Extensive train-related collections as part of estate

I've been tasked with the research of an extensive train collection left by a family friend who recently passed away. We're trying to find out the best way to proceed with selling anything of value. He has been collecting for over 50 years, so the collections are quite extensive.

I've gathered the names of several collectors who buy brass trains, for example, but now I'm trying to find the potential value of magazine collections.

He has every issue of Railroad Model Craftsman since 1950, for example...and every issues of Model Railroader since 1968.

If anyone here is familiar with model train collecting, would you please advise as to the best course of action.

Many thanks and happy holidays!

I took a quick look at brass trains and almost fainted. Some of the cars go for big bucks! The magazines, on the other hand, don't look too exciting. I'd start with ebay if for no other reason than to be sure anyone you deal with isn't trying to rip you off. (The old appraise it followed by an offer to buy.) I don't know where you live, but I've been at auctions where large collections of trains have been sold and they do very, very well in a room filled with collectors. If you're near a decent auction house, that's one route. Plan B, of course, is ebay. I've sold some old trains on ebay over the years and I've always had the impression the buyers are willing to pay a fair price, unlike other areas of collecting. Most of the time it's probably best to sell each car separately, but a very rare set might do better intact.

I recall being in a thrift store a few years ago when a train collector was trying to donate his boxes and boxes and boxes of train magazines, and the manager turned him down, saying that they wouldn't be worth the space required. You might check eBay to see if any are moving there.

OTOH, the trains themselves will do extremely well, as others have noted.

I quickly came to realize the magazines are better donated to an historic train association which gladly accepts such collections.

I'm also finding that, indeed, an auction house may be the best route for this collection. There are hundreds of brass trains and evidently they can be quite pricey. There are also vintage train books I just found out about. The sheer volume of this collection seems better suited for an auction house or something similar...ebay could be quite a task for such a big collection after all.

Thanks for your input. Much appreciated.

If you're anywhere near this guy, he's on the Antiques Roadshow and I know his auctions do very well.http://www.noelbarrett.com/

If that's not feasible, then another auction house that specializes in toys might be your best bet. General auction houses might not get the traffic for train collectors to get the prices up. On Antiques Roadshow lots of times the appraiser will quote a price & say something like "In a well advertised auction it could go for X amount". You want lots of serious train collectors bidding against each other not just one or two.

Good luck!

Some of us here are always looking for new old things.

there are extensive stamp and coin collections (60 years' worth) in addition to the train collection. To the extent that an auction house may indeed be the way to go. They're contacting appraisers now to get a feel for that avenue.

We'll see how it goes. I'll certainly post here if we sell things individually.

Thanks. :)

Check in your local phone book under Hobby Shops (or check our online listing), they might be able to help you themselves, or might know of someone who would be able to help you. If you can�t find local assistance, The Train Collectors Association
may also be able to help you find someone to evaluate your collection. If you are interested in doing your own research, there are also The Greenberg Guides available from bookstores or directly from Kalmbach Publishing. These books may help you determine the value of your collection if you can find a guide that is applicable.

http://www.nmra.org/NMRA-valuation.html


Online Listings of Hobby Shops:
(In left frame--scroll down to States)
http://cwrr.com/nmra/


The Train Collectors Association:
http://www.traincollectors.org/index.html

The Greenberg Guides:
http://sykesvillehistory.us/

The Bras Train Guide Book by Dan glasure:
http://www.karensbooks.com/cgi-bin/shop/karenscart.cgi?func=buildProduct&product=5585&back=illegal codehistory.go(-1)

You can contact Dan here through eBay:
http://reviews.ebay.com/The-Brass-Train-Guide-HO-O-N-by-Dan-Glasure_W0QQugidZ10000000004432563