Re: Shipping Lionel Trains

[Steve Wise <swise@aoot.com>]

Thanks Bill,

Bob, if you want, bring a train to our next club event!  Maybe you'd 
interested in joining?

The next run is August 16th in New Braunfels at the Civic Center. 
9am-4pm.  If you go just introduce yourself to any club member in the 
"lionel" orange vests.  We'll have a big modular layout and we have 
large sign with "Tinplate Trackers Austin Texas" on it.  You can't miss 
us.  You can visit and learn about the club, and get some track time as 
a guest of Bill and I. 

Unfortunately, I won't be there, but maybe Bill will?

CU!

Steve Wise.


Bill Lohman wrote:
> Hi Bob,
>  
> My name is Bill Lohman and I'm a member of the Tinplate Trackers of 
> Austin Texas and also a member in good standing of the (National) 
> Train Collectors Association (TCA).  Steve Wise forwarded your message 
> to the club with a request for help.
>  
> I have bought, sold and shipped or received via UPS Ground or Fedex 
> over 30 expensive Lionel and other manufacturers rare O Gauge 
> locomotives mostly in the range between $1,000 to $2,000 per 
> locomotive --including an extremely rare and highly collectible 
> Pre-war 1937 Lionel 700E full scale locomotive worth a great deal 
> more.  All of this between about 1999 and 2008.
>  
> My transactions have  been over Ebay and also directly from local and 
> remote train dealers with and without bricks and mortar stores.  Again 
> most shipments have been UPS or FEDEX ground with appropriate 
> insurance and with signature required.  I have NEVER had an item 
> stolen or lost.  Many times the locomotives have been in factory 
> shipping cartons with the contents commercially printed on them. 
>  
> I understand that the sentimental value is priceless.  But, the 
> replacement value can vary widely depending on model and condition.  
> An extremely rare Lionel locomotive can easily sell for say $6,000 and 
> every now and then even more.  But, most of the locomotives we got for 
> Christmas in the Post War era are plentiful and are valued at much 
> less.  Often between $200 to $500.  There are several Lionel Price and 
> Rarity guides published each year and available on the internet and in 
> model train stores.  You will need the Lionel model numbers to be 
> most effective in using these guides. Also, for collectors the 
> condition of the Lionel boxes makes a difference.  Both trains and 
> boxes are graded using the TCA standards which are available on the 
> TCA website.  These guides are valuable in determining how much 
> insurance to take out. 
>  
> If you decide to ship them it's a no-brainer that they should be 
> carefully packed in reasonably sturdy boxes inside their original 
> Lionel boxes if you still have them.
>  
> Hope this helps.  Let me know if you have any other questions.
>  
> Regards,
> Bill Lohman