Value of toy trains?

I have several boxes of N gauge trains and buildings that I inherited from my grandfather. I've come to the conclusion after moving them and their boxes (unpacked) to a 3rd house that I'm never going to use them. I'd imagine they have some value, though I'm sure not much as single pieces. There could be some hidden gems though...A lot of them look like they're probably Atlas trains. He passed in 1976, so nothing can be newer than that. There are 48 star flags on buildings, lol. I'd like to sell them as a lot, and assume FB Marketplace will be my best platform to do so? I don't mind inventorying the set to list it. My question is does anyone have a good resource for putting a dollar value on what I have? Any train sites or groups you can point me to? Help me turn these trains into dune buggy parts, lol! Thanks! 
 

sample images:

N scale, even the older stuff goes for money. I would think modelers would shy away from vintage N because of oversized wheels, clunky internals in many locomotives, etc...but they go for way more than I expect. I'm using internet auctions as a litmus.

I wouldn't try to sell the entire lot. I'd breakit up into smaller lots, a locomotive,  and maybe 10 cars. Bundle it with track. Passenger coaches separate. Structures and accessories separate.  Someone might just need buildings, or want cars. $50-$100 is easier to justify rather than $600.

There is definitely value there.  I honestly would be interested in one or more of those steam locos.  I have a little bit of track and some rolling stock, but very few locos.

If trains have performed anything like slot cars, they are worth some serious coin. Vintage slot cars have easily tripled in value over the last 2 years and are at absolute peak values of all time. I can see trains doing the same.

Paging Wally, Wally to the 1:87 scale courtesy phone please.

1988RedT2 said:

There is definitely value there.  I honestly would be interested in one or more of those steam locos.  I have a little bit of track and some rolling stock, but very few locos.

Send me a pm with your address.

In reply to slefain :

Unfortunately I know very little of tiny trains. 

If you want to sell them online, the big thing is organizing and cataloging the make and model of the locos and rolling stock. Take a picture of the side and bottom of each locomotive with clear images of the print on the bottom. 

I too would be interested in some stuff if I knew what I was looking at.

Javelin said:

If trains have performed anything like slot cars, they are worth some serious coin. Vintage slot cars have easily tripled in value over the last 2 years and are at absolute peak values of all time. I can see trains doing the same.

Eh yes and no. 

Slot cars don't have the DCC aspects of model trains, and there is some serious junk from the 70's and 80's, even up until the 90's. Stuff that just wasn't good, prone to damage or burnup, or limited ability to make DCC.

Track, in particular, has a good chance of being junk. Especially if its brass that has sat around for awhile. Nickle would have a better chance of still being worth something, especially if flex, but it's so cheap to begin with that most people just buy new. 

In my eyes, model trains shouldn't be worth what they are, but every old collector thinks he's got a gold mine and demands a premium, and his crap ends up getting inherited by family who don't really want it, or don't take the time to clean it up and get it running. 

Here are some (slightly) better pictures. Most of the cars are Atlas with some Lone Star. Would certainly make a deal for a GRM member, but don't really want to ship the whole lot yet. 

also have boxes of transformers, trees, light poles, cars, etc. I have them listed as a lot on FB with mostly tire kickers. 

My mom's late husband  Poppy Dick had a massive train collection.  From the floor to the ceiling in moms basement on all four walls was display shelves filled with engines and cars. Some ultra rare and very expensive.  The entire basement was filled with a giant layout with around five running trains. 

It would have been hard to figure out exactly how much money was there.  Poppy Dick passed away three years ago and mom just wanted it all gone.  She contacted a gentleman that assisted Poppy Dick with the layout and a deal was struck.  I'm sure it was pennies on the dollar for actual value.  It took him over a week to get everything out.  

Here's a couple pictures I got back when it was up. 

I'm sure if mom would have spent the time she could have sold it for two or three times what they ended up with by selling it all at once. 

In reply to Nick Comstock :

Dang! I can see how that would be beyond intimidating to anyone who didn't know trains. I don't, and I'm not sure I want to go through the trouble of cataloging/listing/selling the 100 cars I have!  I would've went for the one time payout as well just to be done. 

I sent you a PM. Hope it reached you. 

I'm definitely interested in some of the steam locomotives and rolling stock. 

In reply to pheller :

Got it... was unsure who it was from... lol. Responded! 

If the track is brass, throw it away. Nobody wants that stuff.

The buildings aren't anything special. I'd sell that as a lot for whatever you can get.

The diesel locomotives aren't worth anything to modelers as they are too crude and stuff back then ran pretty poorly. I don't know if it is collectible or not.

Steam stuff is always worth a few bucks. I think the real value in all of that is the cars/rolling stock. Probably the passenger cars. Rapido couplers and pie tin wheels will keep modelers away but I've successfully swapped out trucks on a lot of those. Considering the price of new, modern cars they are still worth some money.

N scale didn't get good until around the 1990s. Prior to that it mostly ran like crap. If anything says Tyco, consider it a fire hazard. Life-Like was only slightly better. Atlas was okay.

Here's an example of what people pay. This auction has 3 more days. Im guessing atound $50-$55 by the end.

My dad was a model railroader and only his grandson is into it.  He built a basic layout and he showed me the controlling feature from an app on his phone.  It's a bit advanced from my dads day.  

In reply to Datsun310Guy :

Hell, I didn't even know that was a thing. If it keeps the youth interested,  I'm all for it. But I like mashing throttles.

The thing is I grew up on slot cars and when we set up my dad's trains I would see how fast I could get it to go before derailing.

My nephew is 22 years old and goes slow and steady - no high-speed racing for him.  He is a diehard railroad fan and just took a job out of college with Norfolk Southern as a conductor planning on being an engineer at some point.  

Appleseed said:

Here's an example of what people pay. This auction has 3 more days. Im guessing atound $50-$55 by the end.

$96.00. $96.00 for 7 cars and a locomotive. Oh an one Atlas remote switch. Can't forget that.