Lionel Train Collection

For about 25 years I've been collecting Lionel trains. For those of you in the hobby, I never missed attending a York meet, which is the largest swap meet held 2x a year in PA. I attended probably 50 or so of these meets over the years, plus many other local meets. I've been a TCA member for a long time. It's a fun hobby and a bit of a throwback to still have analog toys.

As a result over time I acquired a large collection - about 450 to 500 pieces of Lionel trains, engines and transformers. When I got into the hobby I focused primarily on what is known as "Standard O" - scale sized models with die cast sprung trucks. So I set out to acquire all of them, and I did just that - I acquired every one from the 1st Standard O made in the mid 70's through to about whatever was issued in around 2000. After that I slowed down collecting.

Besides test running a fraction of these, most are just in boxes the way I bought them.

The transformers are older style - ZW and KW, and 1 MTH Z4000.

I have a lot of uncatalogued club cars. About 100 Ore cars which are not considered "Standard O". And about 85 pieces of O27 which are primarily hard to find club or limited edition cars (Century Club, Ambassador, Toy Fair cars, etc). Maybe 15 motive/engines. A bunch of sets, some still sealed and never opened. And I have maybe 20 or so pieces from MTH, Williams and Weaver.

My wife and I put our 3 sons through college, with our youngest graduating in about 6 weeks. We're are at a point of planning a downsize. I had a large collection of R/C cars and trucks from the mid 80s to mid 90s that I recently sold. Sold a bunch of larger exterior tools I had (like scaffolding, etc). And now am considering selling the Lionel trains.

I won't be selling these 1 at a time. Obviously the best situation is I find someone who wants my collection. I'd certainly consider selling chunks - maybe someone is an Ore car fanatic and wants all of them, or box cars, etc.

I would also consider trading the collection for something. An interesting car or truck or a nice watch.

I'm not in a "must sell" situation. We're planning a downsize and move, so we're thinning out the things we have. If you are interested PM me, I'm open to ideas and thoughts.