How to Sell LGB Model Trains?

Question

I have a large collection of LGB model trains that is about 20 years old. I have been trying to figure out how to sell them. I tried Ebay, but there is very little activity in this category on Ebay. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Answer 1

Why don't you try posting an ad on an enthusiast web site, such as:
http://www.trains.com/trc/
http://www.trains.com/mrr/
http://www.trains.com/trc/default.aspx?c=class&id=24

Answer 2

If you are a complete novice to model railroading, you have to spend the time in researching the items and effort to sell them to get the maximum return. Showing up to a train show or a dealer (if you can find them) with boxes and a "make me an offer" look on your face will likely get you much less then their worth. The same could apply if you get a "knowledgeable friend" to sell them for you. You will be wondering if they are being straight up with you , or "other". The locomotives could be worth $5.00 tops or they could be worth $1000.00+ depending on what they are. If you have NO idea as to what they are you WILL loose. Judging by the relatives lifestyle, if they were well off, the trains are likely to be worth more. If the trains were bought at yard sales and flea markets, probably not as much. It all depends on what they are and who made them. In HO age does not have a great impact in their worth like Lionel does. In short the older HO trains are do not necessarily make them more valuable. The opposite is actually more accurate. The newer more accurate trains are worth more then the older runs. Getting them back in the correct boxes adds greatly to the selling price. I cannot recommend eBay enough. Love them or not, they are it. The buying audience is there like no other place, website, or train show. In is an international buying audience. There are some other "eBay hating" train selling websites, but no buyers. However, with eBay, there is lots of time involved to list them and sell off 1 or a few items at a time and what category to list them in with an accurate description. Knowing how to group them is a benefit. A wrong item description will not get a high price. In closing, you have to put the research time in to get the benefit out, or blow them out on the cheap and take whatever you get. It is all your choice.

Answer 3

I (we with my two boys) have started our adventure as of 6 months ago and they both count the days of the week waiting for the weekend to go and do “our” thing. Thanks to this site http://tinyurl.com/ModelTrainsBeginnersR , staff, site and books, I was able to quickly get up to speed on the latest technologies and techniques without spending days if not weeks on the web to look for it (and most likely not finding all that you have provided).

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this hobby is still so active since I have not touched my boxes of trains since packing up the layout my father did with me in 1975. I can only imagine the hours needed to keep up with all of what you are doing and I salute you in your mission.

My two boys are saved from the video game frenzy for now but its up to the parents and grandparents of this generation to help the next generation. This site help us do what we can do better and we all have fun and at the same time educate our children…