Recently (a month and a half ago, or so) I picked up three train engines at an estate sale near me. Now, I don't actually know a lot about model electric trains, even though I have a lot of equipment and hope to build a new layout one day. Still, the price on these was good (five dollars for the N Scale and 10 dollars for the HO in the package) so I figured I couldn't lose. Here are the trains!
First we have an N scale 4-4-0 "Jupiter" from Bachmann.
This is the scale that I usually collect. And again, I like the wheel arrangement on this one, not to mention the coal in the tender.
So, here comes the "Quiz" part. I bought these not knowing anything about them. I did a little research when I got home, though, and found that values go from almost nothing to almost a hundred bucks!
Your job is to rank the three engines from lowest to highest value. Take your time, I'll wait.
Oh, while you're working on that, Sue wanted to see my wife's haul from the last sale. Here ya go!
Glass aplenty! She really likes the blue.
Ok, are we ready to find out the answer? Here we go!
The values of the trains from lowest to highest :
Lowest- Lifelike N scale 0-6-0 switcher! It's a very poor running piece, and was even fresh out of the factory. Prices have been suggested from 5 bucks to 20 bucks, tops.
Mid range- Model Power HO 2-6-0! Although Model Power isn't a top of the line brand, this is a solid engine and sells for around 50 bucks.
Highest- Bachmann N scale 4-4-0 Jupiter! This pretty little engine averages around 75 to 85 bucks! I did ok on this one!
So there you go! How did you do? Even if you didn't get them right, you can always do what I did and buy them all!
Until next time, keep searching for treasure!
Wow, seeing the N scale train next to the little HO train shows just how small the N scale trains were!
ReplyDeleteRanking: (Totally guessing here), I would say the HO engine is the lowest value, just because HO scale is so common.
In the middle: I'm guessing the Bachmann "Jupiter".
And highest value: The switcher, because of its age and because it's not a regular people-and-freight hauling engine. So I'm guessing it's quite rare.
I bet Mrs. Stu's haul cost a lot more than your haul. ;-)
Oh, yer giving us the answers to the quiz?...
Geez, I flunked the test! Not a single one right. Hope it doesn't go on my permanent record!
Thanks, Stu.
Stu29573
DeleteOops! Accidently hit that "post" button!
DeleteAnyway, your reasoning is good, and I might have even gone that way myself. I would have ranked the Jupiter higher just because I like it, though.
Yep, Mrs. Stu's stuff cost more, but who's counting? Oh yeah, me.
Naw, your permanent record is clear. Just a practice test!
Yea! Equal time for Mrs. Stu! Boy, she brought home a fun haul. But I truly understand, as I love glass stuff, too. Please thank Mrs. Stu for sharing, and tell her I'm looking forward to seeing more.
ReplyDeleteIf JB flunked your train test, then I don't have a chance. And I won't embarrass myself by trying to guess. But I do know that collecting anything that makes you happy, no matter the monetary value, is what matters.
Thanks, Stu.
Yeah, I don't know what it is about women and glassware. I'll stop there before I get in trouble...somehow... ;-)
DeleteAnd that is true about collecting. I always say don't do it for the money, do it for the love of the stuff! If you love it, it's worth it!
I did terrible on the quiz!
ReplyDeleteThat's ok! Your essays bring up up to an A+!
DeleteThat's the original Bachmann version of the Jupiter, which was based on the original, Ward Kimball-designed paint scheme for the 1979 operating reproduction on display at Golden Spike National Historic Park at Promontory Summit, Utah. Since there were only black and white photos of the Golden Spike ceremony, Kimball designed the paint schemes for both the Jupiter and the reproduction of its Union Pacific counterpart based on contemporary locomotive designs that would also look pleasing to the modern eye.
ReplyDeleteIn the early '90s, researchers found a contemporary description of the locomotive's actual colors and the reproduction was repainted (while preserving Kimball's general concept). At that time, Bachmann reissued the model in the new scheme. Unfortunately, the bright colors of the repaint make the newer models look rather toylike and unrealistic, even though they are authentic.
I have both the Jupiter and 119 in N scale, and I used to keep them on display facing each other on a section of track mounted on a stained wooden base. Then one day my wife had some other wives from the unit over, and a kid came running over and smashed the two locomotives together, breaking the pilot ("cowcatcher") off of I believe the 119.
My wife, ever the gracious host, told the mom not to worry about it when she offered to replace it.
When I came home and found out, I was exceptionally displeased as I knew what replacing the model, which I had bought for a bargain $20 in college, would cost to replace...and the fact that there was no extra money in the budget to replace it. 28 years later, it remains unreplaced...as does my wife (although it was a near thing after this incident).