Another key thing to consider in buying used locos is of their parts availability. If its obscure, the likelihood of replacement parts is low. Also like what you said in the video with Proto 2000, I also have a FA-2 in the PRR Brunswick green scheme that had cracked gears. Proto 2k were for the most part, Athearn clones so Athearn axle gears fit in there perfectly and I havent had them crack since. I do have a small collection of Proto 2k locos (13 total) and only that FA-2 had the gear issue. Recently from a swap meet, I did score a proto 2000 steam heritage USRA 0-6-0 switcher with DCC and sound. I did previously hear that these models are excellent quality and have good reliability, luckily there was a test track and the model ran like a swiss watch so I bought it for 100 dollars. Normally on Ebay, these go for over 200+ dollars.
I only buy locos that have lots of models made and thus a lot of parts. Basically I buy Lima, Fleischmann, Piko, Jouef, Roco , Mehano etc. I avoid bachmann, gears are too iffy imo.
What I look for is. How rare is it? How many were made in the history of the model? The other thing I tried to look for is when was the last time it was rained on a layout orbit's completely gummed up and it doesn't want to run. Sometimes you come across the oddball. Locomotive. Something you don't see very often, but you want to take on a challenge and rebuild it from scratch. That's what I look for something that sync my teeth into as a project.
Another key thing to consider in buying used locos is of their parts availability. If its obscure, the likelihood of replacement parts is low. Also like what you said in the video with Proto 2000, I also have a FA-2 in the PRR Brunswick green scheme that had cracked gears. Proto 2k were for the most part, Athearn clones so Athearn axle gears fit in there perfectly and I havent had them crack since. I do have a small collection of Proto 2k locos (13 total) and only that FA-2 had the gear issue. Recently from a swap meet, I did score a proto 2000 steam heritage USRA 0-6-0 switcher with DCC and sound. I did previously hear that these models are excellent quality and have good reliability, luckily there was a test track and the model ran like a swiss watch so I bought it for 100 dollars. Normally on Ebay, these go for over 200+ dollars.
I only buy locos that have lots of models made and thus a lot of parts. Basically I buy Lima, Fleischmann, Piko, Jouef, Roco , Mehano etc. I avoid bachmann, gears are too iffy imo.
What I look for is. How rare is it? How many were made in the history of the model? The other thing I tried to look for is when was the last time it was rained on a layout orbit's completely gummed up and it doesn't want to run. Sometimes you come across the oddball. Locomotive. Something you don't see very often, but you want to take on a challenge and rebuild it from scratch. That's what I look for something that sync my teeth into as a project.
Awesome comment! Thanks for sharing! I always appreciate your enthusiasm towards the hobby.
I buy locomotives now for parts to keep the Mantua locomotives running.
I look for steam engines