Years ago my local grocery store had a bunch of Lionel North Pole Central 60038 sets stacked up at I believe $99 during the holiday season. It came w/ a red steam loco, whistle tender, cars, & track/transformer. I noticed them but wasn't really interested - I always just put a PW train around the tree w/ tubular track. We were at the store again a day or two after Christmas and I couldn't help but notice the sign marking the sets down to only $40! And there were of course none left. An employee was right there and I commented that they must have sold out quickly. She said no, actually there was 1 left in the back. At that price I took it. She said they had to get it down and that she would find me in the store later and she did. It's the only 'modern' Lionel I own. I like the plastic track for the floor, the set seems rugged and has handled tree/floor 'abuse' well enough. It's now the default holiday train (though I do cycle a few of my PW engines through for kicks...).
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Back in the mid 60s after Christmas a MRC Dual power pack for $1.00 at JC Penney’s 69th St Upper Darby Pa . Last one damaged box but the pack was new and I still have it. Memory of my HO days.
Back in the 50's: day after Christmas sale at Taubman's Hardware in Baltimore, I picked up a GM Emergency Generator car for $2.75.
In the 60's: day after sale at Two Guys, a pair of 1122 switches for $5.
And tons of Plasticville at Kresge's and Woolworth's every year for $0.25 - $0.50.
Ah, the "Good ol' days".
In the early 60s, $4 of Christmas money bought me a 415 Diesel Fueling Station at Honig’s Parkway, a variety store on White Plains Rd near Allerton Ave in the Bronx.
Peter
K-mart blue light special, Lionel Yardmaster 17.95, still have receipt. Litho cookie tin houses at Big Lots, 1.00, cookie tin houses at Macy’s filled with good chocolate, 3.00. Bachmann On30 winter wonderland passenger set new in box msrp 295.00 ....... 20.00
A brand new ( never run ) set of Lionel ( MPC era ) RDC Budd cars for $50.
1954 SF Emporium I got a 2321 Virginian in Black and Yellow for $25,I still have it.
Mikey
An early January find on ebay about 5 or 6 years ago, an O gauge (conventional) Hogwarts Express set in the box for $60 with free shipping. As I recall the description said it was sluggish when it ran; I cleaned the track and it ran perfectly. I use it around the Christmas tree because the red engine looks good pulling Christmas cars.