blue pullman

[DEVILSG]

Hi Im new to this im looking for infomation on some trains that i had left to me when my father passed away Ive only ever had them out once or twice, and i think by looking at your set up it may be one of them, i have carriages etc for it and im looking may be a buyer it is 00 gauge as far as i know, Im not a train buff to know all the ins and outs, so Im hoping some one will give me some advice on these trains.

many thanks
Ian Laurie

[Flashbang]

Hi Welcome to the forum.
I have to say at the onset that you may be disappointed in the items value!
Only the very best Mint condition locos and rolling stock in their original boxes, which are also in mint condition (Mint = As sold when new) gain good prices.
That said it doesn't mean they dont have any value. This is where the problem for you is going to arise.
I would look carefully at the boxes and the items and look for model number. If Tri-ang or Tri-ang Hornby then it will normally start with an 'R' then two or three digits, like 'R123' etc. I would then look at on-line auctions like ebay for possibly the same items being sold. Watch and see what it eventually sells for noting the sellers description of the condition and try to get a close match condition for condition to your own.
The other thing is to visit a local toy fair. Most towns have one or two a year. Monthly model railway magazines normally list a couple of months of toy fairs locations and dates etc. Try Railway Modeller for example. Take the item(s) along, pay the small entrance fee, and visit more than one trader for a quote. Note that the price offer will always be less than you may have seen on an auction sale as the second-hand trader has to make a profit! The choice is then yours as to how you sell them.
You can obtain a current copy of Ramseys Guide - 6th edition, for around £23ish this list most UK model railway items and a rough guide to their value. Example of the Ramsey Guide

Good luck

[DEVILSG]

Thanks flashbang for the heads up i will investgate more as i said im not a buff so more diggin is needed.
many thanks

[Son of Triangman]

Flashbang offers some excellent advice and as he rightly says

Only the very best Mint condition locos and rolling stock in their original boxes, which are also in mint condition (Mint = As sold when new) gain good prices.

Trade buying in values will be around half the retail value of the model. Most traders who are decent will offer you around half the retail value, if you get offered less then don't sell. The trade price allows for a small profit, repairs, finding spares, costs such as petrol etc.

Here are the retail prices for boxed and unboxed mint.

R.555+R.556 Blue Pullman power and dummy car Blue crested front issue, issued 1963-1967 in mint boxed used condition in perfect boxes with instructions etc. £45 retail £22 trade, if used mint unboxed condition £25 Retail, £15 trade, worn condition Retail £20 trade £10

R.555+R.556 Blue Pullman power and dummy car Yellow Fronted non-crested issue, issued 1968 in mint boxed used condition in perfect boxes with instructions etc. £50 retail £30 trade, if used mint unboxed condition £35 Retail, £20 trade, worn condition Retail £20 trade £10

R.555+R.556 Blue Pullman set Yellow front issue, final issue issued 1974 in mint boxed used condition in a perfect box with instructions etc. £50 retail £30 trade, if used mint unboxed condition £35 Retail, £20 trade, worn condition Retail £20 trade £10

R.555C Blue Pullman power and dummy car BR Blue & Grey yellow fronted issue, issued 1969-1972 in mint boxed used condition in perfect box with instructions etc. £65 retail £30 trade, if used mint unboxed condition £30 Retail, £22 trade, worn condition Retail £22 trade £11

R.555C Blue Pullman power and dummy car Blue crested fronted issue, issued 1965 Worlds Toy fair special limited edition in mint boxed used condition in perfect box with instructions etc. £165 retail £80 trade, if used mint unboxed condition £25 Retail, £20 trade, worn condition Retail £20 trade £10

Sets
Standard R.52 Blue fronted Blue Pullman set in mint factory crisp conditon £100 retail £55 trade, used condition £45 Retail £25 trade, worn £30 retail, £15 Trade.

Coaches
R.426 Blue Pullman Blue livery coach. Mint perfect boxed £40 Retail, £20 trade, unboxed mint £25 Trade £15, worn £20 trade £12.

R.426 BR Blue and Grey livery Mint perfect boxed £50 Retail, £25 trade, unboxed mint £30 Trade £20, worn £22 trade £14.

Mint sealed limited issue World Toy Fair BP's in the later tray style boxes fetch hundreds, they are like hens teeth to find.

Here's the limited worlds Toy Fair 1965 R555C edition that has remained sealed in it's box from new.
Worth just over £500 in this condition. It's not for sale. You don't find them for £4-9shillings and six pence today!

[rew570]

Hi All,

I'm still after a Triang Blue Pullman myself, but remember a couple of years ago it was mooted that an RTR new tooling of this train was not leaving the works. With Olivia Trains announcing the class 76, 77 (EM1 and EM2) Woodhead electrics and the Blue Pullman through Heljan, awesome Bachmann have recently announced a 6 car Midland Blue Pullman which is going to be uber awesome catalogue number 31-255, now there's two manufacturers producing this famous express, the original HST.

I'm putting my name down for one.

Regards,

Rew570

[Flashbang]

Hi
I understand that Hornby have sent their old BP moulds to their China factory for evaluation to see if they are worth upgrading and possibly reusing. Though as its been some 40 plus years since the original BP sets were offered for sale, I guess these moulds may well be a little under scale and considered poor in detail by today's high quality standards? They may be suitable as a Railroad offering though??

Bachmann are of course making completely new models and these will (judging by their EMU models) be to a high standard. At around £300 for a six car set they should be too!

Olivia's have, so I understand, now dropped their proposed BP set, which was to have been made in conjunction with Heljan. They have apparently for customers who paid a deposit for their Heljan BP transferred the deposit to the Bachmann six car set.

I have a Bachmann six car BP set on pre order one from Modelfair Blue Pullman

[Son of Triangman]

I'm very tempted by the new Bachmann offering, but the price of £300 is the main stumbling block at present, with no jobs out here money is very tight, the missues would have fit at present.

I am hoping Hornby will re-introduce the old Tri-ang one as a Railroad range model with it's coach being available seperately, perhaps even a couple of new coaches as well. It would allow modellers to build a train on a budget.

[rew570]

A Hornby Railroad version would be good. £300 for the six car Bachmann appears to be a little steep, but breaking it down you would be getting six vehicles at £50 each, which includes two locomotives and four coaches of an exptionally high standard.

I didn't realise Olivias trains had pulled the plug on the BP ; every cloud has a silver lining, it has got other manufacturers off the drawing board. I can't wait.

Rew570

[Son of Triangman]

The problem with the Bachmann model alas is the cost, a £300 hit all in one go that would get you a decent holiday on the sunny nNorfolk coast for two, if they had offered it as individual items as well I think they would sell, you could afford to build a complete train over time even if your are short of cash due to lack of work. The standard may be good but I think Baccy have shot themselves in the foot but not offering individual items.

The old Tri-ang unit and it's coach, if Hornby ever finally decides to make them will be a more attractive proposition for those on a budget.

[Flashbang]

Hi
Actually for a six carriage Blue Pullman set I don't feel £280 to £300 is excessive!

If you were to look at a standard steam loco e.g. a Bachmann A4 retailing around £80 and Hornby Pullman carriages at around £34 each, the Bachmann loco and six Hornby Pullman carriages would be £284ish, while a five carriage train would be £250 (Hattons prices).
So perhaps the £280 to £300 price tag isn't really that bad for a very special edition set?