Train collecting and it's direction

Command stuff wil go out of style just as soon as they bring back telephones with a cord.

 

All command stuff can be operated conventionally as well so  IMO,its really a non -issue.

Hi

 If you are looking to retain values in this hobbie that is the wrong way to look at it.

  Me and most of the people on the form will tell you to buy what you like.

 Things in this hobbie change so much. what is hot to day may not in a year or two.

 the electronic change so fast and the same engins get made with the more modern electral a few years later.

 Just buy what makes you HAPPY!

  I have been in this hobbie all my life and learned this throught all my years.

A whole lotta folks have lost a whole lotta money thinking electric trains are an investment.

I realize it could never be an investment. Just look at post war values dropping. I still think some will retain value better than others

The days of making money or even keeping value are long over. It's like thinking, what new car should I buy that will go up or keep it's value. The answer, none.....Buy what you like and play trains. Don

The value comes from the enjoyment of your trains, whether you want to run them or just look at them sitting on a shelf.

 

Rusty

 

My thoughts would be that folks growing up with conventional control will be replaced by ones now growing up with command control.  And, yes older command control will be replaced by newer more advanced systems replacing the current ones. 

 

Others offer good advice, that you should buy what you like and enjoy it, not worrying about the investment value which could be very little if or when you sell.

 

If it weren't for command control and all the new electronic features that have evolved in the last 20-30 years I would not have any trains now. For me, it's all for enjoyment.

That would be the way I see it.  If it's a hobby you enjoy for what it is--a leisure pastime the brings you pleasure and relaxation--you are in it for the right reasons.  If economic gain is even a small consideration in your entry, you should probably find something else to do with your time and resources.

 

Nobody here has a crystal ball that can predict the future, but I doubt that any crystal ball would predict a situation where the trains you buy and gain pleasure from today will provide you with a comfortable financial future years from now.  Makes no difference whether the trains are laden with electronics or are just conventionally controlled.  The governing criteria has nothing to do with the trains themselves and everything to do with the potential market for those items, and that is something nobody here or elsewhere can predict with even the slightest degree of accuracy.

 I  buy toy trains them to get the most value of them now - the most satisfaction of ownership, so I buy what I want to own and play with.  As investments, I assume every train purchase I make is worth zero from the moment I bring it home.

 

When I want to invest I talk to the guys at my bank and follow their advice.  they've never mentioned toy trains.

That's just what some adults tell themselves to rationalize spending money on toys. 

 

 

 

 

What, me worry?

LOL.  That's a good one!

 

 

 

 

What, me worry?

I never followed bankers advice. They are in it for themselves. They are all greedy people. 

A good train investment is to buy what you like and not to be concerned about it's future value. By doing this you are investing in good recreation fun and that is worth a whole lot.

I have to go with what others have said; The only investment to worry about is your happiness! Run them; enjoy them; and make some good memories! 

If you try to buy based on what you think will have the highest future value, two things will probably both happen:

1) you will be wrong  (unless you have a crystal ball which shows future production and collector demand)

 

2) you will buy stuff you don't necessarily like and your enjoyment of the hobby will be diminished.

 

 

In short, but what you like and what looks good to you and don't worry about future value.

Please realize that as a relative newcomer to the hobby, you will most certainly experience changes in taste and desire along the  way as your knowledge and experience increases. This too is part of the appeal. If it poses no hardship to vital parts of your life, go ahead and buy what you like. Enjoy yourself and you'll meet some pretty nice people along the way!

guys

No t trying too retire or get rich off the hobby. Here is an example. I play lead guitar and key board and own a bunch of both. I use Gibson guitars because they outplay everything else on the market, BUT, they also do not depreciate a great deal because of quality and a classic style that never goes out. in the 80's most players shifted from  Fender, and other brands come and go.

hmm, just answered my own question. Scale Lionel!

By the way, 

you are right. I have met some very nice folks along the way.

thanks

In my experince the only things that are consistant in trains are:

 

Any phallic model anything will sell.

 

Command systems will eventually become obsolete or fail.

 

A better assessmenmt of real value is when the product hits the secondary market.

 

Keep you field of interest wide and purchase slightly used.

 

Cash is king. 

 

Ugency in advertising does not correlate to eventual value.

 

No brand new offering can be billed as a "Collector Series".

 

External defination can be very expensive, internal defination is priceless. tt

Take it slow and with due caution. Buy only what you really like to run. I've been active and enjoying this hobby since 1947. It's nice to see new blood entering the hobby.

Not to quibble - okay I am - but I am always been surprised/puzzled by the expectation people have that the word "collectable" means something is expected to increase in value or is worth buying because of its current or future value.  Near as I can figure out, all "collectable" really means is that you can collect it, which means to me that there is more than one of these things to form a "collection":  rocks, old coins, pocket knives - you can collect just about anything.  So fo course  company can release a collectors series brand new: all they are doing is telling you they will make several different ones - "Collect them all."

 

I do that with Legacy and Premier steam and early diesel locos.  I don't expect or care if they increase in value at all - it's just what I do.

If your basing your purchasing decisions on potential resale value you are, to quote Jimmy Buffet, "swimming in a roped off sea". Buy what appeals to you and have fun running it. That's why it's called a hobby and not a pursuit.

Way things are going, just praying these remain collectable!

 

 

Ah, geez!  Not me - according to my wife I never collect these things: as soon as I get them, she says, and spent them on toy trains!