Lionel toy trains

[Ricochet]

I've heard that these things are supposedly worth thousands of dollars, and my dad has a full train set w/box in our basement like from the 70's. Does anybody know about these? I looked on the web for "Lionel Antiques" and a few sites came up saying they'd actually send an appraiser out to inspect the things after you tell them what you have, and if it's worth selling...

[freakray]

Lionel toy trains in general are not "worth thousands of dollars" unless they are something special.

Since Lionel are still very much in business, it depends on what you have and how old it is (hence why they won't send an appraiser out for just anything).
As a rule, Lionel trains do cost a bit more, but you get what you pay for, right?

If you think the sets would be worth some money, take a few digital photos of them and send them to one of those sites to get a rough idea, in the meantime, why sell them?
If they were your Dad's, keep a hold of them, one day they will be yours and worth even more both monetarily and sentimentally.

[Ricochet]

I already told him it's worth some money and he was like cool now I can get a motorcycle... It's just a dumb train collecting dust, and he'd rather have a few grand than a toy train.

[freakray]

Originally posted by Ricochet
I already told him it's worth some money and he was like cool now I can get a motorcycle... It's just a dumb train collecting dust, and he'd rather have a few grand than a toy train.

No need to get pissy, it was just a thought.

Did you try looking around ebay to see if there is anything similar?
Either that or follow my other suggestion of getting some photos.

[Ricochet]

I wasn't getting pissy, I'm saying he looks at it as a dumb toy worth a lot of money. I can't get on ebay at work but I will take some pics and post around.

[freakray]

Originally posted by Ricochet
I wasn't getting pissy, I'm saying he looks at it as a dumb toy worth a lot of money. I can't get on ebay at work but I will take some pics and post around.

Yeah, my Dad was doing that, selling everything that was old and worth something, until one day I turned to him and asked what would be left for me to inherit after he sold it all(He was selling all the stuff that I remember from my childhood and when my Mom was alive - things that held memories for me).
He said he hadn't thought of it that way and stopped selling stuff.