What's your price limit?

[mcouvillion]

I paid about $200.00 for a Rivarossi Cab Forward that I had wanted for years. I have otherwise never paid that much for a "complete" engine. I do have about $400.00 in an Athearn Trainmaster Black Widow with new motor, Soundtraxx Fairbanks Morse decoder and 3/4" x 1.5" oval speaker, and color pinhole video camera that I assembled. It appears stock and I'm the only guy on the block with one. As far as rolling stock, I usually don't pay more than $20.00 for a kit, and it has to be REAL special. I have dropped a bunch on detailing several long passenger trains that started out economical and now look very good and perform extremely well. But, these expenses are planned long-term and are "projects" rather than simple impulse purchases. The numbers posted above are my absolute maximum impulse limits.

Mark C.

[Anonymous]

Like anyone else, it all depends on income levels, some can't drop $100 on a loco, while others have no qualms about dropping $1000.

It all depends on my budget, I've been real tight with money lately, and haven't been train shopping since Christmas. I couldn't go to Timonium since I was busy last weekend. Once I had no real problem dropping $35 on a freight car once, or $150 for a Kato conversion kit for my Kato mike, plus the mike and other parts, a little while ago. Buying my sole brass engine was my most expensive purchase, I won't quote that, but I didn't feel that it was out of line when I saved up and bought it.

Alvie.

[trainboyH16-44]

COntinually growing.
I used to say $200 Canadian, but now I am willing to spend $300 for a BLI SD40-2.
$40 for a freight car.
My name is Matthew, and I am Canadian[:)]

[Anonymous]

I haven't spent over $32 for a loco yet. I have 7 P2K's, 1 Spectrum, and a bunch of Athearn. I would consider some Atlas for $50-60, but I can't justify much more than that. I do want a Big Boy some day, but that's somewhere down the road. Most of my freight cars are Athearn BB kits at $2-5 per kit, but I also have some Atlas and Walthers RTR stuff that I got on Ebay for $10-12 per car INCLUDING shipping costs. Because I know I can aquire freights for around $10, I won't look at anything much over that. As far as the diesel locos, I look at everything that's discounted or on sale and make my decisions. I just got 4 Athearn locos in the Kodachrome paint (1 is a dummy) for $67. That works for me. I think if I wasn't able to get the good deals on the Athearns and P2K's, I'd go to $100 for a loco and $20 for a car. I guess I am a BARGAIN MODEL RR'er!!
Tim

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the item. My usual limit on used locos from eBay is around £20 or so, and my limit for new would be around £100 unless it has something special - for example, I would go over that for a BLI E5 if they ever bring one out (hint hint if anyone from BLI reads this!). I've taken a look at the Lionel Turbine as my LHS is advertising them for around £175, though I'm not sure if they have any in stock and it wouldn't really suit my layout as I run end to end on a shelf. Rolling stock is similar - £30 or so for passenger, £15 for freight, though again there are exceptions.

[SilverSpike]

The most I have spent on a single item so far is an Athern loco for $45.00, but I have a wish list for future single loco purchases going up to $130.00. I have spent more on other purchases, like flex track and multiple structures kits, that kind of thing.

Ryan

[Anonymous]

My price range for a locomotive is anywhere from $0 to $150. I always check if it is made with good quality or even a good name. If it isn't the best quality no matter how cheap it may be you' re just throwing away your money. It all adds up after awhile. For rolling stock it is from $0 to $30. I try to look for the best no matter what kind of train thing I'm looking for, but when you look for the best you may not find a very easy price to swallow.

Finlay

[grayfox1119]

Steam locomotives will obviously cost more, and if I find a loco that I need for my road, I will pay upwards to $500 for the big units. But then I have to collect bottle and cans for another year along the roadways to get my budget funds back in the black.

[Anonymous]

I grew up on Athearn Engines.

As a kid, I could not comprehend the concept of paying hundreds of dollars for an engine.

As an adult, I can not comprehend the concept of paying hundreds of dollars for an engine.

Mind you, I'm only 30, paying a mortgage, getting ready to have kids, and working on starting my own engineering business. So my disposable income is essentially non-existant.

I'm hoping to hone my MRR'ing skills for 20 years or so, at which time I'll hopefully have plenty of ca***o spend on the hobby.

However, I can't see myself getting interested in buying really nice RTR stuff. Now if there were expensive locomotive kits, I'd probably go down that route. Maybe they're out there, and I haven't found them yet.

Frankly, I'm much more intrigued by the people in the magazines who buy a $40 engine, add a bunch of details, and turn it into a killer engine.

My MRR'ing heros are the Ben King's and Bob Bordreau's out there.

One of the coolest things about this hobby are there are so many different ways to do it.

I have nothing against those who do it different ways, except for when I go into the hobby shop and the guys behind the counter talk down to me for buying "plastic" locomotives.

[Anonymous]

The highest I've paid for a single item was this BLI Flatface Cab-forward. $390! Ouch!
Usually I don't spend that much at one time. My normal price limit is $100 diesel, $200 steam.

[steveblackledge]

Depends how much i want it and what mood the wife's in ( a train that is[:-,])
i paid $65 each for two P2K SD60 spartan cab in the Oakway paint job, and just paid $300 for two BLI loco's, i could only afford to buy them by selling some older and unsuitable athearn stuff[:)]

[twhite]

For locomotives, it pretty much depends on what I want and the price of availability. The most expensive brass I paid for is about $650. Generally, I don't want to spend over $400, but again--it depends on how desperate I am for that particular model. And when you model my prototype (Rio Grande steam), you're pretty much relegated to brass. As to freight cars, I won't go over $30 for an RTR, usually like to stick to something around $10 or so. Passenger cars seem to be running around $40 for me (pullman standard).
Tom

[Anonymous]

i wont spend more than 120 on a plastic locomotive. but my last brass purchase cost me 650.00. as for freight cars, i think 30.00 is my limit.

[Anonymous]

$300.00 is my limit.

[DigitalGriffin]

$400 is my cap. But I want DCC w/Sound out of that.
Otherwise $130-$225 depending on model.

[Bikerdad]

Hmmm, seems to be about $175 for me, which is what I paid for my 2-8-8-2, in the roadname I wanted. I've never paid more than $75 for a diesel, have 1 other steam loco that broke the $100 mark, and three (Shay, Berkshire, 2-6-6-2) more on the acquisition list. I was seriously considering getting the ConCor 2-10-2, but haven't been able to bring myself to drop the $$$$ on it. Too expensive for my blood, especially coming from ConCor.

As a "set", my D&RGW PA ABA consist pulling the California Zephyr is going to top out over $500 when the decoders are installed and cars are lit. Pricey, but we're talking 3 locos w/ decoders and 11 lit cars.

Pretty much I start looking long and hard at rolling stock costing more than $15 car, most has been around $10. I've only paid more than $16 for one car, and that was a special case. Unless you count 5 unit well cars...

[Virginian]

The most I've spent for one loco was $1250, so I guess that's my limit, but I don't go that far off the deep end anymore. If someone was to introduce a nice VGN 2-10-10-2 I'd probably go $450, but wouldn't really like it much. I am not going over $300 for a Riv 2-6-6-6 that I will have to repaint, so I don't have one of those, but I am not getting antsy about it.
I now have about all the engines I need, or even want, but about three, so the pressure to get another one isn't that great. When I started out the only way I could get good prototypes in many cases was brass, so I bought brass. I do not have anything close to a fleet, and don't plan to get one.

[canazar]

Have to agree with the Big Blow...

For me, I can justify the price. I will have these engines until I die. God willing, that could be 50 years! Sp spending 300 for an engineis somehing I would hesitate to do since I know I will get my ejoymentout of it. Now, I still have to come up with the money and that is another issue all together. [:)]

[Anonymous]

I'd by that for a dollar!! (from RoboCop)

that's about my budget right now.... seeing as that is all I have right now.

[SpaceMouse]

I guess it's $150. I wainted until I found a couple BLI's that dropped below $150 and I jumped on them. Wouldn't bite above that.

[Anonymous]

I am permitted one major purchase a year. The rest is by a budget. Planning months ahead of time what I would like to get works for me. Savings go into a warchest for that one "OMG, Just gotta have that item right now!!!" purchase.

The upcoming trainshow in pine bluff ar will be the one time I can take x number of dollars and spend it freely if I should find something I like.

[Anonymous]

I once dropped $400 on my brass 2-8-8-4 AC-9, but that ws the culmination of 18 years of lusting after one. When it's not a unicorn purchase, I have a problem paying more than $10 for a car and $50 for an engine. Athearn's Blue Boxes spoiled me at a young and formative age, and with the purchase of a house on the horizon, I'm trying to keep the budget a little tighter. Shows, Trainworld and eBay are my friends.

-dave

[cheese3]

I have a $100 limit on locos and a $20 limit on rolling stock

[Anonymous]

Although my dad buys most of my stuff (he won't for much longer), I am not going to make him buy anything better than an Athearn loco and Athearn or Atlas rolling stock. He just bought a DCC system for our layout, so I don't want to ask for anything for a while. Sometime after college, I will probably buy a couple nice locomotives, but nothing more than $100-$150.

[Anonymous]

I guess I've paid as high as $350.00 for a Marklin Loco, which I actively collect, but my active fleet of locomotives are my NYC's and most are Life Likes, 1K and 2K, along with a few good ole Atherns.

[Supermicha]

As is collect only HO scale diesel and electric engines, my limit is 200 Euro, aprox. 240 US-dollars.

Micha

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by norboy



T'is better to ask for forgivness, than beg for permission.

John,
Man I like the way you think. Although It's that very philosophy that's gotten
me in hot water more than once!! Dave

[Anonymous]

OK, to give an un-biased opinion, I SEE IT, I LIKE IT, I BUY IT.

Just about how it goes in my house.

Not to say that is the best way to accumulate sock, but.......

T'is better to ask for forgivness, than beg for permission.

[AltonFan]

I consider up to $100.00 fair for an N scale locomotive. I have to think very hard to spend over $100.00, and am likely to put it on layaway and pay for it over several months. $300.00 is my top limit for N scale equipment.

I often think about going into O scale, and that would require some adjustment. If I did go into O, I would probably have a much smaller and less varied locomotive fleet.