What Are Old Toy Trains Worth? How To Find Lionel, Marx and American Flyer Values

[@JPRMT]

I have my grandfather’s Lionel tinplate set. It was purchased new and has been passed down through the family to me, and will go to my son someday… it’s not worth much on the market, it is well used, but it’s beyond priceless to me…

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

That is a great story and those are the trains that hold the most value.

[@XCELERATIONRULES]

@@JPRMT my tin trains,run like new. I think their highly underrated,and please don't tell anyone, because I enjoy buying them for a measly $40!

[@XCELERATIONRULES]

I'm never selling my trains! Own over 200 engines,and buying more,never to see the secondary market again. I love the old rusty trains just as much as a perfect specimen,as long as it runs good,I'm happy.

[@JerryTheTankYank1776]

The Lionel Santa Fe F3 are one of those models I consider to be super common, yet also high demand. They and Ho blue box equipment are staples at the places I buy trains from.

[@PhilBender612]

there are many different models of them, 2333, 2343, 2353, 2383 the 43's are probably the most desired.

[@tomenglehart1760]

I would have thought the 33s would be the most desirable

[@JerryTheTankYank1776]

@@PhilBender612 I got one that wasn’t in completely original condition, refurbished, but missing portholes. Still my most treasured locomotive since I’ve been looking for a Santa Fe f3 for years. (Curiously the repro number boards are 2333, but it has magnetraction)

[@JerryTheTankYank1776]

@ hm, they don’t have magnetraction, so I feel the 43s have the most value features wise

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

I agree, they are always in demand.

[@stevencilento3364]

Mike great video as always. As you said trains are a portal into a time when life was simpler and just plain fun. Just reminds me constantly of the times spent with my father running them.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Those are the best memories!

[@PhilBender612]

Yes, a current Greenberg guide is a great place to start.

[@billfusionenterprise]

uhm, there are some that say no, because of it's not fully updated, several videos on this

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Interesting...

[@johnchambers8528]

The Lionel price guide is just that a guide. It helps you in that it gives you some idea of what that item may sell for. However as you noted in the video some items have more less value depending on the region ypu live in. For example I live in the Philadelphia, Pa area so trains that ran in this area shuch as the Pennsylvania railroad, the Reading railroad or the Baltimore and Ohio and the newer CSX or Chessie System have interest than some other railroads. But again variations and condition count also.

[@billfusionenterprise]

@@johnchambers8528 I understand that, issue that some sellers had was the buyers who hard core set by it

[@paulbervid1610]

Great conversation and you are in excellent voice.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Thanks! I had to stop every 30-45 seconds to cough up a lung. I'm feeling much better today - just in time for WNIOG!

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

I have a lionel 1666 240 Santafe steam locomotive I looked up the numbers and was shocked at the year it was made in the late 40s early 50s fantastic video thanks Mike

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

#1666 (Lionel) was a 2-6-2 carried over from Prewar production. The Marx #1666 was a good running, but not as detailed, 2-4-2 with an excellent smoke unit.

[@furmaster212]

This is very true, as popular as TOFC cars are in the "O" scale world I had one in particular that sold at auction for a silly price just because it was an "Entenmann's" trailer and was lucky enough to have a couple collectors get into a bidding war over it.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

It’s amazing what a niche market can do!

[@HenrikSweden1]

i am new to this great hobby and really appreciate your video , filled with good information. I love the treasure hunt for tinplate trains from the 1930s to the 1950s, thanks ! and subscribed ...

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Welcome aboard!!

[@RABSTRAINS]

Awesome Video! Thank You🙏👍🔥💪❤️🇺🇸

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jasonrackawack9369]

I have seen prices all over from postwar scout items that are pretty rare and expensive but not overly desirable to collectors......I have seen common mpc era diesels go for stupid big money because they are popular right now.....end of they day they are worth what someone will pay when you need to sell it. I typically buy cheap parts box junk and fix it up with other junk I have on hand so it works out as a win on some items.....others I spend more buying parts for than if I just bought a nicer item in the first place. I enjoy the searching and saving old trains so its not about the resale value to me.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Excellent strategy!

[@billfusionenterprise]

love the rare does not make it value-able line. or the evilbay line

[@MichaelMartinczak]

Yes, you are correct. I hear it over and over again. There is a value placed 0n every car or engine made The value in a train for me is what circumstance I received it and from who. Christmas time is one that puts memories and value on an engine or car. Gerber baby food box car for the birth of my oldest son. The Pickle car with the stork on it was given me for my youngest son. This is value to me and you would never have enough money to buy them from me

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

That’s how it should be!

[@billintex001]

I'm like you. Trains are investments... in personal happiness. Keep them and play with them. If you buy them expecting to get rich, well, how many real Class I railroads still exist today? Buy stocks if you want your money to work for you. Buy trains for play.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

A good, informative video Mike! Says it all! What's it worth? In the end whatever someone's willing to pay for it. And in my case, I don't buy for an investment, I buy it because I LIKE it! w

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Yes!

[@SteveRenon]

Collect them for the fun.

[@HighballMachineWorks]

How does construction quality factor into value, like a 2018 compared to an 8040, diecast with e-unit and a whistling tender vs plastic with a direction switch and a cheap empty tender ?

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

Part of that is the operation/desirability factor. You're also comparing a 2-6-4 to a 2-4-0/0-4-0.

[@HighballMachineWorks]

@ I was only using examples from my collection, I understand it’s not a perfect comparison

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

@@HighballMachineWorks No offense. But the operation factor is the BIG difference.

[@abbush2921]

I collect Tri-ang/ Hornby trains with nary a thought to how much their worth .

[@jblackacre2325]

What are trains worth? 1) happiness 2) contentment 3) frustration if they let out the magic smoke. Frankly, my old '47 675 is more valuable than any new Lionel that is made with slave labor in China.

[@benjaminhunt2395]

My stuff is a mix bag pick that toys r us car up t0r $5.00

[@Engine1988]

This was easier to do when I had my price guide, but it disappeared inexplicably. I suspect the cat. Even so, it never was really that helpful, because all that it did was remind me that (1) model trains cost too much, (2) that I'm a cheapskate, and (3) all my trains are cheap junk. I don't think that a single bit of rolling stock* on my railroad is worth more than $20! *The Menards FP7 and other Menards products are not included here.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

I’ve been there.

[@Engine1988]

@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks Everyone probably has.

[@johnchambers8528]

Menards are not Lionel made so they would not be in that Gide book. Menards trains are also relatively new to the market So it will be hit and miss to judge their value on the used train market. But I have heard and seen some of their items especially their operating accessories and some buildings are getting good prices at train shows and on line.

[@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks]

@johnchambers8528 It's true that you will not find them in a guide (yet) I have seen (and purchased) several on the secondary market and, because of their limited-production nature, some road names and variations are more sought after and are thus more valuable.

[@Engine1988]

@@johnchambers8528 I mostly meant that my Menards stuff consists of the only trains that I have that are really worth anything. I also have some Marx stuff, just about all of it is pretty common. A price guide for Menards isn't something I consider a big issue, as for the most part Menards trains are new enough where someone selling one in good condition could charge maybe $5 less than the new price.