Whats your Holy Grail Item or items and Have you found it?

Looking for the sleeper set for the 2008 DAP NS Business train.  Need the Alabama and Pennsylvania cars, then I'll have entire set.

My RailKing Dreyfuss Hudson.  I always wanted one, but never thought I would have one until I stumbled upon this one at the annual local train show.

I'd love to find a 226E. There are plenty out there, I just keep finding other smaller dollar projects. I was after an affordable 2402 Chatham to finish the three car set I have. I Found the Hillside observation at a local show, then I found a Maplewood body on the bay, but all the Chathams were way more than I wanted to pay. I scored a damaged body on the bay, perfect winter project.Usually my current "have to have" can be found as soon as I zero in on it. But I've wanted a 226E for a long time. 

Nice

Cool

Good question.  I had always wanted a Southern Daylight GS-4 and we got one this year.  Would still love to pick up the Santa Fe Black Midnight passenger cars but I think they are too big for my budget and layout at the moment. 

There is nothing that is a holy grail item that I'm looking for. I just buy what I like and can afford. Nothing is a must have. 

 

Ditto...  

 

- Mike

A model that I never expected to be manufactured in any scale. (This one's S.) 

 

KL&K #5 (a.k.a. J Neils #5) is the first steam locomotive I ever got a cab ride on as a youth.  Later in life I learned the fine art of firing a steam locomotive on her.

 

It's also the second one I've been engineer on.

 

Still waiting for someone to make an accurate model of Frisco 2-10-0 1630.  I learned how to be an engineer on her.  For now, I have an HO stand-in:

Rusty

N&W 2300 Steam Turbine electric. And yes, I have one. I would be more likely to let my very first 1954 AF Alco PA/B go before this one.

 

Gilly

I have been after a Marx Penn Central E7 plastic diesel, the white trim variation, for quite some time.  I just lost out on a nice one that went for $396.75.

One of the first boxcars that MTH put out. "Amos N Andy"

MTH Premier US Army Schnabel Car.  And yes I finally found one in excellent condition on the bay.  Paid a premium because of the rarity but it completes my military consist.

Very cool

and if I scored one of these it would be great too...

 

and I recently got my crane I had been after, so not too many complaints of no 226E

MTH CB&Q SD9 Gray and Black up graded to PS2

MTH CB&Q SD24 Chinese Red and Gray PS3

Still on the must have list:

MTH GN SD9

MTH GN FA2

MTH GN EMD FT or F3

Atlas SAL GP7 or 9

ACL MTH EMD FT or F3, Atlas SD35

MTH C&NW SD9 

 

 

I got my st of Lionel F units so the number #1 item now is an AFFORDABLE Lionel GG1. Affordable is the key word there. I will eventually find one. Too big for my layout but I like them.

yeah a Postwar GG1 is on my wishlist too.

My holy grail item was an excellent condition 3854 Operating Merchandise car until Lionel repeoduced them. Now it is the Icing Car that goes with the Christmas Icing Station.

I am trying to find the 4 car passenger set for the K-line American Freedom Train, those 4 cars and I have the complete set. Very elusive right now.

Locomotives like the PRR Centipede A-A, UP DD40AX, C&O M-1, PRR T-1 #6110 as delivered, and N&W Jawn Henry that can run on O-36 or tighter curves.

Nice

Always on the look out for a F9 Soo (red and white) PS2/3 AA. Had a set in Ho as a kid and would love a set in O.

It has been said "a picture is worth...."

 

The unholy trinity.

 

 

 

Ron

I have been fortunate.

 

After quite the search I found the entire K-Line Black Bonnet Series including F3 ABA, 8 Pass cars, and 17 Freight cars - that caboose was the hardest to find but when I did I got a great price.

 

I also recently completed with the assist of two forum members my Gold Plated Engine Series of Steam (MTH Hudson) Electric (MTH GG1) and Diesel (MTH TCA F3's)

 

The only thing I'm hunting for hasn't been made: - a Scale SF/SP Kodachrome Livery Diesel.

 

Paul - am I a hunter or a gatherer - Licata

 

I spent 8 years looking for a postwar Lionel 2026 with Baldwin disc drivers. I've finally come to the conculsion that the Greenberg guide is full of baloney on that one.

MTH/Lionel Hiawatha...

...with the extra baggage car.

 

Jerry

Nothing fancy, but I always wanted a scale Hudson, finally bought a Williams Brass unit in mint shape, it is proudly on my mantle on display (in a case) until I finally have a layout that it can run on. 

The Postwar #345 Culvert Unloader. Always wanted one, could never afford one. BUT: I managed to restore (or recreate) one from parts from an assortment of under-the-table junk boxes at shows. It took years to do, but it's all mine.

       
       


I just ordered the RMT version myself.  It's the last locomotive on my must-have list.

Nobody's made a widely available O scale version  PRB had it listed just before they went out of business.

 

The first EMC Super Chief diesel engine.

 

 

a 2 rail pennsy q1 with the skirting. i don't know how i ever missed out on this one. also any custom built 2 rail locos by lenior icken henry strayer etc always on the hunt for these.

A legacy B&O Mikado

The MTH Clear Body GP-9. Only 100 made. I saw it run for the first time at Lee's Trains in Oakland. The sound was amazing. I told the owners I wanted to buy it if they ever sold. Both that wonderful husband and wife that owned the store died within a month of each other and the shop was closed. I got a call a few weeks later. It was one of the older guys that helped out and was closing everything down. He said there was a note on the clear body GP-9 that I was to get the engine. I don't know if the wife or husband wrote the note before they died but I finally got my Clear Body GP-9. I miss them. Don

Holy Grail? We  already got's one...

I am still looking for the MTH Item # 20-4947 Frisco Will Rogers 5-car Madison Passenger car set. I will pay top dollar for this set if you have one or if you know of one for sale.

Please contact me thru my e-mail that is in my profile.

 

Good hunting everyone.

My Daylight Special 8 car passenger set with GS-4.

 

#1630?  That looks like a Russian Decapod, which the Friso had and MTH made 3 rail

versions of.....How true to scale or if in two rail, I do not know?

Did better than my hopes in looking for a Weaver Consolidation....found one in an

unopened box...that is an UNLETTERED one.....Can now quit kicking myself for not

getting some road name, when they were available.  What next?  Maybe something else

off my wish list...