How much are old train sets 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!
This train set was manufactured in 1950. It is worth $1,050 to $2,500. It sold at $1,600. This train set has the most impressive engine of its era.
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The main factors which influence an item's value are:
- Condition.
- Age.
- Rarity.
- Modifications.
- Production run variations.
| No. | Lionel Trains | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Standard Gauge | $250,000 |
| 2. | 700 E Hudson Brass Prototype | $77,000 |
| 3. | 2360 Vagell GG1 | $15,000 |
| 4. | Girls Train Set | $7,000 |
Sell toy trains locally
If you're up for it, there are still many local model railroad swap meets where you can find willing buyers. Or, use digital venues like Craigslist, Kijiji (in Canada), and Facebook Marketplace to list items for sale. This typically works better for smaller collections.
These are not rare cars, but this is a great engine. And the whole set together would easily bring $2,500 to $3,000 at auction.
Pre-war Lionel trains can sell anywhere from twenty dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the rarity of the piece and its condition (among other factors).
Lionel almost always placed their identification number underneath the cab of the locomotive. Shown below are some of the various numbers they used to identify these locomotives. O27 Gauge - you'll note that Lionel used four-digit numbers for these locomotives.
The 6447 Pennsylvania N5C caboose is the rarest N5C caboose -- if not the rarest caboose -- produced during the entire postwar era.
A diesel locomotive could cost from $500,000-$2 million. While an electric locomotive could cost more than $6 million. Price depends on whether it is powered by AC or DC traction, how much horsepower it has, or what electronics it is equipped with.
Are model trains a good investment?
You can still make money off your hobby even if investing in model trains directly isn't the best idea. You can still buy and resell them and make a modest profit. In that case, just need to think of it as a shorter-term thing than a long-term thing. Use a different window of opportunity and you can still make money.
Worth a staggering £10million (€15million), Miniatur Wunderland in Germany is by far the biggest and most expensive model railway in the world.
- Athearn (HO, N scale)
- Atlas (O, HO and N scale)
- Arnold (N gauge, owned by Hornby)
- Bachmann (HO, N and G scale)
- Lionel (O scale trains).
- Walthers (N and HO scale)
Wet the dirty areas, put liquid detergent to the toothbrush, and gently scrub an area with no lettering. Rinse off the soap and check your progress. If the place you've just cleaned looks good, continue to scrub everything while rinsing frequently. Set the shell on a cloth towel to dry.
So, How much do locomotives cost? A diesel locomotive could cost from $500,000-$2 million. While an electric locomotive could cost more than $6 million. Price depends on whether it is powered by AC or DC traction, how much horsepower it has, or what electronics it is equipped with.
The Information Is Most Likely On The Model Itself
Fortunately, you won't even have to do any disassembly of your model to determine the exact age. As long as it's still readable and intact, you can usually find a small metal plaque attached to the side or bottom of the train.
Hornby Dublo is the name on some of today's most valuable sets. Clockwork models from the start of World War II are highly valuable because few were made.
