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Post by thebigcrabcake on Oct 3, 2022 2:40:28 GMT
I like the Lionel ScoobyDoo train. It's a ready-to-run set and Lionel produced tons of them. They were everywhere and the prices were good. For some reason I just never pulled the trigger on this set. WhenI finally decided to get one, they were all gone. Everywhere I looked was sold out. I just assumed there would always be a few sets available. Now I'm stuck putting it together from set break-ups wherever I can find them. I found the engine and a couple of add-on boxcars. Maybe I'll get lucky at York. Has this happened to you? What train did you miss out on while it was easy to find?  |
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Post by Traindiesel! on Oct 3, 2022 6:09:33 GMT
Some of the trains I missed out on I was able to find later after varying lengths of time. Most recent was my Lionel JLC scale Penn Central GG1 that I finally found without having to give up any limbs. It did leave some burn scars in my wallet though.
But there was one much less expensive item that I thought I'd never see again. For some strange reason, just because I was going on a trip to Napa Valley 20+ years ago, I got interested in picking the K-Line Napa Valley winery cars they made. Funny story is I bought a few at a train store near Napa Valley, figuring I'd pick up a couple in the area. The store was selling them at a slightly inflated price. When I got back home later I was at Nicholas Smith and was telling Chris about them. Chris told me they bought them from him, they should only be $15 each. Boy, did I feel like a dope. That was my indoctrination for checking prices at different stores. This was also before the proliferation of internet shopping.
Anyway, at the Napa train store they had the tank car that goes with the set. The price tag was $125 for an O27 car with plastic wheels and trucks. The guy told me it was rare. Sure it was, I thought. I left without hesitation. I never saw that car again. Fast forward to 2019, I'm wandering around at a Great Train Show in Costa Mesa, Ca. and I came upon a table with some old freight cars. I wasn't seeing much else there so I stopped to look and there it was!! The N.V.Sattui Winery Tank Car!!! I had all the K-Line winery cars except that one. I had completely given up on ever finding that car years ago! I began to shake. I picked it up to look at the hand written price tag. $25!! I rushed over to the table owner and handed it to him to buy. The guy tells me, "I'll take $20 for it". Internally I was thinking back to that $125 price tag from years ago and struggled to contain my glee. I said "Ok" and it was MINE!! I usually don't get that worked up over buying something but it was just the idea that I had quit even thinking about it and I just stumbled upon it.
Even more amazing was a couple tables later I found a complete five car set of K-Line 21" aluminum Surfliner passenger cars. They don't last 5 seconds at York or eBay but there they were out in the open near the end of the show!! And at a reasonable price. So I brought home a boat load of Holy Grails when I thought I wouldn't be buying anything. I then celebrated with a couple hot dogs and a cold drink at the concession stand. Hot dogs and trains just go together!
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Post by curtis on Oct 3, 2022 13:41:33 GMT
I bought the Lionel 911 Fire Train set because I wanted ONE car. The Helicopter car. The Helicopter actually flies too. Anyhow I bought this set to get the car. A Month later I found the car by itself at a show. While looking I noticed he had the complete set but broke it up. Spent all that extra money for a helicopter car. Oh well I have Lionel's fire train. Although the helicopter car is in my 45 car long MTH Fire train. This also has some other Lionel Fire cars in and Atlas fire cars.
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Post by atsda on Oct 3, 2022 18:25:21 GMT
Traindiesel, Great recollections, I enjoyed hearing about them. Glad you got what you wanted/needed. Alfred
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Post by ptc on Oct 3, 2022 19:52:11 GMT
This one.  |
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Post by david1 on Oct 3, 2022 22:22:05 GMT
Can't say I ever missed a train I wanted. There were many trains I wanted but because of it being too expensive or many other things. I wanted a Corvette also but that never happened and never will.
Those that I mentioned above are just material things, there are alot of things I missed out on in my life but I'm happy with what I have done and what I have. No need for Me to think I missed out on something.
Dave
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Post by Country Joe on Oct 4, 2022 2:14:21 GMT
A few years ago the MTH Railroader club sent a newsletter that included special deals for club members. They listed a Railking New York Central Mohawk and 4 silver passenger cars for $300. The set would probably cost $600 from a discount retailer. I didn’t jump on this offer because the Mohawk is a rather plain engine and I already had a 4 car set of NYC passenger cars. I put the newsletter away and forgot about it. Time passed and I came across the newsletter. I thought, plain as it might be, it’s still a Mohawk and I don’t have one. I could add the baggage car and 2 coaches to the 4 cars I have to make a very respectable 7 car passenger train. I tried to order the set but they were sold out.
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Post by atsda on Oct 5, 2022 0:38:44 GMT
David1, Thanks for the important perspective. Having no regrets and being grateful is good. Alfred
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