Post by: starfire700 on July 27, 2021, 04:57:13 AM
It is my belief that every Train Collector has at least 1 item that he / she thinks the rest of us have never seen.
This is one of the main inspirations for collecting, to own unique items.
We ask any and all of you to post that item.
Any of the senior members will be glad to assist you if you have difficulty posting your pictures.
They can be cell-phone photos, but have to be reduced in size, some phones will even do this.
My first unique item is not very exciting or flashy, it is a piece of track.
This is a 2-7/8" gauge Lionel crossing track, made before 1906. I am also showing the catalog cut from 1905 describing it.
It is 2-rail ribbon-rail mounted to a wood base.
I believe it is fairly unique, because one was not even available to show in the Lionel Trains Standard of the World book.
This is my unique item, and I ask if anyone else has one. Also that you post your unique item.
It can be a magnificent set, a piece of track or anything in-between.
Post by: Terry on July 29, 2021, 07:57:34 AM
It's an 822 caboose lettered with the 801 lettering set.
Here's the end:
This is what it should look like:
Post by: early0electric on July 29, 2021, 12:32:18 PM
Post by: starfire700 on July 30, 2021, 11:41:19 AM
Someone else out there must have a real rarity.
Post by: Terry on July 31, 2021, 02:18:03 PM
It's a Lionel WHITE arm 152 crossing gate. When the TCA book came out in the 1970s it only listed the gate in aluminum or gray. Shortly after the book came out I found a 1666E set with a side terminal 164 log loader and a white arm 152 gate.
The 164 log loader was only shown in the book with top terminals. That was two items that were NOT listed in the TCA book from the one purchase. That's really what started me on the search for odd items.
Based on my observations the 164 with side terminals is much harder to find than the white gate. But with the crossing gate you can see the difference without it being pointed out, and I don't look at every log loader closely.
This crossing gate should have a small pedestrian arm that is missing. I got it a few weeks ago in a box of junk I dragged out of a hoarder's home. I have a nicer pair - including the one I found in the 1970s - on the O gauge layout. Over the years I've had four of these. Not unique but quite rare.
Post by: starfire700 on August 01, 2021, 04:22:33 AM
Post by: starfire700 on August 01, 2021, 05:32:00 AM
I have an American Flyer 534 Automobile boxcar, Hummer series, that has Century of Progress surplus litho for a floor. It was facing inside, I just faced it out. The trolley is now as rare as hen's teeth, although they reportedly sold over 100,000 the first week of the Chicago Expo. (p. 21 of Greenberg AF O Gauge book). Since they had surplus litho as evidenced by this car, they must have over-produced this little gem. I had to borrow an image of the trolley with OB, thanks Glenn Ralston, as I do not have one in my collection.
Post by: early0electric on August 01, 2021, 08:17:11 AM
Post by: Terry on August 01, 2021, 12:55:47 PM
I think we can post anything, but are more likely to maintain interest with fewer repeats.
Here's a new one:
Lionel 1100 Mickey Mouse Handcar from 1934-37 rubber stamped on backside for Bloomingdales. I don't know whether the store or Lionel did the stamping. Might be unique. My dad bought it in the late 1960s and I've never heard of another.
That's a 22 year old photo, and it's still as fresh as the day I took it. I paid $700 for my first digital camera. This camera I'm using now was $35, and has lots more features. I don't squeak as loudly when I drop the newer camera on the floor either.
Post by: starfire700 on August 01, 2021, 06:49:00 PM
Post by: early0electric on August 01, 2021, 07:13:34 PM
Post by: Terry on August 02, 2021, 12:38:16 AM
Based on condition that's about what I paid for the first one I found. I looked for it for decades. I'd say it's as rare as any of the brown roof 4-wheel cars.
I found the dark green gondola many years ago at a train meet for a few dollars and never really looked at them again, but don't think I've seen many for sale either. In fact, if I'd been thinking of it as an expensive car, I would have been looking at them to see if I could make a buck.
Post by: early0electric on August 02, 2021, 02:13:30 PM
Post by: Terry on August 06, 2021, 12:40:30 AM
This is an IVES 3250 Loco that has added slots and 3252 plates. It looks like the loco was lettered and then slotted and repainted. I think the 3252 locos with plates have embossed recessed squares on the doors that the plates sit in.
I took one of the plates off to see what is underneath.
This was one of my earliest ebay purchases from about 1998. This loco was in a lot with a Lionel 82 semaphore with a nice peacock base I wanted for my layout and some other items including IVES freight cars that are long gone. I bought the whole lot for $40. That might even have been postpaid!
This has just been sitting on the shelf for decades. I did see a similar one on eBay in the past 10-15 years so it's not unique. I think the other one I saw was maroon, but I'm not sure.
Post by: starfire700 on August 06, 2021, 11:10:44 AM
Post by: early0electric on August 06, 2021, 12:38:57 PM
Post by: Terry on August 06, 2021, 02:21:05 PM
I tell myself that it's better than throwing it out, but for some items like the gray 97 coal loader that netted me $12 this week, I'm starting to doubt that.
Post by: starfire700 on August 07, 2021, 04:26:01 AM
Post by: Terry on August 07, 2021, 02:06:08 PM
It's better than throwing it out.
Post by: early0electric on August 07, 2021, 02:50:34 PM
Post by: Terry on August 07, 2021, 02:57:26 PM
Post by: early0electric on August 07, 2021, 03:13:15 PM
Post by: Terry on August 07, 2021, 08:13:22 PM
The very first bulb I pulled of the tray lit very briefly and then went dark. I had to look at it twice to figure out what was up with it:
The bulb is assembled, then a bit of soldier is used to seal it. This one never got the soldier. It's the only one of these fifty.
I always thought the filament was sealed inside the glass globe. Maybe this one had two faults?
I'll out these on the freight sheds and in the buildings.
Post by: Terry on August 27, 2021, 05:34:57 PM
American Flyer postwar beer car. I was unable to find this in any of the price guides. Must be really unique. Did you know Scheafer was the offical beer of the New York Dodgers in the mid 1950s? This car might have even belonged to Jackie Robinson!