When is Enough?

[pimanjc]

When do you achieve having "enough" locos, cars, structures, figures, or other trains "goodies?"    

After I won and paid an auction on Ebay yesterday, for an auto-carrier, the thought came to me:  "When will I actually run this car, and what will I consist it with?"  I already have more rolling stock than I can use at one time effectively.  There are five or six buildings laying in wait for some unspecified future project or replacement.  When is enough, enough?

Background:
The HedgeApple Falls RioGram RR is fairly compact, peanut shaped, having two independent cross-switched loops with length 60ft. and width ranging from 12ft to 25ft.  Transition Era is modeled in structures and figures with a Family Events/History theme.
    As the RR has evolved, several themed consists have developed:
1] "Where's the Beef" consist w/stock cars and reefers - steam or FA/FB, 10-15cars.
2]  Mixed freight consist w/boxcars, flatcars, tankers [rule of 3's], 10-30 cars including some of above.
3]  Streamliner consist [SF] - F-ABB & 8 cars.
4]  Sierra passenger consist w/ Pacific or Mikado power.
5]  Railbus
6]  Rogers or Porter w/ small NG wood sided cars or logging cars.
7]  Whimsical trains, ie. Easter Bunny Eggliner, Santa trains x3.
8]  SD-45 [I know - out of Era - I wish I had gotten an E-8 instead.] that doesn't get used much.

Although this is a small collection compared to many of you, the operating limitations of my layout are quickly reached.  At most, only three of the consists can be operated at the same time.  Easily, only two can be operated concurrently.

WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH?  ['cause I still want more & Wifey thinks there is already too much ]

Do any of you "feel my pain" or face this "dilemma?"

JimC.

[GearDrivenSteam]

My goal is two non steamers (a gas critter and a 45 ton diesel) and two small steamers. With each, I plan to run no more than 4 pieces of rolling stock. That's when it will be enough for me.

[piercedan]

Enough is when we run out of room to store the new items.

[gbbari]

That could certainly have an effect on future purchases! But..there are always storage shed kits at Home Depot...

Seriously, I have been collecting trains for only 3 years and am just starting my layout now. It will be about 40' x 30' L-shaped with over 300' of track (2 seperate loops and lots of R5 & R3 curves). I have more trains than I can (or know how to) run on it simultaneously. My plan has been to pick a few trains for every running session and carry them out to the pike from the basement where they are stored. I have 8 complete but short (3 - 5 car) passenger and freight trains ranging from early 1900s American and European steam, thru 1950s American streamline style, to a Swiss RhB Krok with Alpine Classic cars that needs catenary to look correct. I have two geared steam locos with no rolling stock purchased for them yet. 

So my collection will make a prototype loyalist or a fine scaler wince , but faithfulness to prototype of one era is not essential to my enjoyment of the hobby. Makes the selection of buildings and scenery a bit trickier but what the hey.

So my - buy what you want as long as you can *enjoy* owning them - whether to run on your layout or to display & admire somewhere in the house. It's your $$. I guess I wouldn't buy a train only to keep it in a box in a closet somewhere unless it is being purchased purely as an investment - and that is always a bit of a gamble.

-GB

[Capt Bob Johnson]

It's enough when they send me doddering to the old folks home and all my money is needed to pay for the home!

[tangerine-jack]

Never.  Umm, let me think, uh....NEVER.   Never never never never.

[ttrigg]

Never.  Umm, let me think, uh....NEVER.   Never never never never.

I expect to get may last piece of GRR equipment about fifteen minutes after the mortician puts me into that pine box.

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Never.  Umm, let me think, uh....NEVER.   Never never never never.

I would tend to agreeeeee.....

Byron

[Marty Cozad]

Jim

 Good Q. I probably will never have my dream RR. If I was rich with lots of land and mountains in the background maybe.

For now we must be happy with our tiny empirers... 

[EMPIRE II LINE]

 

Just went to a show there in Deltona, found another MTH Dealer Appriciation CAT tanker car the yellow 06 one, and stopped by the Train Depot in Winter Park on the way home, picked up a consignment item, an Aristo--Hooker Tanker, new in the box.

How was that......Never ah Never, never, never, never...Yeah, that was it...

Byron    

[kimbrit]

I have enough, my storage is full and I can't really see me buying anything else. Until I walk into my favourite shop and see the loco/coach/goods wagon that I've always wanted and I think, just one more!! Life's like that, Gail does it with shoes, two feet and there must be fifty pairs of shoes??

Cheers,

Kim

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Kim,

I'm told that I just don't understand; It's a woman thing.   I didn't know there were shades of black!

To me a pair of black, a pair of brown, and a pair of sneakers takes care of every occasion; however, for the women it's not only the color, but the style, mood, occasion, time of the month, and match with handbag all enter into the equasion.  

[kimbrit]

You've got that one right Bob. I'll have to try that one on her when I'm buying trains!

Kim

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Enough is when we run out of room to store the new items.

 

So is that before you've asked her for the spare bedroom ??? Or after it's already filled....

Byron  

[Mike Dorsch CJ&M r.r.]

I can't walk out of St. Aubins empty handed . Lets see .. I have only one heritage II BNSF locomotive and they usually run 3 or 4 in the average consist . Then theres the NEED for more double stack cars . I don't care what my wife says 13 platforms isn't enough . And the list goes on and on . I guess i'll never grow up !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[pimanjc]

Quote KenB, over on another forum where this question was also posted:

Let's just face the obvious. Most of us are just big kids in regard to trains. When does a kid have enough candy?"

What a great answer!!!!!

I really have enjoyed all the great answers and ideas expressed in this thread. 

Thanks to all of you that posted.

JimC.

[dwbeckett]

Never.  Umm, let me think, uh....NEVER.   Never never never never.

 

Welcome back I've been offline for a bit (using laptop now) did you ever go over to Iraqi?

Dave

[EMPIRE II LINE]

[quote user="Mike Dorsch CJ&M r.r."]

I can't walk out of St. Aubins empty handed . Lets see .. I have only one heritage II BNSF locomotive and they usually run 3 or 4 in the average consist . Then theres the NEED for more double stack cars . I don't care what my wife says 13 platforms isn't enough . And the list goes on and on . I guess i'll never grow up !

 

Yeah go for it Mike,

4 of those would really look neat pulling a 70 to 80 car consist of STACKS !!!!!

Byron

 

This things act'in a bit crazy here......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mike Dorsch CJ&M r.r.]

Man i'm sorry guys about all the open space in my reply . I don't know what I did and trying to edit it didn't seem to fix it eather .

[canoncityxp]

Please reference the thread about the huge ebay estate sale? scam?  The quantity portrayed in the original pictures might be close to "enough".  I didn't say quality, I said quantity.  I keep hoping to win the Lottery so as to put a G scale factory on retainer to fill a 10 acre garden.

[vsmith]

On another site I mentioned where my motive roster numbers at, and I have to admit I think I've finally hit the wall spacewise, those two new gooses did it!

I've run out of room completely inside and the garage storage is full up now also, so for the time being, I have reached "enough" ...I had no plans to buy anything new in the forseeable future anyway (nothing interesting out there), but I've got a great many projects to finish as it is anyway, that or else I'll have to sell off some stuff...

[pimanjc]

OH Dear!!!!!!
I just bought 32 axles of metal wheels, an Auto Carrier, and a 2K2 Phoenix shound card....and then a computer interface for the card.

I guess I didn't have enough [despite what Wifey says].

JimC.[/

[EMPIRE II LINE]

OH Dear!!!!!!
I just bought 32 axles of metal wheels, an Auto Carrier, and a 2K2 Phoenix shound card....and then a computer interface for the card. 

I guess I didn't have enough [despite what Wifey says].

JimC

Jim,

You'd hate to hear what all I've just received in the past 3 weeks, Guess I'm gonna have to rent a storage room. Going to another show in Orlando this week end......

And yes, you never have enough STEEL WHEELS....

Roll'in-Roll'in-Roll'in, Keep those cars a Roll'in.... 

Byron 

[trainboy414]

when you run out of space you just add an addition or another shed or just buy a new house with more space.

[railroadboy]

When do you achieve having "enough" locos, cars, structures, figures, or other trains "goodies?"    

After I won and paid an auction on Ebay yesterday, for an auto-carrier, the thought came to me:  "When will I actually run this car, and what will I consist it with?"  I already have more rolling stock than I can use at one time effectively.  There are five or six buildings laying in wait for some unspecified future project or replacement.  When is enough, enough?

Background:
The HedgeApple Falls RioGram RR is fairly compact, peanut shaped, having two independent cross-switched loops with length 60ft. and width ranging from 12ft to 25ft.  Transition Era is modeled in structures and figures with a Family Events/History theme.
    As the RR has evolved, several themed consists have developed:
1] "Where's the Beef" consist w/stock cars and reefers - steam or FA/FB, 10-15cars.
2]  Mixed freight consist w/boxcars, flatcars, tankers [rule of 3's], 10-30 cars including some of above.
3]  Streamliner consist [SF] - F-ABB & 8 cars.
4]  Sierra passenger consist w/ Pacific or Mikado power.
5]  Railbus
6]  Rogers or Porter w/ small NG wood sided cars or logging cars.
7]  Whimsical trains, ie. Easter Bunny Eggliner, Santa trains x3.
8]  SD-45 [I know - out of Era - I wish I had gotten an E-8 instead.] that doesn't get used much.

Although this is a small collection compared to many of you, the operating limitations of my layout are quickly reached.  At most, only three of the consists can be operated at the same time.  Easily, only two can be operated concurrently.

WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH?  ['cause I still want more & Wifey thinks there is already too much ]

Do any of you "feel my pain" or face this "dilemma?"

JimC.

Never is enough

[EMPIRE II LINE]

When do you achieve having "enough" locos, cars, structures, figures, or other trains "goodies?"  

JimC.

 Never is enough

 

Guess that about sums it up, Jim,----- NEVER,

Just got back from the show in Orlando, another $5--.-- or so spent. But now I purchased the LGB  steamer I've been wanting to get, 0-4-0 Great Northern, Vandy tender W/sound, plus was able to find the remaining 67403 wheels I needed, alot cheaper than they're going for on the old Evil-bay, as of late...And a slew of parts I can use for repairs on both My "G" and "O" scale stuff. Even picked up a nice little used LGB steamer for my grandson to go with his LGB "TOY TRAIN" stuff.

Plus some other collectables and stuff, always need more train STUFF....

Byron 

[Anonymous]

You guys (and gals) are great...just a bunch of big kids...a bit spoiled but i always thought spoiled was another version of loved...

 

[hoofe116]

 

For me, what I've accumulated the past year is enough. I've found I want, more than anything, to 'bash or scratchbuild--not sure exactly what is called 'making stuff from junk'. My modest storage space is full.

I have the LGB tramway loco that 'just reached out and touched me'. It won't do on my pre 1900 RR, but I don't care. I enjoy looking at it every time I glance at the mantlepiece.

I have numerous NB, Scientific, Echo X-6-X's, and an unknown number of B'man 10 wheelers in various states of disrepair. Or dismemberment.

I have NO track laid, nor do I possess any to lay. I have a test track.

I just bought a van for the wife, so things are gonna be really tight for awhile.

So, you see, I'm good--unless a really cheap, injured B'mann comes along. Or any species of 0-4-0, or those nifty little Echo/NB gondolas, or....

Hey, the secret for me is, it's got to hold promise. Of enjoyment in one form or another. If it does, and it's affordable, it's gonna be mine.

Why?

Because it's something to look forward to. To imagine about. Imagination is the best thing I have going for me. It always has been.

Les W.

[Rex in Pinetop]

Well said.  When imagination is gone so goes the spark that keeps us alive.  Yes we're a bunch that now plays with toys to some of our friends but I could say the same thing about the adicted golfers.  There is a lot of imagination in our unique creations.  Some comes from memories but a lot comes out of thin air and keeps us sane. ...  Well maybe partially sane anyway.

Rex

[yougottawanta]

I dont think ever.With our local LHS going out of buisness and the 50% off sales I have AMASSED a lot of stuff. In fact so much I purchased some wire metal shelf stands that I have loaded with parts,people,couplers etc. My wife told me the other day my train room looks like a hobby store.I have somewhere between 60 to 80 locomatives including two Big Boys (Bowser and a Trix)  ,over two Hundred pieces of rolling stock,tree's,vehicles,model buildings,stone ,paint etc...............and am trying to cut a deal with the owner of the LHS now he has four small grocery carts packed and overflowing that he wants to sell at an even steeper discount.  

I believe John D. Rockerfellow stated once when asked , When will you have enough ? He replied "When I get just a little bit more"