Background on a few recent standard gauge pieces needed.

you might be interested in page 95 of Peter Riddle's "America's Standard Gauge Electric Trains", Landmark Specialty Books, 1998.

In 1978, Harlen Creswell (Liberty Lines, Seattle WA) "developed tooling to make a stretched version of the No. 400E boiler and frame..." resulting in the Liberty Lines 600E 4-6-4 Hudson.  Later, Creswell turned his attention to the Lionel 381E: "Again paying homage to Lionel, he numbered his Olympian 3281, gave it a complement of twenty wheels, and matched it with a car Lionel never made: a four-door baggage car to go with the State cars.... The baggage car was made with simulated rivets and a roof that closely matched that of Lionel's largest cars...  Although never available in large numbers, these impressive products played a significant role in the continuing revival of interest in Standard Gauge that occurred during the 1980's."

    Great Info! Thanks.

Al Merris in Washington has done some McCoy like steeple cabs. Not sure if he used a company name or not. I'll have to ask.

Steve

The Liberty Lines state baggage car is much better looking and accurate than the LCT version!

The LCT version included vestibules with passenger doors, plus those windows between the baggage doors, which take away from the model!

Got a confirmation that Rail Tech is the name Al Merris uses for the Steeple Cabs.

Steve

Back when I was into Standard Gauge, I had one of those steeple cabs.  Nice little units, and good pullers.  I could be wrong about this, but I believe Al had some affiliation with Bob and Margaret McCoy back before Bob passed away.  Bob and Margaret were among the truly good folks of this great hobby.

I think you'll find the steeple cab has a McCoy motor in it.   I was told they supplied motors to other small mfg's at various times.   I can't find documentation for that at the moment.   Those sure look like McCoy trucks, probably the same story there?

The McCoy 1981 catalog has a picture of the prototype steeple cab on the cover (pictured on page 80 of the McCoy book) but the book says (page 44) that McCoy never produced it.

That baggage car is truly top shelf, and only a handful made.  I don't know how you'd go about pricing such an item, but don't let somebody steal that from you on ebay.

Ebay is a better MARKET barometer than any other place...more knowledgeable Collectors than other places other than Auction Houses!!!  He will get what the market will bear rather than a bunch of oohs and ahs, and blind pricing, and endless price drops in order to find a buyer.  There really is no STEALING on Ebay...a MARKET TO THE WORLD!!!  I really think the Anti-Ebay feelings on OGR are a knee-jerk reaction to a disdain for competitive bidding against those with deeper pockets.  Myself, I'd rather have seven days to outbid someone on that baggage car, rather than miss out because I miss it being listed on a Buy/Sell Forum.  Liberty Lines stuff pops up at Auction houses, and competitive bidding sets the price at that time...kinda simple!!!

SORRY, Ron but there are some of us who just disdain "competitive bidding". Obviously, it is a source of amusement akin to gambling for some, like my semi-pro poker-player friend, Jack, who is often very successful with his hobby/sport!

Nothing wrong with participating in auctions, and you are obviously a pro at it, and that is GOOD!

Actually, I really envy your skills in regard to auctions, but if I played high-stakes polka, I would lose my *ss!

It is, and never will be, my game!

I just wish LCT would have gotten the state baggage car right!

The "Liberty Lines" model was worth emulating!

I sold my MTH "Blue Comet" baggage car for the same reason: it was a strange "hybrid" of a baggage and passenger car!

Actually, I think of Auction Houses as a place to see trains I never knew existed or cannot afford...a MUSEUM of sorts.  Also, I see them as a place to meet Collectors in their TWILIGHT, willing to impart their knowledge to us 60-year old ROOKIES!!!

I agree with you Ron.  Supply and demand, let the market set the price, and ebay is excellent at that.  It's interesting to watch the guys that re-list their item on ebay, month after month, at the same high price under "Buy it Now": the market is telling them they are priced too high, but they just can't hear it.  

What I meant by 'steal' is that sellers can get still burned.  Right now as everyone has noticed, prices are depressed, and the market just isn't there for some of these scarcer collector's items like that Liberty Lines baggage car: it's kind of a specialty item with a rather narrow market niche.  Markets go up and down: market price reflects the price anyone is willing to pay for the item at that moment, not necessarily the inherent value of what the item is worth long-term: hence, value investing, buy low sell high.  Don't sell that baggage car low; it's inherently worth more than that. 

Even so, you're probably right.  There are plenty of collectors out there who would recognize what that car is – if they happen to be watching ebay that week and happen to be in the market for that car. 

Well they are up and moving right along. Thanks for the info guys!

Here is a video of one of Al's steeple cabs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f...&v=ykgp6-pHh7Q#!

Steve "Papa" Eastman

I shoulda got this to pull it!!!

That is one NICE steeple cab!

THANKS for sharing!

As I stated above, LCT should have used the graceful "Liberty Lines" state baggage car as a template for their car, instead of their ridiculous passenger/baggage car hybrid!

I am lucky enough to have one of the few Liberty Lines baggage cars. I got it virtually mint off of da Bay a couple of yesrs ago, paid $325 for it.

The McCoy book says the McCoys never brought their steeplecab prototype to market because of "problems with the switcher's tractive effort".  Your pictures on the ebay listing show how Merris fixed that problem... twin motors! 

You're already doing okay pricewise, and they haven't really gotten going.  No reserve, I've got to hand it to you.

I agree completely!  MTH (LCT) should make a baggage car like the Liberty Line state baggage car.  

What MTH should have done is release the state car baggage cars with center windows as "Railway Post Office" cars.  To this end, should MTH ever release state car baggage cars modeled after the Liberty Lines state baggage cars, MTH should also sell new brass side plates engraved with "RAILWAY POST OFFICE" that could be used to replace the plates on the LCT state baggage cars with center windows.  

In addition, to compliment their new state RPO cars, LCT should also offer for sale a copy of American Flyer's original Standard Gauge trackside mailbag accessory with its trackside mailbag hanger and clip-on cargo door mailbag collector.  Conceptually, this mailbag accessory kit would allow a new LCT state RPO car to collect mini mailbags attached to any the trackside mailbag hangers located along the mainline. 

Bob