vintage trains Archives - The Silicon Underground

Where to buy vintage computers

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 11:00:13 +0000

Collecting vintage computers can be fun. I also personally think it’s great that people are interested in preserving that history. Where to buy vintage computers hasn’t changed much over the years. It just may take a bit more work than

The post Where to buy vintage computers appeared first on The Silicon Underground.

“Super utility” tinplate train cars

Dave Farquhar — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 11:00:39 +0000

Tin train cars had a variety of methods to couple them together, but by far the most common method was a coupler commonly called tab-in-slot. The tab from one car mated with a slot in the next. All of the

The post “Super utility” tinplate train cars appeared first on The Silicon Underground.

American Flyer trains and Lionel track

Dave Farquhar — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 11:00:17 +0000

An anonymous reader asked if American Flyer trains can run on Lionel track. The answer, of course, is that it depends. American Flyer trains made before 1946 run on exactly the same track as Lionel. But the two-rail American Flyer

The post American Flyer trains and Lionel track appeared first on The Silicon Underground.

Are video games a good investment?

Dave Farquhar — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:00:49 +0000

An article on Slashdot asked this weekend whether video games were a good investment. So are video games a good investment? Will they appreciate over time? The answer is generally no. Collectibles in general are not–they follow a boom and

The post Are video games a good investment? appeared first on The Silicon Underground.

I don’t think this basement layout abandoned since 1967 is necessarily a tragedy

Dave Farquhar — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:48:15 +0000

A query appeared on one of the train forums and has slowly spread through several discussion groups I’m aware of, regarding a 2-rail O scale train layout, built by a hobbyist in the 1950s and 1960s, who died in 1967.

The post I don’t think this basement layout abandoned since 1967 is necessarily a tragedy appeared first on The Silicon Underground.

2011 retail tinplate finds, at Big Lots and Shack

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:16:21 +0000

If you’re a tinplate fan like me, it would behoove you to make a trip to Big Lots sometime this week. Big Lots has a selection of building-shaped cookie tins priced at $5 each. The buildings include a town hall,

The post 2011 retail tinplate finds, at Big Lots and Shack appeared first on The Silicon Underground.

Thank you and farewell, Dr. Grams

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:12:07 +0000

About 8 years ago, I set my mind to repair two Lionel trains that had belonged to my dad. I took to the Internet, and about the only repair advice I could find was to track down The Beginner’s Guide

The post Thank you and farewell, Dr. Grams appeared first on The Silicon Underground.

Transformers for vintage trains

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 15:11:06 +0000

A common question is whether transformers for vintage American Flyer, Lionel, and Marx are interchangeable, and what to do if a transformer won’t work. The simple answer is, yes, a train from one of those makes will run on a

The post Transformers for vintage trains appeared first on The Silicon Underground.

How eBay is ruining itself

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:47:27 +0000

A thread on one of the train forums I frequent mentioned today that the number of listings for Marx trains on eBay is down about 50% over what it was a year or so ago. Not only that, the listings are by and large the common, less interesting stuff.

Meanwhile, a debate rages on another forum I read sometimes, frequented by eBay sellers. On one side are the eBay apologists, saying they'll just change as eBay changes. On the other side, people struggling to make a profit in the ever-changing environment are finding other venues to sell their wares and finding themselves a lot happier.

The post How eBay is ruining itself appeared first on The Silicon Underground.

What to do if you can’t find a Lionel Polar Express set

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 23 Nov 2004 22:38:15 +0000

The Polar Express is turning out (so far) to be a bigger hit for Lionel than it is for Tom Hanks. Dealers are sold out and the sets are turning up on Ebay, usually with asking prices $100-$200 higher than the suggested retail price. It's not as hot as Tickle Me Elmo, but since the words "hot selling" and "train set" haven't appeared together since the late 1950s, well...

So what should you do if you (or someone in your household) wants The Polar Express and can't get one? Hint: Ebay shouldn't be your first resort.

The post What to do if you can’t find a Lionel Polar Express set appeared first on The Silicon Underground.