The Benefits of Focusing?

[Anonymous]

Hi I have another question going and you were all so helpful in replying I thought I might post another. I guess I would consider myself more of a collector than an operator, but I am considering a standard gauge layout. That in mind, over the years many collectors and operators to narrow my focus as much as possible to end up with really "neat" stuff in the long run. For instance I know a guy in CA who focuses on O Gauge Streamliners and over the years he has trades up to some incredible sets. I'd be interested in hearing from those of you who have done this or considered it, and how it turned out.

[cnw1995]

I know many collectors who collect 'themes' - all Chicago & North Western for example or engines from certain decades - or all steam. I guess at a certain level - all of us O gaugers are somewhat collectors - in that we usually end up with more trains than we can 'use' at once on the layout. I'm more of a 'churner' - in that I gather a bunch of something, then move on to another theme, usually getting rid of some of the initial group. Standard gauge is aweinspiring. Wish I could afford it. What sort of theme or focus would you consider?

[Anonymous]

My primary focus in Standard Gauge is trolleys. Makes for a nice, affordable collection, since I only collect the more contemporary stuff from MTH, LTI "Classics", and McCoy. I do have other Std. Gauge pieces, of course, but my primary interest is trolleys.

[overall]

My O gauge theme is railroads of the south. Usually, everything I get, especially engines, will be painted for a southeastern railroad. My latest aquision is a willaims GP-9 painted for Illinois Central.

George

[pbjwilson]

Staying focused. That's a difficult one for me. I tend to get an interest and run with it for 4-6 months and then I shift to something else. Last year at this time I tried building a small N gauge layout. Threw it out in the trash a couple weeks ago. I had fun with it though. Now I'm trying to collect a few O gauge passenger sets and am building a small layout with a passing siding so I can run two passenger trains. All along I keep my eyes open for interesting pre-war tinplate stuff. I wouldn't have any fun if I just focused on one thing. Variety, the spice of life.

[FJ and G]

I'm not a collector but have focused solely on the Santa Fe's 2 time periods: 40s and early 70s.

I know guys that focus on a single RR for a single year.

At the Pentagon, there's an Army dude who only buys Lionel PRR.

I personally think that focusing is a more realistic way to run or collect stuff, as there's so much out there that you won't have room or money for the skattergun approach.

That said, when I was a kid, I didn't care what it was as long as it was a train it was cool. Maybe the kid approach is fine as well. Didn't have much money then so was excited everytime there was a blizzard so I could shovel sidewalks for $$$ for trains.

[darianj]

Focusing is a problem I have as well. I'm mainly going for a modern urban theme; but have have picked up a couple of steamers and looked at dielsels. As long as you like what you get; It's all good.

[tjsprague]

I'm always trying to focus, or should I say refocus. I started out collecting Pre and Postwar. Then bought new items which caught my eye, pretty soon there was much too much for the walls of my train room and modest sized layout. So I sold all but a few newer items, and I'm in the process of thinning out my postwar items as to concetrate on Lionel pre 1950. And with much of the prewar being out of my price range I'll stick to he smaller sized offering in not too rare a color. That should leave me with quite a lot of things to search for, fix, run, etc.

But then by chance I bid on an Ives set, then another,........oh no.

Tim