Model Railway Collection Purchases & Consignment Services
Sell Your Model Trains with Will James Railways
Do you have model trains, railway books, accessories or an entire collection that you are ready to sell?
Will James Railways offers a professional second-hand model railway consignment service, helping owners sell their items without the work involved in researching prices, creating listings, answering questions, packing orders and managing payments.
Whether you have a few quality models, a large collection or an estate to sort through, we can help make the process straightforward.
How Consignment Works
With consignment, you continue to own your items while Will James Railways manages the selling process on your behalf.
We can assist with:
Cataloguing and identifying items
Assessing condition
Basic testing of locomotives and electrical equipment
Researching current market values
Professional photography
Creating and managing eBay listings
Answering buyer questions
Packing and dispatching sold items
Managing returns or sale enquiries
Providing itemised sale statements
Paying the remaining proceeds directly to you
Once an item sells, the agreed commission and any applicable selling expenses are deducted. The remaining balance is then paid to you with a clear statement showing the item sold, sale price, deductions and final amount paid.
Why Sell Through Will James Railways?
Selling a model railway collection can take a considerable amount of time, particularly when items need to be correctly identified, tested, photographed and individually listed.
Will James Railways combines model railway knowledge with an established online audience and experience selling railway-related products.
Our aim is to present each item accurately, reach suitable buyers and achieve a realistic market price while making the process easier for the owner.
Most items will be advertised through the Will James Railways eBay store, providing access to buyers across Australia and, where suitable, overseas.
What We Accept
We are interested in a wide range of model railway items, including:
Model locomotives
Passenger carriages
Freight wagons
Train sets
Australian, British and international models
HO, OO, N, O, OO9 and other scales
DCC and sound-fitted models
Track and controllers
Buildings and scenery
Kits and spare parts
Railway books and collectables
Complete model railway collections
Deceased estate collections
Items do not need to be new or boxed. However, condition, completeness and likely resale value will be considered before a consignment is accepted.
Lower-value items may be grouped into suitable lots rather than listed individually.
Selling a Complete Collection
Large collections can be handled in stages, making the process more manageable and allowing higher-quality items to be individually catalogued and marketed.
We understand that many collections have been built over decades and may include rare, modified or personally significant models. Every collection is handled carefully, with each accepted item assigned an individual stock number and recorded throughout the selling process.
Where appropriate, collection or transport arrangements may also be available.
Outright Collection Purchases
Although our main service is consignment, Will James Railways may also consider purchasing complete collections or selected items outright.
An outright purchase provides a faster payment but will generally return less than consignment, as Will James Railways takes on the costs, labour and risks involved in storing and reselling the collection.
Offers are based on realistic resale value, condition, demand and the amount of work required to prepare the collection for sale.
Payments and Statements
Consignment payments are generally processed in scheduled batches after sales have been completed and any applicable return or dispute period has passed.
Each payment includes an itemised settlement statement showing:
The item sold
Final sale price
Commission charged
Any approved expenses
The final amount payable to you
Payments are made by electronic bank transfer.
Items We May Not Accept
We may decline items that are:
Heavily damaged or incomplete
Affected by mould, pests, smoke or contamination
Unsafe electrical equipment
Difficult to identify
Very low in resale value
Likely to cost more to process than they will return
Of uncertain ownership
Unsuitable for postage or online sale
Acceptance is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Melbourne-Based, Australia-Wide Enquiries Welcome
Will James Railways is based in Melbourne, Victoria.
Local drop-off or collection arrangements may be available for suitable collections. Interstate consignments can also be considered, although transport and postage arrangements must be discussed before anything is sent.
Please do not send items without first contacting us and receiving confirmation.
Request a Consignment Assessment
To enquire about selling your model trains, please provide:
Your name
Location
Phone number and email address
A brief description of the collection
Approximate number of items
Scales and brands included
General condition
Whether original boxes are included
Several clear photographs
After reviewing the information, we will contact you to discuss whether consignment, outright purchase or another option may be most suitable.
Get in Touch
Have a collection you are considering selling?
Contact Will James Railways today to discuss your model railway items and arrange an initial assessment.
Email: willjamesrailway@gmail.com
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Website: www.willjamesrailways.com
Please include photographs wherever possible, as this helps us provide a faster and more accurate initial assessment.
All consignments are subject to inspection, acceptance and a signed consignment agreement. Commission rates, expenses, payment arrangements and minimum values will be confirmed before any items are listed for sale.