What do I do with a Model Railway collection?

The reason your Dad insisted on it being an inheritance is because of the residual value in everything hes purchased, model trains, track, accessories hold there price, they still make good value regardless of the auction or location. The scale 00 is your "normal" scale of train layout However that inheritance only comes at the expense of the effort involved I'm afraid. To maximise the inheritance you would need to do the following :- * Catalogue the Engines - ideally with and without boxes. If there is still boxes box them up * Catalogue the rolling stock, carriages etc and do the same * If there is a set, that includes track, engine and rolling stock - put that all in the box as well. Once all the "train" parts are out of the way * Start stripping the tops - trees you'll notice are multiples of the same * vehicles, cars, bikes, pedestrians - anything that made of the visual appeal * Buildings may be more complicated because you might run into lighting Once all that is clear * Start to pull the track up - fingers crossed its tacked down and not glued * Sort all the corners, radiuses, terminals, straights into piles and catalogue as well. * Electronics, controllers, programmers, sequencers etc As far as values go, buildings scenary etc probably around a quarter of the original value, engines would be harder - if your saying some are vintaged they could be more, again more if boxed - rare would not be unheard of to go for more than equivalent retail, track is hit and miss - but thats why i suggest bundling it into packs of 10 for example. The boards, the structure thats bespoke - train setups are bespoke with each collector focusing on the area or period they want to focus on, you would need to find somebody - that doesnt currently have one, that can handle one that size - but then also sees the value in it. There is no value in the set as it stands itself sadly - time and effort is not an inheritable value only the raw items you are left with. Your Dad is right there is a lot of value in it - you need to separate the emotion and dedication your Dad put into it to maximise it. It will be hard no doubt but look past it as a set and catalogue what you have. If you sell as a whole you would be looking at hundreds at the most, a quick look on ebay and you'll find equally as large setups with people just wanting rid - that makes it a buyers market not a sellers market, your reward comes from the individual sale An equal reward is finding somewhere that would appreciate it in its full context, and as far as model train society's and clubs go sadly despite the honourable intensions at the outset to take it off your hands and preserve it as is i've seen first hand that this very quickly becomes a first come first served grab what you can. Museums also - whos going to maintain it, you often see these massive setups out on display but they are automated - not someone standing loving it as your dad did, normally its just get 2 trains going around and turn it on in the morning and off at night - everything else it came with would sit in store. Sorry to be negative but i like to think its more realistic - you can retrieve some of your dads intension of inheritance if you are willing to do the ground work and set aside the intended legacy.