RAILROAD SIGNALS
of the
Todd's Railfan Guide to
Prices of Railroadiana
and Other Stuff
Page 2 of ?
RAILFAN GUIDES HOME
RAILROAD SIGNALS HOME
I am always getting emails asking me what railroad items costs.
As much as I would like to be an expert on all things railroad or railroad signal related, I am not!
PLEASE NOTE: I AM NOT SELLING THESE ITEMS -- Many people write and ask me if these
things are still for sale - I don't know.
Unlike other "antiques" you might see on the Antique Road Show, railroadiana is a much more fluid market depending on the interest of a certain item at the time it
is offered for sale. There is also the "relative" value of an item depending on someone's sense of historical value, for instance, there was once a simple 3 aspect color light signal for sale on Ebay maybe 10 years
ago. The starting price was $1500 because the seller felt it was worth way more that the real street value because he claimed it came from a specific station. The first time he listed the signal, he did not even
include a photo of the signal. The second time he listed the signal, because it obviously did not sell the first time around, he at least included a photo, but still had it listed for $1500. It did not sell
the second time around either. I never followed the auctions to see if he ever offered it again, but obviously, the market is very, very small for a signal collector looking for a signal from a specific depot.
With that said, I present a collection of sales and ads that I have come across to give the reader some idea of what you can expect to pay. The first batch (1-62) come from the
Discover Live Steam website. The majority of the remainder of
the listings were found on EBay.
Some of the prices for this stuff I feel are good, some I feel are excessive... my opinion is to the left in the little signal icon, I'm a guessin you can figure out what I'm trying to convey :-)...
Again, these are just my opinion!
Whether or not a particular price for something is "good" or "bad" depends on:
What you think something is worth,
How much you are willing to pay,
And, is it something you "just want", "think would be cool to have", or
"really, really just have to have it".
A few years ago on EBay, a late 1800's Banjo
type signal sold for $18,000!!! Wow! Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the free enterprise system, but if you think a lot of prices are good, go to a train show and see how much of this stuff IS NOT selling!
Because the pages are picture intensive, I have divided
up the pages into quicker to load sets.....
Comment: Not a bad price, considering it comes
with the base, mast, ladder, etc. Replacement lenses can be
easily had, and you can make a blade out of plywood like a lot of
early ones were made out of.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Pictures are always needed if anyone feels inclined to take 'em, send 'em, and share 'em, or if you have something to add or correct.... credit is always
given! Contact info is here
Switch
Stand
$200 OBO
Switch
Stand - CNW
$150 OBO
GP-9
Headlight $75 OBO
Semaphore Spectacle and Blade
$1000
Steam
Engine Headlight
$1800
Brass
Locomotive Bell
$8000... ouch!
Steam
Engine Headlight
$3000
Signals and Signs
$5500.... ouch!
Cross
Buck
$350 
Switch
Stand
$750
Single
Aspect Color Light Signal
$275
WRRS
Wig-Wag
$1500 OBO 
Mercury Arc Rectifiers
$500 ea
New
Haven RR System Map
$800
New
Haven RR Sign
$1200
New
Haven RR Semaphore Spectacle and Blade
$600
"Strong Arm" Levers
$300
GRS
Base of Mast Operated Semaphores
$2250
Brass
Locomotive Whistle
$400
Brass
Locomotive Whistle
$800
