For the past four years, I've enjoyed seeing the photos of the layouts and "train rooms" of the CTT family. Was wondering: What percentage of your collection do you run, display or have in storage? How often do you rotate the current layout stuff with the items you have on display and do you ever rotate into and out of any of the stored items? As always, many thanks.
I have a fairly large accumulation that was built over decades of purchasing locomotives and rolling stock from the various manufactures. I try to put a different consist on the layout every 1 or 2 weeks. Just this past weekend I assembeled a tanker consist that has the MTH George Bush 41 SD 70 Ace on the lead, this loco had not seen any action for over a year.
Bill T.
North of 90% of ours is on the layout. The layout was designed with massive storage and layover capacity: it is nice to not have to go fishing around the attic whenever I want to see a given engine or car. On the other hand, there are A FEW infrequent runners which are in storage. It is fun to go up there every once in a while and bring down a "buried treasure"
My layout was designed for massive storage under the cabinet-top layout (5'x16'x 4'high). 50% percent of my collection I run on my layout. I display 25%, and store the other 25%. I rotate the current layout trains with the trains I have on display and run stored items once a year. You can view my massive storage by going to my blog: http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/
“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”
AZ-Flyer@American Flyer Cabinet-top Layout (5'x16'): http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/
Mmm....reminds me to change out some of the locomotives and cars this year.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Presently mine are 100% stored in the past had about 50% on displayed but took it down to move to another room just haven't gotten them pack up yet. But also hope to build a layout in this new bigger room also.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
As a Collector ("O", "S", "OO"), 90% displayed, 10% storage. Some moving around each time I dust them.
As a "G Gauge" operator, 95% stored on shelves in the garage or a storage shed, ready for use. A few select units on display. Boy, that "G Gauge" Challenger IS BIG.
Don U. TCA 73-5735
Interesting question. Although my tracks are screwed down, the layout changes from year to year. Even with limited space, I tried to have enough siding for all of the trains. Typically 6 or 7 trains. But this limits operations, as there are no empty sidings available to rearrange consists. So I started keeping some on the shelves. This year I intend to go even further away from the concept of having them all on the table at the same time. I plan to add at least one section where there are parallel tracks. I just like the looks of it.. So I will lose some siding length. I guess I spend more time redesigning the layout than I do operating trains. So, to answer you question, I presently keep about 80% on the layout, none on display, but plan to reduce the amount on the table. I may add some display area, but that is just more stuff to dust.
I am still a young buck (35 :) ) and have only been collecting Lionel Post War for about five years. What I love about Post War Lionel is the nestalgia and the "play value". I love teaching my son how to operate, take care of and respect the trains. Our train room is 10x8, so I am working on multiple levels. I am going to have "sidings" underneath the layout so that everything not on the layout is easily accessable. I am almost done with a second level that will run 3 trains. The main level also runs 3 trains. My son is 2 1/2 and loves the 50 gang car, so I am going to setup a track under the main table that is his height so he can use that easily. Everything we have is a runner and we swap engines and cars out as we feel like it.
THANKS to all for your replies.
90% of my Lionel trains are on display.
10% are on the layout.
I rotate freight, passenger or engines at least once a week.
At Christmas I have Marx tinplate trains that I run under the tree and 100% are in storage (I have no room to display them).
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