deal of a lifetime!!!!!!

i would have to say my best deal was actually a purchase my dad made around 1980, he bought me rather rough looking 681 for $5 from a friend at work, that was all it took. i still have it.

Dave

Sounds like a fantastic deal!

 

When I was a teenager, my dad traded my 9 pound youth bowling ball to my aunt (his sister) for my cousin's Lionel 671 turbine passenger set with the 2400 series cars. Maybe that's why my cousin doesn't talk to me much! 

 

 

A couple days ago, at the Williamsburg Antique Mall, I saw a ruff looking partial 671 set in a display case.  The 671 tags said $148.  Too, too much.  The 2671W Pennsylvania tender was setting on it's tag.  I figured it said that it went with the 671.  I called for an employee and low and behold there was a price on the tag - $21.

 

The 12 wheel tender came home with me.  A little dirty but all steps intact, original Postwar Pennsylvania lettered unbroken shell, no rust, complete, working whistle mechanism.  All it needs is a little cleaning, new wiring, wheel spinning and oiling and it's good to go.

 

Kinda hated to separate the tender from the engine but in this instance the tender was clearly worth more than the engine.

My sister and son live in the Williamsburg area and I have spent time at that antique mall. Nice place. Had a train dealer there but I heard he moved.  I have too many "good deals" to list but a few lemons too. A "deal" is the only way I have been able to acquire some of my Lionel engines and cars. Part of the fun.

My lifetime deal happened a few years ago.  I had a couple of trains from childhood, but no layout.  Always wanted a nice setup, but just couldn't justify it with raising a family.  Then a coworker wanted me to buy his large collection.  It was an all or nothing deal of mostly Lionel conventional and TMCC.  The price was right and I went for it.  Over the past few years I was able to sell the stuff that didn't interest me and buy a few pieces I always wanted.  It forced me off the sidelines of this hobby.  It also gave something that I can enjoy with my son, who is now really into it and can enjoy it for a lifetime.

 

John

Me and spouse went to a Antique Mall in Sicklerville New Jersey  yesterday and found two great bargins. One is a Lionel HO steam switcher, brand new in box for twenty dollars and a Mantua HO Western Pacific GP9 in strange colors also for twenty dollars plus a 10 percent discount on both. It was very hot in the place (no ac) but plan to go back when it gets cooler. There so many trains and collectible items, it would take a couple of hours to see everything. Plus in another building in the back, there is a huge indoor flea market.I find that antique malls and shops are the best for old and vintage. Hope it gets cooler soon.

I got an MTH Railking Imperial N&W J with the MTH DCS TIU, AUI, and Remote for $450 off the forum about 5 years ago. he also threw in a power supply for the TIU(although it doesn't need it i use it). The items arrived the day after I sent the check(so they were mailed before I mailed the check!) and my toy/model train experiences have never been better.

 

Some times you can come across things you never thought possible.And thats the fun of it to.And you can meet some of the nicest people.Its good to know there are still good people in the world.This hobby proves it.

I have had many . . . one of the more interesting one was going to the Lionel "pack up and go" auction many years ago.  I filled a rental car, literally for a few hundred bucks.  The haul included over 20 engines, rolling stock and parts. 

I bought a train collection back in the early 90's that included several postwar things that I wanted.  There was also a large bridge with Lionel track on it.  It was handpainted tin plate with no markings of any kind. I couldn't figure out what it was so I put 50.00 in for it.  The bridge was 71 inches long in 3 sections.  I took it to a TCA show where no one had any idea what it was, but several dealers wanted to buy it even offering up to 1500.00 for it.  I thought that was a lot of money to pay for something you don't know what it is.  Weeks later i found out it was Marklin from the 1907 era.  I ended up selling it to a wholesaler I met at York for 5700.00.

I even have my young son scouting for me.  A couple years ago he and I were at a yard sale and he noticed a box marked HO Trains, he grabbed me and said dad, those are not HO.  They turned out to be Lionel OO, Black Shell Tank Car EX, several silver tank cars VG, a couple of cabooses EX and also some HO.  They said give me ten bucks for the whole box, sold American.  It pays to educate your kids.

My ultimate buy!

My Lionel Christmas RS-3 from 2009 or 2010 ! 

Brand new in the box !

catalog said 199.00  if i remember rite ,  my cost $180.

 

BONUS It had a fan driven unit ! 

 

One other member has the same engine in a Christmas train post this last Christmas !

I bought a few Lionel Christmas cars to go with it !  I also have the Extended caboose that was made for it ! 

I recently posted on the "Buy anything cool lately?" thread about how I found a really nice all-original ZW at an antique shop for $50. It was a deal you just couldn't pass up! Everything works perfectly and is in pretty good condition except for the missing Lionel nameplate.

 

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https://ogrforum.com/t...36#43665862047998536