3rdrail J3 super Hudson.

Weaver Santa Fe Valley Flyer 4-6-2.

1. Weaver Milwaukee Road 4-6-4 Baltic. The price was too high, and then it was too late.

2. K-Line Milwaukee road F-7 A-B-A. There were two of them at a swap meet in Arizona some years ago and I let both of them get past me.

lionel 773.....it is my white whale....every time I save up enough to get one, POOF!...somebody snaps it up..

the bnsf ice cold express or any other train i've wanted because i can't afford it

Had a red 6262 wheel car at one time  but soldit.

The train that you have

Williams scale Hudson for 150 bucks.

Weaver PRR BP20 passenger shark.  I figured I'd wait for the second run.  Well, there was no second run and now there is no Weaver. 

Scale Polar Express

Weaver Southern Tennessean (4-6-2 or 4-6-4, don't remember) Streamlined green boiler.  May have been styled by Henry Dryfus

3rd rail  Pennsy Q-1

Too many to count.

Lionel BSA diecast ESS44AC

I have to take my shoes off to count that many.

At York one year, I found a 2350 that had been modified to two motors. It was a beast. But the guy wanted $750.00 for it.As usual the railroad was in a financial crisis and I had to pass on it.

There are allot of them I had to pass on.   But its OK. There are TONS of trains out there and the hunt will continue!

Here are my top three I am on the look out for, for a good price:

Lionel Hiawatha - 4-4-2 locomotive. I have the cars - really beautiful set. Just wish the sound was better in the engine.

Lionel Legacy 2-10-4 - PRR - they were snapped up and that was it! They could remake this one with the steam chest smoke and sell every one in my book.

Lionel Legacy K-4 post war version. Now with the long haul tender version out. I may purchase that one new.

I am saving my money for York... Who knows what I will see?

Oddly, a $20 Lionel PA passenger coach is the one that haunts me. Saw it almost as I walked in the door at a train show and said to myself, I really want it, I will buy it, but I don't want to carry it around for an hour...I'll come back. I have since learned to buy it now or forget about it! 

3rd rail FP7- both versions

3rd rail Q1

MTH Premier or 3rdRail  M1b

Lionel CC2

MTH R1 Subway set

MTH R40 Subway set

K Line Freedom Train

MTH American Railroads Golden Spike train

Atlas O Mp15dc in Conrail:

I missed on a few. New Marx EL and some used Marx collector pieces.

However, my biggest regret is not buying a full size 1:1 Santa Fe caboose. It was a ridiculously low price, even with delivery. About $6500. My ex-wife killed that deal. I think about that caboose often. She hated trains and I had them boxed for years. New wife better life!!! She encourages my train passion, and loves fishing. 

Bob

There are several "trains that got away" for me but....

One that has stood out for a long time....

Circa 1997, I was gifted, by my father, a Lionel "Santa Fe Special" train set, purchased new from Potomac Trading, Kensington, MD.

This was THE top of the line RTR set for Lionel for 1997. Had the 4-4-2, air whistle tender, log dump car, boxcar, flatcar with semi truck, auto loader, lighted caboose, figure-8 track, etc.

In the resulting BS after my father's death in 2003, I lost the set. Never saw another one. The only trains that survived said BS was my LGB G Gauge set and about 90% of my HO collection.

About 3 years ago, I'm walking the halls at York. What do I find? A brand new, factory sealed, Santa Fe Special set for $100.

I stop, I look at it and it is totally new. I'm saying to myself "if I don't buy it, I'll regret this for years". At the time, I was still running 100% command control and hadn't returned to 100% conventional operation like I am now. I couldn't justify buying a set I couldn't run on a command control layout so I didn't buy it. From then on, I've regretted not buying the set. Been looking for another ever since, haven't seen one.

Although it wasn't an O-gauge locomotive, there is no question as to which locomotive it was that I let slip away. It was G-gauge LGB Number 20922: Garratt NGG13 (only 600 models made)

Three engines come to mind when I think "ones that got away". These are trains I owned and sold for one reason or another (never because I needed the money). They are two Lionmasters - PRR T1 and the J1a Hudson and the other was a K-Line Hudson with Command Control. Someone offered me what I thought was more than they were worth so I sold them. I have been looking to replace them ever since.

Steve

3rd Rail PRR Q1 Unskirted.  Grossly underestimated what it would go for about two years ago.  Haven't seen one since.

Lionmaster #38020 PRR T-1 Duplex - missed it twice!  1st time $450 NIB, 2nd time $300 NIB. BOTH times on the 'bay. I would have had to use PayPal, whose security I have reason NOT to trust. I probably should have taken the risk.

ROW B&O Docksider for $200 at York. While I was counting my cash, another member grabbed it and handed the dealer his credit card.

MTH Premier New York Central 2-8-4 Berkshire (Looks a lot like the Niagara).

K-Line Santa Fe 2-8-4 Berkshire with the "coffin" feedwater heater.

MTH Premier Santa Fe 4-6-4 Hudson

All were affordable at the time...just waited too long to make the decision!

a WBB NW J. I was getting interested in a Postwar J, but out of my budget. The wife and I had just came form her favorite country store, and I stopped at a local train shop. I had picked out a few thing, and while waiting to be checked out, I noticed the WBB J in the display case. The wife insisted I get it, which I did. But after having it for a few months, I didn't care for it. It did look great, but it ran like Errol Flynn had buttered the rails the night before, and the Seuth unit slobbered all over it. I put it on the bay and let it go. I could have picked up a nice MPC J for what the WBB cost.

MTH Premier Veranda Turbine with PS3 NIB for under $500.  Truly hate that I didn't buy it.

SJC posted:

There are several "trains that got away" for me but....

One that has stood out for a long time....

Circa 1997, I was gifted, by my father, a Lionel "Santa Fe Special" train set, purchased new from Potomac Trading, Kensington, MD.

This was THE top of the line RTR set for Lionel for 1997. Had the 4-4-2, air whistle tender, log dump car, boxcar, flatcar with semi truck, auto loader, lighted caboose, figure-8 track, etc.

In the resulting BS after my father's death in 2003, I lost the set. Never saw another one. The only trains that survived said BS was my LGB G Gauge set and about 90% of my HO collection.

About 3 years ago, I'm walking the halls at York. What do I find? A brand new, factory sealed, Santa Fe Special set for $100.

I stop, I look at it and it is totally new. I'm saying to myself "if I don't buy it, I'll regret this for years". At the time, I was still running 100% command control and hadn't returned to 100% conventional operation like I am now. I couldn't justify buying a set I couldn't run on a command control layout so I didn't buy it. From then on, I've regretted not buying the set. Been looking for another ever since, haven't seen one.

 

SJC, I believe I know where this set can be found still factory sealed.  Contact me via the email listed in my profile if you are interested.

I thought it was a K-Line Cotton Belt RS-3 with TMCC and RailSounds, but there are two fixed price offerings on eBay, so I must conjure up another elusive desire.

What, me worry?

SJC: Maybe yet a happy ending?  :-) GOOD LUCK!

Mine was when I was at one of the last Lionel open houses in Youngstown Ohio on the layout they had a Canadian Pacific diesel with the battery lights on the side. I could of gotten it at a reasonable price but I hesitated......Paul

I only buy used (prewar/standard gauge) and that is a trains shows/eBay.

Sometimes I see something and think about buying that items the leave to find one in better condition or a better price.
Then when I return it is sold or someone is in the process of buying that item.
So just keep going on and look for another.

You always have to remember there is another one out there that is better condition/price

The Milwaukee Road 2-6-6-2 Mallet. OOOOh wait, it hasn't been made yet. Helllllo, Scott Mann, here your chance. I prefer the one with the coffin heater but, I'd take either one.

BNSF LEGACY ES44AC DIESEL #6431 Product # 6-28350. I still want one!

Sunset/3rd Rail Southern Pacific P-8 Pacific #2467. Haven't seen one for sale since...........

For me, it was a 3rdRail Delaware & Hudson Challenger on DA-Bay. Supposedly NIB $800.00.

There isn't a week goes by that I don't think about it two or three times.

russ

i can name a few 

lionel chessie merger freight 

lionel north american express 

lionel n&w spirit of america

A Weaver O gauge brass New Haven I-4 Pacific that i picked up at an Estate Sale mainly because I liked its looks and the amount of detail which was equivalent to the more expensive import 2 Rail engines. Foolishly, not realizing what a gem it was, I traded it away

Weaver G1092 C&NW Yellow Jacket pacific....

Still looking for one.