El Dorado Narrow Gauge action on eBay.com

It's been several years since we reported on Mallory Hope Ferrell's El Dorado Narrow Gauge. The quintessential book on the construction and operating life of the Diamond and Caldor Railway periodically comes up for sale on eBay.com. The book was published in 1990 by Pacific Fast Mail, Edmonds, Washington.

The latest copy posted to the on-line auction site yesterday. The seller has listed an opening bid of $49.99. The auction closes on Friday, March 8, 2013 at 7:31 p.m. Pacific Time. We will follow the action with interest.

To our knowledge, Ferrell's book hasn't been republished, which adds to the selling price. Fortunately, the cost to purchase a copy of El Dorado Narrow Guage has significantly been reduced over the past four years. A copy sold for $175 in December 2009.

When you consider previous highs of $110 and $120, the current copy for sale seems like a bargain.

Western Railfan booklet

It's been a long time since I've posted an eBay auction on these pages. Here's a small brochure on the history of the Diamond and Caldor Railway, published by the Western Railfan in September 1969.

While I can't predict how high the auction will climb, you should be able to pick it up at a reasonable price if you're the winning bidder. The opening bid is $4. The auction ends at 7 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, November 1.

I won't be bidding on this item as I already own a copy.

Copy of El Dorado Narrow Gauge for sale on eBay

If you've followed this blog for any time, you know that we post several eBay auctions each year of our favorite book: Mallory Hope Farrell's El Dorado Narrow Gauge: The Diamond & Caldor Railway, which was published in 1990 (Pacific Fast Mail, Edmonds, Washington).

The latest auction of El Dorado Narrow Gauge was posted to eBay last night. The seller has listed a $75 opening bid price.

You immediately purchase the book with eBay's Buy It Now feature. The asking price is $225.

Before you pay $225, read my comments of the high price these sellers are asking for Ferrell's book. It looks like the copy I refer to sold for $175 in December.

El Dorado Narrow Gauge by Marrory Hope Ferrell

I didn't see any copies of Mallory Hope Ferrell's El Dorado Narrow Gauge: The Diamond and Caldor Railway (Pacific Fast Mail, 1990) on eBay.com for most of the summer. I thought that maybe the market for these rare books had dried up.

Now two copies have appeared in the past month. About two weeks ago, a copy of El Dorado Narrow Gauge sold on an eBay auction for about $110.

This copy appeared yesterday. It has an opening bid price of $9.99 The auction closes Monday, November 26, 2007 at 5 p.m.

It's difficult to predict how high the book will go. It wouldn't surprise me if it goes for $90 or higher.

El Dorado Narrow Gauge by Marrory Hope Ferrell

I haven't seen El Dorado Narrow Gauge: The Diamond and Caldor Railway by Mallory Hope Ferrell (Pacific Fast Mail, 1990) on eBay.com since late last August. My intent was to come home today and track the book, which had a starting bid of $34.95 and a Buy It Now price of $69.95.

When I got home this afternoon, I saw the book sold earlier this morning, about 10 hours after the auction was posted. The buyer scooped it up for $69.95. That's a fair price in my book since El Dorado Narrow Gauge often sells for over $80 on eBay.com.

We'd love to see Ferrell's classic re-printed and made available on the railroad book market. I personally believe that there's sufficient interest in the Diamond & Caldor Railway to warrant the expense of a second edition.

Sould Ferrell does decide to re-print the book, the El Dorado Western Railway Foundation would definitely sell it out of the engine house and on the website.

Color D&C Photos are Back on eBay

The two color photos of the Diamond & Caldor engine house and water tank have returned to eBay.com. They were snapped by J.C. Hammond on February 23, 1953.

The first, shows the D&C No. 4 Shay locomotive taking on water from the engine house water tank. At the time, the No. 4 had been the main yard switcher in Diamond Springs for about 20 years.

The second photo was taken a few feet to the north of the first. The No. 4 is in the barn in its usual spot, in the southern most stall. The Railbus No. 10 is also visible.

Both photographs are reprints and can be purchased for $14.99 each (with $2.50 for shipping). The seller's eBay store can be accessed here. "aRRts aRRchives" specializes in railroad reproductions.

According to the seller, the pictures are "8.5 x 11-inch digital color prints on Hewlett Packard premium plus glossy paper 35mm Kodachrome transparency scanned at high resolution with Nikon Coolscan V."

My copies of the photos arrived the other day. Three copies of each photograph are available for purchase this time.

J.C. Hammond Color Photos of D&C Shops

I've located two color photos of the Diamond & Caldor engine house and water tank for sale on eBay.com. They were snapped by J.C. Hammond on February 23, 1953 (the day this writer was six months old!).

The first, shows the D&C No. 4 Shay locomotive taking on water from the engine house water tank. At the time, the No. 4 had been the main yard switcher in Diamond Springs for about 20 years.

The second photo was taken a few feet to the north of the first. The No. 4 is in the barn in its usual spot, in the southern most stall. The Railbus No. 10 is also visible.

Both photographs are reprints and can be purchased for $14.99 each (with $2.50 for shipping). The seller's eBay store can be accessed here. "aRRts aRRchives" specializes in railroad reproductions.

According to the seller, the pictures are "8.5 x 11-inch digital color prints on Hewlett Packard premium plus glossy paper 35mm Kodachrome transparency scanned at high resolution with Nikon Coolscan V."

I plan on purchasing the photos shortly after I post this blog. Not to worry. Two copies of each photograph are available for purchase.

D&C Shay Sells for Over $600

Just a quick note -- the Shay model locomotive sold for $617.77.

Update on D&C No. 4 Shay Model

The Shay model is currently selling for $366 with two days remaining on the auction. Eight bidders have left 15 total bids so far. I'm not certain that the locomotive will top the $700 opening bid from last June.

Wood Burning Late Model D&C No. 4 on eBay

Another Diamond & Caldor No. 4 Shay locomotive has appeared on eBay.com. The wood-burning Shay sports Sunbeam headlight just forward of a diamond stack.

The last time this model surfaced on eBay, it didn't sell. The starting bid in June was $700.

It's currently running at $280. Eight bidders have already tried. The auction runs through October 22. It closes at 6:47 p.m. Pacific Time.

Read my comments from last spring here. As I noted in my June 9 blog, this model locomotive isn't the piece for you if you're looking for authenticity.

El Dorado Narrow Gauge Book Tops $70

Remember the copy Ferrell's El Dorado Narrow Gauge that sold for an impressive $35 last week?

The latest copy of the book went for $70.99 this evening. That's about $10 less than the $80 average.

Keith had told me at lunch today that we should secure a copy of the book for the railway's library.

My concern was that the bidder, who appears to live in Diamond Springs, had placed several large bids after he had placed himself on top Friday evening . My fear was that this gentleman (I assuming he's a man) had placed a very high proxy bid into the eBay auction system.

I was right. Had Keith or bid today, we certainly won the book at a hefty price -- over $80, I suspect.

Since the book surfaces once or twice each month, we'll wait to get a copy for the railway.

El Dorado Narrow Gauge Sold for Less Than $40!

Earlier this week I made note of a copy of El Dorado Narrow Gauge by Ferrell for sale by auction on eBay.com. I said that this book often sells for over $80.

The book sold for an impressive $35.05 earlier this afternoon.

The nice thing about an on-line action like eBay.com is that you find occasional deals. To find these deals, you have to stay on top of eBay and watch.

Set your personal top bid and wait. Unless the item is extremely rare (or you want it today), you'll be rewarded with patience.

It may take time, but in the end, you'll have the item that you searching for.

El Dorado Narrow Gauge for Sale on eBay

The El Dorado Narrow Gauge: The Diamond and Caldor Railway by Mallory Hope Ferrell (Pacific Fast Mail, 1990) is available on eBay.com.

The auction ends on Sunday, August 20, 2006 at 2:13 p.m. PDT.

Although the book is currently being offered for $23.99, I've seen this book sell for over $80.

Both Keith and I won actions at that price last year. There are no bidders as of press time.

El Dorado Western T-shirt for Sale on eBay

One of last years white Diamond & Caldor Railway t-shirts has surfaced on eBay.com. Starting bid is $3.99 with the auction ending on July 20.

The seller is geographically close to the El Dorado Western Railway engine house. The shop is located in nearby Folsom, California. I suspect it's one of the Sutter Ave. businesses.

Although I don't personally know the seller, if he's successful, I may just take a box down there and have him sell more -- for a donation, of course.