A number of readers have asked for advice on selling toy trains. There is no "best answer" to this question. But if I wanted to sell a collection of older toy trains, I would look for a "brick and mortar" auctioneer who has experience with trains and is willing to advertise the collection.
How do you find such an auctioneer? It takes what might be called old-fashioned detective work. Find people who are interested in trains, and ask if they know of auction houses that sell trains. I would ask at train shops, hobby shops, antique shops, or watch newspapers or toy train magazines. Then I would attend one or more auctions to satisfy myself that the auctioneer actually knew something about trains.
If I lived away from a metropolitan area, and the size and value of the collection justified it, I would travel quite a distance to find an auctioneer that I felt confident working with.
To buy older toy trains, I would first look at opportunities provided by train clubs; and I would also consider eBay as a source. On eBay I would prefer to buy from a dealer willing to guarantee the train, particularly if buying an engine, but I would also consider buying from someone who had a lot of positive feedback. I would probably avoid bidding on an eBay auction where the description started "I don't know much about trains" unless the item up for bid was particularly hard to find and I was desperate to add that item to my collection. Finally, anyone looking for high-end (expensive) old toy trains should be aware that superb replicas are being manufactured today. I would only buy expensive old trains from a reputable dealer or with the advice of an experienced train collector.
These are the methods that I feel would work for me. But knowing that most personal situations are unique, I have to repeat that there is no "best way" or best answer when it comes to buying and selling toy trains.
About the author:
Chuck Conley, a member of the Train Collectors Association, is Digital Equipment early retiree. He has had an interest in Lionel trains since he got his first set at the age of 10. Put on the "back burner" for many years, his hobby was rekindled about ten years ago when he and his wife Esther began attending auctions in the MetroWest Boston area and sometimes found very desirable trains. Although he admits that some of the new trains are impressive, he still favors the postwar variety, including his first Lionel. Chuck and Esther live in Framingham, Massachusetts, and often work together putting things on eBay (not just trains). Their eBay ID is "nepacer". Feel free to write him at nepacer @ aol.com.
