I followed the first one a couple weeks ago. Interesting that years go by without one, and suddenly two in a row... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=78177&item=5969856192&rd=1 (I am not affiliated with the seller, nor have I any intention to bid. Just an interesting N scale item...)
I notice their mention of a recent similar item. Which drew a hefty price. Sometimes this causes people to dig out their own, and test the waters. Which often backfires, as many are scared off by the high bid amount. And the market is narrow, so can be easily flooded. Boxcab E50
The other item sold for 2024.92 US$. Here is the url: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=78177&item=5967478512&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Glad to know so many folks out there have excess capital to part with.... Wish they'd buy some stuff from me! Boxcab E50
A few years ago when I went to the NMRA convention in San Jose I stopped in Trackside Trains and the fellow who owned the store at the time had one for sale. I was tempted to buy it but he let me know that it did not run very well and sort of talked me out of it. A very honest fellow. He has since passed away and I wish I could remeber his name.
I've also read reports that they don't run well. The bidding on this one is already on the wrong side of $1,000!
John- I know who you mean. Cannot think of his name. Wasn't that in Burlingame, CA? I had contact with him a couple of times. Was helped quite well. Boxcab E50
Richard Buike used to run Trackside Trains. Regarding the auction, from the results of the last one there are still 4 people who are willing to part with over a kilobuck for one of these beasties. (actually the current high bidder is presumably willing to pay at least the $1,885.00 he bid on the last one)
I can't imagine parting with that much cash for train stuff. Don't get me wrong, i'm as train obsessed as the rest of you but that's a lot O greenbacks. I think the single most expensive thing I have ever bought for trains was my Zephyr. I hemmed and hawwed over what DCC system to buy for a good year and a half before getting it too. lol
It's a model of a piece of UP history. Railroad history for that matter. If you expect one to come out in plastic RTR soon, you will probably be doomed to dissapointment. If it is something you want and can afford it, by all means, enjoy it. Older brass is notorious for it's poor running. Would make a nice display model Frank
BIZZARRE... Two years ago at the N-Scale Collector auction a friend asked us to sell one for him. It barely drew the opening $600 bid.
That M-10000 needs a pretty wide radius, too, due to the way the cars are articulated. So you need to be good at remotoring and re-engineering. Or hire someone to do the job. Then you hire Mark Jirousek to detail interiors and do windows, since the original is just a motorized shell. Another great Richard Buike story! I remember the one at Trackside Trains, unsold until well after Richard passed away. I think the Ebay (over)spenders could have had that one for around $450. Plenty left over to do the upgrading.
That's a lot of dough... A couple of observations: brass locos, especially older models, hardly compare to the smoothness and quietness of a current DCC ready Kato or Atlas offering Uniqueness adds to the price... I bet everyone at the next N Trak show won't be running one of those! Some folks can't even dream of building anything whether scratchbuilding or kitbashing. That is a shame, as I have seen a lot of folks' work (in this forum) that rivals or exceeds "brass quality" workmanship. Harold
