Model Railway & Model Train Valuations (2024)

FAQs

How much are my model trains worth? ›

The value of vintage toy trains depends on the age of the model train. Most model trains are common and due to being well-loved, the value is in the memories your old train set holds for you. An old model train can be worth $100 or less, but it can also be worth $10,000!

While some model trains may be worth a lot of money, others may not be worth much at all. Model railways have a resale value but cheap toy trains designed for young children do not.

If you want to sell

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At auction, this set would probably sell for, depending on how well it could clean up, between $7,000 and $9,000.

Simply put, all of this costs money. Modern laser scanners and design techniques are not cheap to implement and the research and development of model trains is an expensive business. Inevitably, some of this cost gets passed on to the consumer through higher prices of train sets.

Now, some adults certainly collect toy trains—especially those from their own childhoods. But many adults are so-called model railroaders, faithfully collecting and building scale models of real trains that actually exist—and creating intricate environments for them, known as layouts.

Most model trains from the well known manufacturers are usually able to last for many generations providing the appropriate operating and maintenance procedures have been followed and they've been stored correctly when not in use.

HO is by far the most popular model train scale in the U.S. and Canada. The HO scale ratio is 1:87.1. HO scale modelers tend to have the widest variety of models available for rolling stock, locomotives, and buildings.

Lionel, Bachmann, Atlas, and Walthers are the top model train brands in the USA as they offer a wide range of choice and their trains cater to a variety of skill levels. Their beginner train sets are a great way to get started.

Hobbyists, called "railway modellers" or "model railroaders", may maintain models large enough to ride (see Live steam, Ridable miniature railway and Backyard railroad). Modellers may collect model trains, building a landscape for the trains to pass through. They may also operate their own railroad in miniature.

Who is buying MTH trains? ›

ScaleTrains.com™, Inc., a leading manufacturer of HO and N Scale model trains, announced the acquisition of M.T.H.

The German toy company Märklin dates back to 1859. Originally, Märklin specialized in doll house accessories, before shifting its focus to model railways and technical toys. As a result, many Märklin collectibles have become quite valuable.

The first mass market model train sets were invented by a German company called Marklin in 1891, and by the early 1950s model trains were the number one most popular toy for boys in the United States. As technology advanced model train kits became more realistic.

Lionel Trains Value

The pre-war Lionel trains cost around $20 to a few thousand dollars. The starting price of post-war Lionel trains was $10, going up to several thousand dollars. The value depends heavily on the model and features of the train.

Historically model trains don't increase in value, they decrease in value because improvements in quality and detail make more current models far more desirable. There was a short lived burst of interest that saw some prewar Lionel trains multiple in value.

Lionel trains' value varies depending on design, materials, and era. At auction, Lionel train sets, pieces, and accessories can sell for a few hundred dollars or for a few thousand dollars, depending on the rarity and condition of the piece. Lionel collectors tend to have a lifelong passion for model railroading.

In 1969, they sold their model train lines to General Mills but continued to operate until 1993 as a holding company for their toy stores. Its model trains are still in production as a separate company. New York, New York, U.S.

2-7/8-inch gauge: Joshua Lionel Cowen's first train, The Electric Express, ran on 2-7/8-inch track. Lionel made trains in this gauge between 1901 and 1905.

Experts explained the fares were down to the complex nature of the ticketing system. Jeremy Acklam, founder and chief executive of rail saving website ticketclever.com said: “First class offers don't sell as quickly as standard class fares hence why these deals are cheaper.

Why is n gauge so expensive? ›

Prices are more competitive as a result. The second hand market for N gauge trains is not as well developed - choice is often limited and, due to the smaller level of availability, prices of N gauge train sets are more expensive on the used market.

It's very popular due to the extensive and varied aspects that make up the hobby. Model railroaders can focus on anything from building model scenery to designing track plans and running trains, which make it a popular pastime for a wide range of people.

Model trains may also be built by hand from kits. Toy trains, on the other hand, can include everything that looks like a train and can be technically be “played with” in some way. Think of LEGO® train sets or Thomas the Tank Engine toys.

Presently Bachmann offers trains in H0 scale, N scale (1:160 and 1:148), On30, 00 gauge, HOn30 (H0 scale on N tracks) and G scale around the world, in addition to buildings and accessories: North America – Bachmann Industries H0 scale, N scale (1:160), On30 and G scale. Plasticville O scale and S scale.

Frank Sinatra collected Lionel and tinplate model trains. He even had an entire cottage dedicated to his hobby. Walt Disney loved model trains and often included railroads in his cartoons, films, and theme parks.

Use a static-free cloth to wipe off any excess oil. Avoid getting oil onto the wheels to maintain traction with the railroad tracks. Model train enthusiasts should conduct regular checkups of the locomotive's gears, wheels, tires, carbon brushes, and commutator. The gears should have all of their teeth.

Some Herpa cars are made in China. IHC and Model Power kits are made in Denmark, Germany, and sometimes Brazil.

What is the fastest model train? The fastest model train currently recorded managed to achieve a speed of 27.84mph (44.82kph). The 'Osaka Banpaku Tenjimokei Linear Motorcar' achieved the speed at the JAM Convention held in Tokyo, Japan in 2018.

O scale is obviously a much larger commitment—HO scale is half the size, and is one of the most popular scales due to its relatively easy entry point. Smaller scales, therefore, can be ideal for beginners, but larger scales allow you to create much more detail and realism in your layouts.

Common materials for building model train platforms include plywood for the surface and framing wood like 2x4s for the platform legs and cross-bracing. Make sure your structure is stable and level. As a beginner, start small, you can always add sections later.

What does HO stand for in model trains? ›

The abbreviation “HO” stands for “half-O.” The smaller trains were less expensive and took up less space than their larger O scale cousins, which became popular with people who were moving into small homes and apartments in the 1940s.

Peco and Shinohara brands are favorites among many model railroaders since they appear a little more realistic than the others and they have curved turnouts available which many of the other brands do not. Bachmann, Piko or LGB are great choices for G Scale track. Lionel is the gold standard for 3-rail O scale track.

Northlandz, “Home of the Great American Railway,” where 135 locomotives pulling thousands of railroad cars run over eight miles of track and cross bridges more than 40 feet in length, is the one of the biggest model railroads on the planet, and by many accounts a true wonder of the world.

The largest rail company in the world is Deutsche Bahn, with a revenue of $47.72 billion. As of 2021, the global rail industry has a market size of $295.80 billion. There are over 807,000 miles of railroad networks around the world.

Sir Rod told Railway Modeller magazine that scenery and structure modelling, rather than locomotives, trackwork or electrics, are his forte. "It's the landscape I like. Attention to detail, extreme detail, is paramount.

A train driver, engine driver, engineman or locomotive driver, commonly known as an engineer or railroad engineer in the United States and Canada, and also as a locomotive handler, locomotive engineer, locomotive operator, train operator, or motorman, is a person who operates a train, railcar, or other rail transport ...

The biggest difference between N scale and HO scale model trains is their size. N scale models are half the size of HO scale models. This makes N scale great if space is tight and you want to fit more track into a small layout.

Electric Trains owner announces retirement; 40-year-old company to close in May 2021. After four decades in business, M.T.H. Electric Trains is closing. President Mike Wolf announced Monday that he is retiring, shuttering the business in May 2021 but leaving the door open to prospective buyers to form a new company.

The train company will continue to operate as M.T.H. Electric Trains - marketing and producing new model train products - after many discussions with various companies to purchase the entire portfolio of M.T.H.

M.T.H. Trains President Mike Wolf has announced his May 2021 retirement and the subsequent closure of the company after 40 years in business. “It is, therefore, with mixed emotions that I tell you I have decided to retire in 2021 and close the business,” he said in a June 8, 2020 letter to the industry.

How much is my model train worth? ›

The value of vintage toy trains depends on the age of the model train. Most model trains are common and due to being well-loved, the value is in the memories your old train set holds for you. An old model train can be worth $100 or less, but it can also be worth $10,000!

Model trains are scale models rather than toys. They're marketed to scale modellers and more serious model train hobbyists and feature highly accurate liveries, small and detailed components, and provide exceptional realism. They often make use of complex manufacturing methods, so are more expensive to produce.

Steam locomotives were first developed in the United Kingdom during the early 19th century and used for railway transport until the middle of the 20th century.

The pre-war Lionel trains cost around $20 to a few thousand dollars. The starting price of post-war Lionel trains was $10, going up to several thousand dollars. The value depends heavily on the model and features of the train.

If you have old HO, N, or Large scale trains(with the exception of LGB and Marklin trains), there is at best a smaller collector's market for them. Unless you are lucky enough to find the “right buyer,” or have a very specific train that collectors are just drooling over, the resale value is minimal.

Lionel trains' value varies depending on design, materials, and era. At auction, Lionel train sets, pieces, and accessories can sell for a few hundred dollars or for a few thousand dollars, depending on the rarity and condition of the piece. Lionel collectors tend to have a lifelong passion for model railroading.

Get Updates. The Lionel Corp. used a four-digit number to identify its postwar rolling stock. In some cases cars also carried a one, two, or three-digit suffix. Though many times cars with the same number exhibit slight differences, or variations, Lionel usually assigned a new number if a car received major changes.

Lionel O gauge and O-27 gauge trains are our most popular.

HO scale – 1:87. S scale – 1:64. O scale – 1:48. G scale – 1:24 to 1:32.

What is the difference between HO and N scale trains? ›

N scale is roughly half the size of HO scale at 1:160 ratio. Modelers tend to use N scale to build more complicated layouts in smaller spaces than HO scale layouts. Or they can use large spaces, such as garages or basem*nts, to create scenic N scale empires using the size to create a life-like, but small scene.

Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany, is the world's largest model train set and airport. Its eight sections are connected by eight miles of track, and it features over 4,000 buildings and 215,000 figurines.