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Somebody wants rid of 1970s/1980s train sets - how much should I pay?

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Islineclear3_1

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Somebody local to me wants rid of some old Hornby/Lima train sets/locos/loose track etc and I'm considering taking them of their hands. Looking for a rough guide price

1 x Lima Class 12 or 13

LMS 3F 16440 in red

Hornby junior industrial train set (boxed)

Hornby Silver Jubilee freight train set (boxed), includes Class 47, wagons, track, station

HST power car, dummy car and 2 trailers

Hornby 4-6-2 Flying Scotsman 4462

Lima 4-6-2 unknown steam loco in garter blue


The train sets have never been used and I suspect the others haven't been used either but although the stock seems to be in good nick superficially, the boxes are a bit battered. Of course, I doubt any of them would run until they were cleaned up, oiled etc. Would they still run with modern transformers - e.g. Guagemaster?

Thanks for any help
 
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Peter C

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I'll try to go through and give my guidance on this; these are the prices I'd be willing to pay for the models you've listed in good condition or have never been used.

1 x Lima Class 12 or 13
I'd probably pay around £20, maximum £30, on a Lima shunter like that. I've never had one, but I've had my eye on them on eBay for a while and people seem to want anywhere from £20 to £50 for them.

LMS 3F 16440 in red
These are fairly basic models and so I'd personally pay around £20 - maybe slightly lower. If you can get a really nice one, then maybe £25 or slightly over.

Hornby junior industrial train set (boxed)
If this is the Industrial Freight train set with an 0-4-0 locomotive, I'd say around £40 or £50 seeing as you say it's in good condition and has never been used; there's a higher chance of it working quite well in that case.

Hornby Silver Jubilee freight train set (boxed), includes Class 47, wagons, track, station
Having looked it up, my highest price would probably be around £50 or maybe £55? You get a fair bit of track and rolling stock, and the engine looks nice.

HST power car, dummy car and 2 trailers
I've got a Hornby Railways HST in this form and I think I paid around £30 for the powercars and one coach, and then £5ish for another coach - so around £30 or £35.

Hornby 4-6-2 Flying Scotsman 4462
These seem to go for around £30 or £40 online; I've seen some places have second-hand versions for as low as £20. I'd say around £25/£30.

Lima 4-6-2 unknown steam loco in garter blue
I can't seem to find anything matching this description online so I can't give a more educated answer, but I'd guess around £20?

The train sets have never been used and I suspect the others haven't been used either but although the stock seems to be in good nick superficially, the boxes are a bit battered.
That would definitely increase the price I'd be willing to pay for them. If you're just getting started in model railways, I'd say definitely go for the two train sets as a basis and then go for the engines you prefer.

Of course, I doubt any of them would run until they were cleaned up, oiled etc. Would they still run with modern transformers - e.g. Guagemaster?
A lot of these old engines are actually surprisingly good runners, even without being serviced. I recently bought an Airfix 14xx on eBay and despite being from 1975 according to the box, it runs really quite well. They'll work with any modern DC controller, yes; though I'd say steer clear of Hornby's DC controllers as they're dreadful and look at buying a Gaugemaster one. I've got a Gaugemaster Combi and it's really good.

Hope this helps :)

-Peter
 

BRblue33

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No problem with the Gaugemaster will work fine. The lima class 13 is over scale not worth a lot. Hornby class 43 these where not correct side windows in the wrong place. Hornby mk3 coaches may be to short the early ones where.
 

Cowley

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I'll try to go through and give my guidance on this; these are the prices I'd be willing to pay for the models you've listed in good condition or have never been used.


I'd probably pay around £20, maximum £30, on a Lima shunter like that. I've never had one, but I've had my eye on them on eBay for a while and people seem to want anywhere from £20 to £50 for them.


These are fairly basic models and so I'd personally pay around £20 - maybe slightly lower. If you can get a really nice one, then maybe £25 or slightly over.


If this is the Industrial Freight train set with an 0-4-0 locomotive, I'd say around £40 or £50 seeing as you say it's in good condition and has never been used; there's a higher chance of it working quite well in that case.


Having looked it up, my highest price would probably be around £50 or maybe £55? You get a fair bit of track and rolling stock, and the engine looks nice.


I've got a Hornby Railways HST in this form and I think I paid around £30 for the powercars and one coach, and then £5ish for another coach - so around £30 or £35.


These seem to go for around £30 or £40 online; I've seen some places have second-hand versions for as low as £20. I'd say around £25/£30.


I can't seem to find anything matching this description online so I can't give a more educated answer, but I'd guess around £20?


That would definitely increase the price I'd be willing to pay for them. If you're just getting started in model railways, I'd say definitely go for the two train sets as a basis and then go for the engines you prefer.


A lot of these old engines are actually surprisingly good runners, even without being serviced. I recently bought an Airfix 14xx on eBay and despite being from 1975 according to the box, it runs really quite well. They'll work with any modern DC controller, yes; though I'd say steer clear of Hornby's DC controllers as they're dreadful and look at buying a Gaugemaster one. I've got a Gaugemaster Combi and it's really good.

Hope this helps :)

-Peter

I think you’re pretty spot on with your assessment there Peter.
If you’re buying a few things together @Islineclear3_1 I’d probably add up what Peter calculated and go in quite low with an offer (maybe knock a third off).
A lot of these models don’t stand up to new stuff very well but as a way of getting started they could be quite good and if you look after them they’ll still be worth something if you want to upgrade.
 

Peter C

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I think you’re pretty spot on with your assessment there Peter.
Thanks :)

If you’re buying a few things together @Islineclear3_1 I’d probably add up what Peter calculated and go in quite low with an offer (maybe knock a third off).
Going through my suggestions, and using the lower bounds I gave, I've got a total of £205. The upper bounds give a total of £245. I'd say maybe offering anywhere from £130 to £150, going with @Cowley's suggestion of taking a third of that away.

A lot of these models don’t stand up to new stuff very well but as a way of getting started they could be quite good and if you look after them they’ll still be worth something if you want to upgrade.
There are definitely some models in that list which are nowhere as good as some of the newer stuff; the LMS 3F is an example of this as better-running models (including the newer Hornby 0-4-0s) are in the new ranges. Having said that, there are some good models on offer there.

Thanks very much guys, I was thinking somewhere around the £350 mark - nowhere near the £450 this lady is asking for. She wants rid but I don't want to pay more than I have to...
You're very welcome :) £450 is ludicrous for that lot; if she really wants to just get rid of them, she would, in theory, be grateful to sell them for any reasonable price. As I've said above, £150-£200 is what I'd pay (if I was in such a position), but I'd recommend shopping around on eBay and smaller model shop websites to find things like job lots which are cheaper. If you're feeling at least somewhat confident, you could potentially buy 'spares/repair' models online for cheap and then fix them to make them work; a lot of older models are very basic in their design and even I've been known to fix the odd one in the past. ;)


No problem with the Gaugemaster will work fine. The lima class 13 is over scale not worth a lot. Hornby class 43 these where not correct side windows in the wrong place. Hornby mk3 coaches may be to short the early ones where.
It must be said that the Hornby HSTs are perfectly alright for those just starting out in model railways; the Mk3 coaches are the shorter, non-prototypical versions, but that's only an issue if you partner them up with proper-length Mk3s. I've never seen a factory-made Lima Class 13 but a quick Google search will show some pictures of how people have made them from dummy shunters.

-Peter
 

Cowley

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Thanks very much guys, I was thinking somewhere around the £350 mark - nowhere near the £450 this lady is asking for. She wants rid but I don't want to pay more than I have to...

I’d agree again with what Peter says on the price. There’s cheaper stuff out there, and we’re not talking antique collectibles here.
I would consider looking at what you can buy brand new for that kind of money as well. For instance @Iskra bought this DCC sound fitted set (which is very nice) to get started:


But there’s also cheaper DC sets available like this:


If you wanted more track you could buy the Peco starter set track 2 to extend it which gives a good variety of options:


I don’t want to overwhelm you with information here but there’s all kinds of options. Do you have any thoughts on what you’d like to make?
 

Peter C

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I’d agree again with what Peter says on the price. There’s cheaper stuff out there, and we’re not talking antique collectibles here.
I would consider looking at what you can buy brand new for that kind of money as well. For instance @Iskra bought this DCC sound fitted set (which is very nice) to get started:


But there’s also cheaper DC sets available like this:


If you wanted more track you could buy the Peco starter set track 2 to extend it which gives a good variety of options:


I don’t want to overwhelm you with information here but there’s all kinds of options. Do you have any thoughts on what you’d like to make?
I've not heard much, if anything, about the Whiskies Galore set, but I have watched a Sam's Trains video on the Thanet Flyer set and he wasn't best pleased with it. I'm not usually a fan of his content but the fact that he is quite harsh on models means one can get an idea of what models are to be avoided.

Personally, I started with the Hornby GWR Passenger Freight starter set, which was about £90 from a since-closed department store. It came with a standard Hornby oval and siding out-of-the-box, but this was expanded upon by a few of the expansion packs, making for quite a good little setup, even with just one 0-4-0. Hornby no longer make this, but they do make a 'GWR Freight' set, which includes a Pannier tank, crane wagon, open wagon, brakevan, and 4-wheel coach. I've got one of these engines and they work really well, and the addition of a siding in the set makes it even better. Hattons currently have one in stock for £108: https://www.hattons.co.uk/513754/hornby_r1254m_gwr_freight_starter_train_set/stockdetail.aspx But personally, I'd want to see if anywhere could do something similar for less.

Like Cowley says, I don't want to overwhelm you; there are loads of different ways of getting started with model railways and there are loads of different things people want to do with their models. I'd suggest start basic with a 6'x4' layout if you're going down the starter set route, but this isn't the only way. There's a YouTube channel called Budget Model Railways which did a series on building your first layout on a budget not too long ago - check it out here:

-Peter
 

BRblue33

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I think the Lima class 13 was a class 08/09/. Did they not do one in black with LMS on the side number started with 13. Step back and think what you want steam/diesel . Don't waste your cash then regret it.
 

Islineclear3_1

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Thanks again guys.

I have a huge collection of Lima, Hornby and Bachmann locos and coaching stock both old and new, loads of Peco track etc but at present, nowhere to showcase or run them. I am a collector, and perhaps a hoarder as well ;). When I was a boy, I had the mission that I would have at least one model of every class that ran on BR; then of course, there was "choice" when Hornby and Bachmann were in competition with one another making the same class of loco; I have amassed a lot over the years.

I've been to have a look at this person's collection and whilst half of it is junk (or projects...), the engines are in good nick and even the HST has "Made in Great Britain" stamped on it (i.e. made in Margate). There were a couple of train packs, including a '47, still in the original boxes. The LMS Jinty looked nice too. There was even some Hornby signals (with metal arms, rather than plastic). All very nostalgic.
 

BrianW

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Somebody local to me wants rid of some old Hornby/Lima train sets/locos/loose track etc and I'm considering taking them of their hands. Looking for a rough guide price

1 x Lima Class 12 or 13

LMS 3F 16440 in red

Hornby junior industrial train set (boxed)

Hornby Silver Jubilee freight train set (boxed), includes Class 47, wagons, track, station

HST power car, dummy car and 2 trailers

Hornby 4-6-2 Flying Scotsman 4462

Lima 4-6-2 unknown steam loco in garter blue


The train sets have never been used and I suspect the others haven't been used either but although the stock seems to be in good nick superficially, the boxes are a bit battered. Of course, I doubt any of them would run until they were cleaned up, oiled etc. Would they still run with modern transformers - e.g. Guagemaster?

Thanks for any help
I think you should consider what you really need.
If you were starting with a blank sheet (and a blank cheque?) is this what you would buy- possibly not?
If you want to 'help out' a neighbour- that's a different question. Will you see this person oftem or ever again? Would you rather be bothered in the future by feeling you paid too much or that you 'took advantage'?
What skills do you have, or will need to develop- eg wiring, soldering, scenery, buildings ...?
What kind of layout do you want?
Do you know which (if any?) of the locos are runners?
On Ebay (others available) you have opportunity of dispute resolution and returns if your purchase is not as described.
Items sold as 'spares or repairs' eg its not known whether they will run.
Know yourself- are you generous or skeptical (sp?)?
Finally- it's all worth nothing if there's no sale.
 

xotGD

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If the price is right, buy it all. Then pick out the items you want for yourself and put the rest on ebay as individual lots. In an ideal scenario you end up in profit and with some models for your collection.
 

Bevan Price

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If the lady does not wish to accept whatever you offer (if you do indeed make an offer), suggest that she contacts a dealer (e.g. Hattons, etc.). But she should note that the prices quoted on ebay (some of them by dealers) will be a lot higher than what dealers actually pay to sellers.
 
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