Trading Model Trains

I have only traded trains with a close friend.  That way I feel no sense that I got the better end of the trade or he got the better end of the trade.  We both do a lot of other things for each other and to me it all evens out in the end.

For instance, this year I stayed with him for a long weekend earlier in the year and I am picking him up at the airport and then driving him around York for a week so that he does not have to pay the high rental car prices.

As for trading trains with people I don't know, that is something I would not do.  When I was selling trains at a local show, I had someone come up and want me to accept a bunch of stuff as a trade and I said no.  He could not understand why I would not accept the crappy trains he was trying to trade me and I finally told him that they were not something that I could sell and get anywhere close to the price of the item I was trying to sell (that he wanted to trade the items for).

@Nation Wide Lines posted:

I have only traded trains with a close friend.  That way I feel no sense that I got the better end of the trade or he got the better end of the trade.  We both do a lot of other things for each other and to me it all evens out in the end.

For instance, this year I stayed with him for a long weekend earlier in the year and I am picking him up at the airport and then driving him around York for a week so that he does not have to pay the high rental car prices.

As for trading trains with people I don't know, that is something I would not do.  When I was selling trains at a local show, I had someone come up and want me to accept a bunch of stuff as a trade and I said no.  He could not understand why I would not accept the crappy trains he was trying to trade me and I finally told him that they were not something that I could sell and get anywhere close to the price of the item I was trying to sell (that he wanted to trade the items for).

I totally agree with everything you say, Nation Wide.

IMO, there must be a lot of trust and your trading partner and yourself must complement each other regarding your interests.

For instance, my trading partner has wider radius curveson his layout and I have sharp 031 curves on mine.

I've traded away trains that barely navigate, but look kinda dumb, running through my sharp curves, and gotten back smaller trains that look and run great through my sharp curves.

Also, I'm totally focused on northeastern fallen flags and my partner loves it all, including mid west and west coast trains.

When we go to a LHS or avtrain show together, we look out for what each of us likes, and help each other satisfy our respective interests.

We both have upgraded our collections based on our layouts and interests, and never trade away what we love.

Another thing: if you trade away something to a friend, it's not gone forever. You can see it and photograph it on your friend's layout and who knows, if he falls out of love with it, you just might get it back in a future trade.

I'm having a ball with my train trading. Arnold

Arnold, Interesting topic...not sure where it really belongs!  My first instinct was to move it to the traditional forum but like you said you are not discussing traditionally sized trains rather the more modern trains that are scale sized.  So even though this discussion is not showing pictures or in fact discussing 3-rail scale conversions, it does seem to be the best place to have it since no other category really fits (not even this one completely!).  Arnold, you sure can claim the first prize for the most thought provoking topics on our forum!  Glad to have you aboard!

@OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Arnold, Interesting topic...not sure where it really belongs!  My first instinct was to move it to the traditional forum but like you said you are not discussing traditionally sized trains rather the more modern trains that are scale sized.  So even though this discussion is not showing pictures or in fact discussing 3-rail scale conversions, it does seem to be the best place to have it since no other category really fits (not even this one completely!).  Arnold, you sure can claim the first prize for the most thought provoking topics on our forum!  Glad to have you aboard!

Wow, Alan, I sure appreciate that compliment coming from you. I will never forget our very first telephone conversation in November 2017, when I was trying to promote my model train song, and you suggested that I visit the Forum. Hope to see you at the upcoming York show in October that I will be attending with my train trading buddy. Arnold.

Here is one of my recent  trades.

I traded away this MTH PS1 Railking Southern Pacific GS4. it is intrinsically beautiful, but I wasn't in love with it because it is a western, not northeastern, fallen flag, and, IMO, doesn't run great through 031 curves. It wouldn't derail and is rated for 031, but I would hold my breath and take it real slow when running it on my layout.

My trading buddy will have it upgraded to PS3 so he can run it on DCS, which we both love.

I got back in the trade this MTH PS2 Susquehanna diesel:

Eventhough it's 18 inches long, it navigates my 031 curves. It is heavy and helped me improve my layout because it's heft caused derailments where the track and ballast wasn't firm enough. I shored up  the ballast and now there are no derailments. I love the way the Susquehanna diesel looks, I think it's awesome, it runs and pulls great on DCS and it improved my layout.

This is an example of a win-win trade.

My goal is to make every trade a win-win. In fact, I won't do the trade if I believe it's not a win-win.

Arnold

Honestly, I have to admit to trading prewar items, but I think that the concept of trading applies to all types of trains, old or new.

@Nation Wide Lines posted:

Honestly, I have to admit to trading prewar items, but I think that the concept of trading applies to all types of trains, old or new.

I totally agree, once again, and with Alan's/the Moderator's permission, let's open up this topic up to the trading of all kinds of model trains. Arnold

Arnold, as Alan said you come up with the best topics on the forum.

I participate in selling engines and cars here on the forum, usually because I bought something I like better.  I assume these are win-win situations for both parties.

I have made trades as well, and it is nice to see something I owned on someone else’s layout.  The trades with someone I know are much more rewarding than selling an item because I have limited hobby funds.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Arnold, as Alan said you come up with the best topics on the forum.

I participate in selling engines and cars here on the forum, usually because I bought something I like better.  I assume these are win-win situations for both parties.

I have made trades as well, and it is nice to see something I owned on someone else’s layout.  The trades with someone I know are much more rewarding than selling an item because I have limited hobby funds.

Exactly, Mark, me too, and well-stated.

I also have limited funds and, lately, have found trading better than buying.

However, at the risk of going off topic a little, I have also had great experiences buying from our wonderful Forum Sponsors.

Arnold

Many years ago, BI (before Internet)

I traded most of my N gauge cars to a friend for HOn3 Cars and locos.

We were both changing model scales, He was starting over in N and I had just been put in charge of the my model railroad club's HOn3 layout.

We were both happy with the trade.

I still have most of the HOn3, but no running layout right now.

@OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Arnold, Interesting topic...not sure where it really belongs!  My first instinct was to move it to the traditional forum but like you said you are not discussing traditionally sized trains rather the more modern trains that are scale sized.  So even though this discussion is not showing pictures or in fact discussing 3-rail scale conversions, it does seem to be the best place to have it since no other category really fits (not even this one completely!).  Arnold, you sure can claim the first prize for the most thought provoking topics on our forum!  Glad to have you aboard!

Boy Arnold, you even stumped the topic king!

FWIW, I buy/sell and trade, whatever gets me to the destination.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Boy Arnold, you even stumped the topic king!

FWIW, I buy/sell and trade, whatever gets me to the destination.

John, your contributions on this Forum,  especially the technical ones, together with those of the other train doctors, are awesome.

Arnold

Arnold: I per se have never traded with a friend but I have a very good friend who I have know for over 35 years who just happens own a train store in Roanoke that I have traded stuff to him for something he had and I wanted. Sometimes I added a little cash and sometimes he added a little cash to make everything fair. Recently I decided to let go of my fair size collection of Rail King Steam and traded two items to a dealer in Mt Airy, MD for a MTH PS2 5V Premier Y6B. This along with another PS2 5V will be in my truck in the morning to work out some trading with GRJ on a PS32 kit or two in exchange for 2 PS3 Upgrade kits I have. Does the all count?

@RJT posted:

Arnold: I per se have never traded with a friend but I have a very good friend who I have know for over 35 years who just happens own a train store in Roanoke that I have traded stuff to him for something he had and I wanted. Sometimes I added a little cash and sometimes he added a little cash to make everything fair. Recently I decided to let go of my fair size collection of Rail King Steam and traded two items to a dealer in Mt Airy, MD for a MTH PS2 5V Premier Y6B. This along with another PS2 5V will be in my truck in the morning to work out some trading with GRJ on a PS32 kit or two in exchange for 2 PS3 Upgrade kits I have. Does the all count?

Yes, yes, yes, Rick, of course that counts.

Incidentally, my trades usually involve some cash changing hands to make the trade as fair as possible.  Arnold

Fwiw, For the few people that I kew that traded items, I never herd of a good satisfied trade. Theres always something wrong/deceptive/out right lied.

I still do NOT understand what ANY of this has to do with 3RS modeling!!!! Did anybody read and comprehend the sticky explanations at the top of this forum?

I've always used cash as a intermediary.   I would get some tables at a train show, put my trains for sale, and use the money to buy something else I wanted.

There were three people and cash involved, but it was still trading.

BTW, it looks like this thread is well liked.

I guess you can always choose not to read it.

@OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Arnold, Interesting topic...not sure where it really belongs!  My first instinct was to move it to the traditional forum but like you said you are not discussing traditionally sized trains rather the more modern trains that are scale sized.  So even though this discussion is not showing pictures or in fact discussing 3-rail scale conversions, it does seem to be the best place to have it since no other category really fits (not even this one completely!).  Arnold, you sure can claim the first prize for the most thought provoking topics on our forum!  Glad to have you aboard!

Arnold I think the other Arnold stays up nights coming up with these off the wall topics. I guess he has nothing better to donor that the is retired!! Thank You for letting it run its course.

@RJT posted:

Arnold I think the other Arnold stays up nights coming up with these off the wall topics. I guess he has nothing better to donor that the is retired!! Thank You for letting it run its course.

Thank you Rick.

By the way, I'm not retired. In fact, as I mentioned before on another thread, I'm stepping on the gas in my profession, which makes me enjoy the profession and model railroading all the more.

Arnold

@aussteve posted:

I've always used cash as a intermediary.   I would get some tables at a train show, put my trains for sale, and use the money to buy something else I wanted.

There were three people and cash involved, but it was still trading.

BTW, it looks like this thread is well liked.

I guess you can always choose not to read it.

Thank you Aussteve.

@Hot Water posted:

I still do NOT understand what ANY of this has to do with 3RS modeling!!!! Did anybody read and comprehend the sticky explanations at the top of this forum?

Hotwater, Alan Arnold already addressed this issue in his above reply on this thread, and I addressed it here in my original opening post.

My goal is always to entertain and promote this Forum and our hobby.

Hotwater, if you attend York in October, I hope to meet you and the rest of our OGR Forum family. Arnold

Here is a pair of 3R scale engines I traded recently.  I was quite pleased to see my friend posted a very nice video on his YouTube channel and had them running on his large layout.  They didn’t fit my eastern theme either, so I went with B&O.  He seems happy, and I am happy.

Lionel Legacy

Mark, like you, I also love B&O, which I believe was the very first railroad in our great country. I got it recently in a trade, and will post a photo and/or video of it tomorrow. Arnold

Arnold - I always love the human element in your posts. Sometimes the forum becomes overly technical, and you provide a great balance!

I've been blessed with some great friends who have simply given me items, such as these postwar WP F3's from a now deceased friend. His memory and our friendship live on!

This reminds me of two trades several years ago with the same person on the same visit. The first, as he likes the Reading, I offered a Weaver Reading two-bay hopper for any other Weaver hopper; he accepted. Well, I kept liking that Reading and finally asked if we could cancel the trade, sure he said. The second trade was a Columbus, Delaware & Marion "redbird" interurban, a trolley that I had wanted for many, many years; in fact, since I first was introduced to O scale traction back around 1964! I finally got one on ebay five or so years ago and liked it. Anyway, he had a Peter Witt car that I kind of liked also so I offered the redbird as a trade. He again accepted and I now own the Witt. This trade made both of us happy. Sometimes trades do work out for both parties.

A very interesting subject and I am glad that Alan has let it run, thank you.

I actually had a great experience with trading! The story starts at 0300 when a friend of mine posted on FB on a rare Lionel Uncataloged set he had and wanted some info on it. He had a rare Lionel Sears 9820 set! I was up getting ready for Expert Infantrymen Badge (EIB) training so I responded with some info.

He reached out to and asked if I’d be interested in it! Of course I’m interested! We ended up doing a trade, he had the 9820 and he wanted a 2332 GG1 (NM) and the 1950 Irvington Passenger Cars to go with his 1950 773 and some cash too. Trading can be lots of fun!

Great topic, Arnold!

I have never traded trains, but back in the 70s and 80s my Dad used to trade frequently. He ran a "wanted old toy trains" ad in our local weekly paper, and the phone would ring off the hook with people calling who had trains to sell. Many times, even if the trains weren't something he wanted, he would buy them anyway and keep them as "trading fodder" for when he would find something he wanted to add to his collection. 

I have a reputation as a horse trader.  On any item I ever seek to obtain I respect the sellers price however I always look to trade something I am hoping to sell, for their item.

Typically at train shows with other dealers, if I spot a desirable piece I will express my interest then ask the seller what item(s) on my table he would take in part or whole payment.

This practice has allowed me to keep control over otherwise dead inventory in this and other hobby activities for many decades.

I don't think I ever traded anyone ... not one item, but I did trade some items for a memory Ill never regret.  I ended up giving a couple of nice items to a son of a close friend .. His 11 yrs old son is following the path of enjoying model trains and a layout for the holidays for over 6 years now. When I saw his dining room layout, I knew what he was missing and gave it to him. I'm telling you what I traded wasn't for items nor money but a lifelong memory I'll never forget..  So.. You can say I got the better deal in the trade  ... daniel

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Mark, like you, I also love B&O, which I believe was the very first railroad in our great country. I got it recently in a trade, and will post a photo and/or video of it tomorrow. Arnold

I just deleted the B&O Royal Blue freight video I posted earlier today because the Royal Blue was a passenger, not a freight, train.

I believe the B&O was the 1st railroad in the United States.

Here is a video showing the MTH PS2 B&O Pacific Royal Blue hauling MTH B&O passenger cars:

Arnold

Looks great Arnold!