G scale prices vs. O scale

Hmmmmmm.  When I first got into G scale prices IMO were very good.  I felt they were less than O scale.  That was a few years ago.  But, these days, they seem to be skyrocketing.  I've been wanting to buy some Santa Fe passenger cars in G scale but at close to or at 300.00 per car I'll have to wait to get a better price on eBay.  Freight cars used to be around 20.00 to 40.00 each now average around 60.00 to 80.00 or better.

 

Rick

I compared track and found the G to be much more expensive. Bargain G rolling stock are comparable to O. Good G engines run a bit more. Tenderless switchers and the like in G can be had for 2 to 4 dollars. Overall, I think my assessment is that O is a bit cheaper. Surprisingly, Z is pricey.

I am strictly O, but I do read Garden Railways magazine from time to time. The G gauge track prices are in the stratosphere! I couldn't believe the track was that much, thought it was a mis-print. However, a couple others here on the forum have verified the track prices were indeed that much. In a recent issue, I think it was up around $400 for 72 feet of straight track or something near there. I don't know about the engines and rolling stock, quit looking after seeing the track prices.

G track is costly.....due to it's bulk and materials used and cost to ship.

Pretty easy to look online at prices and do a comparison yourself and make up your own mind......

 

I still have my G stuff.....but stored right now.

It seems that G scale is more overall, I might have to do an O scale layout in my garden and just take some extra precautions.

If interested, I have a G Gauge track "starter kit" available on the for sale forum. Click HERE...$60 shipped. Good luck finding a price like that anywhere else!

Years ago at York, G scale was cheaper.  I always wondered why.  I guess it isn't anymore?

.....

Dennis

Not long ago my youngest daughter wanted her G-Gauge trains to run on an elevated loop around the train room. I stalled the job thinking that she would forget. Well,she did not as I learned on her last visit.

I started looking for materials again. G-Gauge track has almost tripled in cost. The cost of the engines and rolling stock has gone through the roof. The building materials have more than doubled in cost. Needless to say that G-Gauge is on the waiting list.... at the very bottom.

Shopping the secondary market is my solution.

What manufacturer of track are you guys looking into

 

I just looked at the Charles Ro G Scale Flyer

the cost of G Scale track is almost comparable to O-Gauge albeit a tad more expensive

we are talking a few dollars per Track piece here.

I compared almost every brand of G-scale Track they offered and their prices on it  and then pulled up their O-Gauge Catalog and did the Same.   If you look at the Single Track price you will find that they are extremely close to our O-Gauge Cost per Piece

 

You guys must be looking at either USA Trains Track or LGB Track Because I found Lionel Large Scale Track at 4.95 per Section for standard 4' Curve and 5' Curve as well as 12" straights

I have used several brands of G-Scale Track including the ones mentioned above  for several years and I still have the Lionel Large Scale Track and it still functions as well as it did brand new back in 1999 when I first bought it

 

Yes G used to be inexpensive compared to O. The last few years and the economic downturn were not kind to G Scale, Just look at Aristo-Craft now gone. Today G scale  locomotives have more bells and whistles and are better running, IMO. Accu-craft is top shelf G scale, with either live steam or electric and you can spend in the several thousands of dollars on a single engine.

LGB at least was way more expensive than O-Gauge back when my family switched in 1998 to Oguage.  Looking on Ebay at secondhand LGB equipment and looking at their current line up it seems like it has gotten even more expensive.  I like G-Gauge a lot but it is just too expensive.  

The Bachmann narrow gauge engines are reasonably priced.  You can get a 1:20.3 scale SR&RL Forney for $400.

Having owned several G-Gauge Bachmann locos and MANY LGB locos, I can honestly state that Bachmann's quality never came close to the ORIGINAL German-made LGB engines.

 

LGB was better made with better materials (BASF polymers such as Luran and Vestilene), with superior Buehler motors than either Bachmann or Aristocraft.

G scale track has been a better investment than gold the pass few years.

I stocked up the last G scale convention in Denver.

Looking forward to next years convention back here in Colorado.

I checked out (compared) actual retail prices at some LHSs.

I agree that Bachmann is not as industrial strength as LGB but I have their Shay and Climax and like them very much.  Their Forney is more prototypical than LGB so I plan to get that too.

I have had the Bachman Davenport for some time and it's a solid runner and was gotten for well under 100.00. Same for the rail stake truck at 75.00. I have to do some ballasting today so it's off to the feed store for some chicken grit. I have LGB and Aristo both have served me well for many years. Track is just a matter of watching for a good deal and overall, compared to O it's pretty much a wash between the two if you shop carefully..there's no beating watching trains in their natural habitat in the summer and getting out of the house....indoor stuff is great for winter and each makes for a change of pace from the other.

The cost of Brass has gone up a lot over the past 5 years.  This is the main reason why G scale track has gone up.  This is what all the manufacturers tell me anyway. 

I bought a Bachmann Big Hauler set many years ago for under $50 new. battery powered 4-6-0 with radio control chuff chuff sound effects with a tender, a gon, a flat and a bobber caboose. And terrible all plastic track. It was fun for around the tree a couple of years. Picked up some New Bright cheap plastic track for their G scale battery powered trains.

I don't think Bachmann makes a battery powered train in G scale now, but the one I had was really low buck large scale fun for awhile, but it was just too big in the house and not durable enough for outside play so I got rid of it. Helped fund my On30 adventure.

I believe that the cost of building a G gauge layout and operating it are about the same as building an O gauge layout.  The cost of the track and equipment may be higher in G gauge but, and this is a big "but", most G gauge people have far less equipment and track than O gauge people.  

 

I am a member of the Bay Area Garden Railroad Society.  Most members have two to three engines and just a few cars.  Layouts are just a few loops in the back yard.

 

There are several people who have large layouts and many engines and cars but these are the exceptions.  The focus for many of these folks is the gardening aspect of garden railroading.  This is where the real money is spent.

 

Joe