Does Anyone Collect Rare Variations?

1952 Lionel ZW still sealed in the original box

I had the rarest of the rare, a white lettered 3484 Santa Fe boxcar. Sold it on Ebay about 4 years ago and got over 4,100 for it! Unbelievable for a plastic boxcar.

Right now I guess the rarest  item in my collection is a dark blue/ purple 6017 B&M caboose. Next would be a real green generator 6520 searchlight car. 

Also have a LN 6014 Wix and Chun King boxcars, but those are not super rare.

I like the lionel Ives transition pieces. Finally got the 1694 set

I collect the Lionel 6424 flat car with two autos.   I have every variation.   Ever since I got my first one in 1957 I have loved them.   Crazy but true

Chuck Sartor posted:

I had the rarest of the rare, a white lettered 3484 Santa Fe boxcar. Sold it on Ebay about 4 years ago and got over 4,100 for it! Unbelievable for a plastic boxcar.

Chuck:

Which of the white-lettered cars was this?  I was always under the impression that the black-lettered 3484 Santa Fe's were the rare ones.  Some of the white-lettered versions are worth more or less depending on heat stamp vs. rubber stamp, etc.  There was one white-lettered one with no roadname on it that's extremely rare. Perhaps this is the one you sold. Do you still have pictures?

Steven J. Serenska

i have 1948 box w/mint 022 switches w/quality control slip

You're right Steve! I meant the black lettered one!

It is something I do not look for, but my Wabash AB 1956 train outfit includes a maroon painted smokestack 6357.

enjoy your trains...

I have one of only 100 clear MTH GP-9s. Don

I also like the postwar service station/dealer repair items i.re. tools, literature and test sets. I have the 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5f test set as well as presses and tools and a lot of them still get used working on trains

mostly with prewar trains, whenever i think i have a duplicate,
it often turns out to be a bit different than the one i already had...

the bigger problem is trying to figure out which is the rarer variation.

cheers...gary

I have the 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5f test set as well as presses and tools and a lot of them still get used working on trains

There are four variations of the ST-350 that I know of.

There are also a number of variations on the Spring tool.

Not train related, but I just happen to be in possession of the only copy of the heretofore unknown "missing" variation, #31, of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations known as the "Goldfarb" Variation.

My rarest train is the 31960 Polar Express Set, the one with the hard to find bell.  I still have the bell.

Pete

Anything I can sneak by my wife is rare.

Alan

good answer Alan

Bob C.

I love finding variations,often buy complete postwar sets for hard to find rolling stock,also have several mth prototype engines ,which I run,,yea sneaking big boxes past the wife is hard,lol

its the hunt that's exciting ,just found a red 6262 wheel car in a bunch of cars I won on e-bay,keep those trains running gentlemen!

The Tuscan colored B&O Auto B/C......

I normally don't collect rare variations but sometimes the stars align and it's meant to be!

1 of 3 factory built, 1 of 1 Made in 3 rail!

Everything I have is a rare variation, I know that because that the sellers listed them as Rare, one of a kind.  They would never mis-represent an item I'm sure.                             I have some really rare junk.

Chris S.

Given today’s posts I would say that a rare variation would be any engine that works out of the box. 

Alan

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

I normally don't collect rare variations but sometimes the stars align and it's meant to be!

1 of 3 factory built, 1 of 1 Made in 3 rail!

That is one DROP DEAD GORGEOUS set.

Lucky you.

I believe one of my other may be the 1955 Wabash AB set... factory paint with portholes and silver trucks.  The box is stamped with an "X" and I believe it may be a Santa Fe set painted in Wabash livery.  1955 was last year for F3s with portholes, first year, only year, for Wabash F3s.

Jesse  TCA

The X on the box indicates there was no Lock-on included as it was intended for separate sale. 

Like Steve, my only rare car is the 6262 red wheel car. The only other rare thing I may have is the rarer Flyer version of Gabe the lamplighter. That one I still have to have checked out to be sure.....Paul 2

I collect some non-rare variations. A few months ago bought a couple of K-Line Western Pacific large feather boxcars. When I found that there are several color variations I decided  I would buy one of each color. That is the extent of my variations collecting. Still on the lookout for the white feather car. So maybe they are a little rare after all.

For a collection of variations, the Lionel Torpedoes comes to mind.  The 1588 windup, 1668/E, & the 1688/E all share the same basic mold, but thru production, the molds were modified.  The 1588 has three different molds, the 1668 has 3, and there are 13 variations of the 1688/E.  I have studied all the variations, and have had the majority.  The rarest of the bunch is the 1936 first issued 1688E, with “Open forward facing windows” in the cab.  There was a write up in CTT magazine back in 2005 explaining the rarity of this compared to the other Torpedos.  Another feature that most don’t know, is the motors used on the 1688’s.  There are three different motors, with different mountings.   The 1936 motor is tagged “Lionel Jr.”, then in 1937 the tags were changed to “Lionel 027”, which continued for the remaining production of all the Prewar & Postwar locos.  Of the Open Forward  Cab window version, I own six, plus every mold variation of the 1588, 1668, and 1688.

Been told that these 3 guys don't show up to often.

scale rail posted:

I have one of only 100 clear MTH GP-9s. Don

I will match your GP-9 and raise you a signed by Mike GP-30

Not too long  ago I had a table at a TCA train meet and had a group of very  run of the mill, post war  cabooses and was asking $12 each or make an offer. A gentleman stopped by my table and I noticed he had a lot of interest in the cabooses particularly one which he picked up, examine very closely and then turned to me and told me he would suggest that I take that caboose off of the table, take it home and research it as it was very rare and he was confident it was worth in it’s condition at least $200.

It was a 2257 SP type with a red body and smokestack.  I have absolutely no idea of where or when I acquired it. The latest Greenberg pocket price guide lists it at $110. to $400.  By the way, I think the latest Greenberger pocket price guide is a book of fiction.   I will probably soon list it on the Forum for sale site but I have absolutely no idea what it is truly worth. 

Jim

Bill T,       The Ritz HiBox is from 1984, 400 pcs made;  9106 Vat car made in 1985, 250 pcs made; 9226 Flat with trailers, made in 1985, 250 pcs.    Check article in O Gauge Railroad magazine, December, 1991 and Greenburg book Volume II, 1970 - 1991.

Jesse   TCA

Here is mine:

I apologize for the poor photo.  1 of 4 cars lettered this way and this is the only coach.  I understand that Beth Marshall has the other cars at this time.  

Vinny26 posted:

I collect the Lionel 6424 flat car with two autos.   I have every variation.   Ever since I got my first one in 1957 I have loved them.   Crazy but true

I did the same thing.  Have every variation made.  Love those 6424s

Another 1 off.  Nick Ladd signed the other side. 

I wasn’t into collecting postwar until after my dad passed. He had these squirted away and would get upset if I took any out to run.

You would think I'd have at least one rare thing after collecting for 65 years, but I don't think so.

A few years ago, I was surprised that this Postwar 626 Baltimore & Ohio center cab diesel in excellent condition was worth $300 to $400 according to the pocket guide that year:

Then again, I don't have the box so that reduces the value. 

I would say, at best, that this engine is a little rare, but not very rare. 

I agree that the above 1940 Worlds Fair diesel is gorgeous, and I bet it is worth a lot. Arnold

I have an American Flyer S gauge gondola, number 641 in gray unpainted plastic. It's the only one I have ever seen.

Not too old or rare, but I have one of the MTH Limited Legacy Station and Eric’s Trains buildings from a few years ago. To my knowledge, it is only one of a handful.

woo-hoo!!  it only took 3 years, 3 months  & 18 days ...

thanks!