Train Show Bargains! More Trains, Less Money!!

In this episode let’s discuss one of the best ways to find good-running, budget Lionel and other O gauge trains, and some examples to prove it.
In previous episodes, I have demonstrated how I find bargains through online auction sites like eBay. But my favorite source of bargains is local train shows.
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[@TweetsieRailroader]

My greatest bargain find was actually not at a train show, buy at a used used book and pop culture store called McKay's. I found an MTH Railking Tanker that was new in box for just 7 bucks. Another notable bargain I achieved was at the Southeast Old Thresher's Reunion in Denton, NC, where I managed to secure a C&NW Hopper and a New York Central "Pacemaker" boxcar for about $10 a pop out of box. Sometimes, the best deals are found in the most unexpected places.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

There's joy in the search!

[@ronalddevine9587]

I was a TCA member for 23 years, and enjoyed every show. Obviously some are better than others. It's about a 4 1/2 hour drive for me. Sadly I made the decision in April that I would no longer keep going. Your first time will be memorable. A bit of advice: if you see something, negotiate. If you don't and go back, chances are it'll be gone. If the seller won't negotiate to what you think is a fair price, move on. I've done that several times. And many times found better deals on ebay. Good luck. I do enjoy your videos.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks for watching and excellent advice!

[@genemanno1533]

Yes, York train show this year was great for bargains. The sellers we purchased from were really willing to sell some nice Lionel post war engines and rolling stock. Price stickers were slashed in half or so close to it to make sale. We were happy buyers. As you pointed out York train show is were bargains are. I find you can’t come close to selections, & price at York show with ebay costs including shipping and tax. Making the trip as a vacation with friends has to be mind set to justify overall cost.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

I'll have to get there someday!

[@johnknippenberg-LandmarkYards]

Got home from York around noon, had a ton of deals to unpack. My most expensive purchase was a smoking Marx 333 for $85. Found some nice Marx and Lionel cars for $10 or less. Picked up a bunch of parts I needed too, for repairs.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

That's nice for a 333!

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

My 3 rail interests are from the era of my childhood... Born in the early 50s, its the toy trains I saw or had as a child that I enjoy. This pretty much means used, vintage items, sometimes repops from recent times. Shows and show dealers, and collectors, are the best sources for these older items. Prices are almost always a tiny fraction of new current product.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

👍

[@user-if4vf9rl6i]

Just returned from York and brought home an original Lionel 6464-350 Katy box car for less than $200. It is in excellent condition with no apparent run time. Unfortunately there was no original box. Been looking for this for over 20 years. Have not previously seen this car in this condition for less than $300. Great find.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Nice!

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

I have ver3 good luck at yard sales and garage sales for ho trains 🎉🎉🎉

[@johnchambers8528]

I have found very good prices at various train shows over the years. Both dealers trying to get rid of old inventory or train collectors and operators selling off their excess trains they no longer want. As you showed in the video in many cases the items are like new either never run or only a limited time and many do include the original box. One tip if you are buying an engine or some operating accessory ask if you can take it to the test area most shows provide to make sure it operates ok. Or the owner dealer lets you know if there are any defects in its operation. In these cases if the price is really low suspect there may be a problem.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Good point!

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

If there's no test track available (And if it's a good, well organized show there should be!) but there's an operating layout ask the folks running the layout to test-run the engine for you. Most are good guys and won't say no.

[@FirefighterSEIN]

Mike, I wanted to let you know about the Harrison, Ohio Veterans Train Show on Saturday, November 25th, 2023 at the Harrison VFW, at 9160 Lawrenceburg Rd., Harrison, Ohio 45030. 70 tables of trains. Doors open at 10 AM

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Mike yall got a darn good deals

[@chrisresor1893]

Nice little haul Mike! Next show near here in early December. I'm there!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Happy hunting!

[@nicholmansgarage3501]

Praise be to train shows!!! At the most recent one I got a post war lighted PRR 477618 metal caboose for $5, and a brass HO boxcar for $2.50! Among a few other bargains :] also, not a train show, but I got a pre-war 1668E torpedo set at a flea market for $30

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Excellent finds!

[@davidmaust1415]

My best deals have been at train auctions, se impolse buys because too good of a deal like a MTH premier proto3 challenger for 450, and was at one last week that one of.the guys was buying to sell at York and still made a good profit on what some considered a bargain

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Cool!

[@chicagolandrailroader]

I love going to my local train show. The best thing is, it's transit accessable so i can take the train to the train show!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Cool!

[@davidmaust1415]

I went my first York show this year, did get a couple of deals, if you see something at the end of the show and still have cash, sellers can be more motivated so they don't have to take it back home. I was disappointed that several booths were packed up and gone 1.5hr b4 closing, and didn't get to see what they had, I should've started in silver/blue hall

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Good tip!

[@paulbervid1610]

Very cool. Best find was a lionel Alco That the seller thought was broken since it only moved forward. Got it for 15. If was made that way.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Very nice!

[@srenchin]

The “K” style triple valve detail on the Grand Trunk boxcar is an anachronism, a car that modern should have AB style equipment. Otherwise, the Menards rolling stock looks pretty good.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Correct. That was part of the old Williams tooling as well.

[@strasburgrailfan90]

Last month I was able to pick up an MTH RailKing Camelback locomotive for $150 at the TCA Lancaster meet

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Nice!

[@Engine1988]

Delivering the transformer to the power plant is a really interesting idea!

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

👍

[@plunkervillerr1529]

The best bargains to be found are under the table, which seems to be true in all hobbies conventions.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Very true. Thanks!

[@IndianaNorthWestern]

Went to the first train show of 2024 near me, left with a 50 that just needed a wire connected and brushes for $4 (sticker price $10) a box of HO track for 10 (about $250 worth of #6 and 4 switches) a complete 3 rail set with a 1953 2055 for $28 that needed an obsurd amount of work to remove rust, it's running happily around looking brand new with all the cars and a set of NYC coaches from 1989 that is missing the baggage car for $60 with a MPC pickle car thrown in because I didn't want to pay 60 for an incomplete set. Everything for $102 total. If you pay more than $100 at a trainshow for literally one item, why did you go to a trainshow? Haggle. Start obsurdly low, like $20 or 30 below sticker price (only if the sticker isn't worth it) then if they don't agree, hit them with what you will actually pay, if they still don't agree just walk, even if you really want it, just walk. You're at a trainshow, don't blow your budget on one item, and never pay sticker price (unless it's literally that 2055 set where it's worth like $200 but going for $30, pay the sticker price or just give them all you have left on you)

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Nice haul!

[@jZ0357]

This is happen at Greenberg a dealer had papers brown bag sealed with duct tape for 20 bucks it was catalog so you don’t know who’s catalog it would’ve been it it just said o gauge trains on it it was all early 2000s Lionel and MTH

[@huntercoleman460]

I prefer MPC rolling stock over Menards because they’re more reliable and aren’t prone to uncoupling. What do you prefer?

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

I've had some MPC's with weak couplers, not many though. Since I don't do switching at all I lock weak couplers shut with a plastic wire tie. And I've had weak couplers on just about any make of railcar, it doesn't happen often but it does happen.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

I've had more trouble with MPC couplers than Menards. I put a small rubber O ring in the coupler shaft to prevent accidental uncoupling.

[@hoppercar]

Sticker shock....yeah it's ridiculous.......instead of making a profit on mass production,...there trying to make mass profit on each unit

[@Jimoff2Gaming]

Which show was this?

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

It was a local show near Cincinnati.

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Beggars can't be chosers

[@maxromano2262]

Ahhh...childhood memories.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Some kids are older than others. ;-)

[@maxromano2262]

@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks Very true indeed.