Buy anything cool lately?

Ended up having a great York between buying and catching up with friends. At York I got coal loads from Don Kane and they are nice, I picked up another Weaver trailer on flat car, at Trainworld I ended up with the last MTH 44 tonner he had, and at Joe G I picked up a Pacific Fruit Express 2 pack trailer set and ordered another two sets.Also a few more Gar Graves uncoupling tracks.  When I got home my engine from the Canadian club was waiting for me. All and all it was a great time...........Paul

Walter Anderson posted:

Finally bought a #990 Legacy

Good move. Enjoy

Glad you had a good time Paul! York sure sounds like fun, but just to far for me to travel! But I can live it threw all you guys that post here!

RSJB18 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

gandydancer1950 posted:

Moonson posted:

Ralph M posted:

York was great. Prices were soft and counter offers & haggling was encouraged. Too badI don't need much of anything since I'm already up to my eyeballs in train stuff.  I did pick up a few items that caught my eye though.

In my opinion (subjective, of course,) as a former vendor at York and as a hobbyist with a basement full of layout and trains in storage, what you stated, Ralph M, is where I theorize the entire hobby is headed, including all the hobby-shops, manufacturers, shows and meets, etc.

I mean, how much stuff is enough? I think that is why we have come to value the personal interactions so much. Our hobby used to be a hunt for stuff, an adventure of acquisition, with barely any interaction with other hobbyists on their quests for more stuff.

However, nowadays, we have the stuff, and it is the people who have come to count the most to us.

If I am wrong, please, enlighten me. Anybody?

FrankM, Layout Refinements,

and Moon Township, USA

I agree completely Frank. But in addition I believe two other factors contribute. First, the internet has allowed us to connect with many other hobbyists that we would never have met prior. An example would simply be you and I.  Most likely we would have never shared ideas, photos, comments, etc. without it. It has brought us all closer. Second we hobbyists are getting older and I believe as that occurs we place a higher value on friendships. Our lives intersect through trains and we want to share each others experiences. It's a safe place which gives us comfort.  Simply, the circle of life!

 

Very true.  I was a lone wolf from the time my uncle moved away taking his American Flyer trains with him the summer before I started first grade, to when I bought my first train set (a Tyco HO F7 set) when I was about 12, through until I got on the internet in the late '90s.  I did not interact with any other modelers until on early e-mail groups.  By that time I was over 40.  It is amazing how many friends I have met through this Forum, and met in person at shows and meets.  I ran into many of you on my second trip to York that just finished up.

Since this is Buy Anything Cool, I will comment now with better photographs to follow tomorrow.  I got a practically new Premier Western Maryland F3 ABA which I researched to find was cataloged in 1995.  It has a new BCR and very little run time in a like new box from a great Forum member.  Also I got a NIB 2013 catalog Premier Western Maryland FA-2 ABA set with an add on B unit at an amazing price!!  Also I got a great deal on the WM 2-bay hopper, and finally found a 1950 era dump truck.

As far as how much is enough, I actually now have one less engine than I had a couple months ago.  When I got into O gauge, I used a much more laissez faire approach than I had in HO.  Then I only bought my favorite roads, B&O, WM.  After about 5 years into O gauge, I realized, I really wanted to focus on a couple roads with a layout based on a particular region.  So, most the "odd ball" engines have been passed on to others who will appreciate them more than me.

BTW, my house as I was preparing to leave for York on Thursday, April 19th.

UMMM...Mark- Didn't you just send me a WM 2 bay covered hopper?????

Nice score- those fireball's look sharp. Can't wait to see them on your layout.

Finally had a sunny 60 deg day on LI yesterday!

Bob,

Oh, a 2-bay covered hopper with speed lettering and a 2-bay open hopper with WM round herald are two different things!  

Merry Christmas!

Attended a Die Cast and Collectible show this morning and picked up some really nice cars and trucks at really  fair prices that fit the lean budget conditions

Chris, all those vehicles look great!  Even more so on your layout!

I got some thing really cool today. It is a Penn State gas station in blue & white plus numerous pics of the Nittany Lion. It is a decent O scale size complete with pumps, oil cans etc. Never saw one before. Has a light but I can't find where the battery goes. Also picked up two very good books on the Pennsy steam engines. I was very tempted with an old floor train but will consider it further.

Chris A those are some really nice vehicles you picked up.  I bought that same Matchbox MAck from Die-Cast Direct years ago for around $20.  I believe they're over $80 on e-bay whenever I see them.  The Piel's truck seems to be one of those 1:64 AHL Peterbilts.  I've got about a half dozen or so of those AHL trucks. I figure I can use them away from the front of the layout to add some depth of field.

Mark, thanks for kind comments !   Joe, yes I love the Matchbox Mack B-61 tractor.   I have been watching them on eBay and you're right they are selling for way more than I am willing to pay.  I picked this one for $35.00. 

The maroon 1934 pick up is also a Matchbox Collectible, it's an international harvester.   I snagged a great deal on the Guiness Tractor Trailer.  Never seen one like this before, it's an earlier release from Corgi that's much closer to 1/48 scale and has almost all of  the same details that the Mack B-61, Cab has, mirrors, wipers, air horns, air hoses going back to the trailer.

1959 - 1964  

156 episodes of classic tv.

Here is our haul from our first ever York!

MTH Premier Club Car, Southern Tanker, and a Savannah & Atlanta Caboose to match our S&A SD70ACe:

The wife fell in love with a Lionel Standard Gauge #312 Observation Car, which she's got on display in her office / art room. I'm planning on rigging up a small transformer to power it's light:

Lastly, I was lucky enough to find a deal on a gently used MTH Premier SD70ACe, which I've been keeping an eye on since I went on-site at BNSF HQ a year ago for work:

In addition to the above, we picked up some JT MegaSteam (we LOVE the scents - Vanilla, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Popcorn), and some odds and ends.

Had a great time meeting folks in person at the Quaker Steak and Lube dinner - unfortunately we didn't make it to the Gold Hall meet on Friday, we'll have to make it a must-do for next time!

Oh, a 2-bay covered hopper with speed lettering and a 2-bay open hopper with WM round herald are two different things!  

Fair enough Mark. I couldn't see the lettering through the plastic too well. 

RSJB18 posted:

Oh, a 2-bay covered hopper with speed lettering and a 2-bay open hopper with WM round herald are two different things!  

Fair enough Mark. I couldn't see the lettering through the plastic too well. 

You are quite right!  I didn’t take the plastic wrap off. It would seem like I may have bought what I just sent you!  Sounds like another over 60 thing on my part!  LOL

I took a video of each of the engine sets operating, but didn’t get them uploaded to YouTube yet.  Sunday was church and visiting parents.

mattrain posted:

Here is our haul from our first ever York!

MTH Premier Club Car, Southern Tanker, and a Savannah & Atlanta Caboose to match our S&A SD70ACe:

The wife fell in love with a Lionel Standard Gauge #312 Observation Car, which she's got on display in her office / art room. I'm planning on rigging up a small transformer to power it's light:

Lastly, I was lucky enough to find a deal on a gently used MTH Premier SD70ACe, which I've been keeping an eye on since I went on-site at BNSF HQ a year ago for work:

In addition to the above, we picked up some JT MegaSteam (we LOVE the scents - Vanilla, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Popcorn), and some odds and ends.

Had a great time meeting folks in person at the Quaker Steak and Lube dinner - unfortunately we didn't make it to the Gold Hall meet on Friday, we'll have to make it a must-do for next time!

Nice Matt.  I think I saw you at a distance at Quaker Steak, but am sorry I didn’t make it your way.  There were so many people, I would have to push the chair in and make the rounds of the tables like a politician to meet everyone!!  LOL

Bought a repair manual for older Lionel trains at the Choo Choo Shop in Spencer, NC.

Went on a road trip to Hutchinson Kansas to the Cosmosphere.

Bought some new flatcar loads, got treats for grandkids, and ate World Class  Kansas BBQ at the Wild Pig Pit.  A great day!

Time era on my layout is up to the mid fifties. Here's a few vehicles I purchased over the past few weeks. The 50 Chevy originally was brown, I painted it green and coated most of the chrome semi clear. Also semi clear coated the white car.  

more truck, busses and ambulance coming in the mail this week.

Just got this AMT Santa Fe Diner. This one was a pleasure to open, clean, shiny, everything there. 

Steaming Jon posted:

Got a couple boxcars coming in the mail... gonna put together a collection/train of a bunch of boxcars in as many different road names/colors as I can...

4 more coming... the plan is to find as many of these boxcars (different road names/colors) as I can for less than $25 each including shipping... should make a nice long colorful train for not too much money...

LGB Alligator A York carry home.

This is a e net picture but mine is the red one same as this one.

Larry

The Weaver flat car I picked up at York was 2 rail so when I got home I check the Bay and got a set of die cast three trucks and couplers. Car is all set to go on the track. Pic..................Paul

Picked up this Lionel Cryo Trans refer off the bay last week.  It even has an EOTD.  It’s not as elaborate as MTH’s but it works.

Larry

I picked up this Broadway Limited Water Tower at York last week. This a great operating accessory.

ncdave posted:

I picked up this Broadway Limited Water Tower at York last week. This a great operating accessory.

I bought one of those from BL a couple of months ago.

GREAT accessory.

Received another Corgi bus today. Took it apart, put a driver and a few passengers in it.

A couple of weeks ago we had a brief discussion about non train people (flea market freddies, "estate

liquidators", pickers etc) selling trains. Always "rare, vintage, original in love/play wear condition". 

Someone on the forum said that when you see one, then scroll down and you see ten more identical ones. 

Happened to me on the bay today, searching Hafner O, first listing was a rare, vintage, original

loco only, second listing was an identical loco with the whole set for 20% of the price of the first one.

Hmm, which one is the train guy? Scrolling thru all the Hafner listings, about 50 total, there were 4 more

of this identical loco listed. 

beardog posted:

A couple of weeks ago we had a brief discussion about non train people (flea market freddies, "estate

liquidators", pickers etc) selling trains. Always "rare, vintage, original in love/play wear condition". 

Someone on the forum said that when you see one, then scroll down and you see ten more identical ones. 

Happened to me on the bay today, searching Hafner O, first listing was a rare, vintage, original

loco only, second listing was an identical loco with the whole set for 20% of the price of the first one.

Hmm, which one is the train guy? Scrolling thru all the Hafner listings, about 50 total, there were 4 more

of this identical loco listed. 

I've saved quite a bit buying items on the bay by doing different types of searches for one item and studying  all the pix. If they just show one or two pix, ask them questions. If no answer, chances they are hiding something., I'll move on.

I went to York, where I picked up two sets at great prices.   I got an amazing deal on a NIB Premier WM Fireball FA-2 A-B-A with an add on B unit.

I purchased a virtually new Premier ProtoSound  Western Maryland Fireball F3 A-B-A from a Forum member before York actually. 

Went antiquing in Carlisle, Pa., first time, and there were some nice Lionel cars and engines for sale, I brought home what I wanted: three horse drawn buggies, wagons, etc for the "western "part of my layout.  Exactly what I was looking for. Need a few more then the lead cowboys and others will be added.

Miss Mail lady dropped off some more vehicles today. Pair of B-61 Macks w/van trailers, a Ford and Chevy pu's.  I'm not sure what I'll do with the trailers.  

I picked these cars up on the way home from York. This is the last of my "gotta have" modern trains. Now I can go back to focusing on tinplate. Thanks to forum member Dave Funk for an easy transaction. 

I am a little behind the times but I was to acquire an MTH Premier N&W J at a nice price at York on Thursday.  I had always wanted the J but had taken a long break from the Hobby until the last two years.  I spent all day Friday (at York) looking but could not find passenger cars to match.

Thursday I took a detour on my way home from Pittsburgh and stopped by Pats Trains.  Pat had responded quickly to email the day before confirming he did have the cars.  He was very helpfully showing me 10 or 11 passenger cars with no sales pressure.  Happy to say my J now has 8 cars to work with.   

My phone camera is not best, I hope the pics are ok

They both look great, Strugglinman!!  Pat's a great guy, always being as helpful as he can.

Picked up a few more pieces last night. Adding to my growing collection.

(photos from seller)

Nice finds Bob.......Paul

Thanks Paul- now I gotta figure out how to sneak them past the CEO

They are nice, Bob!  At least they are small, and hopefully aren’t noticed!

Bob, I devised a simple method. I have boxes stored on the porch so when I get something new I wait and eventually bring it into the house. So when the wife asks is that new I say no just found a space for it inside LOL. Actually she has been great with my purchases but I also do not go overboard.........Paul

As I've said before my collection has reached critical mass.
In other words- I have a large enough mass of train crap that the new stuff blends in

Nice buy Bob! But I don't see any green and white stuff or orange! LOL