O and tinplate 027 market

Speaking from experience(left N for O scale/gauge 4 years ago) right now,it is both collectors and operators. yes, the prices are high, but that is due to several things: 1) O scale/gauge is one of the smaller segments of the model railroad community, 2)There are only 4 major producers/importers of O(Lionel,MTH,Atlas,K-line). O has "traditionally" been percieved as "toy trains". This is changing mostly due to Atlas' reentry into O scale, driving the other companies to raise the level of detail/fidelity to scale,etc. I have learned the hard way to shop for only those items that i can fit into my operating scheme, and to wait- pre order only those items that are MUST HAVES(engines mostly) all the rolling stock shows up on Ebay due to about 6-12 train shop owners selling them at severe discounts. You just have to troll thru the listings for the stuff you need. Hope this helped clear the air.

The O scale rebirth peaked in 1999 with the stock market bubble. Since then it has been a slow downhill with nowhere to go but further downhill. Prices are too high. HO scale quality is great. Older baby boomers now don't have the massive bank accounts, you name it. Every dealer that I know of that used to carry O mixed in with HO etc has either dropped O completely or scaled back alot. The pure O scale stores are hurting.

Thanks for the replies.

I have bought all sorts of cheap rolling stock through ebay and I kit bash the railcars into what I want. The O boys consider this a sin, but so what? I have indoor and outdoor O gauge pikes, from 027 to scale.

Mikal,

You have a web site with photos? I know some folks particularly interested in O scale outdoors. Thanks, Bill

Corelane

No, I don't, but I would be interested in getting to know other O guage outdoor railroaders. Thanks for your interest.