I have a set from 1990 that is sealed and though the outside of the set box has a few marks on it the contents are mint. Would you break the seal,open and run it or keep it sealed? I don't know the original cost, but there was a time when it sold for about $700. Now much less than that -- about half.
Since it will soon be 20 years old the price may go back up again. And maybe not. I am 75 years old so I will not be around to see what happens in another 20 years. What would you do? Would you offer the same advice if I was 55? By the way, it is the 11713 Santa Fe Dash 8 set, which was discussed on the Forum last week. Dick

If I had it, it would not still be sealed. I would have run it when I got it home. If it were prewar or postwar and sealed, my approach might be different. But for me, 1990 is too recent to overcome my urge to run it.
Just my personal views; others may feel differently.

Andy

If it were Postwar or earlier, I'd keep it mint in box, but since it is modern, I'd run it and enjoy it.

Andy

Like I said before, there's no way of proving that it is a factory seal. Sometimes, the seller will just re-shrink wrap the set to make it look even more mint. This happened to me before when I purchased the Lionel 11705 C&O ACF hopper train. The inner part was sealed, but I broke it anyway to check the contents. Sure enough, all the wheels had marks on them, so the set was not mint. I didn't mind; I won it for a great deal and ran it anyway.

It also depends on the mindset of the "collector" and the "operator". A collector would probably never open the box and pack it away in a dark closet, never to be seen again . However, an operator like myself would say "I didn't just spend $400/$500/etc. to look at a box. I'm running that sucker!"

In the end, both sides win. The collector has the more valuable set in the long term, and the operator has enjoyed running it in the short term.

You are 75 so like you said, you won't get to see future appreciation if there even is any. What good is the sealed set going to do you when you are gone? Run it now while you still can enjoy it!

If you were 55, I'd offer the same advice. I'm 35 and I'd run it if I had it. I collect trains but I run everything I own. Trains aren't very good investments. They really only exist for the thrill of the hunt and the fun of running them. You already checked off the hunt so might as well enjoy the fruits of your labor!

75? I'd sell the set


with the proceeds go buy a starter set, a bottle of vino... some provolone and put $2 on the Yanks to win.


55...I run the heck out of the set

rat

quote:

Originally posted by ratpak:
a bottle of vino... some provolone and put $2 on the Yanks to win.
rar

Don't forget the prosciutto and melon!

quote:

Would you break the seal, open and run it or keep it sealed?

Questions like this drive me absolutely nuts. Do you think that when Joshua Lionel Cowan conceived the idea of Lionel Trains over 100 years ago, he figured that people would buy his trains AND NEVER RUN THEM? Do you think he intended for people to just sit there and ADMIRE THE BOX?

What possible enjoyment can you get from looking at that sealed up, unopened box? There are HOURS OF FUN waiting for you inside that box, and if JLC himself were here, he would tell you the same thing.


OPEN THE BOX! RUN THE TRAINS!

quote:

Originally posted by OGR Webmaster:

quote:

Would you break the seal, open and run it or keep it sealed?

Questions like this drive me absolutely nuts. Do you think that when Joshua Lionel Cowan conceived the idea of Lionel Trains over 100 years ago, he figured that people would buy his trains AND NEVER RUN THEM? Do you think he intended for people to just sit there and ADMIRE THE BOX?

What possible enjoyment can you get from looking at that sealed up, unopened box? There are HOURS OF FUN waiting for you inside that box, and if JLC himself were here, he would tell you the same thing.

OPEN THE BOX! RUN THE TRAINS!

A friend of mine used to set up his standard guage every Christmas; well, one year a serious collector of said trains came over and almost had a heart attack seeing them out on the carpet running. My friend's comment:

"They were meant to run, weren't they? So, I run them."

I can't remember who said this, but it was a good saying:

"When I get a train I run it. That's what they were built to do. If I wanted something to look at, I would collect art."

You can't take it with you -- run it!! Life is for living and at your age, you've earned the right to enjoy your toys.

Unless you have a whole lot of "mint" pieces, one set won't make a hill of beans difference in the value of your estate passed to your heirs.

Just my opinion.

Poppyl

I say run um' if you got um', but what ever you decide is fine by the rest of us!

Run it! Get some fun out of it. As my pastor used to say: I've never seen a U-Haul behind a hearse!

All you have to do is go to one auction and watch how a whole box of 'stuff' goes for 5 or 10 dollars of someone's possessions. It's just stuff. Now if you had a Picasso or a Monet that would be different.

quote:

"I didn't just spend $400/$500/etc. to look at a box. I'm running that sucker!

If I want to look at something I'll collect art or stamps & coins.

quote:

Trains aren't very good investments.

Trains are horrible investments. (financially) For the fun, joy and happiness of longtime family memories, they're priceless and a great investment!

Both very true and good points. The prices we saw for post-war and pre-war pieces years back were the day! We won't see those things happen ever again except for the true find of a somewhat rare piece in mint condition. There are exceptions to the rule as some modern pieces have increased in value but these are usually single items and not from or included in starter sets.

A starter set from the 90's isn't going to be worth the original msrp ever again. (maybe 100 years from now with inflation)

Now, if that set were one of only a few sets that had a boxcar that only three were ever made. Then it may make sense to keep it sealed. I doubt that would be the case here today. 60 years ago and earlier those kinds of things happened from time to time, today they don't.

I think today, when talking toy trains, it's only worth what I'm willing to give you for it. If you were selling me this set today, I would give you an offer that would force you to keep it. (and maybe run it) Unless you had to sell it for financial reasons as some people are forced to do.

I have spent the last eight years looking for the first set I received for Christmas, mint in the box. Very tough to do since it was a Marx set from 1971. These sets were just not collectables so theoretically all surviving sets would probably have been used pretty good by the kids that got them, including myself. Or so I thought. I just recently bought two mint in the box sets from the estate of a man who collected all sorts of toys and trains and just kept them mint in the box. After I bought them, I thought the same thing. Should I run one and enjoy it or keep it mint. I decided a better alternative. I am going to give one to my son for Christmas when he reaches the same age I was when I got mine. And I will still have one left for his son (my grandson) someday. BigRail

If you found a 1955 Chevy convertible in pristine condition, would you put it in your garage and sneak a look at it every now and then? Not likely. You'd be driving it around the neighborhood showing it off to everyone, and enjoying the he** out of driving it. Maybe even with a couple of blonds beside you.
Well, those trains were meant to run, just like the Chevy was. Enjoy it. That is unless you really like staring at boxes.
Phil

This reminds me of Christmases past. I used to buy my dad collectable bottles of vintage Port (wine). Some of these had a market value of $1000 at the time, (that's certainly nothing like what I originally paid for them.) Dad said one Christmas, what should we do with them? Yes, we drank them, every birthday or Christmas or any time we just felt like it. Why save them? For who? Sell them? Look at them?
Same thing with trains, use them and have fun.

quote:

Originally posted by NickyBigBoy:
I can't remember who said this, but it was a good saying:

"When I get a train I run it. That's what they were built to do. If I wanted something to look at, I would collect art."

That was in one of the TM videos. It was the guy who had like 30 MPC sets running on his layout at the same time.
If I remember correctly he was also bragging about having the highly valuable MPC daylight set when he said that.

Run it and have FUN!!

Paul

Wait! Take that unopened, mint condition, choo-choo train set to the nearest climate controlled, maximum security storage facility and pre-pay on a 50 year lease.



Matt

Trains go around many times....you only get to go around once.


Open it......run it.....enjoy.

Trains should only be run if they come with wheels.

Jon

A un-used train is a useless train

quote:

Questions like this drive me absolutely nuts. Do you think that when Joshua Lionel Cowan conceived the idea of Lionel Trains over 100 years ago, he figured that people would buy his trains AND NEVER RUN THEM? Do you think he intended for people to just sit there and ADMIRE THE BOX?

What possible enjoyment can you get from looking at that sealed up, unopened box? There are HOURS OF FUN waiting for you inside that box, and if JLC himself were here, he would tell you the same thing.

And answers like yours drive me absolutely nuts.
Some folks enjoy just owning something unique. A mint, sealed box set is more unique than one that's been run. End of story.

That said, I don't think the original poster is one of those folks. I have the impression he is concerned about it's potential cash value. If so, I agree with the folks who are advising him to open it up and use it.

RM Craig.....I can't see where you mentioned which 1990 set it is. You say it once sold for $700. Is this how much you paid for it? Where and how did you obtain the set? A lot of times prices quoted are way out of line.

I agree with above posts......electric trains were made to run, not sit in a box getting moldy or rusty. IMHO.

Tex

If you purchase and keep a piece or set "mint in the OB", how do you know that it does not have some sort of flaw &/or damage (superficial, mechanical, or electronic)?
Tom B

quote:

Originally posted by RM Craig:
I have a set from 1990 that is sealed and though the outside of the set box has a few marks on it the contents are mint. ... Dick

How do you know that the contents are mint if you have never opened the boxes to look at them? How do you know what may actually be inside those boxes? Aren't you curious?

Open it up and run it!

Alex

Run it!

Forget about value for a moment. Do you enjoy running trains, or admiring them in their original packaging? I have the MPC 5700 series weathered cars, all in the oringinal boxes, and I kinda like them that way. Reminds me of when I was young and innocent going to stores and seeing all those boxes lined up with Lionel trains inside. Keeping a set unrun and sealed in the box can almost be as much fun as running them. For the majority of us, they just go in circles anyway.

If I had the space and the money, I would buy the stuff I wanted as a kid and run it, and another MIB to display, because I'm nostalgic that way.

If you enjoy the set in the box, leave it that way. Nothing wrong with that. If you would like to set it up and run it, nothing wrong with that. Gain the most personal enjoyment you can from the set, either way.

quote:

Originally posted by ratpak:
75? I'd sell the set


with the proceeds go buy a starter set, a bottle of vino... some provolone
rat

If you go this route... may I recommend Ghost Pines Cabernet. It is a Napa/Sonoma blend and is a great value for under $20, if you like big yet smooth Cabs.

I've been in this my whole life, and I'm getting up there.

I can't resist opening the box and running a new train. Because of that, I decided to be an operator and give up on train collecting. If I acquired a new in the box 2148WS set, I would have to run it.

I have bought many new, in box post war items in my lifetime. They have never stayed in the box long.

That's the choice. Either way, it's all great!

NIB value is about $500 per Greenberg. I have several accessories, rolling stock, and engines which I purchased NIB> I have opened and used ALL of them. I like to run trains.
Bob Duckworth
Bellevue, NE

Run it! I buy a train to run and enjoy it not to look at a box collecting dust.

Wow! I never received so many replies so quickly to any of my posts. I do plan to open and run it. Thanks for affirming that decision.
I am an operator, not a collector, and I have nothing else that has not been run. The set, as I mentioned, is #11713, the Santa Fe Dash Set from 1990. It was special at the time it came out and I remember when I saw it in the catalog, that would be a nice one to have -- Standard O cars, the first with an end of car device and no caboose, a very nice sounding RailSounds car (I know because I have had RS car since 1990 when they were breaking up these sets and selling them piece by piece), plus four other attactive cars and, for the first time offered the Dash 8.
I can see all these cars in their boxes because what is sealed is under the box lid which can simply be lifted off. The cars, while in the orange and blue boxes, have windows. (The locomotive doesn't). The boxes and their interior packing materials look good and crisp. And, according to my son who ordered this set for me at my request, said the ebay seller has all plus evaluations and he stated the set was mint. I'll get back after I break the seal and examine the contents. Thanks everyone. Dick

PS. I paid $325 for the set. Dick

1- rip open box
2- stomp on box
3- throw box away
4- lube train
5- run train and enjoy it

quote:

Originally posted by bazonkers:
I'm 35 and I'd run it if I had it. I collect trains but I run everything I own. Trains aren't very good investments. They really only exist for the thrill of the hunt and the fun of running them. You already checked off the hunt so might as well enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Ditto right down to the age.

Maybe that is just how all 35 year olds see it?!

whether it is prewar, postwar, modern era, mth tinplate, marx, tmcc, dcs, Lionel, MTH, K-line, Weaver, AtlasO, Williams, or mayby I should just say that anything that has flanged wheels and a coupler...... I RUN.

JoeG

What Rich said.

Had fun opening the set. Here's the update:
1. It indeed is mint. OI am sure it was the factory seal. None of the boxes had been opened and no evidence of any wheels being run.
2. The DuPont 2-bay hopper had all of its lettering spelled correctly. (Some have "polyethylene" mispelled.)
3. Even though I had been able to see the cars, it was great to see this attractive diesel. Even has an engineer figure.
4. I'll be running it soon after I lubricate it attach snow plow and hydraulic hose, which come separately.
Again thanks. When you get 100% of responders saying, in Nicky's words, "run that sucker" you know you are on the right track. I don't feel a day over 74. Dick

Keep it mint in the box until you run it!

quote:

Originally posted by greg773:

quote:

Originally posted by NickyBigBoy:
I can't remember who said this, but it was a good saying:

"When I get a train I run it. That's what they were built to do. If I wanted something to look at, I would collect art."

That was in one of the TM videos. It was the guy who had like 30 MPC sets running on his layout at the same time.
If I remember correctly he was also bragging about having the highly valuable MPC daylight set when he said that.

I believe that was Stan Roy.

Dick: congratulations on the acquisition. Have fun!

- Clint

quote:

Originally posted by CandO:
1- rip open box
2- stomp on box
3- throw box away
4- lube train
5- run train and enjoy it

I REEEEAALLY hope you were joking about #1-3....

Glad you decided to run and enjoy it!

My new C&O coal turbine arrived today. Its outta the box, lubed and being run. Discovered an issue with the tender, that I would not have known about if I hadn't run it

Some people dont keep the boxes. I am sure that could be a whole new thread.
Do you keep your orginal train engine boxes ? and I admit I do keep my boxes.

George

Run it! Heck I am only 59 and I don't even buy green bananas! LOL!

I could see the reason for box disposal being space issues, but then how do you store the engines and cars?

Good question. Store the trains on shelves (when not in use), wooden cases and or store them in plastic containers that you can get at Hardware "home improvement stores".

All these people have given you their viewpoints, now what do you want to do? 1990 doesn't make it vintage.

quote:

Originally posted by NickyBigBoy:

quote:

Originally posted by CandO:
1- rip open box
2- stomp on box
3- throw box away
4- lube train
5- run train and enjoy it

I REEEEAALLY hope you were joking about #1-3....

Of course I am Nicky. My point is for him to enjoy the set. I keep all my boxes.