What Is The Rarest Item You Own?

very nice piece

Bob C.

    I have a basement full of trains but  if  pieces that were made in small numbers are there; rare doesn't equate to value or demand these days. Rare just gives you bragging rights but trains, no matter what their value, provide a very relaxing leisurely hobby.

I have a basement full of trains but  if  pieces that were made in small numbers are there; rare doesn't equate to value or demand these days. Rare just gives you bragging rights but trains, no matter what their value, provide a very relaxing leisurely hobby.

I don't think rare always equated to value or demand in the past either.
Some collectors like to look for rare things, regardless of the interest level of the rest of the collecting community, or value. The fun is in the hunt.
Bragging rights ... maybe, but only with people who appreciate the same things.

I agree, rarity does not always equate to value.  I have liked to hunt for unusual, rare if you may, to have in my collection.  Although I have primarily been interested in Lionel PW items, there are many others out there sought after just as much.  True, it is the pleasure and pride one gets from their collection(s).  Many times, what is rare for one, is not so for another.  However you look at it, the common thread is the joy and pride a collector receives from it, and the good feeling of knowing it is shared and enjoyed by others.

Jesse   TCA

Dennis LaGrua posted:

    I have a basement full of trains but  if  pieces that were made in small numbers are there; rare doesn't equate to value or demand these days. ...

most of the models posted here may be hare to find, but if the same limited edition piece resides in a hundred collections it's not what i'd call rare.

here is an American Flyer Type IX, cast iron, clockwork locomotive...

the Greenberg (Schuweiler) book lists the known versions of this locomotive with "A.F.", "A.F. 10" or "A.F. 11" embossed below the cab windows.  there is no listing for an "A.F. 1".  it's not an error where the trailing 1 or 0 has been left off;  the positioning of the letters and numbers is totally different.  have i ever seen another one?  in over 20 years, no... this is what i'd call rare.  less common than a 700E, State Set or Blue Comet?  almost certainly.  worth more?  to me, yes... to most others, probably not.

rare = irreplaceable

fun stuff! ...gary

Noticed that Super O motor cover on the flat car!

Don't know if this qualifies as rare, but it's not too common either. As far as I know it's a KWR O-scale Japanese brass import from the late 1940's. It has scale wheels, all sprung. The vertical shaft motor runs but the worm gear is missing. Maybe some day I will get it fixed and running, and maybe adapt it for 3-rail.

that is a very interesting piece

Bob C.

1937 American OO Scalecraft from Chicago all metal NYC steam engine.

Serenska posted:

Steamer posted:

Serenska posted:

I was fortunate enough to purchase a #508/#509 prewar Lionel Dealer display when I was a teenager due to the kindness of an older dealer on the Jersey shore.  I tell the story of how I got it often -- too often -- so I'll just show the item itself here:

I had it framed in the late 1980s.  The framing store told me that the acid in the paper would destroy it within 30 years and that I needed to opt for an expensive treatment they were offering.  It's still just fine today so I'm glad I didn't listen to them.

Steven J. Serenska

love to heat the story, e mail me if you'd like.

Dave: 

I just looked and the story was last posted 11 years ago on another forum so maybe it won't hurt to post it here.  

I bought much of the good stuff in my collection when I was a teenager from a dealer named Oscar F. Helbig who lived in Belmar, NJ.  I got a 2353 Santa Fe ABA set, a 52 Fire Car, 175 rocket launcher, 352 Icing Station, 264 Forklift, 282 Crane, Culvert Loader, and many, many others all between, say, 1974 and 1979.  Every time my lawn-cutting or summer job money got up to a point, my father and I would make the trip down from Middletown, NJ where we lived to Belmar.

The last time I saw him was after he had had a stroke.  He was quite incapacitated and my father and I went for a visit -- no trains -- just as friends.  I think my father (who didn't collect trains at all) was as fond of him as I was.  Once, at a train show in Northern, NJ, Mr. Helbig told me that I should go to some meet or other and, when I told him I wasn't a TCA member, he found and signed an application on the spot and then brought it over to another TCA member to fulfill the two signatures rule.  This was probably just a few months after my 18th birthday.

One day, we went down to Belmar intending to buy some piece or other of postwar Lionel.  We always called first to make sure he would be around and, when we did, Mr. Helbig said, "When you get here, I'll have something outside that you've never seen before and I would like you to buy one."  When we arrived, I saw three complete sets of these dealer display panels sitting next to each other, leaning against the backs of 3 folding chairs he had set outside his garage.

If you can't tell from the photo above, the display consists of a large rectangular panel sitting behind the mountain that is a sky background with a mountain scene in front of it.  The only marking on the rear panel other than the sky is a yellow, 3" x 7" Lionel Electric Toy Trains herald in the lower right corner.  The panel isn't sky-blue (in the paint-color sense), but it gives the impression that you are looking at the upper reaches of the sky on one of those days when there is a thin layer of high, white clouds.

A second cardboard piece sits in front of the sky background.  The cardboard background is cut out in the shape of a mountain.  The one shown above is green and gives the appearance of being snow-capped (or granite-capped, like in NH or Vermont).  There is a picture of a prewar-style electric loco running through a twisty curve on its way to a village.

Mr. Helbig told me that he had a friend who was interested in one of the three, that he was going to keep one for himself, and that I should take the other.  I wasn't much interested in Prewar items, but I could tell by the way he was speaking to me -- and from my father's reaction -- that this was something I should purchase.  I recall Mr. Helbig saying "You'll never see three of them together again."  I honestly don't even remember what he charged me, but it would have had to fit in the budget of a lawn-cutting teenager.  Probably something like $20-50.

The posters hung on the wall behind my train layout in my parent's basement for many years until I became a little more aware of just what I had on my hands.  I have always assumed this was a dealer display comprised of the #508 sky background and #509 mountain.  I do remember that when I saw the three of them together that not all the images were the same.  I have since come across a picture of another one, and it's shown here:

As noted above, I had mine framed to preserve it a bit better and to make it easier for me to display.  It has hung in my office for many years and invariably draws a number of positive comments.

Thanks for asking.

Steven J. Serenska
TCA : 78-13181

Very interesting story and sounds like Mr Helbig really cared about helping the younger generation getting into the hobby.

An oddball item, altho they both have the same catalog number 192 the contents are different.

The bottom piece contains two 191 Villas and two 184 Bungalows. The top one has one 191 Villa, one 189 Villa and two 184 Bungalows. Forty years ago I first heard of the bottom set but didn't see one in the flesh until last year, when I found two of them.

Ron M

When I was 6 years old in 1949 I received a lionel train set that included the ATSF switcher and various cars including a crane car and matching caboose.  I still have the complete set though the searchlight car is missing the search light.  Some decades ago I had the switcher reconditioned and it runs well.  I have an old transformer that I think goes with the set.

John

Five pounds of hamburger.

If its too rare, I'd be afraid to run it. No shelf queens! & lots of childhood junk!

Forgive my skiping the numbers please.

AF talking city station (works now bashed into an industrial building)

  A welded visor Marx CV that once had a side dimpled, screw based smoke bulb and shroud.

  The early Mechanical Gunfighter car. And a while back, I found the original set box in spectacular condition with the original Super O track that originally came with that General set.

  The Marines flatcar, I think that had my sub on it. I forget what was on the blue Navy car, but not a sub. (maybe a turbo-prop?), a #175 rocket launcher and gantry, a blue mid-transition helicopter car, the flat from the vertical mobile rocket launcher, and the delivery flat car for the same. The large missile launching car. It came in a huge muti-engine X numbered space set I got new as a kid, and that's what survived me, my siblings and half a dozen floods.( I want to say it was 192037-X on the box???)

  Likely grabbed off a wrong shelf to fill a big custom order, from a long standing customer, the KW for that set had two transformers inside, gears and rods like a Z does, and both handles worked in the same direction. When its breaker died, was when the variation was exposed. And it went off with my Grandfathers collection as he died before it was looked at again. Only he and I knew. Check your "junkers"

  I have a shipper box that might be considered rare. I had offered to Bill at WTF trains with some others, not really thinking much about its possible value, but only that I don't own one and I should shed it. But he pretty much told me I was an idiot and should keep that one (what integrity!)  I'll have to look for it again for the number .

I'm not sure I would call this rare, but it is certainly uncommon.  I have an S gauge 635 crane care with a black roof.  I submitted it to the Greenberg book as a variation and it was included in one of the editions.  This is the car that entry was based on.

Greg

Like many of you, I've had some 'rare' and unusual pieces in my collection but have gradually sold or traded them off over the years as life circumstances change. Had two of the rare 027 Gondolas from the 'Disappearing Train' that went into the mountain, a L.O.T.S. Michigan Central Convention Boxcar (1 of 50), and some other items way back there.

Today I have a pair of Atlas GM&O F3's that are quite uncommon (Have only seen one other set owned by Mike here on the Forum), an uncommon Lionel VW (Identical to and pre-dated the ZW) from 1946, and this one of a kind Lionel custom painted SOUTHERN E6 with custom decaled SR plates in 'New Orleans' and other Louisiana town names for the passenger consist.

Hey all - New to the forums, but life long three railer!

I'd say my rarest items is also the newest to me. Saw these on eBay and had to have them. Williams custom painted Strasburg Railroad passenger cars. These were a custom painted and decalled run from the Strasburg Train Shop. I've never seen them anywhere, and I've confirmed they were a Strasburg Train Shop/Choo Choo Barn piece with Tom Groff via Facebook. Not sure of the numbers they were produced in, but, certainly not too may of them around.

I was drawn to them because the bright red coach color and the "egg" logo was what I remember as a kid going to Strasburg. If it wasn't for that railroad, the TCA Museum, the Choo Choo Barn, The Red Caboose, and the RRMPA, I probably wouldn't be the enthusiastic train lover I am today.

welcome Chris, great looking cars.

c.sam posted:

Today I have a pair of Atlas GM&O F3's that are quite uncommon (Have only seen one other set owned by Mike here on the Forum), 

 

Sam's pictures provided much of the inspiration for my going out and searching for a set for myself!  LOL  I'm pretty sure Mr. Muffin has one of these as well.  

Here's one I just uncovered.  A Lionel 6402 Flat with wire side rails and logs.  This was offered in 1967 only in a Sears Christmas set, never part of a Lionel dealer set.  Doubtful I'll ever se another one like it, pretty rare.

NIck

around here Sears is getting pretty rare

My red Lionel 777...

Postwar Lionel olive drab caboose and gondola are somewhat rare. It was a lucky find in some boxes of "junk" trains that were offered to me at a price I couldn't refuse. I upgraded the caboose with a better underframe that included railings, also added end ladders and original Lionel caboose window insert and trucks with couplers for both ends.

1061 Scout loco is common as dirt except it was probably-maybe part of an uncatalogued #19338 Military Set with this olive drab caboose and gondola that Lionel made circa 1964.

Last photo was before I did repair work on the items.

A Cleveland (C-D Models) S Scale wood, embossed cardstock and Zamak 4-6-0:

Rusty

The rarest item I have in my collection is probably a 3672 Bosco milk car. Might have something rarer but can't recall what it'd be.

This is a great thread!

Peter

My hair! I don't think any of my trains are rare. I do have limited edition custom run club cars from Weaver Models, from another forum.

Don

The rarest train related item I own came about by a mistake.  Probably the only six intact Lionel instant rub off lottery tickets in existence.  You'd have to be really stupid to do this intentionally.  I discovered them in a coat pocket two years after they expired.   Worthless today and since I'm really afraid to find out I may have missed out on the big one, they're hanging on a wall today as a conversation piece. 

joe

I don't have any items that are rare in O scale, but in N scale I have a Key Imports brass N5C caboose.

Royal Chef Chattanooga Choo-Choo charcoal grill from the 1960's.

rlplionel posted:

Royal Chef Chattanooga Choo-Choo charcoal grill from the 1960's.

Now that is cool. Or maybe HOT is more apprpriate.

actually just noticed a few interesting things about this paper.  the M.H. address had a ZIP code (10010, valid for lower Manhattan), but no telephone area code which i was almost sure existed before the Zone Improvement Plan (1963).  yet the customer address indicates a Zone, not a ZIP.

i also like the generous space provided for "Quantity" ... 
method of payment, cash, cash, cash or cash.
they do say pink is a very calming color.

cheers...gary

My 18K Gold NYC Hudson

Regards

Fred

My rarest is this postwar Lionel 231 Alco without the red stripes and mint pilot.

My rarest item is a Lionel giraffe car that had the giraffe installed upside down.   The giraffe moons you at every telltale

1937 Chicago Scalecraft steam engine in American OO gauge.

1937 Chicago Scalecraft steam engine in American OO gauge.

I have most of the "OO" pieces that Lionel made. I know the name Scalecraft, but I have not seen any of their locomotives. I'd love to see a picture or two.

overlandflyer posted:

Dan Padova posted:

i'll see your $1 and raise you $100...

cheers...gary

Hmmm, I'm playing with real dollars, while you have funny money....LOL....Like the Beatles song, You never give me your money.....you only give me your funny papers.  

JC642 posted:

The rarest train related item I own came about by a mistake.  Probably the only six intact Lionel instant rub off lottery tickets in existence.  You'd have to be really stupid to do this intentionally.  I discovered them in a coat pocket two years after they expired.   Worthless today and since I'm really afraid to find out I may have missed out on the big one, they're hanging on a wall today as a conversation piece. 

joe

Well, color me stupid!   There are at least 2 unscratched sets that survived.

I have what I believe is a full set of these unused that were a gift as well (though I admit I would have to go look at them to figure out how many I have).  They are in perfect shape.

Somehow I doubt we are in the running for truly "rare" with these.  There are probably still a few die hard Lionel paper collectors that stashed away a set back then.

-Dave

MTH first clear body engine. GP-9. Going to sell it soon. Don