What is your average price spent on ONE engine?

[ondrek]

I am so much wanting the USA trains B6 0-6-0 but its listed at $1,499.00 and I am just wondering if people really spend that on engines.

I want I want I want, but i dont know if i should

[Anonymous]

I watch for specials in the garden rail magazine, if it's something i like and the price i can aford, i'll by it. I am still looking for one certain RS-3 ,WHICH is comming out next year, with the RR name where i retired from., i voted$ 200--to--$ 400 dollers. ben[:)]

[vsmith]

I have yet to spend over the $100 limit I imposed on myself when I started in LS.
The most I have spent was $130 for a Bachmann Silverton Flyer train set but seeing that I got two cars and powerpack I consider that allowable under my limit. I gave myself this limit to keep my spending under control. As it is I still ended up with several engines, LGB Porters, HLW Macks, MDC Hustlers, and Bachmann Tankers for my tiny tiny layout

Average price? Hmmm.... $60

[Anonymous]

I couldn't vote because I don't as of yet own motive power, I did however set my sights lower on $ going from LGB mogul, to bashing one out of an Annie.

[Anonymous]

This is a hard question, do you regard the ICE train as an engine. my little Stainz is only worth about $400 with the works, but my Mallet is worth more like $4,000.

Any way what dollars are we talking about here, Aussie dollars or Euro's or what? As this is a multi national forum this should be spelt out more clearly!



Regards Ian

[Anonymous]

Hi
I dont have an average price I would spend on a locomotive.
I judge that for each one I buy
While I will hapily spend $2000Au on a live steam locomotive
I am not willing to spend that kind of money on an Electric locomotive no matter what the out line.
I dont care what the manufacturers say an electric is not worth any where near the same as a live steam locomotive
regards John

[grandpopswalt]

I'll pay about $100 USD for a loco and no more. I have the time and the inclination and just enough talent to kitbash and scratchbuild just about any loco I want. Also, I'm not hung up on exact prototype replicas. I model a very generic backwoods, post depression era, narrow gauge railroad. My locos and rolling stock are plausible but in no way attempt to replicate any specific prototype. I pity the guy who's decided that he has to model the New York Central exactly as it was in July of 1940. He's pretty much stuck with having to buy specific locos from specific manufacturers and has to pay whatever the going price is.

In my opinion people should limit their hobby spending to just a couple percent of their annual income, remember, IT"S JUST A HOBBY! My goal is to leave my heirs their inheritance in the form of stocks, bonds, and cash. I don't want to saddle them with hundreds of expensive but hard-to-dispose-of models which may or may not fetch the original selling price.

Please excuse me while I go glue on an extra pair of drivers onto an old Mogul to turn it into a Consolidation that looks something like a C-16.

Walt

[kstrong]

I have to agree with John here. I can't really say an "average," since there's a considerable price gap between my live steam locos and my electric mice. The mathematical average would be in the $400 range, but that's hardly an accurate reflection of actual money spent. The "average" price for my exectric locos is somewhere around $250, while the "average" live steam price is in the $600 range. (Both "low" when compared to the average price of what's available.)

What's also not reflected in that response is how much I'd be willing to spend for a model of a specific prototype. While I have yet to pay more than $900 for a live steam loco (Roundhouse boiler/chassis kit), I'd certainly be willing to part with more for the right locomotive. I'm not going to spend 4 figures on a locomotive that doesn't resemble anything that ran on the East Broad Top. (And for that price, it better be live steam) I'm also not going to spend 4 figures on a locomotive more than once, at least not without buying something sparkly for the other half first. There are too many other "necessities" in life that require that kind of cash outlay for me to be able to justify 2 large-price-tag locos.

An average price, though, is hard to figure given the diversity of prototypes available. I'd be loathe to pay $500 for a live steam 0-4-0, but a mogul at around twice that may be a good value. (Accucraft's 2-6-0 is a great value for the price, though not something I desire.) Electric locos go the same way. Is a $250 LGB 0-4-0 the same value as a $400 Bachmann 2-8-0? That's a personal decision each of us makes. Is a die-cast electric locomotive worth three times the price of a plastic locomotive? If it's a prototype you covet, then the answer most likely would be "yes." Otherwise, let it sit on the store shelf, and buy it on clearance for half the price.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

GRAND POPS WALT
Dont glue your fingers fast to the engine???? I said 2-to-4hundred , but it's usely around150 -to 200 hundred , i watch for specials .,being retired you watch the bucks a little more and if i don't need it ,i don't buy it ben[:)][2c]

[Anonymous]

My average price doesn't really count as I am into live steam and my least expensive engine was $400 and the C-21 cost me about $2100. The others are closer to an average tho being $1250 to $1550..
Cheers,

[ondrek]

i guess i must be pretty green, I had no idea that most of you pay around $100 for an engine. I guess i just dont know where to look.

I dont plan on modeling a paticular scene, railroad or era. My wife and i just want some made up layout. I just really like the looks and operations of the B6 060. I am in pursute of one for my HO layout as well.

Kevin

[grandpopswalt]

Hi ben,

Not to worry, I managed to not get my hand kitbashed into the C-16. I'm retired as well and I know exactly what you mean about watching your expenses. I suppose that if I had a six figure income I might spend a little more..... but not much more. Unless of course I knew for certain that the investment, and at $1000 to $4000 USD it is an INVESTMENT, would appreciate in value over time. But for the time being, I'll spend the $100 on trains and the $4000 on a good solid stock. And I'd bet that I enjoy the hobby just as much as the guy who spends tens of thousands of dollars on it.

Walt

[Anonymous]

Most of my LOCO stuff is BACHMANN, thus I try to keep purchases to $160 or so. There have been a few Aristocraft things I'm after.

[Anonymous]

I voted on the $200-400 but so far the only 'new' train I have bought is the Sam's Club Annie for $129. A used shay cost me $300 and then found out the new version was comming out so I don't know if I'll get one of the new ones now or not. I suuuure want one tho!!! My first large scale purchase was a small layout from a friend that had 75 ft of track a LGB mogul, Bman 4-6-0, Crest pwr supply and TE for $500 and I did buy a new F-3 for 150 bucks. Still wanting more stuff

T Ranes

[hobbyfossi201]

Hello all,
I votet $ 400 - 600; I´ve 4 engines in stock, for 2 of them i payed more than usd 1000, but the´ve been ever since my favorites.
in future i´ll spend more money for track and accessories.
best regards
klaus

[Anonymous]

most of mine are in the 100-200 price range and a few at more then 200.

[Chompers]

I voted for the 200-400 range. the reason is i am only 13 and need a low cost live steam ruby. Money only comes a round 2 times a year and latly I have been spending all of my Money on track.

MY Grand father bought me a $800 (US) LGB mogul at the age of four. It's still running strong.

I bought a Bachman Spectrum mogul for $200 on EBAY.

Ever since i visited a friends live steam railroad I have dreamed of owning/running a live steam engine. So now i plan on buying a Accucraft Ruby Kit for $250 at Ridge Road Station.


It depends if it is a Bachman engine i am willing to spend around $200 for it. On the other hand if it is a LGB Mogul then i would spend 3 to 4 times that. [bow]

If the engine is live steam i am willing to pay a lot more than a Bachman engine whos tender conecter breackes when you drive it. [banghead][swg]

[Curmudgeon]

Hard. Real hard.
I've got about 16-18 in battery r/c, plus a whole sXXt-pot full in boxes........
Add in the live steamers, probably $350 average.
Some I picked up "distressed", some as "junk", some just "used".....some "new".

I seem to be able to ressurrect dead locos.

Maybe even less.

TOC

[Anonymous]

Do you want to know how much, or what our wives think? Just kidding, happily my wife is all in on the RR obsession. Unfortunately the price I've paid is in the moderate to high range, but the quality is good and I'm willing to accept quality over quantity. Of course being a steam nut doesn't help.

[ttrigg]

I'm going to have to echo Vic's comments.

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

I have yet to spend over the $100 limit I imposed on myself when I started in LS.
The most I have spent was $130 for a Bachmann Silverton Flyer train set but seeing that I got two cars and powerpack I consider that allowable under my limit. I gave myself this limit to keep my spending under control. As it is I still ended up with several engines,

Average price? Hmmm.... $60

The only "self poewered units" I have acquired that were NOT in a "starter set" have been street cars ($60 USD) and gadydancer ($45 USD). The transformers in the starter kits serve well as power supplies for lighting and other such thins. One powers the "auto reversing" section for the street car. If you do not like the cars in a starter kit, the make a good resource for building something else, or even a "train wreck". I've got one shorty box car that will eventually become a "section house" (spent three hours trying to get it to rum smooth but failed.)

[piercedan]

Tough question as I got many sets for less than $200.

Engine, 2 cars, circle of track and powr pack plus 4 figures, what was the engine cost??

I did get 3 sets for $50 each with track and power pack. Plus engines for as low as $20.00.

This is offset by a Mogul purchase plus a mallet.

Then some of us add extra power pickups and add sound thus driving the inexpensive loco cost up.

A better poll might be how many engines do we own at various initial costs.

[BudSteinhoff]

I said $400 +average but added to that price for each is sound and on-board receiver .
Bud

[Anonymous]

I am just getting back into G scale with a Euro theme this time. My normal range is $200-500 but the one excepting that I am saving for now is the 2-10-2T Harz railway loco by LGB, it will be a major purchase being over 1k in price. Maybe by the time I have the funds saved up I will catch one on evilbay cheaper. Cheers Mike

[Anonymous]

Around the £200 mark at the moment, though I have plans for one more expensive. Currently saving for one of the LGB Bernina line railcars (the restored No.34 in yellow) which will probably be around the £500 mark - my first big loco!

[Train 284]

I try not to spend more than $200, mainly because I don't have a steady source of income!

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Don't know, and don't particularly care! I usually use cash, so if I see something i like and have the cash in my pocket, I buy it! No cash on hand, no buy. Before I catalog order the cash has to be in my pocket to put in an envelope to pay the card bill when it comes.

too easy to get into trouble with that plastic money and this hobby!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Bob Johnson

Don't know, and don't particularly care! I usually use cash, so if I see something i like and have the cash in my pocket, I buy it! No cash on hand, no buy. Before I catalog order the cash has to be in my pocket to put in an envelope to pay the card bill when it comes.

too easy to get into trouble with that plastic money and this hobby!

Now if only everyone could follow that, we wouldn't have such a debt problem. I will never buy something unless I have the money in my bank account or have just paid the cheque in (in the case of birthday, Christmas, etc). I've missed a few deals by doing this but I'd rather that than a hefty overdraft to pay off.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ondrek

I am so much wanting the USA trains B6 0-6-0 but its listed at $1,499.00 and I am just wondering if people really spend that on engines.

I want I want I want, but i dont know if i should

You've got to own the USA Hudson before you can purchase the B6. It's in the rules and you can look it up. [:)] [:)] [:)]

[Anonymous]

No average price. I pay what I pay.

[Anonymous]

$200 but only lgb or hartland but no bachmans in 'g' guage