I have a few suggestions on how to list (and what to look for when buying) collectable Lionel trains on E-bay. I am a collector myself and these are the things collectors want to know to make a decision as to whether to bid and how much an item may be worth.

  First of all, the value of an item is all about CONDITION. Collectors want to know:

1.  Is it original? has it been repainted, restored or are there any reproduction parts on this item?

2.  What is it's general condition? Anything missing, cracked or broken? Does it work? It doesn't help to say "comes with operating couplers", it does help to say "couplers work", or "smoke unit works", etc.

3. What is the cosmetic condition? Is there any rust? What is the condition of the paint? Is it bright and clean, worn, or dirty? Are there scratches in it? What about the lettering? Is it all there and bright and legible? Is some of it missing? 

Please show all 6 sides of the item. I recently saw a listing that showed one side and the bottom of a passenger car. The condition of the top of any passenger car is very important, much more so than the bottom. And I would never bid on an item that didn't show both sides. I also recommend the E-bay feature that allows people to enlarge the photos.

One last thing. I am not influenced by statements and item titles that say "Rare". In reality, there are no rare Lionel trains or cars. These items were mass produced for sale to the public, not limited production for collectors. I will agree that some items are harder to find than others, but not rare. Always do a search on the items model number and do some comparative shopping before bidding.