What's A Good Price For Lightly Used PS-1 Steam Engines?

It depends whether you are the seller, or the buyer.  40 - 50% is about the norm.  I have seen extremes where-by sellers are asking near retail for rare premier locos with little or no run-time.  Remember, the word "asking".  I'm not sure anyone would pay at or near full retail for a twenty year old loco, even if it was brand-spanking new.  I generally have paid around forty percent of retail for such locos, if that is any help.

Adding that with the ps-1s knowing everything works{good battery} is a great thing.

I agree that about the price I would pay is about 30%-40% of msrp for ps1 engines And that even includes Lionel steam engines with RS4 or below. 

i do believe that buying PS1 is not bad if you are running conventional only. If your thinking about upgrading them then it becomes too expensive if your adding PS2. Of course there may be some exceptions to that rule. 

A lot of it depends on what kind of locomotive we are talking about. Larger, more expensive engines that would be cost-effective to convert to PS2 or TMCC bring a higher percentage of their original price than smaller, cheaper ones. A conversion kit costs in the $150 range and a professional conversion $250-300, and a converted locomotive is still worth less than a factory equipped command loco, so that can serve as something of a guideline. I would look at half of the original price as an absolute maximum for a like-new Northern or articulated in the original box, and work down from there. Rail King switchers with PS/1 may actually be worth less than with just a whistle, because of the reliability question and the fact that they aren't worth upgrading. I see an awful lot of wishful thinking in what dealers are asking for NOS PS/1 locomotives. 80% of MSRP is a joke, and nobody is going to pay that if they have any feel for the market. 

The above applies to MTH die-cast engines. Some brass locomotives with PS/1 or even QSI OEM may bring higher prices due to being rarer and more desirable due to greater detail, etc. Even there, a careful buyer can pick up most engines for 60% or less of the original price - sometimes much less. 

I have a small sample size to offer but:

I paid $450 or so for the MTH NKP Premier Berkshire with PS-1 over the summer.  I'd been watching them consistently sell on Ebay for $425-$475 over the past few years.

I'm currently keeping an eye open for the MTH Premier C&O 614 with PS-1 and they seem to sell for roughly the same money.  I believe MSRP on both was $899....but I'm not an expert on MTH. 

So...your estimate of roughly 50% is certainly in the ball park.  Frankly, I can't see why you would pay any more than that, IMHO.

At some point in the near term, I expect to ship the MTH NKP Berk off to Electric Railroad to see what all the fuss is about.  I've heard nothing but good things and really like the idea of being able to run them in TMCC.

As a 2-railer, I figure a good price is what I am willing to pay.   If I want the engine, I have to pony up.   If I don't care, then I can get real price sensitive.

Depends on the engine. 

I took a chance on a WVP&P Shay last year.  Got it for $650.  Not sure if that's high or low compared to 'bay sales, but I got to at least inspect it in person before buying (I think the list price on it in 1997 was probably slightly north of $1k, maybe $1100-$1200?).  I put a BCR in it before ever powering it up, and it has worked well for me so far.  There is no way I will ever convert it (unless the P1 boards eventually die), it will remain conventional due to the unique sounds that go with it.

-Dave

There is no way I will ever convert it (unless the P1 boards eventually die), it will remain conventional due to the unique sounds that go with it.

That's exactly how I feel about the first issue DM&IR Yellowstone..Just can't beat the harbor sounds 

I just got a early premier burl.f3 aba and had a bcr battery installed in mint cond.been wanting this set for 18 years.we placed it on a test track and ran cab chatter and diesel sounds-everyone in the store came running over telling me how great the engine sounded-beautiful robust clear sound.

Although not 'cheap' by any means, the PS2 and smoke conversions done by JDS Ltd are a worthy consideration for a PS1 (or any) locomotive. I have a K-Line Hudson with his basic PS2 and MTH smoke set-up and it's first rate. The seller was buying another and having the whistle smoke feature added which I think is only $100 additional when having the original conversion done.

Chris (JDS Ltd owner) was at York and had several top notch steamers available ready to go. His Lionel PRR T-1 Duplex was especially tempting...

Lots of good opinions here all.

One I would hate to part with or convert is my RK Allegheny. I always just loved the sound of that whistle. And its just a plain nice looking engine. Great proportions, though scaled down of course.

Too bad the newer PS-2 version sounds so lame by comparison.

Rod

I have a number if Premier steam engines on my roster. I got them all for $350 - $450 each. I have converted many of them to TMCC with cruise Commanders from electric railroad.

They are built very sturdily and look great.

I'd agree on the 40 to 50% of MSRP price range.

I have a PS-2 Steam Upgrade Kit I've been holding for the right engine.

I got it thinking I'd upgrade a Conventional loco I had but then I learned how nice the better quality engines are. I bought a Imperial Railking Big Boy set and was blown away by the detail on it.

So I will keep the kit and when I find a PS1 Big Boy or Challenger at a price I can afford I'll do it.

I also have 2 PS1 Galloping Geese that I will not give up the sound on. I may add TMCC to those, had not thought about that before. It would get them more run time.

I did like the sound of the Galloping Goose, but I did give it up with my TMCC upgrade.

The whistles in all of the PS 1 engines I had were superior to those in PS 2 engines. I especially do not like that whimpy PRR Banshee whistle. In my opinion, the Rail King H Class 2-8-0 with PS1 has the best whistle.

I had, at different times two versions of the MTH 4-4-4-4 T-1 PRR with QSI sound.  The first one had a "lonesome whistle" that made you think the train was in the room with you.

The second one, not so much, very disappointing.  I guess it's the luck of the draw?

I started buying MTH engines back in 1995 when I bought the scale Santa Fe 2912 Northern. I have 8 or 9 MTH PS 1 engines. I have replaced the batteries in all of them with BCR's.

All of them still run just fine. I use a Z4000 transformer with the Z4000 remote to run them.

As an example, Trainz has a PS 1 Premier Empire State Express Hudson graded at C-8 that listed for $899 for $403, minus 20% sale price, (code BestSaleEver). That would make the final price about $323 plus shipping for a scale Hudson.  

Yes it really depends on the engine some are just outdated. " Free to good Home" is a good price...

I am interested.

Which ones are you giving away?

LOL... I will let you know when I have one that does not survive the conversion to TMCC...

To Gerry Burns:

WOW!   Thanks for the Trainz sale tip!  I just bought a Black Bonnet set, that I have been considering for 20% off!  Very pleased.  I didn't need it, but how could I pass it up?  Great tip, thanks again.