Pontiacguy1 wrote:I will actually be surprised if you sell it for $5000. The best thing out there to compare it to size-wise would be the Little Engines 4-4-0 American, which is actually going to be a little bit more powerful than what you have because of its 4-4-0 wheel arrangement. From what I've seen over the past several years, these tend to go for around $5000 to around $8500 completed and in full running condition along with the tender. You'll see someone asking more than that for one of these, but they usually hang around on the for sale pages for a long time, which means they're priced too high. Someone may ask more if they have extra cars, display tracks, etc... to go along with the running locomotive.
in my opinion- and this is my opinion ONLY- The best you'll probably be able to get for this locomotive as-is would be $3500. Again, without a hydro test and with no tender, etc... The value is going to be very limited. As others have mentioned before, a 6-2-0 Crampton, while an interesting and very unique locomotive, won't be a very good model to actually go out and play trains with, due mostly to it's small size and very limited traction. Most likely, whoever buys it is going to want it more for a mantle-piece display. Hopefully someone will buy it and will fix and finish it out so it can get the admiration it deserves. It is a nice model, but is not at all a practical locomotive for most club tracks in 7 1/2" gauge.
A few years ago, Ken Shattock tried to sell his grandfather Vic's 1" scale Crampton. Granted this was in 1" scale, but the locomotive was complete and also included the tender and a riding car. He was asking $6000 for it. I do not believe it ever sold.
That's just my opinion. Feel free to disagree.
Thanks for the insight. You clearly know a lot more about this than myself.
That said, I trust the opinion of Jim from DLS and will price it at $5,000 USD. If it doesn't sell, I'll lower accordingly.
I suppose this isn't the train for everyone, but I'm sure I'll find someone who appreciates it.
Chris