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Train Collector or Train Runner?

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  • Member since
    April 2003
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Train Collector or Train Runner?
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 12, 2003 11:18 AM
Wondering how many collect trains mainly for running on their own layouts, or collect trains for display or a possible occasional run at a club or friend's layout. Have searched the archives and couldn't find anything on this subject, so please take a moment to respond. Thanks!

Only 15 answer selections are available, so if you use narrow gauge select the primary scale, ie for HOn3 select HO. If you intend to build a layout someday but your trains are currently stored in the attic or displayed on a shelf, select Collect without running even if you run them at a club or friend's layout. If you have a layout in any stage of construction select Run on my own layout. Sorry, no room for TT or other scales, if you model TT or do other options not listed please post a reply.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Train Collector or Train Runner?
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 12, 2003 11:18 AM
Wondering how many collect trains mainly for running on their own layouts, or collect trains for display or a possible occasional run at a club or friend's layout. Have searched the archives and couldn't find anything on this subject, so please take a moment to respond. Thanks!

Only 15 answer selections are available, so if you use narrow gauge select the primary scale, ie for HOn3 select HO. If you intend to build a layout someday but your trains are currently stored in the attic or displayed on a shelf, select Collect without running even if you run them at a club or friend's layout. If you have a layout in any stage of construction select Run on my own layout. Sorry, no room for TT or other scales, if you model TT or do other options not listed please post a reply.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 12, 2003 12:51 PM
Right now, I run HO on my own layout. Run Z on my own layout and collect Z in preperation for a larger Z layout. And I have started collecting some G to start a garden layout in the future.
Bob
  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 12, 2003 12:51 PM
Right now, I run HO on my own layout. Run Z on my own layout and collect Z in preperation for a larger Z layout. And I have started collecting some G to start a garden layout in the future.
Bob
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,199 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Friday, September 12, 2003 3:48 PM
I'm not sure what you mean by collecting. If you mean do I collect like the TCA members and catalog my collection, then no I don't. If you mean am I out buying stuff and I've got more than I can get on the layout at one time then I'm a collector .
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,199 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Friday, September 12, 2003 3:48 PM
I'm not sure what you mean by collecting. If you mean do I collect like the TCA members and catalog my collection, then no I don't. If you mean am I out buying stuff and I've got more than I can get on the layout at one time then I'm a collector .
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 12, 2003 3:54 PM
I needed to post a reply as none of the options fit perfectly for me.

Have had HO for years. Still rarely get some. Dismantled last layout [in construction] when I moved to our 'purchased' house half the size.

Run Z on my double track test loop as I build a layout for it.

Run G in my yard when I set up the track for it. Generally a ten or twenty foot diameter loop for Thomas and James.

Run HO around the chrismas tree. And as long afterwards as my wife will let me...usually not too long :)
  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 12, 2003 3:54 PM
I needed to post a reply as none of the options fit perfectly for me.

Have had HO for years. Still rarely get some. Dismantled last layout [in construction] when I moved to our 'purchased' house half the size.

Run Z on my double track test loop as I build a layout for it.

Run G in my yard when I set up the track for it. Generally a ten or twenty foot diameter loop for Thomas and James.

Run HO around the chrismas tree. And as long afterwards as my wife will let me...usually not too long :)
  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 12, 2003 5:04 PM
this is sad really because half this roster is me. I run HO, N, and G. I have a very extensive collection of Lionel and American Flyers. This Puts me as having every scale beyond Z (that is mass produced)...and I am only 20
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 12, 2003 5:04 PM
this is sad really because half this roster is me. I run HO, N, and G. I have a very extensive collection of Lionel and American Flyers. This Puts me as having every scale beyond Z (that is mass produced)...and I am only 20
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    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 12, 2003 5:23 PM
I have almost everything but N and Z (too small). I have a large amount of contemporary HO (most of which has been bought used) and a large layout to run it on (plus lots of shevles because the layout won't hold it all). I buy a great deal of HO, but am not sure if I would really consider myself an HO "collector". I do collect certain vintage HO/OO, however. I am an avid collector of Tri-ang and have a layout devoted exclusively to Tri-ang. I also have other vintage HO trains such as Marklin, Distler and Flieshmann from the 50's and Japanese tinplate HO trains from the 60's. The Japanese used to be on the Tri-ang layout as well, but as I got more Tri-ang I left the layout for that. I am also a collector of prewar and postwar O and S gauge tinplate trains and have Lionel, American Flyer and Marx as well as European companies like Bing, Bub, Hornby and more too numerous to mention. I have a mix of all of these O and S gauge trains on one large tinplate style layout with vintage accessories as well as shelves for the rest that won't fit on the layout. I also have one Lionel Standard Gauge set that I just got for my birthday, but don't have any track for it to run on yet. In addition I have some of those cheap G scale battery operated trains (many bought used as well) that I have displayed along the tops of the O gauge shelves, which get run very seldom. I'd buy the good G scale stuff, but I much rather spend the money that it costs to buy them on collectable vintage trains. The entire basement's packed with trains and I'm only 17 right now, so I consider that to be pretty good!
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 12, 2003 5:23 PM
I have almost everything but N and Z (too small). I have a large amount of contemporary HO (most of which has been bought used) and a large layout to run it on (plus lots of shevles because the layout won't hold it all). I buy a great deal of HO, but am not sure if I would really consider myself an HO "collector". I do collect certain vintage HO/OO, however. I am an avid collector of Tri-ang and have a layout devoted exclusively to Tri-ang. I also have other vintage HO trains such as Marklin, Distler and Flieshmann from the 50's and Japanese tinplate HO trains from the 60's. The Japanese used to be on the Tri-ang layout as well, but as I got more Tri-ang I left the layout for that. I am also a collector of prewar and postwar O and S gauge tinplate trains and have Lionel, American Flyer and Marx as well as European companies like Bing, Bub, Hornby and more too numerous to mention. I have a mix of all of these O and S gauge trains on one large tinplate style layout with vintage accessories as well as shelves for the rest that won't fit on the layout. I also have one Lionel Standard Gauge set that I just got for my birthday, but don't have any track for it to run on yet. In addition I have some of those cheap G scale battery operated trains (many bought used as well) that I have displayed along the tops of the O gauge shelves, which get run very seldom. I'd buy the good G scale stuff, but I much rather spend the money that it costs to buy them on collectable vintage trains. The entire basement's packed with trains and I'm only 17 right now, so I consider that to be pretty good!
  • Member since
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  • From: Whitby, ON
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Posted by CP5415 on Friday, September 12, 2003 8:50 PM
I'd consider myself a runner here. I use to have N scale as well as HO but I had traded all of the N stuff to my Dad for his HO stuff. Everything I have will see action on the tracks on my layout. I'm slowly weeding out the stuff I don't want & purchasing stuff that fits my plan.

Gordon

Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!

 K1a - all the way

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Whitby, ON
  • 2,594 posts
Posted by CP5415 on Friday, September 12, 2003 8:50 PM
I'd consider myself a runner here. I use to have N scale as well as HO but I had traded all of the N stuff to my Dad for his HO stuff. Everything I have will see action on the tracks on my layout. I'm slowly weeding out the stuff I don't want & purchasing stuff that fits my plan.

Gordon

Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!

 K1a - all the way

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 2, 2004 5:14 PM
Large HO collection which runs on a private HO layout.
Runner/Collector.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 2, 2004 5:14 PM
Large HO collection which runs on a private HO layout.
Runner/Collector.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 2, 2004 5:44 PM
I run HO
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 2, 2004 5:44 PM
I run HO
  • Member since
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  • From: Elmwood Park, NJ
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Posted by trainfan1221 on Thursday, September 2, 2004 6:50 PM
I am not above getting a model for display purposes, but generally I run my models on my n-scale layout. My HO equipment has been boxed for 20 years.
  • Member since
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  • From: Elmwood Park, NJ
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Posted by trainfan1221 on Thursday, September 2, 2004 6:50 PM
I am not above getting a model for display purposes, but generally I run my models on my n-scale layout. My HO equipment has been boxed for 20 years.
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  • From: Holly, MI
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Posted by ClinchValleySD40 on Thursday, September 2, 2004 8:42 PM
Run run run on my HO layout
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  • From: Holly, MI
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Posted by ClinchValleySD40 on Thursday, September 2, 2004 8:42 PM
Run run run on my HO layout
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  • From: Athens, GA
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Posted by Dough on Thursday, September 2, 2004 10:33 PM
Collector here. I live in an apartment and don't see myself having an actual layout for some time. However, I like to dabble with cars and slowly build a roster. I also love MoW and much of it does not even run such as Custom Finishing's brass stuff.

However, that said, one day I may get to run it more. I'm even working on a MoW flat train to haul around a tie gang.
  • Member since
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  • From: Athens, GA
  • 549 posts
Posted by Dough on Thursday, September 2, 2004 10:33 PM
Collector here. I live in an apartment and don't see myself having an actual layout for some time. However, I like to dabble with cars and slowly build a roster. I also love MoW and much of it does not even run such as Custom Finishing's brass stuff.

However, that said, one day I may get to run it more. I'm even working on a MoW flat train to haul around a tie gang.
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Elgin, IL
  • 3,677 posts
Posted by orsonroy on Thursday, September 2, 2004 11:07 PM
I run multiple scales on my own layouts. I've got a large HO scale home layout that I'm working on, and I have six N trak modules that I take to meets and shows.

Unfortunately, since my home layout's main line isn't finished, I don't run as often as I'd like!

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Elgin, IL
  • 3,677 posts
Posted by orsonroy on Thursday, September 2, 2004 11:07 PM
I run multiple scales on my own layouts. I've got a large HO scale home layout that I'm working on, and I have six N trak modules that I take to meets and shows.

Unfortunately, since my home layout's main line isn't finished, I don't run as often as I'd like!

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 2, 2004 11:16 PM
I have an N scale layout. This is my third one, and it's the smallest due to lack of space. I used to model HO but found N scale to be more interesting... This layout I have now is a 3' by 9' with lots of indusries and switching involved. Maybe I will have some pictures to give soon.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 2, 2004 11:16 PM
I have an N scale layout. This is my third one, and it's the smallest due to lack of space. I used to model HO but found N scale to be more interesting... This layout I have now is a 3' by 9' with lots of indusries and switching involved. Maybe I will have some pictures to give soon.
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: St Paul, MN
  • 6,218 posts
Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Thursday, September 2, 2004 11:55 PM
I used to collect O wit the intention of not running it. Now I have changed my mind and collecting style, and plan to run it when I get my layout built.
  • Member since
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  • From: St Paul, MN
  • 6,218 posts
Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Thursday, September 2, 2004 11:55 PM
I used to collect O wit the intention of not running it. Now I have changed my mind and collecting style, and plan to run it when I get my layout built.

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