08/23/2026
Another PSA time. Clubs following us, raise your hand if this situation is familiar!
As nice as it may sound, we are not a goodwill for your used model trains!
Yes, most people come to us with the stuff they had as kids with the best of intentions, and we do appreciate everyone who comes visit our humble little club. But this is an issue that all model train clubs- possibly almost all hobby clubs- deal with. You're looking to offload a small collection of stuff that might have meant something to you a while ago and you want it to go to a good home.
The truth is, especially in our modelling scale of HO (1:87), a lot of these "model" trains from the 70's-90's just don't hold up. The 70's and 80's were a unique period for model trains characterized by cheap, mass produced toys aimed as holiday gifts for kids. Brands like Tyco and Bachmann put out thousands of these "starter sets" and other entry level toys aimed at the casual audience and families rather than serious hobbyists. While there is a niche for collectors of this unique era of toy trains, unfortunately we're not among them đŸ˜…
Model trains today- especially the scale, precision models we specialize in at the Yellowhead Rail Club, are hundreds of dollars and often highly customized with bespoke details. Our focus is scale recreations of the real thing and prototypical operations, and most HO scale model train clubs follow this mentality.
As much as we'd like to safekeep everyone's christmas memory from circa 1985, we're a club of volunteers. We have limited space at our clubhouse and a lot of these "donations" wind up in the basements of our own members. The truth is, a lot of the time, if we can't find time or the means to fix up these old toys and get them running again, sending them off to another kid to get their start in the hobby, they wind up in the trash. The resell value of even the most expensive parts of these old sets- the locomotives- often range in the single digits.
Some people in fact come to clubs like us specifically, rationalizing that they'd rather send their junk our way than a hobby shop that would "price it at a markup and rip someone off".
This just isn't true. Not only are hobby shops honest, integral parts of the modelling community just like our club, theyre often the nexus in which the community orbits around. Its logical- if someone is looking for trains, even used, they's visit the local hobby shop first before a club like ours which does not advertise anything for sale.
Further to that, the club is now burdened with finding a home for this stuff. Members will have to take time out of their own day not already committed to the club to find someone interested in the stuff (and it really is just *stuff*), or worse yet, spend hours restoring it to operating condition.
It's very disheartening when people come to our club, drop off a box of stuff, and before we can answer whether we can take it or not, they're out the door. We aren't a dumping ground for model trains nor are we a charity. Unfortunately this HAS happened. In fact, the picture attached to this post is some of the, frankly, junk that was left with us. That tyco 0-8-0 is beyond redemption, even if it was worth restoring to us.
There ARE resources out there.
First of all, The Train Exchange Ltd is Edmonton's only specialized model train hobby shop. They're the best equipped to appraise your collection and see if its worth anything, or point you in the best direction.
For O-scale trains, the Edmonton Train Collectors Association are the local authority on the larger stuff, the model history (as some o-scale stuff, especially vintage Lionel, IS historical and collector worthy), and appraisal. Of course, many o-scale trains fall into the same category of the HO scale tyco, so your mileage may vary.
And not ALL "old stuff" is bin worthy either. Many modellers in HO make an identity out of restoring old brass models, or reviving Athearn "blue box" kitbashes- some of the only detailed models one could get in the 80's-90's. Many even still run. Usually if you give us a chance to appraise it first, some of us might be interested.
And finally, twice a year the Mainline Model Railroaders Fellowship hosts a swap meet in Edmonton. If your collection is non-trivial, it may be worth reserving a table come fall or spring.
Of course, we're always willing to give some tips and tricks on reviving your old cheap stuff. With some alcohol wipes, q-tips, and small motor l**e, a lot of the "old stuff" can still run. Think about who you may know in your life who'd enjoy a free model train set for a birthday or christmas before giving it away. It may mean more to them than getting rid of it means to you.
(Pictured are some atlas brass sectional track, a Bachmann CN F7 from ~1990, a tyco CN caboose ~late 80's, what's left of a tyco 0-8-0. All these were "donations" to our club, likely never to run again.)
