Anyone get any good deals at train shows?

I got a Southern RS3 at a Memphis train show a year ago for about $280.  It was an MTH Proto Sound 2.0 model that I really loved.  Brand new in the box.

Hello Andrew,

I'm glad to see that you're still asking questions . I've found many useful things over the years. I must depend on others since my PD took a turn for the worse this year. A fellow forumite made a mission to find the last three cars that I needed to complete my last Lionel boxed set. He called me Saturday morning telling he found what I needed. Plus, he found the optional car offered for my set.

 

Andrew, the folks on this forum are so special, each and everyone of them. I regret not joining earlier that I did. I learned about the magazine & the forum late in life.

I attended the Hamburg, PA train show today. I purchased a 3rd rail lightly used REA reefer car brass version with box for $70.00
I do have to admit the deals start drying up now that its the holiday shopping season.

I was also at the Hamburg show.  Some really low prices on common Postwar.  I picked up a nice 2046WX tender in great shape for $45.

 

I offered $20 on two different Marx chrome 2-light towers.  Didn't get either one.  Maybe at the Gilbertsville show next Sunday.

I picked up a MTH RS 3 with Proto 2.0 brand new (Canadian Pacific) at a TTOS show for $105. Runs great.

 

Bob

I thing most of us don't buy anything at these meets unless it is at least a good price.  In this case, I negotiated and found the seller was "very motivated" - I got this NIB K-Line Kennicott Copper mining train, complete, at a really good price.  It is a lovely little train that looks good on my tight mountain tracks.

I only buy stuff at train shows that I think are a good deal.  Even with the price of admission taken into the equation.

Many over the years. The one in particular that stands out is actually what I would refer to as railroad memorabilia. It is a Sante Fe "Chief" drumhead that is nothing less than spectacular.

I usually get at least one good deal every month at the DuPage show in Wheaton, IL.  The most frequent good deal is getting Atlas or MTH Premier cars for $30 to $40.  I have also gotten a lot of die cast cars and trucks at very good prices.  Artista figures at great prices is another deal and since the dealer is going out of business he is offering really good deals this month.

 

Art

A couple years back I found a D-9 Cable Bulldozer with working cables to the blade.

 

My Dad drove one when I was a kid. I used to go to work with him in the summer and ride with him.

Paid $50 but feel it's priceless - Never have seen another one.

Andrew,

A "good deal" depends on what you mean by those terms as good to one person may mean nothing to another. Perhaps you should just go to some train shows and find out for yourself.

jackson

I ONLY get good deals at train shows.

Way too many to list them.

I don't buy unless it's a great deal.

One I wish I had bought more of.......A seller had the plastic kits Atlas has in their line...the 2 story house, small station and foot bridge in one plain brown box for $10 a box....should have bought about 5 of them!!

Is it bad to buy an engine or set from a booth?  Since one you leave with it and if it's broken there's nothing they will do?

Most shows have a place where you can test items. If not, assume its broken and offer a price it accordingly.

 

Pete

I've gotten several good deals at train shows. I generally buy postwar, but lately have picked up some prewar stuff. Have not been stuck with anything I could not fix or use for parts.

Andrew87: It might help to get more detailed answers if others knew what sort of trains you were interested in purchasing. Things like:

 

which control system
new or used

acceptable brands

Probably a NIB K-line scale EP5 with TMCC and cruise for $100. There seems to be a lot of these models out there (and many consider it the best detailed EP5 in 3 rail.)

 

The other would be a 4 pack of the Kline PRR Spirit of St Louis 18inch cars for a little over $200. 

It's buyer beware. Unless you are buying from an authorized dealer who is at the show, you will have no warranty from any of the manufactures no matter how new the item is.

 

As for deals, yes I have gotten a few. However if you are buying older items and when you ask a price on it and they pull out the Greenberg guide, it's usually time to walk.

Lee,

 

That really is a cool little train. You could build a nifty mining layout around it in so little space. Or even refit it to make some kind of theme park attraction!

Andrew,

   I usually get some good deals at the Monroeville, Pa and the Adamsburg VFD shows,

everything from Tin Plate rolling stock to ZW transformers to FasTrack CC Switches can be found at different vendors.  The Adamsburg VFD show is on the 21st, but I will be in Potter/Tioga at that time, this year. 

PCRR/Dave

 

Picked up this original Lionel 2600 series Tin Plate Search Light Car in Perfect condition at the Monroeville, Pa Train Show a few years ago.

 

Everybody that goes to shows either gets a good deal or they don't go again.

Pine Creek: that is a very nice car!

I've gotten several good deals at train shows. It really comes down to what you're looking for and if you're in the right place at the right time.

 

One of the best deals I got was the result of being courteous at a train show. Another guy and I arrived at the same table at the same time. I let him go first. Of course he bought the locomotive I was looking at (I don't get it -- no one in Southern California buys CNW). Two weeks later I picked up the same locomotive on eBay for about 30% less.

I was out at the Orange Empire semi annual swap meet on Sat and picked up a couple Lionel scale cars with Atlas 2R trucks and Kadees for $55 for the pair. $27.50 per car is a great price for 2 rail converted cars. I got them for my Dad so I will 3 rail them with the extra Lionel trucks I have laying around, but its still a good deal.

Picked up another Santa Fe Diesel book thats been out of print since 1998. All color..1960 and above with all color photos. Paid $90 but they sell in stores and EBay for $200+ because it's color, Santa Fe, and out of print for 15 years.

In 2 rail, there is no much in the shops, and I do not like buying from pictures on the net regardless of shows.   A few of my buddies have been badly burned on ebay, for example.   One guy bought a built up car he really wanted from the photo, and the side not shown was badly damaged for example.

 

So I like shows.    Stuff that is no longer in production often shows up.   Prices are usually negociable.    And as someone says, a "good deal" for you may not be for someone else.    I have always had a sort of long range plan for what I was buying to build what kind of layout.   The plan has evolved and changed, but it is always in the back of my mind as I look at what  is available on the tables.    I am often looking for something specific that I don't find, but then find something else that fits what I am dong very well.   

 

so  yes I feel I usually do pretty well at train shows.   I get someting I really want, or I get something that is a really good deal, and sometimes both.

I get most of my good deals on here, and my train guy 60 miles away.

Last show I went too wasn;t much for me,,,,,,,,,,,met lots of friends though

 

Rod 

This past Saturday was the first time I can remember I didn't buy anything at a show. Saw a lot of good deals, a lot of stuff I wanted, but nothing I needed for my current projects. My storage is pretty full right now so I've desided to be more selective in purchases.

Five years ago I bought a Milwaukee Special set hardly used for $80. An MTH Milwaukee Hiawatha dome car and a MPC, Morton Salt covered hopper for $25 each both in the box and never used.