Lionel Only
The Lionel Model Train – How Much Is Your Collection Worth?
Are Lionel trains worth a pretty penny? Well, the answer to this question depends on various factors. For instance, the value of the train will depend on which era the train was produced and also the condition that train is in. So before you sell that train on eBay or at a local garage sale, consider these factors first.
First, the value in collectible Lionel trains depends on the era in which they were produced. Lionel has been manufacturing trains since 1902 when it first introduced the Electric Express model as a retail store display. However, the models that are most prized by collectors are the “original Lionel trains” made between 1940 and 1959. The trains produced during this post-World War II era are considered to be some of Lionel’s finest products and coincide with the company’s rise as a juggernaut in the American toy industry.
The trains produced after 1969 are considered Lionel’s “modern era” trains. These trains have not retained as much collector interest or value especially the ones that are not in pristine condition and in the original packaging. In addition, some critics argue re-issues of vintage Lionel trains decrease the value of the original models.
Now that we’ve established the type of Lionel trains that are highly sought after by collector, it is important to discuss the single factor that most influences the value of a particular collectible train-the condition. Unlike hobbyists, collectors care less about how the train operates compared to how the train appears. In fact, the appearance of the train determines the value because dents, scratches, and damaged parts decrease the value to a collector. Trains that are in “mint” condition or brand new condition will command the highest price whereas those that are beat up will fetch the least amount.
So how is value actually determined? With regards to Lionel train collecting, there are two guides that are published annually-Lionel Price & Rarity Guide and Greenburg’s Pocket Price Guide to Lionel Trains. However, keep in mind these price guides only provide a guideline for pricing. The true value of a train depends on the buyer and seller. In other words, how much is the seller willing to offer in order to part with the train and how much is the buyer willing to pay to obtain the item.
There you have it. Not all Lionel trains are the same. Look carefully and you may not only find a small piece of American history, but you may also have an antique collectible sitting in your attic or someone else’s garage sale. Even if you’re not a model train enthusiast, that train will be worth a pretty penny to a Lionel train collector.
About the Author
Gabriel O. Delaney is the author of “Model Train Secrets Exposed” which teaches you everything you wanted to know about the Lionel model train, including valuable information on how to save the most time and money with model trains and railroading.
For more information, check out http://www.ultimatemodeltraintrips.com.
|
|
LIONEL TRAINS PW 156-17 STATION PLATFORM BOX – BOX ONLY – OUTER BOX ORIGINAL $41.95 |
|
|
LIONEL 6415 TANK CAR BOX ONLY $50.00 |
|
|
LIONEL 3361 OPERATING LUMBER CAR BOX ONLY $50.00 |
|
|
LIONEL #38688 STRASBURG 0-8-0 LOCOMOTIVE & TENDER ONLY $109.95 |
|
|
lionel lumber loader #361 this is a parts only unit not operating or original pt $15.00 |
|
|
lionel operating truck lot this is a parts only lot not tested selling as is $20.00 |
|
|
LIONEL 3424 WABASH BRAKEMAN WHITE MAN CAR ONLY C7 EXCELLENT CONDITION! $49.99 |
|
|
@LQQK@ LIONEL 1– ZW Handle ( Left only ) (New Reproduction) $7.99 |
|
|
Lionel Richie Love Will Conquer All / The Only One 7″ 45 rpm Motown 1866 MF NM $4.68 |
|
|
LIONEL #1110 2-4-2 LOCO,LOCO ONLY NO TENDER,(HELP) $9.95 |
|
|
LIONEL #6560 CRANE/282 ELECTRIC CRANE BOOM,ORIGINAL BOOM ONLY $7.95 |
|
|
Lionel 3459 Metal Body Bottom Only Circa 1940’s $9.99 |
|
|
COMMODORES Lionel Richie 1980 PROMO ONLY 32 page TRIBUTE BOOKLET pics/text more $40.00 |
|
|
LIONEL (CAB ONLY) #1062 63-64 ONLY $20.00 |
|
|
2011 Lionel – Action Kurt Busch Infineon Win Only 415 $20.27 |
|
|
Lionel 138 Water Tank Box Only $9.99 |
|
|
The Only One 1983 LIONEL RICHIE Motown Sheet Music ! $5.99 |
|
|
3927 LIONEL TRACK CLEANING CAR …BOX ONLY…. $19.95 |
|
|
Lionel 342 Motorized Operating Culvert Loader – Box Only/Box $5.50 |
|
|
Lionel 2026 2-6-4 Die-Cast Steam Locomotive Only $10.05 |
|
|
Mint Lionel Wabash 2240 Shell Only NOS New Old Stock Mint! $107.50 |
|
|
LIONEL # 6026W TENDER WITH WHISTLE BOX ONLY $9.95 |
|
|
RARE, LIONEL ORIGINAL #3666 CANNON BOXCAR SHELLS ONLY, $175.00 |
|
|
Lionel standard gauge 347E set box 1930 box only pretty rare $15.50 |
|
|
Lionel 0 And 27 Gauge Rolling Stock Union Pacific Hopper 6-9366 Display Only! $33.50 |
|
|
Lionel Box Only 2322 Virginian with Liner 1965-66 $9.99 |
|
|
LIONEL TRAIN SET BOX ONLY!!!!!!! NUMBERED 9656 GOOD SHAPE!!!!!!! $22.50 |
|
|
LIONEL 2627 BOX ONLY $50.00 |
|
|
LIONEL BOX INSERT ONLY 17 3/4 INCHES LONG $25.00 |
|
|
LIONEL 2534 ILLUMINATED PULLMAN CAR BOX ONLY $35.00 |
|
|
LIONEL BOX INSERT 11 3/8 INCHES LONG ONLY $10.00 |
|
|
LIONEL 2522 BOX ONLY $25.00 |
|
|
LIONEL 2533 FLAT CHANNEL BOX JERSEY CE. ILLUMINATED PULLMAN CAR BOX ONLY – RARE! $100.00 |
|
|
LIONEL postwar REMOTE CONTROL TRACK SECTION ONLY O SCAL $5.00 |
|
|
LIONEL RICHIE 1996 Media Only Promo Ad ORDINARY GIRL $6.00 |
|
|
LIONEL TRAINS PW ALCO 231P ROCK ISLAND POWER A-UNIT BOX – A BOX ONLY AUCTION !! $32.95 |
|
|
8 LIONEL RICHIE DANCING ON THE CEILING P/SLEEVE ONLY $4.98 |
|
|
29 LIONEL RICHIE SAY YOU SAY ME PICTURE SLEEVES ONLY $9.98 |
|
|
Lionel 2321 Lackawana FM Cardboard Box Only $110.00 |
|
|
LIONEL MTH 3RD RAIL NEW YORK CENTRAL PT TENDER 6-38097 N.I.B. FREE SHIP USA ONLY $484.99 |
|
|
45 rpm Lionel Richie LOVE WILL CONQUER ALL / THE ONLY ONE – 7″ NM / NM $1.49 |
|
|
2011 Lionel – Action Robert Hight AAA Funny Car Ice Version Only 200 made. $13.38 |
|
|
2011 Lionel – Action Mike Neff Castrol Funny Car Ice Version Only 200 made. $12.38 |
|
|
Lionel #3620 Rotating Searchlight Box Only circa 1950’s $9.99 |
|
|
Lionel 6511 Flat Car Body Only #1 circa 1950’s $9.99 |
|
|
Lionel 6112 Gondola Body Shell Only circa 1950’s $9.99 |
|
|
EMPTY LIONEL BOX ONLY – 6462 PITTSBURG & LAKE ERIE GONDOLA $5.00 |
|
|
Lionel #1627S Steam Type Freight Set Display Box ONLY $9.99 |
|
|
3 Lionel Switch Covers, for 022 switches, parts only – good $9.99 |
|
|
Mint Lionel 6316 Engine Shell Only NOS New Old Stock Mint! $99.99 |
|
|
NEW 9186 Lionel Conrail Lighted Caboose Displayed only Never Ran, 1976 Train $39.00 |
|
|
LIONEL POST-WAR #6630 MISSILE LAUNCHER FLATCAR MADE ONE YEAR ONLY 1961 $49.00 |
|
|
Lionel Original Postwar NW-2 6250 Chassis–Chassis Only–C2 Project $44.85 |
|
|
New TOY TRAIN TRAINS LIONEL 42″ Ceiling Fan BLADES ONLY $49.99 |
|
|
LIONEL 2551 ILLUMINATED OBSERVATION CAR BOX ONLY – RARE! $175.00 |
|
|
LIONEL PRE-WAR 402 BOX ONLY – RARE! $95.00 |
|
|
LIONEL SEARS ONLY 18817 UNION PACIFIC GP-9 DIESEL MIB $165.00 |
|
|
LIONEL TRAINS POSTWAR 6630 MISSLE LAUNCHING CAR BLACK SEARS ONLY VERSION NICE $85.95 |
|
|
For Lionel 195 LTI Flood LightTower 8 Bulbs parts only $6.99 |
|
|
LIONEL PREWAR O GAUGE LIONEL LINE 258T TIN-PLATE TENDER ONLY $51.00 |
|
|
Rare Lionel Grey Tank Car 2755 (1942 only) .V.Good Condition. $50.00 |
|
|
Lionel Train No. 71 Lamp Post Empty Box only $3.00 |
|
|
Parts for Lionel train and track used and needs a good cleaning. Parts only $1.25 |
|
|
LIONEL TRAINS PW #54 BALLAST TAMPER CAB (CAB ONLY) PW ORIGINAL #54-37 UNDER ROOF $24.95 |
|
|
LIONEL TRAIN PW X6454 SP BOXCAR – BUILT 1949 ONLY – BREAK IN HERALD CIRCLE !!!! $64.95 |
|
|
Adult Small T Shirt Gray NWOT LIONEL TRAINS Displayed Only $4.99 |
|
|
Lionel 1950’s #2175 W Santa Fe original box only $9.99 |
|
|
Lionel Fort Knox Gold Load Only Excellent Original Part 1 $6.00 |
|
|
243 & 243W Lionel Vintage (RARE) Loco/Tender 2-4-2 027 & O” Sold ONLY in 1960 ” $99.99 |
|
|
Lionel 224-229-1664-1666 Rear Truck Only $12.50 |
|
|
Teddy Bear Collect Lionel Lion Tamer No34 Magazine Only $0.77 |
|
|
LIONEL Prewar Motor Only for Engine #1666 $9.49 |
|
|
LIONEL POST WAR 2026 LOCOMOTIVE-2-6-2 WITH TENDER 6466W TYPE l WOB ENGINE ONLY $79.99 |
|
|
LIONEL 2245C BOX ONLY $50.00 |
|
|
LIONEL 600 BOX ONLY $40.00 |
|
|
LIONEL 2350 BOX ONLY $50.00 |
|
|
LIONEL 2350 BOX ONLY $50.00 |
|
|
LIONEL 2331 BLACK OR BLUE VIRGINIAN BOX ONLY $150.00 |
|
|
LIONEL TRAINS POSTWAR 3356 HORSE CAR ONLY ALL ORIGINAL WORKS WELL NICE $64.95 |
|
|
LIONEL TRAINS 16705 C & O HYDRAULIC MAINTENANCE BOX CAR LNIOB CAR ONLY CHEAP $21.95 |
|
|
Lionel 5166 0-72 Switch Only $9.99 |
|
|
Lionel 5166 0-72 Switch Only $9.99 |
|
|
Lionel No 6801 Flat Car with Boat Box Only $50.00 |
|
|
LIONEL MOPAR EXPRESS SET DEALER ONLY SET NEW IN FACTORY BOX FROM 1987 6-11757 $117.99 |
|
|
Lionel No 6501 Jet Motor Boat Transport Car Box Only $75.00 |
|
|
LIONEL #6464-100 WESTERN PACIFIC BOX CAR –BOX ONLY– O GAUGE TRAIN CAR BOX-LOOK $35.00 |
|
|
Lionel 8050-T Pennsylvania Tender Only NOS New Old Stock Mint $49.99 |
|
|
LIONEL BOX ONLY FOR #2363C ILLINOIS CENTRAL F-3 DIESEL “B” UNIT WITH LINER-LOOK- $75.00 |
|
|
RARE Special Lionel 6-9046 “True Value Hardware” Box Car NEW (Came in Set Only)! $22.50 |
|
|
LIONEL MODERN TRAINS O-27 GAUGE TAPPAN # 7908 RED BOXCAR UNCATALOGED 1982 ONLY $49.00 |
|
|
Lionel No 6808 Flat Car with Millitary Units Box Only $100.00 |
|
|
Lionel Mickey Mouse Engine Only NOS New Old Stock Mint $99.99 |
|
|
LIONEL BOX ONLY! $9.99 |
|
|
Vintage Lionel O Scale Model RR Train Equipment BOX ONLY 6462 Gondola Car $2.99 |
|
|
LIONEL 2354 NYC F3 A CAB ONLY , ORIGINAL CONDITION OGa. $66.00 |
|
|
Vintage Lionel O Scale Model RR Train Equipment BOXES ONLY (2) #64 Lamp Post $4.99 |
|
|
LIONEL ORIGINAL POSTWAR 6460 OPERATING WORK CRANE BOX ONLY $14.99 |
|
|
LIONEL ORIGINAL POSTWAR 6062 GONDOLA CAR BOX ONLY $29.99 |
|
|
LIONEL ORIGINAL POSTWAR 675 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE BOX ONLY $59.99 |
|
|
LIONEL ORIGINAL POSTWAR 3360 OPERATING WORK BURRO CRANE BOX ONLY $34.99 |
|
|
Truly: The Love Songs $7.13 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
|
|
Can’t Slow Down $2.55 Can’t Slow Down is probably Lionel Richie’s best solo album, full of songs that would become hits–”All Night Long (All Night),” “Running with the Night,” “Penny Lover,” and “Hello.” Like all of Richie’s best music, the vocals are spare and the choruses inviting, with each track falling somewhere between straight-up pop and smoochy R&B. –Courtney Kemp… |
|
|
Hello, Dolly! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) $9.98 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
|
|
The Black Hand “Before the Godfather or Goodfellas, The Black Hand had cast its murderous shadow over the mean streets of New York…. |
|
|
Nationale 7 (Original French ONLY Version) … |
|
|
Two Way Stretch [VHS] … |
|
|
Cupid and Psyche by Lionel Noel Royer – 48H x 33W – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $74.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
|
|
Lionel 600-8352-300 14 Volt Bulb Only (Use Old Base) In Stock and Ready to Ship!The Trainz SKU for this item is P11617650.Condition: PartManufacturer: LionelProduct Number: 600-8352-300We are unable to provide parts lookup service or fitment assistance…. |
|
|
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [Blu-ray] $4.35 The sixth installment of the Harry Potter series begins right where The Order of the Phoenix left off. The wizarding world is rocked by the news that “He Who Must Not Be Named” has truly returned, and the audience finally knows that Harry is “the Chosen One”–the only wizard who can defeat Lord Voldemort in the end. Dark forces loom around every corner, and now regularly attempt to penetrate t… |
|
|
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang $2.99 … |
