How much per year does everyone spend on trains and the max you have ever spent.

[Anonymous]

I spend $1000.00 USD average per year. The max I spent was $3500.00 USD.

[Big_Boy_4005]

The most in one year was probably around $10,000. Average around $2,000, but many years zero. Last year I didn't spend $500, and this year will be less.

[prewardude]

I try to keep it around $1,000.00 a year. I don't recall my exact highest year, but it was somewhere around that figure.

[Frank53]

this is interesting, as I see photos of these fabulous layouts, and new engines and what have you and I say to myself this is a major major investment some folks have made.

Some layouts have one pricey accessory after another and rows of $50.00 buildings with vehicles and what have you and the calculator is running in my head.

Maybe it's none of anyone's business, and I certainly don't want to pry, but I have to think there is a boatload of dough in many layouts.

[Anonymous]

Well, how many do you know who have a $20,000 motorcycle -or Bassboat -or sportscar -or whatever .... that's lots of trains!

[Frank53]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HC Maize

Well, how many do you know who have a $20,000 motorcycle

guilty as charged. [:D]

[fievel]

About 1100 dollars a year, max - about 2300. It doesn't take long to start adding up.
But I'd rather have a model RR,than a fancy car,boat,etc.[:-^]

[Anonymous]

This is the beginning of my second year. Last year spent a little over $1,000.00. So far this year $400.00 - $300.00 spent at the hobby shop and $104.00 on eBay. And there is a major expansion planned for this spring (100 so feet of new track).

I was also wondering where most of you buy your train equipment?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Ive spent very little this past xmas season....prolly under $50...... the 500-1200 dollar prices of sooo many of the engines is a real turnoff to people such as myself who run and wi***o stay with Conventional.... I dont want or need the bells and whistles so i AINT GONNA PAY FOR EM LOL its pushing me away from the hobby... also all the talk of how these electrronics are fubar'D BLAH BLAH.... also the prices of most rollingstock , buildings, and extras is way more than its value, IMO

i have a large enough collection that I dont need to spend another dollar..... ever.... which is where im heading.

the most ive spent was around 2 grand over a xmas season.

[4kitties]

I can't easily come up with an average because some years I'll spend an order of magnitude more than I do the next. The most I've ever spent was probably close to $5000 during the year I switched from HO back to O. The sale of my HO trains and accessories covered most of that cost. My single most expensive purchase was my Lionel JLC N&W Y-6b last summer.

Joel

[laz 57]

$2,000 on O gauge.
laz57

[palallin]

BigNumber99:

Three letters: MPC. Very little or no electronics; Conventional control; Easy on the pocketbook (postwar and "bells-'n-whistle" afficiandos shun MPC, so they're much easier to buy).

[3railguy]

This is like one of those sex surveys. People lie.

[guilfordrr]

I only spend about $50 yearly, but I'm just a teenager, so what do you expect? The most I ever spent yearly was $150, mostly burned on a Williams GP-9.

[jonadel]

I really don't know on a yearly basis but I do know that it's slowed down significantly since the layout is 99% done. I'm also at the point that I don't need any more engines because I'm really happy with the one's we've bought. I will say this though, I'll bet I could have VERY nice BMW or Harley bike or a very nice fishing boat or a nice sports car or.................... It's been a choice we've made together and neither one of us has regretted a dime spent.

Jon
http://jands.logicalgeek.com

[Anonymous]

About $1,200 last year, track, cars, accessories and benchwork. Maybe $200 - $500 this year. My layout is heavily used by 6-10 year old children and one 40 year old kid. Makes no sense at this to spend a lot of money on highy detailed fagile items that might take a header.

[Anonymous]

palallin, thanks, are MPC the el-cheapo plastic trains? what does MPC stand for ? Manufactured Plastic Crap? LOL I really have no idea..... i'd rather have no trains than the kiddie MPC if they are the ones i'm thinking of.

QUOTE: Originally posted by palallin

BigNumber99:

Three letters: MPC. Very little or no electronics; Conventional control; Easy on the pocketbook (postwar and "bells-'n-whistle" afficiandos shun MPC, so they're much easier to buy).

[palallin]

MPC = Model Products Corporation, the General Mills subsidiary that was involved with producing Lionel trains from 1970 to 1985, when Richard Kughn bought the company.

While some of the products of that era were targetted at the lowest end of the market, MPC was responsible for ALL Lionel train production during that time, to include all the best products, such as the 783, 784, and 785 Hudsons. Among their innovations are Fast Angle wheelsets, Electronic Sound o' Steam, Standard O rolling stock, U-boats and SD-40s, and the electronic reversing/rectifying unit which made it possible to employ can motors with AC transformers.

[3railguy]

MPC stands for More Postwar Copies.

[tjsprague]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HC Maize

Well, how many do you know who have a $20,000 motorcycle -or Bassboat -or sportscar -or whatever .... that's lots of trains!

I

We live on Boston's south shore and every other person seems to have a boat of some kind, including all my wife's brothers. So when the comment is made that trains are expesnive, I just say, "consider them my boat"

Besides, tghey keep me out of bars :-)

Tim

[Anonymous]

There are certain things that you just do NOT itemize the expenses of. If a boater actually kept track of each and every dollar sunk into a boat....well, the divorce rate would skyrocket.

In my case let's just say that I spend several times more on my trains than I do on my two aircraft and helicopter each year! How much is that??? I really don't want to find out! Some things are just better kept unknown!

Tony

[Anonymous]

thanks for the schooling on MPC guys.... looks like i have a bit of upper end MPC rollingstock and an engine or two...

guess i was thinking of bottom end MPC

[siberianmo]

Well Tony, I hate to be the first to tell you - I itemize.

My HO layout - NOT including construction of the room it is in - has cost me over $11 thou since I began building it in 2001. Now that includes everything directly associated with the trains - all itemized! The most in one year was around $5 thou. My RR is as complete as it is going to get with just the "things" that one does to update here and there or "tinker" or - whatever. So, the costs should level out to under $500 per year.

How's this for itemization (is that a word?) - here's a bit of my inventory headings:

Locomotives - 30
Passenger cars - 56
Freight cars - 22
Track - 486 pieces
Vehicles - 149
Figures - 224
etc., etc.

Why go through all of this? Who knows - perhaps it is just another way to fill a portion of my retired days. Anyway, I'm blown away by the costs of this stuff and compared to my first entry into HO back in the 60's, this new layout of mine is like comparing my current vehicle to the first car I ever had - '53 Studebaker Champion. That car cost me $300 bucks when bought in 1956. The one parked in our garage cost a helluvalot more!

A good question.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 3railguy

This is like one of those sex surveys. People lie.

Er... I spent $8.56 last year. and have spent $1.54 so far this year! My nose isn't made of wood, but I better check the mirror! [:D] Truth is I probably spend more than I really should on the choo-choo's, but it's comparable to what I know other's spend on vacations and entertainment. It's all what's important to the individual.

[Anonymous]

Hello All: It does not take long to add up, approximentally 3000 - 5000 a year, especially when you start buying ZW's & operational bridges. Have a great day Steve ( P.S. don't forget to include the magazine subscriptions & video's)