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How much is my model railway layout worth?

There are a couple of reasons why a modeller would want to know how much their railway is worth including: for insurance purposes, to sell, or sadly a family may need to know after bereavement for various administrative purposes.
Valuing a model railway is not as straightforward as coming up with a percentage of the relative value of every item on the railway when new. Locomotives and rolling stock are prime examples of this, sure in a fair world you should be able to recoup around 50% of their original value (adjusted for inflation), but that assumes that the models are in near perfect condition, run well and there is a demand for them. And it is the latter that will most likely determine the actual sale price, so have a look at what similar models are fetching to guide you, and don't expect a battered old HST, Smokey Joe or Flying Scotsman to have kept its value, because everybody either has one or is selling one.
Non-rolling stock items such as track, buildings and scenery will sell, but only to someone looking for a bargain. Let's not forget what modelling is all about, most modellers will be looking for a specific model rather than taking what's available at the time, and also, they will want the pleasure of building and painting it themselves. That puts you right back selling in the quick bargain category, so although your building kits may have cost you X amount each to buy, now they are only worth the same for a bundle.
Next, you have to decide whether to sell your railway yourself or outsource it. There are two ways you can outsource the selling of your railway, auction or model railway specialist. If you go to auction, the proceedings will be fast and brutal, there will be no testing, no in-depth itemisation and no presentation. Your beloved railway will be sold as little more than a determined number of model railway locomotives and rolling stock in a box with some scenic items included. And that will affect the price, even more so once the auction house has charged for its services.
A model railway specialist such as a model shop is a better option, they will appreciate your collection more for what it is, and it will be resold to like-minded modellers who will appreciate it as much as you did. This option is more sensitive when bereavement is involved and often brings comfort to loved ones, but don't think it will bring you more money. Many model shops will dabble in used items, but more as a service than anything else. The used items will need to be collected, separated, tested, researched, packaged, presented, advertised, guaranteed and often shipped, and that all costs them money.

So to conclude: Locos and rolling stock in good condition have the potential to achieve around 50% of their original value (adjusted for inflation), which could be a little more for rarer items, a little less for common ones, model buildings are worth around a quarter of their original value providing you can find a buyer, carefully retrieved common points are worth a couple of quid each and track sections will earn their postage. The seemingly low value of your railway may come as a bit of a shock, but that's because its value to you is the time, love and expertise you have invested to produce the layout as a whole, and once it has been broken up to sell, all of that sadly disappears. But try not to be too disheartened, model railways may not be the latest and greatest in profit-making, but they do provide you with years of entertainment, and that simply cannot be valued!

Posted in: Model Railway

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