Thanks for the help.   

The loco did run the last time it was put away.  but the controller has been lost. 

your suggestion on price is close to what I was thinking at a church garage sale.  I was hoping to provide the prospective purchaser with a little info how to get started with the getting what is needed to run the train.  is there some place i can direct them to to purchase the controller?

We have a Bachmann North Pole & Southern 1225 Train Set (I believe it is G scale)  The set seems to be semi-complete still in the original styrofoam box (outer cover missing) with one major exception...  No transfromer/controller to run it.  What type of controller does it take and is it available?   

I had donated it to a church Garage Sale in St. Louis County Missouri, and they are trying to price it,  any suggestions? 

Jcooper