The Jim Seacrest Auction

railroad-guy posted:

The big problem is that they did not have everything at one time. Two trailers came in and were sorted. The  after the first or second auction they went back and loaded more. There was absolutely no rhyme or reason as to how these stuff was stored at Jim's place. There was no possible way to bring everything thing in at once.

 

Someone needs to tell them that when auctioning trains to take pictures of the ends of the trains.

Freight cars all have different kinds of ends and when spending $400 to $500 on some cars the type of ends matter.

Looks like their already planning the 5th Auction for August.

http://www.stoutauctions.com/?...toy-train-auction-23

railroad-guy posted:

The big problem is that they did not have everything at one time. Two trailers came in and were sorted. The  after the first or second auction they went back and loaded more. There was absolutely no rhyme or reason as to how these stuff was stored at Jim's place. There was no possible way to bring everything thing in at once.

 

Thanks for the clarification, Dan. I understand, it's just annoying when you're spending this kinda money. These are not "vintage" clothes on Ebay.

My request to the auction company was to make lots of K-Dee couplers available in smaller lots of 12 or so and not a box of 100 pair,

Dick

What still amazes me is the sheer magnitude and scope of his collection. He was the most over-the-top O scale modeler/collector I ever heard of.  And it wasn't confined to locos or rolling stoke or brand.....it was lots of everything.

Had a chance to meet him and see his layout about 20 years ago, but had to drive from KCMO to Lincoln, NE, so I blew it and didn't go.

BH

No question a huge collector of O scale, for a number of years his was the only ad running in MR for  O scale [now there are none].

I'm also astonished by the size of his collection (I just previewed the 4th installment), but I really don't understand the motivation for buying so much stuff. It seems irrational: what happened to concepts like proportion, moderation, and balance?

Hobbies are almost by definition irrational.  My personal collection passed the point of reasonableness some decades ago.

I lost track - how many California Zephyr consists did Jim Seacrest own?  I think they spanned several auctions and were from several builders.

up148 posted:

What still amazes me is the sheer magnitude and scope of his collection. He was the most over-the-top O scale modeler/collector I ever heard of.  And it wasn't confined to locos or rolling stoke or brand.....it was lots of everything.

Had a chance to meet him and see his layout about 20 years ago, but had to drive from KCMO to Lincoln, NE, so I blew it and didn't go.

 

BH

I’m going to miss him he was a great guy. 

I am curious where did he store all the stuff that wasn't on the layout. I will also admit that I developed a taste  for All Nation and similar rolling stock, even though Atlas and MTH cars have more detail. This makes it easy to fill that taste.

Erik, do you or anyone else have pics of his layout.

SO MANY TRAINZZZZ

Wasn't his layout the Duluth,m Winnipeg, & Pacific?

suzukovich posted:

I am curious where did he store all the stuff that wasn't on the layout. I will also admit that I developed a taste  for All Nation and similar rolling stock, even though Atlas and MTH cars have more detail. This makes it easy to fill that taste.

Nice little article here. 

https://trainsandtoysoldiers.c...a-layout-first-look/

My friend Scott Anderson and his boys did most of the work. Jefferson was also a participant to some degree. It was later finished up by some other folks. 

Was told he also had a full-size, 1'to1', Burlington Trailways bus, in a garage !!

The layout has been featured in several you tube videos after Jims passing, I do not know what the present status is. It is housed in an industrial bldg, with the trains being auctioned the fate of the layout is unclear.

Erik C Lindgren posted:

suzukovich posted:

I am curious where did he store all the stuff that wasn't on the layout. I will also admit that I developed a taste  for All Nation and similar rolling stock, even though Atlas and MTH cars have more detail. This makes it easy to fill that taste.

Nice little article here. 

https://trainsandtoysoldiers.c...a-layout-first-look/

My friend Scott Anderson and his boys did most of the work. Jefferson was also a participant to some degree. It was later finished up by some other folks. 

That is one huge layout.  

hibar posted:

The layout has been featured in several you tube videos after Jims passing, I do not know what the present status is. It is housed in an industrial bldg, with the trains being auctioned the fate of the layout is unclear.

My guess it been disassembled which is a shame. It's too bad  it couldn't of been saved.

suzukovich posted:

hibar posted:

The layout has been featured in several you tube videos after Jims passing, I do not know what the present status is. It is housed in an industrial bldg, with the trains being auctioned the fate of the layout is unclear.

My guess it been disassembled which is a shame. It's too bad  it couldn't of been saved.

The layout is alive and well. Last time I talked with the family it was under the care of another organization and slated to move at some point this year. I believe the public Will eventually get to see all the years of hard work.

suzukovich posted:

Well I am truly disgusted with stout. My waycars arrived and two were damaged in the shipment.  Since the they weren't in boxes, instead of bubble wrapping the cars. They just wrapped them in thin foam thats used to protect the finish,  dropped them into the box full of peanuts.  One the truck was in pieces, the other has a lot of parts rattling around on the insides. None of which was in the listing. Looks like I am calling them on monday. CB&Q Waycar trucks are hard to come by. I am trying to repair the truck.

I was able to repair the NE-1 waycar truck, the other one is also an easy fix. 

I disagree with the opinion that every hobby is by definition "irrational." Most hobbies are perfectly rational. But as with any activity, hobby or otherwise, I think it is desirable to maintain a sense of proportion: not doing so leads to counter-productive, like becoming a workaholic, a compulsive collector, or worse.

B Smith posted:

I disagree with the opinion that every hobby is by definition "irrational." Most hobbies are perfectly rational. But as with any activity, hobby or otherwise, I think it is desirable to maintain a sense of proportion: not doing so leads to counter-productive, like becoming a workaholic, a compulsive collector, or worse.

I don't know after seeing the size of his layout, I can understand why there was so much stuff. I am just surprised he kept a lot of the rolling stock boxes.

Depends on your definition of rational.  I can see nothing rational in spending 300 hours building a model steam engine, with no intention of selling it.  A hundred forty such models is the same amount of irrationality, just spread over more time.

If rationality needs only enjoyment, then Jim's hobby was as rational as ours.

bob2 posted:

 I can see nothing rational in spending 300 hours building a model steam engine, with no intention of selling it. 

So if there's not an endpoint of commerce involved, it's irrational?  Now that's an interesting definition.  Probably derived from a Ferengi.....

I'm obsessive, compulsive, dedicated and irrational when it comes to "his trains."

Just ask She Who Must Always Be Obeyed. 

But visitors are always directed by her to the train room on their first visit. 

If you have endless money to spend who cares what you spend it on and why should model trains be exempted from wealthy people.

It's when people with limited money go crazy and try to keep up, that is the danger, getting in debt for model trains or any hobby is not the way to go leave it to the money people, putting on the Ritz is all right to sing but nothing else. Be aware of your limitations and your bank account. I don't have any money but my house is paid off I own a small car which I replace every three years with a new one (no repairs or servicing and no sales tax because I'm a disabled veteran) and I live frugally so I can afford my trains I'm also very happy with what I have and so are my operators!

I expect there will be items from this auction that will be on eBay sooner or later, I'll be watching for anything I could use on the layout. Roo.

Roo posted:

If you have endless money to spend who cares what you spend it on and why should model trains be exempted from wealthy people.

It's when people with limited money go crazy and try to keep up, that is the danger, getting in debt for model trains or any hobby is not the way to go leave it to the money people, putting on the Ritz is all right to sing but nothing else. Be aware of your limitations and your bank account. I don't have any money but my house is paid off I own a small car which I replace every three years with a new one (no repairs or servicing and no sales tax because I'm a disabled veteran) and I live frugally so I can afford my trains I'm also very happy with what I have and so are my operators!

I expect there will be items from this auction that will be on eBay sooner or later, I'll be watching for anything I could use on the layout. Roo.

I agree as I am in the same boat but with three school age kids and trust me at times they seam to be a bottomless pit when it come to money. But this auction has allowed me to go after some hard to find items that otherwise I would pay an arm and a leg on E Bay..  

MaxSouthOz posted:

I'm obsessive, compulsive, dedicated and irrational when it comes to "his trains."

Just ask She Who Must Always Be Obeyed. 

But visitors are always directed by her to the train room on their first visit. 

And when she has had enough will read or see the reporting on FOX. 

This may already have been covered in an earlier post....but what did he do for a living that he could afford all this great stuff?   I want that job....

Owned a newspaper among others and his family is old money.

Jim Seacrest had a huge layout ....  considering 4 auctions and one more on the way ...did Jim have show cases and miles of shelving  displaying his collection ? .....  Any photos out there of his collection ?  ... in his want ads Jim was looking for vintage pieces ....very little vintage has run through the auction ....  could there be auction #6 & 7 in the future ? 

Cheers Carey 

The warehouse layout was only built in recent years, I believe what you have seen in the auction to date represents Jims idea of "vintage" [postwar].JMO

Just ask She Who Must Always Be Obeyed. 

Max - Good to see a fellow "Rumpole of the Bailey" fan !