"Too many"?
What sick barnacle came up with the idea of putting those two words together? There is no too many, especially if there is an apparent lack of stuff from railroads from the southeastern US that aren't 1970s to today's diesels. Seriously, what is with you manufacturers? Nobody buys them because you don't make them frequently enough, expand your horizons darn-it!
I have too many locomotives in kit or "waiting to be modified" status. And I have too few that are usable on the layout.
Fred W
How about? One more than you can run on your layout at the same time.
SeeYou190 jlehnert +1 . I do not uderstand the "+1" post. Did you just want to bump this thread back to the top? . Is this an internet forum thing I do not understand? . Please enlighten me. . -Kevin .
jlehnert +1
.
I do not uderstand the "+1" post. Did you just want to bump this thread back to the top?
Is this an internet forum thing I do not understand?
Please enlighten me.
-Kevin
I took it to mean 1 more than he has now.
And it's always 1 more to have too many.
Paul
jlehnert+1
Living the dream.
This threads been run a few times but I think it always worth given the John Deere Rockefellar when asked when he knows he will have enough money " when I get a little bit more "
This I think applies to some of us about licomatives - when I get just one more ... I have a bunch and just know it is around three hundred. But I have been buying since my teen years...and now I am finally getting ready to build my dream layout. Where they will all be run !
I;ve never set myself a limit,what I did do is limit myself to one railroad. At one point I had my main love CP rail and then figured I needed some CN and NYC and D&H to intermingle with the cPR like in the real world.
Needless to say that got really "hoardy" really quick I have sinmec limited myself to a ten year span of 1959-69 so all the nice CPR Tuscan and grey and I can still throw a bit oif CPR steam in.I'm still in the 30 locomotive range but at least it's manageble.
Now I have a friend who is a strong believer in you can't run just one, so he buys two of everything. I tell him he needs help , but hey we all have our issues.
Rob
I couple of years ago in the Southern Pacific yard in Colton California the Union Pacific had over a mile of locomotives lined up together next to the freeway. I guess they had too many after they repainted all of the old Southern Pacific units. As for me, my collection has 57 but there are some holes which still need to be filled. I kind of model two railroads because they are located in the same area, The Santa Fe and the Southern Pacific. There are also locomotives from Amtrak and Metrolink, a stray from Chicago Northwestern, Rio Grande, and Union Pacific plus three restored steam locomotives from Santa Fe, Central Pacific, and Virginia and Truckee. Of course the diesels never run on their own. They always have helpers. Sometimes they run in latches of up to five or more but mostly in groups of three. I like having lots of bridge traffic on my layout to go over the pass so I need lots of locomotives. There is no law that limits how many locomotives you can collect. They don’t have to fit on your layout. It’s called a collection. The sixth tunnel motor might not be as thrilling as the first but I still need at least two more to complete the collection so I can have two sets of four. And there are so many different models that having two or three diesels of each kind adds up to a lot of engines. Currently I am concentrating on adding to my steam collection. I want to get more from the Virginia and Truckee. I have the Genoa but I want some of the others too like the Reno, the Tahoe, and the Inyo because they are named after locations where I have been and one day I am going to build a second layout for the V&T.
I totally agree with you. I have had a small layout for over twenty years. I really slowed down my purchases of items especially locomotives. I have little free time and I barely run what I have, if I add more locomotives that means I will run what I currently have even less. I am enjoying what I have and having fun doing it.
Let me preface my earlier statement. While I can understand collecting rolling stock, locomotives - to me - is a different matter because they require maintenance to operate and run well. It seems there's a point where having a large amount of certain things (e.g. locomotives, layout, trackwork, etc.) would have diminishing returns because you're spending so much time trying to maintain it.
But, to each his own. What is one man's toil might just turn out to be another man's enjoyment.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage Ten years ago I knew a fella who had over 400 locomotives...and he didn't even have a layout. That - to me - is too many. If you can't even break them out of the box to operate them - what's the use?!? And, yea, I'm not one whose real keen on "collecting". If I have it; I'm going to run it. Tom
Ten years ago I knew a fella who had over 400 locomotives...and he didn't even have a layout. That - to me - is too many. If you can't even break them out of the box to operate them - what's the use?!?
And, yea, I'm not one whose real keen on "collecting". If I have it; I'm going to run it.
I shared a cubicle about 20 years ago with a guy who collected N scale. Not for some future layout, he just liked N scale. He would go to all the train shows and buy N scale locomotives and cars. He favored N&W, but bought other roads as they appealed to him. He had a circle of track and a small power pack to test run the locomotives, but that was it.
You won't find them on this forum, but there are folks who just like to collect trains. Just like others collect stamps, coins, etc.
tstage Ten years ago I knew a fella who had over 400 locomotives...and he didn't even have a layout. That - to me - is too many. If you can't even break them out of the box to operate them - what's the use?!?
Yea I'm one of those people. I been collecting rolling stock and motive power for 11 years to build my mid-sized layout.
I almost got my complete roster for my railroads. I got a nice decent amount of freight cars.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Obvious answer is collecting for a layout in the future. Not everyone is wonderful and has a nice basement or other space to build a layout, but they are working toward a goal that may be months or years in the future. In the mean time they are often disparaged as "collectors". Terrible isn't it?
I didn't have over 400 locomotives but I had/have around 140 and for a number of years struggled while under onerous child support and private school costs while I lived in tiny crackerbox apartment. But during those years, I planned for the eventuality that I would be able to build a layout and get those trains out of the box.
So those of you who've been fortunate to have a stable life, and a nice basement, count your blessing and have a little patience for those who are a less fortunate but are building a roster for a time when the can run those trains. Not everyone has "arrived" yet.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
tstageTen years ago I knew a fella who had over 400 locomotives...and he didn't even have a layout. That - to me - is too many. If you can't even break them out of the box to operate them - what's the use?!? And, yea, I'm not one whose real keen on "collecting". If I have it; I'm going to run it. Tom
Tom,
I agree...........I want to run my stuff. However, I knew a fellow many years ago who just collected cabooses and business cars. I'm not sure of the numbers but I'm pretty sure he had over 300 different cabooses and paint schemes. The business cars were in the hundreds too. His layout...........a 3' section of True Scale roadbed, code 100 brass rail and an AHM USRA Heavy 4-6-2 with a B&O business car! Didn't even own a transformer. lol
Everyone has their "thing" it seems.
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
OK... as of right now I DO NOT have too many locomotives. I have a vey strict plan for the last STRATTON & GILLETTE railroad layout, and every locomotive has a place on the layout and on the operational plan. I only need three more locomotives to complete the roster.
1) Another GP-9 (Proto-2000)
2) Centercab Switcher (probably brass Whitcomb)
3) Streamlined 4-8-4 in brass
So, I do not have too many (running) locomotives.
This brings me to an interesting point. I planned my next layout with an interest in taking photographs. I also own what I will call "The Prop Fleet". These are well painted and detailed locomotives, many of interesting prototypes, but none of them run. Many were purchased for a song because they are dead. I bought some brass steamers for under $40.00 each for this fleet.
Does the prop fleet count? If so... Yes! I have way too many.
tatans The obvious answer is: if you have too many, you have too many, and don't try to convince yourself or others that you don't, you KNOW you have too many.
The obvious answer is: if you have too many, you have too many, and don't try to convince yourself or others that you don't, you KNOW you have too many.
Well, actually my problem is I don't KNOW how many I have. I'm pretty sure it's more than 50 and I think it's less than 100. They're spread across HO, S, Sn2, On30, O scale, 3 rail O gauge, and Large Scale. But I've lost count. Actually, I've lost track of where some of my train stuff is in my basement. I may even have an N scale locomotive somewhere. Part of the problem is the little scales, N and HO, are hard to keep track of.
Oh well, it'll be fun when I move in the next couple of months - seeing what turns up.
Drumguy . My most cherished is a Bill Bruford signature series, I use it rarely only because it is the loudest thing on planet earth. But it's the last one I will ever part with.
. My most cherished is a Bill Bruford signature series, I use it rarely only because it is the loudest thing on planet earth. But it's the last one I will ever part with.
Off topic - hands down favorite drummer - I had a Bengal cat named Bruford - at least I know that some of you would know how to pronounce his name (kept getting bewford and other abominations from guests)
I have guitar my brother made me - rarely play it - wouldn't ever part with it...
As for locos - I try to buy ones that fit my OPs scheme and era - I do have a few "Brufords" though..
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
ATSFGuy When you notice you're starting to run out of room to store your railroad stuff. Then you know it's time to move some of it from your bedroom to that spare room down the hall.
When you notice you're starting to run out of room to store your railroad stuff.
Then you know it's time to move some of it from your bedroom to that spare room down the hall.
i suspect many of us have passed that mark
Joe Staten Island West
I have 23 "locomotives" in service. 3 are dummies, but they have sound decoders. 2 are trolleys. 2 are powered subway cars.
I sort-of have a dual-era layout, so I have both steam and diesel rosters, plus a GG-1. I've got an SD-9 that has trouble on some of my tighter curves, and no decoder yet, so that's "not in service" and may never be.
I wouldn't get rid of any of them. If I had a bigger layout, I might get a few more, but for now, I'm happy with what I've got.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I know I have too many and again I don't.
It's hard modeling 30 years of railroading when locomotives easy and hard to get.
And they say there are no dumb questions!!!!!
oldline1
without doubt some very interesting responses here. Like I said before, Im trying to have at least two from each class the Wheeling has, so I'd need at least 8 units, but since the Wheeling runs triple headed consists, I'd need at least 9 or 12. All variables
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
RobertSchuknecht Jimmy_Braum ...how many locomotives is too many for you? On my layout every engine and car that goes to staging or an interchange gets rotated off the layout. Therefore I can never have "too many" locomotives. The number on the layout at any one time is self regulating.
Jimmy_Braum ...how many locomotives is too many for you?
...how many locomotives is too many for you?
On my layout every engine and car that goes to staging or an interchange gets rotated off the layout. Therefore I can never have "too many" locomotives. The number on the layout at any one time is self regulating.
How many are too many? If counting locomotives, what are the requirements?
Like Brother Shuknecht, I send entire trains to staging - a LOT of trains, each with one or more locomotives. Between the Netherworld and cassette staging I can easily have thirty trains invisible to the modeled scene, each with one or more locomotives or power cars (EMU and DMU) assigned.
Then, my main focus of activity is a station where the catenary ends. Thus, each train passing through needs at least two locomotives, one a juice jack and the other a coal- or diesel-burner. Sometimes that's two coal- or diesel- burners. Since there are several different classes of trains, and locomotives of varying capacities, Tomikawa has ready tracks, temporary holding space for locomotives awaiting their specific assignments.
Locomotives sometimes require maintenance. Thus, I have several 'spares' which are rotated into the slots of units pulled for servicing or repairs. This might cause a steam-plus-electric schedule to run with a through-running diesel for a few days. Fortunately, my scheme is flexible enough to allow that.
I own a half-dozen 'nostalgia' locomotives, U. S. prototypes run on the layouts of clubs of which I was once a member. I have threatened to build a diorama for them to occupy. For now, they live in boxes - the only part of my operational locomotive fleet that doesn't reside on powerable rails. (Trains move on to, and off, cassettes under their own power. Once detached from the layout end-of-track, the cassette rails are dead.)
And then there are the assortment of 'things' available for kitbashing - which currently includes nine N-scale mechanisms that will become HOn762 motive power for the Kashimoto Forest Railway and the Harukawa Electric Railway. No rush to bring them to the workbench, since the routes in question won't have any track to run on until I build out a currently undeveloped peninsula.
So, do I have too many? Consider that one minor change in my master plan could DOUBLE my requirements. If I were to alternate between two months two decades apart I could justify a roster of much older steam, and some wooden DMU, that were scrapped before 1964. In 1944 the Imperial Government Railways were moving massive amounts of war traffic with anything that could develop tractive effort. Since my protolanced route is a relatively insignificant one, it wouldn't have gotten the latest and greatest in motive power. I could see it soldiering on with fifty year old British-built tank locomotives and superannuated Alcos and Baldwins - rather more than needed to move traffic in September, 1964.
I actually have a few of those - assigned to the Tomikawa Tani Tetsudo, purchased from the JNR at scrap prices. The TTT is my freelance junk collector, home to ancient steam and improbable 16.5mm gauge kitbashes.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - more or less)
Drumguy Maybe there should be a poll of who has exactly 42 locos, or when they hit that milestone. Or maybe I should develop a logo for Vogon and Grebulon Line. Or Steve should shut this one down before the absurdity obfuscates further...
Maybe there should be a poll of who has exactly 42 locos, or when they hit that milestone. Or maybe I should develop a logo for Vogon and Grebulon Line. Or Steve should shut this one down before the absurdity obfuscates further...
I'm still on the Bill Bruford part, such an incredible drummer.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.