Hi, I have been thinking about this for awhile but today one of the guys said he had lost his train records so what do you do?
Do you keep records of you trains and if so how and what do you record?
I use a spreadsheet in Excel. All train rolling stock on the layout or on the shelf and everything on the table right down to the grass. I keep item description, year produced, cost or value if known, date purchased, MFG and Part # of the item. TCA grading, and who will get what it in my passing.
I keep a copy in our safe deposit box for insurance reasons. Am I nuts??
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
I also keep a record in Excel. I bought an inventory program that had a place for photos, but I can do the same in excel. I stopped using the inventory program because after a year they wanted more money to update the program that I already paid for and it just upset me so much that I will not buy programs like that.
Anyway I keep record for two reasons. One because I have so many trains that I can’t remember them all and when I see stuff on eBay I have to check to see if I already have it.
The second and most important to me is that I’m getting older and if something happened to me I want my children to be able to sell them for a reasonable price.
My neighbor had a sudden heart attack that not even his doctor could foresee and his wife had no idea of what he had or its worth. I found a ton of his valuable stuff sitting out on the curb for the garbage man. I fear that my family may do the same because they have no idea of the value in my stuff
David BarkerRemember your regular homeowners normally will not cover a loss, you need to either schedule your collection with the insurance company, or purchase model train insurance.
Wow I didn't know that. I guess I'm going to have to check into that Thanks!
Kev - I keep an Excel list of all my inventory and I shoot pics of them as well.
Ray
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
AF53 Kev - I keep an Excel list of all my inventory and I shoot pics of them as well.
Your right guys, Pictures.
I never thought about the pictures but I started today inserting pictures into the Excel file and making a folder for them too. This will take some time to complete. I don't have any of what I would call high end stuff but it all adds up. I will start with the sets and then loose engines, then rolling stock. With well over 500 line items, not all rolling stock, I am glad I am retired so I will have the time to do it.
And I had better give the INS guy a call to see what is covered.
Hi KRM, I have kept a green columnar notebook listing my trains, books & railroad collectables including HallMark Christmas ornaments since I started in the hobby in 1966. I record the description of the piece, condition at purchase, book value at the time of purchase cost as well as date sold & price. I entered all the data into a Windows database in 2004 and keep it up to date but update my notebook also. Pictures are a good idea that I will pursue in my database record.
If your trains are highly collectable or you have a great number of pieces the safe deposit box is great. I keep my record in a fire resistant safe in our home even though my collection's runners & repaints. I have enough good pieces that I want the record kept safe.
copperkettle
Thanks for the replies guys,
I spent most of my day adding pictures to my Train Inventory Excel spreadsheet. I added 133 pictures and I am not even half way there, just the stuff I have on the table. You computer guys give me a hand here. The file size went from 194KB to 65,284KB Is that a lot??? I plan to copy all of this on a couple of thumb drives one for back up to the PC and one for the safe deposit box. What do you think??
I have a program that came with my camera. What I did was first cropped the photo to just the size of each Loco or car which reduced the photo size quite a bit by removing all that extra on top and sides. I then reduced the pixel size using the export to internet function of the software. That changed the photo size from 3.3 MB down to 59 KB for each photo.
Also I wanted all the photos to be the same size so I made a little photo taking table so that all the photos were taken at the same distance to start with.
Kev - Flash drives are real cheap. A 32GB flash drive cost under $25 and will hold more pictures than you have trains. Even if you shoot them at a high resolution it will hold thousands.
You can get a larger flash drive and back up your computer and file the flash drive away in a fireproof safe.
AF53 is correct - the drives are cheap and you don't have to worry about image size. I've done exactly the same thing he has - one for backup and one stored in a safety deposit box. I update both of them from time to time.
Ray,
Your reading my mind. I picked up two travel / flash drives and will have one here one in the safe deposit box. I also made two files. One with the pictures and one without.
I will keep the one without pictures on the PC and both on the flash drives.
Thanks.
Photos are an excellent idea. However I am laz-y. Would get a new price guide and check off each piece(s)right in the book.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
been awhile since I have been around but I love the flash drive idea thanks.
AF53 ... Flash drives are real cheap. A 32GB flash drive cost under $25 and will hold more pictures than you have trains. Even if you shoot them at a high resolution it will hold thousands. You can get a larger flash drive and back up your computer and file the flash drive away in a fireproof safe.
... Flash drives are real cheap. A 32GB flash drive cost under $25 and will hold more pictures than you have trains. Even if you shoot them at a high resolution it will hold thousands.
40 years ago i worked at Prudential insurance and their largest IBM 370 computer had an amazing 2M memory. this machine took up the space of a medium size bedroom. ...i can't even imagine the cost.
40 years later 16,000+ times that much memory can hang from your keyring and costs less than a steak dinner.
overlandflyer AF53 ... Flash drives are real cheap. A 32GB flash drive cost under $25 and will hold more pictures than you have trains. Even if you shoot them at a high resolution it will hold thousands. You can get a larger flash drive and back up your computer and file the flash drive away in a fireproof safe. 40 years ago i worked at Prudential insurance and their largest IBM 370 computer had an amazing 2M memory. this machine took up the space of a medium size bedroom. ...i can't even imagine the cost. 40 years later 16,000+ times that much memory can hang from your keyring and costs less than a steak dinner. i might yet make it another 40 years. i wonder what home computers will be like then.
16GB flash drive will hold (from a practical standpoint) about 4,500-4,700 photos, highest resolution @ about 5MB per photo. That is what the memory card in my camera informs me. If you fill up a 32 GB flash drive with photos, you have more trains stuff than anyone in the Western hemisphere or what appears on ebay!!
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Guys,
I just had a long talk with the Ins dude and he said all of the trains are covered under the home owners policy if there were to be a fire or tornado, stuff like that. He is going to work a number up for a attachment policy cost per thousand covered. I had to send him a copy of the spreadsheet so he can work the number.
It will be for just trains because when you get into large numbers for say just trains it takes away money from other things that may run you out of coverage money before everything gets replaced. He also said that the attachment would cover a train if it fell off of the table and got trashed. Something that the home owners policy will not do. He said there is a $2,500 limit on my home owners for guns. Will see what he comes up with. He also assured me that making a spreadsheet is the best way to make sure to cover them.
Very good information Kev, thanks for sharing. I've been pretty busy with work and Christmas so I haven't had a chance to talk to anybody, but I am very interested in what he comes up with.
JohnnyB,
I told him it could wait till after the holidays but I will share the information when he gets back. With young Grand Kids I like the idea it will pay if somethings falls on the floor.
I also use the excel spreadsheet for inventory. The two other pieces of information that I include on it is the last time I service the train and a column for any parts I may need. That way when I go to a train show I will have it to tell me what parts I may be looking for.
I also add repair information and the cost of parts
I add information on the items I buy from eBay. I just bought 10 Christmas cars off of eBay and I copied the photos posted along with all the information including the seller’s info.
Some of the photos show the original price tag on the box, so if there is any dispute on the value, I can prove the increase in value verified by the number of bidders. I’ve never lost anything so I don’t know how effective it will be running through the insurance, but it’s got to help in court if need be.
Guys I would HIGHLY discourage the use of flashdrives for backing up this information. Flashdrives are VERY fragile and are easily corrupted. If you REALLY want to protect your data, either buy an external drive or two, or better yet use an online backup solution.Yes they cost a bit more, but TRUST me flashdrives suck. I have lost more data due to flashdrive failure than any other backup device.
lionroar88Guys I would HIGHLY discourage the use of flashdrives for backing up this information. Flashdrives are VERY fragile and are easily corrupted. If you REALLY want to protect your data, either buy an external drive or two, or better yet use an online backup solution.
I do agree with this. I go through flash drives all the time and I have to make duplicates on my computer. I’m still using Vista and they have the Briefcase program that I use to back up the flash drive. I have gone through at least 3 flash drives in the past year.
One of my coworkers accidentally ordered the wrong USB extensions and got a dozen so I know use it to try and save my flash drives. They usually wear out at the plug and I did lost a lot of very important information on a drive at work that I’m still trying to replace.
So anyway this is what I do now in combination with the Briefcase program and it works pretty well so far, but I do just leave it plugged in to the short extension all the time. I don’t know if windows still uses Briefcase or not on the news windows.
I have a number of Norfolk Southern switch lists that were in my grip from my railroad days. As rolling stock is acquired I fill in its' information on the list just like a conductor would and keep the list in a fireproof safe. A prototypical way to keep up with what's "in your train".
This company avertises in CTT from time to time and I just got a quote for $10,000 worth of collectables for $61.00 a year thats just over $5 a month basiclly. www.collectinsure.com
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
After reading this thread, I'm thinking that it is strange that I have never really thought much about keeping a record of my trains. But, it makes good sense I believe to do so. The idea of purchasing special train coverage also sounds like a wise thing to do. Based on what I have read I'm going to begin documenting my trains to include photographing the individual pieces. It is going to take awhile with other things going on, but it sounds like something I need to do. Thanks for posting this thread. Bo
Visit my website Bo's Trains at http://www.bostrains.com
rtraincollector This company avertises in CTT from time to time and I just got a quote for $10,000 worth of collectables for $61.00 a year thats just over $5 a month basiclly. www.collectinsure.com
I am glad this post has made some of us think of this issue, part of being on the forum to me / to help each other.
RT, it seems,,,,,,, As long as someone does advertise on CTT they can keep their name on a post. IT Don't mean they are the best way to go tho, If your home INS Co will work with you, best look at them too. Bundel. CTT is going over the top on what they cut.
A good method as well is to make a CD of your inventory, also print out your inventory and have a copy in two separate locations. I have one in my safe and one at my office. Here is an example of my list.
COLLECTION Graded by Toy Train Operating Society standards
NUMBER NAME BOOK COND PAID DATE MARKET
AF ENGINES, not in sets
302AC READING LINES 1949 15.00 GD 5.00 1950 25.00
302AC READING LINES 1952 15.00 GD 5.00 2008 25.00
Great question.
Yes, but not as fancy as most of you. It is just a log which shows the Brand, Descriptive Numbers, Date of Purchase, Cost and Where purchased.
Wow! Did I really spend that much.......on a hobby?
traindaddy1.. Wow! Did I really spend that much.......on a hobby?
That was one of the disadvantages for me going to Excel, because I able to get a quick total of what I spent by simply pressing a button at the end of the column. It took me a few days to recover. LOL
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