Estate Sale In Washington, PA.

You never know what may be in there. I do not see much in the pictures looks like a lot of new items. There may be something really good that doesn't get a picture because they have no idea what it is. If I were closer I would not miss it. If you go and there is nothing worth while then you know you didn't miss anything. 

I don't know if I will go, maybe.  Thank you for letting us know about it.  Who knows, you and I may both go and want the same engine.  Ha, ha,

Blew by there on the way home from York.  Not too interested in driving all the way

back, on this short a notice.  Would want a list and photos of most items, with something that excited me,  before I did that.  Certainly, if you are in the area, Pittsburgh, Wheeling, etc., hie yourself over there, at least, for a preview.  (I often

preview and find nothing of interest, so don't hang around)

At least looking at the pics, it appeared to be mostly MPC and prewar items. I think I saw one postwar tank car and not much else.

I went to an estate sale one time and they advertised nearly the same thing.  I was the first one thru the door and headed straight for the trains.  A 4x8 table with a loop of old Lionel track and a few of those really cheap plastic cars (like from a child's set) and that was it.  If there was any good stuff it was long gone.  But, you never know.  I'm close enough to Washington, Pa to go but I'm not going.

Rick

I, and I bet others, have been there and done that, like RICKC, but this auction advertises hundreds of trains, and mentions McCoy, and K-Line, which probably would

not have been heard of by the small town auctioneer trying to sucker in attendees.  If

you can't otherwise get more info, you can preview, and leave...

In my area, the folks who conduct Estate Sales do their homework. It is very unusual to find bargains in anything collectable, especially trains. They tend to price everything at top dollar, and over grade to boot.
If the items go unsold the first day, many of them cut their prices in half the second day, and will entertain offers.

C.W., I think your observation is fairly astute.   The estate sellers around here do exactly the same.  I have gotten some really good buys waiting for the second day.  The pictures  for the train stuff at this sale don't entice me to even go have a look.  I did notice some clown drinking glasses for sale that I actually sold to the present owner about fifteen years ago at an antique market.  What goes around, comes around.  Although, I have no desire to re-purchase them.   Bob S.

Moving sales and estate sales of trains are becoming more common but as a general observation most of what I have seen there is P/W and MPC era stuff. Prices start high but on all but the rarest items but ultimately sell low as the value trend is declining. For the P/W collector it is a great time to buy.

Everyone's assessments of Estate sales are valid.  If it was in Butler, I may have gone to take a look, but it's not worth it to me to go to Little Washington for MPC.  Perhaps if I was interested in Pre War, it would be worth the trip.  I don't know if there is anything that stands out to a pre war collector though.

Stopped by this morning, I can actually see the house from my yard :-)

Some older lionel stuff - tinplate, some HO stuff - there is a layout and 

it is listed as being sold complete - no idea on price.  

They had a sale here last year, and not trains were included - this year 

they included the trains, and even access to house.  

Dr. J had alot of time on his hands and bought a tons of STUFF!!

Joe,

Thanks for your account and the photos.  Did you buy anything?

I have a suspicion, based on experience from the estate side, that the fellows conducting the estate sales have contacts among select collectors to whom they offer the really good stuff in advance. However, they don't take the really good stuff out of the advertisements, because they still want you to come in expectation that you will buy something else.

What, me worry?

I am always on the lookout for auctions/sales, I live about 20 min. from this one and never saw any adds in the Observer Reporter or the Pgh. Press, from what Joe had to say about it, nothing there for me, still, makes one wounder......