Model Railroading?

[Razorclaw]

What are the pros and cons? Is this hobby expensive or does it depend on the person? Thanks, stephen

[fiatfan]

How does the old syaing go? If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

Seriously though, you can make the hobby as expensive or inexpensive as you wish. It will be well worth it to spend some money on decent motive power but even that can be purchased for less than $100 each. Trainland in Nw York recently ran a special on some P2K enigines for $30-$60 apiece. Cars can be purchase for $5-$10 apiece (msotly closer to $10).

If you build a railroad with a rural theme, the scenery is fairly cheap. There is another thread on how to make trees very cheaply.

So, as you indicated, it really depends on the person and how much he or she is willing to spend.

Tom

[challenger3802]

Buying from the "top" manufacturers costs dearly (Broadway, Trix/Marklin, Lionel). But searching out cheaper altenatives on the web pays dividends. I found a GG1 from IHC for around $80, a huge stepdown from the $280 (list price) of Broadway. The detailing is going to differ but that's the price you pay for a budget loco.

Ian

[Jetrock]

It isn't a cheap hobby and never has been, but it certainly isn't the least expensive hobby out there--my outlay for model railroad stuff is less than folks whose hobbies include things like regular skiing/snowboarding trips, customizing cars, owning a bass boat, and so on--but it's more expensive than, say, making things out of old Popsicle sticks.

Generally if one has some level of artistic skill and willingness to invest time rather than money you can spend less--buying kits rather than RTR, comparison shopping, being willing to refurbish used items, and generally doing stuff yourself instead of paying other people to have fun for you.

[Anonymous]

I make my spending decisions on answers to the following 2 questions:

1) Do I have the talent and/or time to build it myself?
...and...
2) Does it allow room for future expansion?

In my case, spending priorities are:
1) Power/DCC system;
2) Locomotives (incl. DCC decoders);
3) Rolling stock;
4) Track;
5) Structures;
6) Vegetation scenery (trees, grass, etc.);
7) Terrain scenery (everything else);
8) Benchwork;
9) Anything else I might have overlooked above...

[mondotrains]

Hi Stephen,
All my life I have envied people who have found a passion for a hobby....I don't care what it is. For me, having found model railroading was a God-send because I had just been laid off from my job and had lots of time on my hands.

As far as expense, you will find that model railroading is NOT expensive, especially if you spread it out over time. If you smoke, quit. The money you save will more than support this hobby. If you buy lunch every day at work, make a sandwich at home and eat that for lunch.

What I'm trying to say is that you can redirect some of your "extra" money into model railroading and it is worth every penny you have to put into it because it allows you to "play" and have fun and caters to your need to be creative. I've found that with Ebay available on-line, you can sell stuff that you later decide you don't need so your actual cost is a lot less than you would think. For instance, my first layout was built with Atlas switches and when I built my second layout, I advanced to Walther's code 83 switches. I sold the Atlas switches on Ebay for around 75% of what I had originally paid for them so I really didn't lose that much. We all tend to buy more rolling stock and engines than we really need and again, I've sold my extra stuff on Ebay, sometimes actually selling items for what I paid or more.

Hope this helps you make the decision to get into the hobby, if you haven't already.
Mondo

[camarokid]

Yes and no depending on what you want, need or just gotta have. Right now I have everything I NEED to run my railroad, but I need to DCC my locomotives while I still have a job. That's my GOTTA HAVE. I also WANT more cars and locomotives, but I don't see that happening in the very near future.
Archie

[Anonymous]

It can get expensive - just look at the BLI adverts to see how much you can spend... However, it really doesn't have to be like that. There are good, cheap locos out there and you'll often find stores offering discounts. The most expensive single loco in my fleet is probably my Proto 1k Erie-Built - If all HO diesels cost that much my fleet would be much smaller, as the rest of the collection's mainly Athearn Blue Box and a few Bachmann locos.

Buying used equipment in decent condition through eBay, swapmeets, or stores, is a great way to get your costs down - I've found Bachmann Plus F7s (very under-rated, the drive system is as quiet as a Proto) for about 2/3rds of the price of new Athearn BB locos, though my best to date has to be finding a Spectrum Dash 8 for about half list price - one of my LHS had bought a batch of them at a clearance sale.

[Anonymous]

It can be very expensive or it can be cheap. But, don't buy too cheap or you will have a layout that stutters.

[Anonymous]

I've been in the hobby since 1953, kinda of grew up in it, and I can tell you from experiance, I've never seen such a ru***o the edge as I've seen the past couple of years, Ya, we've got a ton of new gadgets and super hi performance trains to choose from, but who can afford them. I'll tell you right now, the list is getting shorter and shorter every day. Every time prices go up that list gets shorter. It's only a matter of time before some big expensive company graps up whats left of Athearn and other low cost equip companies just to kill the competition. At that time, when there's nothing left in the price range of our younger generation, the hobby will begin a very fast slip to the bottom, and it will happen almost over night. I know this sounds like gloom and doom but I've seen this happen in other hobbies as well. Marklin suffered that fate about 20 years ago when prices went thru the roof and it's never really recovered on this continent. Mark my words, it will happen, as a matter of fact, it's already started with Lionels filing. I really believe this is just the tip of the Iceburg.

[CBQ_Guy]

It can be expensive over the long haul, but so can so many other things. Start small and expand and upgrade as you are able. The joy you will/should be receiving from this hobby is certainly worth the $$. Like anything else worthwhile in life it will cost a bit but you can at least control how much you are spending. Look at how how much other hobbies and leisure time activities, or even extravagant family vacations cost, and model railroading is a bargain...and it lasts DECADES and isn't gone after a day or a week or two. Money spent is actually an investment, IMO, and will literally last you a life time. Just set priorities, limits and realistic expectations for what you can accomplish.

Have FUN!

[ksax73]

I model the present era as I model Amtrak. When thier equipment changes, so does mine so there are periods when it costs nothing for me to "model" and others when it costs an arm and a leg. One of the biggest nightmares for my theme is Amtrak changing a bulk of its equipment at some point. That results in a motherload of new equipment needed for my layout as well.

So as you can see from the other posts, it all depends on what you want to model but don't model based on what you can afford because you won't enjoy it fully and will eventually be a waste of time and money. When you model what you want and you get to experience the satisfaction of it, the money you spend (to you) will eventually be well worth it!

[mikebonellisr]

Might I suggest starting small with quality equipment,then as your intrest,budget and experience grows,you can expand and branch out into other aspects of the hobby.You may find electronics,hand laying track,super detailing motive power or building structures or scenery is what you enjoy most.Or you may just want to buy R-T-R stuff.There is something for everybody.Then there are fourms like this where you can get information and advice, and we all can learn something new through your questions.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ksax73

I model the present era as I model Amtrak. When thier equipment changes, so does mine so there are periods when it costs nothing for me to "model" and others when it costs an arm and a leg. One of the biggest nightmares for my theme is Amtrak changing a bulk of its equipment at some point. That results in a motherload of new equipment needed for my layout as well.

So as you can see from the other posts, it all depends on what you want to model but don't model based on what you can afford because you won't enjoy it fully and will eventually be a waste of time and money. When you model what you want and you get to experience the satisfaction of it, the money you spend (to you) will eventually be well worth it!

Similar, but with a variation on this, is practised by Joe Fugate on his SP Siskiyou Line set in Oregon. He models the 1980's -- right now in the "real" world it is 2004, so on Joe's layout it is 20 years earlier, 1984, though soon it will be the new year, and therefore it will be 1985 on the Siskiyou. At the end of the decade it will roll back, on Joe's layout, to 1984 again. This gives variety without needing to constantly purchase new equipment and make major scenery, structure or vehicle changes trying to keep up with the current day.

[ksax73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CBQ_Guy
Similar, but with a variation on this, is practised by Joe Fugate on his SP Siskiyou Line set in Oregon. He models the 1980's -- right now in the "real" world it is 2004, so on Joe's layout it is 20 years earlier, 1984, though soon it will be the new year, and therefore it will be 1985 on the Siskiyou. At the end of the decade it will roll back, on Joe's layout, to 1984 again. This gives variety without needing to constantly purchase new equipment and make major scenery, structure or vehicle changes trying to keep up with the current day.

Hmmmmmmmm!!! That's a good idea! Thanks for the suggestion! I'd hate not to be able to use the "older equipment" at all, lol. I wouldn't model anything earlier than when I first started to ride Amtrak (1994). The current stuff always seems to intrigue me though.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ksax73

QUOTE: Originally posted by CBQ_Guy
Similar, but with a variation on this, is practised by Joe Fugate on his SP Siskiyou Line set in Oregon. He models the 1980's -- right now in the "real" world it is 2004, so on Joe's layout it is 20 years earlier, 1984, though soon it will be the new year, and therefore it will be 1985 on the Siskiyou. At the end of the decade it will roll back, on Joe's layout, to 1984 again. This gives variety without needing to constantly purchase new equipment and make major scenery, structure or vehicle changes trying to keep up with the current day.

Hmmmmmmmm!!! That's a good idea! Thanks for the suggestion! I'd hate not to be able to use the "older equipment" at all, lol. I wouldn't model anything earlier than when I first started to ride Amtrak (1994). The current stuff always seems to intrigue me though.

Sorry, I should have included a link to Joe's layout website since you're interested. Ton's of good info there:

http://siskiyou.railfan.net/

Joe has also recently put up a Forum to discuss the layout. He is very helpful to people and will answer many question you may have on the layout, or modeling, construction, scenery, wiring DCC, etc. The link to the new Forum is:

http://mymemoirs.net/model-trains/forum/phpBB2/

Hope this helps and happy New Year!

[KenK]

I think it's better than being a model airplane crasher. :)

You don't have to wait for good weather, you don't have to go to the edge of town to
do it, you don't have to join a club & buy liability insurance, and you don't have to retrieve
trains from trees and lakes.

[Anonymous]

I could not afford to do it all at once, but it has been a long, pleasing pursuit to get the layout I want. Even now I'm redoing it and now have time and resources to make it better both as far as material and realism. What a blessing to have all these choices! . More importantly it gives me a chance through modeling to preserve some of the memories I have, and the area that I grew up in. Hard to put a price on that. With grandkids now arriving I look forward to sharing the whole process with them.

[Anonymous]

From my experience,i started, buying locos for $ 24,you run them for a while and then the bug bites. Now i am in the $100 range,and will stay in this range.The $24 locos last
about six months,and they become push & go trains.If possible start with ATHEARN,and you wont go wrong.

[Anonymous]

I was away from the Hobby for a time while I drove cargo around the USA. When I left, the Athearn engines were made to run. Have a pair of em that still runs after all these years. Then a few years back I walked into a train show and saw stacks and stacks of Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0's and Erie Built F units. and realized I wasnt in Kansas anymore. The items had the price tags too.

When Broadway first put out the 4-6-4 that shouted to the whole store without being shy or "cheaply" made I knew that it to me was going to be expensive. 300-? 400-? 500-? I quit looking after the Lionel Challenger stomped into the model scene at 700-+ Walked next into a O gauge store seeking old time prices (30- for ready to run 3 rail?) and fainted at the really big to scale equiptment and motive power costing way more than what I used to see.

Once I got over the sticker shock and carefully planned my very small roster among giants who have hundreds if not thousands of peices in thier collections I aimed for quality. It took me a few months at times to save up on a limited budget. Ebay also helps as well.

You can still get trainsets, track (They cost more today than they did before with no change in workmanship) and shake in the box kits we all know and love. That is great for the entry level.

But I am thinking that the Hobby may end up costing so high it may only be afforded by the wealthy. The children today are into computer systems costing thousands of dollars with associated games that are worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars as well.. do they even look at a good engine such as Broadway Limited? I dont think so.

We are in the land of plenty which is slowly being put under the tight fisted grip of factories seeking to squeak the last screaming dollar out of the retail markets which themselves appear to be seeking the most profitable ways to make a dollar.

I think Model Railroading will survive. It will get pretty expensive for those who have moved beyond the trainset with eyes filled with the siren call of sound and DCC. In the background of any trainshow is the rumble of lego trainsets and Thomas the Tank Engine that serve to attract young kids who themselves probably are going to sit down and type into this forum complaining about the expense of the hobby 20 years from now.

Anything in life worth doing costs money. The best things usually pay back in form of lower heart attacks, staying off the streets and away from the drugs and gangs being able to learn and master new ways of thinkiing (DCC programming etc) and building layouts with a variety of arts that otherwise may be lost to time. The very best form of payback is when others are inspired by your work and feel that they too can do it.

Enjoy the hobby, pay the bills and enjoy life as much as you can. It is too short to be having panic attacks over that 4 figure price sticker.

[Bikerdad]

It depends on the person. Someone can participate in this hobby at a cost of only $30 a year, or less if they decide to read Model Railroader at the library. Conversely, there are folks who buy 3, 4 even 60 of a new release locomotive, equip all of them with decoders and aftermarket couplers, and then spend the time and money to renumber 58 of them!

Model railroading is generally cheaper than motorcycling or sports cars or fourwheeling as a hobby, a LOT cheaper than flying, a bit more expensive (generally) than cycling, a lot more expensive than frisbee golf, etc, etc. It depends on what a person wants from it.

One thing I get tired of is the constant denigration of the person who goes out and spends a bunch of money on stuff, rather than being Mr. Frugal and scratchbuilding everything. Newsflash! Some people ENJOY the process of spending money, of realizing the fruits of their labors. If that's one way they find the fun in model railroading, then good on 'em!

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by KenK

I think it's better than being a model airplane crasher. :)

You don't have to wait for good weather, you don't have to go to the edge of town to
do it, you don't have to join a club & buy liability insurance, and you don't have to retrieve
trains from trees and lakes.

Boy can I relate, and agree, with that!

Back around 1990 when I got back into trains, I was into the RC plane thing. For awhile I tried to do both but finally realized couldn't afford both at the time. I had to decide which one to keep and which one to give up. I gave up the planes for exactly the reasons mentioned.

[robengland]

There is an old design axiom that you can have quick, good and cheap - pick any TWO.

If you are impatient, then you can have a good layout or a cheap one but not both.

If you are prepared to take your time and invest your own time, then you can have a good layout relatively cheaply by making more yourself, scrounging around, shopping for bargains and second-hand, building it in stages etc

[Anonymous]

I still have an run an Athearn 50 foot plug door boxcar I purchased in 1968 for under $4.00. Spread that over all these years and it has cost me about a penny per year. Great value! I don't go any higher in price than P2K or maybe Atlas and I try to catch those on a sale somewhere. I bought the recent additions to my DCC system on ebay for WAY LESS than list price. I bought the original DCC system at 20% off. It was the "National Train Show Special" when the NMRA convention was held here locally.

You can make it as expensive or as cheap as you want. It's up to you.

Cheers,

[vsmith]

If you want to cry about high costs get into RC aircraft. As one guy told me, if you cant afford to crash it, dont get into it!

model RRing can and most of the time is done to limited budgets, (mine included and I'm doing large scale) the secret is patients, and carefull shopping around for your stuff. As other here have mentioned , shopping around and you will be fine.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ebriley

I still have an run an Athearn 50 foot plug door boxcar I purchased in 1968 for under $4.00. Spread that over all these years and it has cost me about a penny per year. Great value!

Cheers,

I have and run several Athearn cars I purchased in 1998 for under $4.00.
(and there still may be one or two left on the shelf at my LHS.)

[Anonymous]

AN old man once told me,He being a lifetime model railroader that if he had kept all of his reciepts and added in all his time and effort over the 50 + years,that it wouldn't amount to half compared to the enjoyment he had gotten from the hobby.Only you can deciede whats expensive,or what you need to have in order to enjoy this great hobby of ours.For me its not the train itself,but the fellings and visions,and memories it stirs I cannot put a dollar value on that.I could be just as happy with a simple loop of track,a couple cheap locos as I am running anyone of my BLI's.or brass.Is this hobby expencive only as much as you make it,Is it worth it in my opinion worth every dollar.Terry

[TurboOne]

Hey Stephen, I see by your posts, you have been here for a little while. What do you want out of the train experience ? Terry, and the others have given you a great breakdown of expensive and inexpensive ideas. One thread on here had a guy who had 50 dept 56 buildings on his layout. Considering each house is at least $50, he has 25,000 just in buildings. WOW ! From the pictures of all the trains on his walls, I bet he has 5-10 times that amount in his layout. And I gather he had a guy building the layout full time for I think 4 months.

Many of us shop for bargains, I love going to LHS and finding a used car for 3-5 dollars. I change out couplers and trucks for a few bucks, and get a New to me car for cheap.

I just built a shed in my backyard, so I had leftover 4 x 8s, and 2 x 4 so I am working on the benchwork.. Cost for wood free, although I paid for wood when we built the shed. I had track from being a kid, and the new nickel silver track magically appears, cost as far as wife is concerned, free.

On my RR locos and new cars just appear, as I already had them, just found these new ones. Cost as far as wife is concerned, free.

Awesome new sound system to make cool train sounds, free from a friend.

So I can tell the wife I haven't spent money other than the books at all ! [:D][:D]

Enjoyment level: PRICELESS.

Have a great time with trains, and let us know what you want to do with yours.

Tim

[Anonymous]

Hey Tim I got your e-mail i have been having trouble with sending e mail I sent you a reply if you don't get it let me know. how do you do the loco thing trick where they just appear I could sure use that one myself around here.[:D][:D][:D] hope you and the kids are having fun Terry