ORIGINAL: DreamingTree1027
I have noticed as well, I usually walk by the train section in the LHS and they have all of these RTR cars for close to $30. You can get a typical ''kit'' car if you can call it that for half that price and it took 5-10 mins to put together.
lol
Do you have apic of your layout Mode One?
I have a simple L shape in the basement that is mid construction.
I'll see what I can do about taking a couple photos and posting them. When I started my layout in the late 80s, I bought many Athearn freight cars for less then $3.00. MDC Roundhouse cars were around $5.00. I'm a transition era modeler, both steam and diesels. I love the steel 40 foot box car and I model Northern Pacific.