Large model-train auction in Buffalo features Lionel, American Flyer, HO

A large live/online model-train auction is taking place today in Buffalo, New York, drawing attention from collectors, layout builders and parts hunters. Lodge Auction House has cataloged dozens of lots spanning Lionel, American Flyer, Athearn HO, Atlas Trainman, Bachmann, K-Line, Walthers and more, with both vintage and new boxed items offered.

Standout items include a Lionel Great Lakes Express set in its original box and a variety of Lionel operating accessories that appeal to O gauge collectors looking for complete, displayable sets and working signals. HO-scale buyers will find Athearn locomotives in original boxes and multiple Atlas Trainman 3-car collections, useful for constructing consists or topping off a fleet. The sale also lists Bachmann locomotives and products from K-Line and Walthers, giving layout-focused shoppers options for trackside details and motive power across scales.

The auction is conducted live with an online bidding platform, so remote bidders can participate in real time. Shipping is available on lots, which lowers the barrier for out-of-town buyers but also makes it important to factor in handling and freight when hammer prices are considered. Each lot in the catalog includes detailed descriptions; photographs and lot-by-lot text are provided on the listing for condition notes and bidding instructions.

For practical value, this sale covers a range of collecting needs: boxed sets for display or resale, operating accessories for layouts that need working signals or controllers, and boxed HO locomotives that are often the easiest route to finding clean, serviceable power. Layout builders will find Atlas Trainman collections handy for adding matched rolling stock, while restoration-minded collectors can pick through listed items for donor parts or authentic mechanical components.

Community relevance runs deeper than the merchandise. Auctions like this are a prize source for filling gaps in era-specific rosters, sourcing rare accessories and acquiring complete boxed examples that retain collector premiums. Smaller sellers and private collectors can also watch how similar items sell today to price their own consignments more competitively.

Our two cents? Study the full lot descriptions and photos closely before bidding, factor shipping and payment into your top bid, and plan pickup or delivery logistics in advance if you win. Treat sealed and boxed items as graded by condition—don’t assume mint simply because packaging exists—and be ready to add a little extra for shipping if you’re buying from outside Buffalo.