for $20.  Just remember, you have to pack them and ship them, and if you were paying somebody to do that you would lose big time.

I think you would find interest in any unbuilt kits, especially Walthers passenger cars.

Pete

Personal observation and opinion -the O scale 2 rail community is far less interested in the collecting "vintage" 2 rail equipment than 3 rail O gaugers in "vintage" 3 rail.   Except for highly sought custom models (like Fischer passenger cars), vintage 2 rail models bring low prices relative to their original cost. Probably because most O scale 2 railers care more about the model's level of detail and fidelity than its brand or how many were made.  Exhibit A being the SP Daylight cars from GGD vs. the Boxcar Ken cars shown on that layout. 

I'm looking forward to hearing from Bob2 (Bob Turner) and some of the MTJ forumites who know the 2 rail vintage market. 

Ed Rappe