What was the one train you let get away?

Last year at a show I saw a 6-car Congressional made by Phoenix Railways. I walked by the cars twice, didn't buy them, and have never seen another set. Very good price too, if I recall $350.00. 

John 

BlueComet400 posted:

Last year at a show I saw a 6-car Congressional made by Phoenix Railways. I walked by the cars twice, didn't buy them, and have never seen another set. Very good price too, if I recall $350.00. 

John 

Oh man!!That really sucks.Glad to know I am not alone in this.

There are so many Lionel trains and closely related items, that I would have a hard time remembering them all.
Two items that I owned, and should have kept were:

BOXED postwar Lionel 211 Texas Special "AA" - the key was the boxes - very very rare. I had several sets, purchased mint as old stock from a small department store. I ran them for a while and grew tired of them. Didn't know the boxes were so unusual.

MINT postwar Lionel 6100 Auto Raceway (see back cover of 61 catalog). I picked it up as old stock from an auto parts store. Decided it was dumb, so I sold it.

As for the one that got away:

Has to be a group of 1950-60's service station decals that were at a local show that was a few hours away from home. At the time they seemed too expensive.

Only one that really sticks out is the second K-Line aluminum Golden State dome, the K4632-29841c Golden Outlook.

I wasn't aware a second dome car was made for the set (I have all the other cars), and by the time I found out about it, they were long gone. I only ever saw the car in an Ebay listing (where the above photo came from) sometime in 2006, and I bailed out after the bid price exceeded $110. Never saw another after that.

---PCJ (but still looking)

Lionel Legacy N&W 2-6-6-2. Even at blow-out pricing, it wasn't a Z1a. Only the wheel configuration was correct. Given that, it was still a very nice engine. There's still a twinge of doubt regarding my decision.

And as I type this, I just bumped into one on the For Sale forum. 

At a train show, I found a Lionel scale PRR S2 Turbine, boxed, for $300.  Did I grab it up?  Oh, no, I wanted to look around first, to see what else I might find.

And of course, when I came back to that table, it was gone.  I still kick myself over that one.

For the most part I buy at the lowest end of the price scale at the shows and online. Not much got away that I wanted. When I spotted a buy, I jumped on it.  The average price that I have paid for engines is $200 but I have gone as high as $500 on two occasions. As for rolling stock $30 NIB freight  does it for me and $50 for passenger cars.  Those are my guidelines but they are flexible.

I’d characterize my story as the train that “couldn’t get away from me”.  

In the 1990’s, Lionel had produced an 0-27 New Haven passenger set pulled by a pair of Alco FA’s.  I had purchased the engines to run on freight and had no inclination toward the passenger cars till I was in my favorite train store one Saturday and saw he had his sole remaining NH passenger set on sale.  Jerry - the store owner - told me I needed to get them to match up with the engines but; since I was in a job transition stage; I didn’t think it wise to buy them at that time.

Fast forward to a few weeks before Christmas that year; I happened to be back in the store and noticed the passenger set was gone.  “Did you sell those New Haven cars” I asked Jerry and he gave me a vague “ yeah; someone came in and bought them - sorry about that.”

Christmas morning my wife handed me a large wrapped box and inside were the New Haven passenger cars - a gift from my father-in-law.

Curt

weaver prr shark passenger engine.  bp20  Tuscan red

still have  2009 catalog  really dumb.

mikeg

 At a train show about ten years ago, A 1996? Lionel Steel service station set, with the extra seperate sale hopper car. New in box, for around $100.00. I procrastinated but came back about 15 minutes later....you guessed it...gone.

Still looking😊

John

UNfortunately none.  I go by the thought "you snooze you loose."

John Meyncke posted:

 At a train show about ten years ago, A 1996? Lionel Steel service station set, with the extra seperate sale hopper car. New in box, for around $100.00. I procrastinated but came back about 15 minutes later....you guessed it...gone.

Still looking😊

John

You have the year correct.  I purchased such a set a few years back, but I also paid more than $100!  (I did get it I think for around $175, which in my observations is less than most sellers still ask for a complete set with the extra ore car).

I'm sure there are a few things I have let get away over the years. 

One that comes to mind that was just something I didn't think enough of to order at the time it was offered.   A club in Western New York called ESLES (I think - and I don't know what the acronym spells out to, even if I do have it correct) offered a Lionel Post War style transformer car, but it had I believe Niagara Mohawk (power company name up in that part of the state) lettering on the flat and/or the transformer itself. 

I went to school in upstate NY and had a classmate in my later years of study who worked for Niagara Mohawk (having not been up there for nearly 20 years, I have no idea if it's still called that or not), that is a piece of rolling stock I would not mind finding someday.  I don't search everyday, but I don't believe I've found them regularly on eBay or ever seen one for sale at York.

-Dave

PRRronbh posted:

UNfortunately none.  I go by the thought "you snooze you loose."

LOL.  I have too many trains for which I have limited use, too.

What, me worry?

I'm with the Mad Mag guy just above.

Gerry

More than one.

At a train show two years ago and spotted an MTH Coors Light reefer tail car for the silver bullet train. By the time I was able to wiggle my way through the crowd, I saw somebody pick it up to buy it. I later offered to buy it from him and his price was $250... He said he paid $80 for it.

When they first came out, I did not buy the 2-car add-on pack for the Lionel Strasburg Passenger set.  Now, they sell for north of $400 when they come up.

In a similar vein, I didn't buy the whole limited edition Super Chief from LEGO when it first came out.  My son is still missing one car, which, when it can be found, also sells for $400 or so.

I never bought a whole train.    I just buy individual locos and cars.    And over the years I have kicked myself for letting a few get away.    Most recently I missed out on the Sunset GGD PAs but hopefully got my reservation in firmly for the second run.

H1000 posted:

At a train show two years ago and spotted an MTH Coors Light reefer tail car for the silver bullet train. By the time I was able to wiggle my way through the crowd, I saw somebody pick it up to buy it. I later offered to buy it from him and his price was $250... He said he paid $80 for it.

What a dick.

Years back at York (under the grandstand) I stopped dead in my tracks at the sight of a 4-8-8-4 built from prewar AmFlyer "0" parts. This was before ROW, MTH, etc. It had a price of $300 / OBO. I was checking my wallet when a passing gent also stopped dead, looked, picked it up in one hand and pulled out a roll with his other, pealed off a couple bills and breezed away. 

Another was just three years ago in the White Hall. A seller had a boxed #3854 Merchandise car for $335 (odd price). Again, while I checked my wallet someone else reached around me and grabbed it. 

I guess I should grab first and then see if I can afford it.

juniata guy posted:

I’d characterize my story as the train that “couldn’t get away from me”.  

In the 1990’s, Lionel had produced an 0-27 New Haven passenger set pulled by a pair of Alco FA’s.  I had purchased the engines to run on freight and had no inclination toward the passenger cars till I was in my favorite train store one Saturday and saw he had his sole remaining NH passenger set on sale.  Jerry - the store owner - told me I needed to get them to match up with the engines but; since I was in a job transition stage; I didn’t think it wise to buy them at that time.

Fast forward to a few weeks before Christmas that year; I happened to be back in the store and noticed the passenger set was gone.  “Did you sell those New Haven cars” I asked Jerry and he gave me a vague “ yeah; someone came in and bought them - sorry about that.”

Christmas morning my wife handed me a large wrapped box and inside were the New Haven passenger cars - a gift from my father-in-law.

Curt

 

Now that is a twist and a half.Your father must be pretty cool.You do not hear father in law doing something like that.I got to say a very cool move for him to do.

palallin posted:

When they first came out, I did not buy the 2-car add-on pack for the Lionel Strasburg Passenger set.  Now, they sell for north of $400 when they come up.

 

In a similar vein, I didn't buy the whole limited edition Super Chief from LEGO when it first came out.  My son is still missing one car, which, when it can be found, also sells for $400 or so.

 

$400 for one car!Now that is just messed up.All kinda ways!!

artyoung posted:

Years back at York (under the grandstand) I stopped dead in my tracks at the sight of a 4-8-8-4 built from prewar AmFlyer "0" parts. This was before ROW, MTH, etc. It had a price of $300 / OBO. I was checking my wallet when a passing gent also stopped dead, looked, picked it up in one hand and pulled out a roll with his other, pealed off a couple bills and breezed away. 

Another was just three years ago in the White Hall. A seller had a boxed #3854 Merchandise car for $335 (odd price). Again, while I checked my wallet someone else reached around me and grabbed it. 

I guess I should grab first and then see if I can afford it.

 

Well just goes to show some people do not have any manners!

A few weeks ago. $500 Weaver Lackawanna Pocono. Trying to "redeem" myself by getting a 1990's RDG T1 below $400 and having it converted to TMCC.

Pretty much all of them.....LOL

Gosh, looking back isn't my thing, I like to look forward.  So we are moving to PA from OK late in 2018 and I am looking forward to going to York for the first time !

I sold a 1946 626 Berkshire for $200. It ran good but had a bent over cab roof, That was a long time ago but it still aggravates me when I think about it.

On eBay, a MILW 4400 series coach, a Walthers kit built up but in very rough shape.  The thing was perfect for my bizarre purposes - fixing it up and painting it up as a Chicago Great Western 200 series car, a series which consisted of only two cars, bought second hand from the Milwaukee Road, of course.  The auction was set to end during church on a Sunday and, hard as it may be to believe, I do have my priorities straight.  I had to let it go and it went, cheap.

I knew that I would be outbid if I pre-bid a reasonable amount and I would not be at a computer in a position to sharpshoot or counter opposing last minute bids.  Conversely, I wasn't going to pre-bid an outrageous amount because I could probably buy an entire set, swipe a coach and resell the remaining cars for almost what I paid.  I didn't want to lay out the $900+ for a set and then go through the hassle of re-selling the remaining cars; additionally, being a rabid Milwaukee Road fan, I didn't want to break up a set and spoil it for someone else.  I have to laugh at myself, more than usual, seeing how much I overthink and how much I over-value these things...  I'm so weak and depraved!

So, if anybody out there has a lonely 4400 series coach, unwanted and unloved, having a mid-life crisis and needing an extreme makeover, please do let me know.  Thank you for listening.  I feel better.

I had been at a show where a Rail King Challenger was for sale for $200.00.  I passed on it because I had spent most of my money on a 1503WS.  Luckily, the gentleman was at the next show with the Challenger for the same price so that one did not get away.

Grand Central Express Set w/RailSounds RTR (Conv. FT Diesel) SKU: 6-30195

Had a chance to get one & missed out- If anyone comes across one...Please inbox me!- Thanks!

I sold a 1946 626 Berkshire for $200. It ran good but had a bent over cab roof, That was a long time ago but it still aggravates me when I think about it.

Depending on how long ago, that was probably a good sale.