Lionell Trains

Airplay355
Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
edited May 2009 in The Clubhouse
I just found a bunch of Lionell trains in my basement. Does anyone know if they are worth anything? I think they all work and there's tons of stuff; tracks, trains, cars, stuff to lift the track off the ground.

Anyone know anything?
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2009
    depending upon conditon and version,type,, yes,,just look on e-bay,, hundreds of em.If you post some pi'c,I would be interested in some rolling stock (railcars). Good luck.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    They are old. I haven't looked through the entire box but I'll go do that now. I know for sure the engine looks like this engine, the coal car thing is the same and I think there's a caboose down there and the NYC flat bed car. I'll go check them out and take some pics.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Lionel-Train-Set-Vintage-set-1940s-to-1960s_W0QQitemZ150345125058QQihZ005QQcategoryZ4146QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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  • oifvet0608
    oifvet0608 Posts: 148
    edited May 2009
    They have the potential to be worth ALOT. My dad is into model trains (he does N-scale, smaller) and depending on the condition...age...etc. They could be worth more than you would think. Just like the old action figures our parents used to buy us when we were kids that are worth thousands now.
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  • Rodeo0530
    Rodeo0530 Posts: 797
    edited May 2009
    I would definitely look into them some more. I have some Lionel trains that used to be my grandfather's and they are worth quite a bit of money. I'm sure you'll be able to find a little bit of information online somewhere.


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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    Here are some pictures of the cars. There's still track, a bunch switches, a bumper, liquid smoke crap like that.

    I'll post some better pictures if anyone really wants to see something up close. They aren't too beat up but they certainly aren't 100%. I imagine they work but I have no idea how to even turn it on. There are switches everywhere.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2009
    Probably worth something. I actually met Mr. Lionel (that wasn't his name of course) many years ago in NYC. Doubt he's still around....nice guy...well one of the owners at least...this company changed hands so many times since its heyday its ridiculous!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

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  • POIDOG
    POIDOG Posts: 391
    edited May 2009
    Here's some info on Lionel trains. In 1995 a group of investors, which included Neil Young
    keep the company alive. :):):)

    http://users.rcn.com/ed.ma.ultranet/lionel.html
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited May 2009
    george daniel wrote: »
    depending upon conditon and version,type,, yes,,just look on e-bay,, hundreds of em.If you post some pi'c,I would be interested in some rolling stock (railcars). Good luck.

    Three rail O scale?
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    They sure are lightman.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited May 2009
    Airplay355 wrote: »
    They sure are lightman.
    Airplane...You have some of the "Antique Roadshow" attic specials.

    Russ
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    Here's the engine.
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  • Rodeo0530
    Rodeo0530 Posts: 797
    edited May 2009
    Have you been able to find out much about them? I've always loved trains, which is why my mom gave me the lionel trains that her dad gave her. We had a big train table set up in my room when I was a kid and it was great!


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  • seeclear
    seeclear Posts: 1,242
    edited May 2009
    Airplay355 wrote: »
    Here's the engine.

    Except for the blue stripe, that looks exactly like the train I had as a kid...we had it at least from 1965. Depending on their condition, I'll bet they are worth something to collectors. I'm no expert, tho, and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, either.
    "Don't forget to change your politician. They are like diapers they need to be changed regularly, and for the same reason."
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    I've been looking for info on the specific models and so far I haven't turned up anything re: their value. I'm going to keep looking or maybe just try to find a train shop to take them to.
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  • oifvet0608
    oifvet0608 Posts: 148
    edited May 2009
    First get the train shop to tell you what they are before you sell...they might try to do a KC shuffle on you.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    I figured I'd try to get them to tell me what they are worth and then I'd just sell them online. I don't really want them though and I wouldn't be trying to get every pennies worth. I'd rather they were just gone :)
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited May 2009
    Airplay355 wrote: »
    I figured I'd try to get them to tell me what they are worth and then I'd just sell them online. I don't really want them though and I wouldn't be trying to get every pennies worth. I'd rather they were just gone :)

    >>>:mad:
    Airplanegluehuffer!
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    If you can figure out what they are worth then I won't bother going to a store lol
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited May 2009
    Too many models that look like that one. Patience, Padawan, patience.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    If it helps any, the model on the bottom says 027. I'm guessing that just means it was the 27th one made but who knows.
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  • jgido759
    jgido759 Posts: 572
    edited May 2009
    Airplay355 wrote: »
    If it helps any, the model on the bottom says 027. I'm guessing that just means it was the 27th one made but who knows.

    "027" references the gauge. IIRC, it has something to do with the minimum diameter of circular track the train/car can run on. I think "027" references a 27" diameter circle.
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  • POIDOG
    POIDOG Posts: 391
    edited May 2009
    Airplay355 wrote: »
    I've been looking for info on the specific models and so far I haven't turned up anything re: their value. I'm going to keep looking or maybe just try to find a train shop to take them to.



    Look at the posting I provided above, scroll down to TCA headquarters. May not be exactly what your looking for, but they do have ads and exchange areas with prices. May need to drill down or follow a link to get what you're looking for :)
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    There's no way the train can only work on a 27" diameter track, that's huge! The starter track it came with is just a simple ellipse like thing, certainly not 27". Plus the curvature of the track is preset so you wouldn't ever really have a 27" circle without some straight pieces in there I think.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    Thanks Poidog, I thought the link was only a history article and since I don't care too much about them I got bored after reading a few paragraphs lol.
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  • Roy Munson
    Roy Munson Posts: 886
    edited May 2009
    I used to collect Lionel Trains years ago and this is what the Greenberg Guide says from around 1992:

    Sears 1959 xmas catalog
    200 Scout series loco and tender
    6162 gondola w/ cans
    6014 Bosco boxcar
    6825 flat w/ trestle
    6017 SP caboose
    1053 transformer
    8 027 curves, 1 st, & 6029 ucs

    The full catalogue number was 79 N 09664 and sold for $29.99

    It pulled a Lionel gondola with 3 canisters, a Bosco box car, a Lionel flat car with bridge sections and a SP style Lionel Lines caboose. Came with an oval of 027 track and a 60 watt transformer.

    It's not terrible valuable.

    Here's are a couple of eBay links:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/LIONEL-ENGINE-SET-NO-247-N-R_W0QQitemZ120419341969QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4148QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

    http://cgi.ebay.com/LIONEL-247-BALTIMORE-OHIO-LOCO_W0QQitemZ320365533028QQihZ011QQcategoryZ4146QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

    The entire set will bring more than these two auctions for just the loco...I'd guess $100.00 to $150.00 depending on condition. YMMV
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2009
    This thread makes me laugh as I'm a die hard fan of E!s The Soup...

    1242758461044815000.jpg
    Jake
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  • jgido759
    jgido759 Posts: 572
    edited May 2009
    Airplay355 wrote: »
    There's no way the train can only work on a 27" diameter track, that's huge! The starter track it came with is just a simple ellipse like thing, certainly not 27". Plus the curvature of the track is preset so you wouldn't ever really have a 27" circle without some straight pieces in there I think.

    I don't think you are understanding the 27 inch reference. It is not the "entire train" it refers to, but the individual cars in the train. Here is Wikipedia's definition of "027" (I couldn't find one on Lionel's web site):

    The 027 name comes from the size of the track's curves. A circle made of eight pieces of standard curved 0 gauge track will have a 31 inch (787 mm) diameter. A circle made of 8 pieces of curved 027 track is smaller, with a 27 inch (686 mm) diameter. Full-sized 0 cars sometimes have difficulty negotiating the tighter curves of an 027 layout. Although the smaller, tin lithographed cars by American Flyer, Marx, and others predate the formal 027 standard, they are also often called 027 because they also operate flawlessly on 027 track.

    http://www.modeltrainwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_ref_id=782
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited May 2009
    Ohhh ok gotcha. Thanks.

    And thanks Roy for the price info! :)
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