Prewar Lionel freight train set
We also have a passenger train set. We'd love input on the best way to combine/divide the two sets. Please go by the list below when appraising if the list differs from a photo. 385E Lionel Engine Scout Car - 318 – Gray Flatbed lumber car – 511 Gondola – 512 – slate blue Cattle Car – 513 – orange Livestock Car – 514 – yellow Tanker car – 515 – orange Coal car – 516 – Red Caboose – 517 – green with couplers Spotlight car – 820 Crane – 219 – green Rail crossing – 60 Signal bridge – 440N Tunnel 8 curved tracks 16” each 14 straight tracks 15” each 2 straight tracks 13” each 2 straight tracks 7” each 1 crossover 20X 1 bridge track and 2 ramps for bridge 4 switches 210 illuminated 16 “pins” 4” 1 transformer (Multivolt Toy Transformer Type T 110 V 60 Cycles 100 Watts) 1 controller Miscellaneous decorations as pictured
My passed last year at 83. They were his sets from when he was a kid, and we used to play with both sets when I was kid. There was an elaborate, multi-track system set up with it :).
Inherited
Yes
Based on the photographs and information provided, the subject of this appraisal is a pre-war period (1901 to 1942) Standard-Gauge Lionel Train set. The overall condition based on photographs is good used condition, wwith cars appearing to have been restored with fresh paint apparent on some pieces. The pieces included in the set and their corresponding Fair Market Values are estimated as follows:
Cars:
Black Locomotive, Model 385E, excellent original condition, $500 to $600
Gray Locomotive, Model 318, excellent original condition, $200 to $250
Flatcar, Model 511, restored, $25 to $50
Gondola, Model 512, restored, $25 to $50
Cattle Car, Model 513, restored, $25 to $50
Boxcar, Model 514, restored, $50 to $100
Tank Car, Model 515, restored, $150 to $200
Hopper Car, Model 516, $50 to $100
Caboose, Model 517, restored, $25 to $50
Floodlight Car, Model 820, good to excellent original condition, $100 to $150
Crane, Model 219, good to excellent original condition, $150 to $200
Accessories:
Telegraph post, Model 60, $10 to $20
Signal bridge, Model 440N, $200 to $400
8 pieces 16" Curve Track, $8 to $16
14 pieces 15" Straight Track, $10 to $20
2 pieces 13" Straight Track, $2 to $4
2 pieces 7" Straight Track, $2 to $4
1 45 degree crossover, Model 20x, $5 to $10
1 bridge and 2 approaches, $50 to $100
1 transformer (Multivolt Toy Transformer Type T 110 V 60 Cycles 100 Watts) $10 to $20
Combined Fair Market Value (a pre-auction estimate) of this portion of the collection falls in a range of $1,600 to $2,400.
Combined FMV of the entire collection across two appraisals is approximately $2,250 to $3,150.
Hi Meg, it was most apparent to me on the green passenger cars on the other appraisal.The red should include lettering and model numbers. A Google search for Lionel 337 may show you some unrestored examples. I noticed a few areas on other cars where it seemed there was light touchup on chips. Others had what appeared to be dents in areas I'd have believed to have resulted in paint loss. Without physical examination it's difficult to judge. Generally for the cars I believed to be restored with paint, the FMV listed was approximately 50% of the value of what the item would be if it were believed to be unrestored good-to-excellent condition.
Thank you, Trey -- that's helpful!
Hi Trey, Thank you for the quick turnaround on this and the passenger train appraisal. You noted on both appraisals that you thought they'd been painted, but we don't see signs of that.
My dad wouldn't have paid to have them restored, and he also took very good care of his things. For example, I wasn't really allowed to ever *touch* them when I was kid, just watch them go round and round :). So we *think* it's original paint. Is there a way we can tell for sure? Signs we can look for?
Thank you!
Meg