This is how I buy Model Trains

Jimmy, you omitted one crucial bit of advice (or perhaps you take it for granted): DO THE RESEARCH FIRST. Find out the availability of the item you're looking for; find out the maximum and minimum price; find out if the item is available new, or used, or both. Once you know all of this, you are better prepared for eBay auctions, or for haggling at swap meets. You MUST know your maximum price before going in - then stick to your limit. I am a casual eBay seller, and I have had auctions for certain high-end items finish at prices considerably higher than retail. I can only surmise that some people see something they like, and then get into a mindset of "well, I can certainly pay another $10." That is a great way to overspend.

Loved the old "blue box" kits. Not much detail but if you wanted that you could add it. Priced much better. Now I buy all my rolling stock from swap meets and never pay over $10 for any cars. Usually they have the KD's and metal wheels already on them. Great video!!!

Same those blue box kits were nice and for pretty decent prices

I do the same thing at train shows. I cruise around, looking at what there's available and then go back and pick up what I want. The last loco I bought at a show was an Athearn Genesis HO WP GP9 with DCC and sound for $150. Runs beautifully! As far as pre-orders, I have an I-M WP FP7 on order for four or five years! I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever see the thing!

My primary locomotive source now is Train World. They tend to be $50-$150 cheaper than anyone else. Buying DCC Ready isn't usually a cost saving as you often end up paying more for a DCC Ready locomotive and a decoder separately than you will for a DCC/Sound locomotive. Train shows I would be lenient to buy a locomotive at. Of the 5 I have bought 2 don't work. One needs extensive repairs to get operational.

Jimmy, train shows are really the best place to buy and get what you want at a good price. At most shows there is a test track to test a purchase before you leave. The plus is not sales tax and shipping cost. It was a good tip to look around before you buy but you can loose out. What I do is make a list of what I want, check new price, auction price plus shipping. That way I dont loose out shopping around. Good points in the video!

Another good source of less expensive equipment is estate sales. You can find lots of good equipment for a decent price.

Great tips. At train shows, I would add that if you are looking at locomotives that are used, see if there is a test track available and get permission to test it. No fault to the seller if something might now run well. A lot of times the sellers purchase an estate lot to resell or someone's collection and may not test everything out. Honestly, I have started to buy only new locos, and the rolling stock and structures at shows, unless there is something cool like a Kato N switcher that you don't see often.

Lombard Hobbies online has both N scale Intermountain and Scaletrains Autoracks for the $40 dollar range. Of course shipping and sales tax depending upon where one lives and the size of an order placed is something I always compare as well. Just tossing it out there for anyone looking. Train shows can be hit or miss like anything else. I’ve seen vendors with great deals but also ones that expect MSRP for new releases that just don’t seem rare or worth it. To each their own! Happy Hunting!

At a train show last fall I picked up a bag of kato track worth over $!00 for $20. Also many cars at reasonable prices, usually less than $10/car for new cars in jewel cases.i also bought my athern big boy for $430 new at my local hobby shop by paying over 90 day layaway. A bonus due to my low income level.

I started with looking for Athearn blue box freight cars on eBay and the monthly Great Midwest Train Show to build my rolling stock inexpensively. Now I look for Scale Train operator freight cars. Good detail and price. I usually find mine at Lombard Hobbies which happens to be my local hobby store. They have great prices on the operator series and everything else as well. I am really lucky to have them within a 15 minute drive.

That's the way to do it! At least, I do. Can't wait for next weekend, big show coming up!

I mostly prefer to support the shops so they can still be there. Second hand so far has been a few freight cars and some tracks. Going to a fair like you did must be great. 😀

the nicest thing about rolling stock if you start out as all dc you can still run Tyco ahm etc. cars with dcc just with upgrading wheels trucks couplers and spend money on dcc locos and track switches and dcc system you are saving lots of money on all new rolling stock

The best part of the hobby is researching the best deals. 😁 I don't mind my DCC's to be no sound right now as I am just enjoying how great they run and working on landscaping. Train shows are great as the Rocky Mountain Show is always the best in my area. I just bought a few Cattle cars from FB Marketplace, and you just have to keep looking anywhere you can. Thanks for this great info!

Good video: Train shows are a great way to get small hard to find items. (Parts to Plasticville buildings, trucks, couplers, etc. Sometimes the show has estate sale items. These are totally negotiable. I bought 8 individually numbered box cars in an obscure road name for $10/car. Don’t forget building kits. I buy refinery kits so I can kit bash them into and actual model of a refinery unit with pumps. Good pointers Jimmy.

Great tips, Jimmy! I try to research in advance what I want and then scour the internet and used train market to find a deal.

I often have non sound decoders in stock and that enables me to get many new DCC ready locos operational as soon as I get them. I can then buy a sound decoder a bit later and the non sound one is then available for the next item. Keeping track of what decoder, plug, address etc in an excel file means I can sort this out without much agrovation.

There's a local shop here that deals in used and pre owned items. I couldn't be more grateful, you just sometimes have to fix a broken handrail.

always informative. Thanks Jimmy