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How Much Rolling Stock ?

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  • Member since
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  • From: Carmichael, CA
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Posted by twhite on Friday, June 6, 2008 6:29 PM
 markpierce wrote:
 twhite wrote:
 C and O Fan wrote:

Holy Cow catcher guys

Why does the name Amelda Marcos keep coming to mind

we need a seventh step group for the box car affliction

Terry--

Call me "Imelda", then.  I just got back from RR Hobbies in Roseville.  Went over to buy some brass washers, came back with an Accurail Santa Fe boxcar and four new 50' Athearn reefers, which I need like another series of holes in my head. 

Oh, yah, I did remember to get the washers, LOL!

I need a TWELVE-step cure, but I know it's uselessBlack Eye [B)]

Tom Tongue [:P]

Come to think about, I'd bet the principal reason the LHSs stock washers and like is so we'll come in and buy lots of other stuff on impulse.

Mark

Mark: 

Funny you should mention that.  As I walked out of the store today, Mike, the owner reminded me of the time that I came in for some Kadee couplers and walked out with a brand-new brass PSC Rio Grande 2-10-2.  As he told me, "You know, Tom, I didn't have it in the display case long enough to get a good look at it." 

Oh well---Blush [:I]

Tom Tongue [:P]

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Posted by markpierce on Friday, June 6, 2008 6:35 PM
 tatans wrote:

These questions always end up with the same results, some people have 68 others have 3,000  the quandry is to those who do not collect by the hundreds is why would a person hoard so many cars with no intention of ever using them, what could be the reason??? Most think it's quite a joke to have so many cars they can't count them and they are still out there buying more, doesn't sound too funny to me . But-----we can all do anything we want can't we????

Every time one of these polls turns up on this forum the results get more exaggerated each time, are we to really to believe the vast amounts of cars or locomotives listed??? it is astonishing, I never believed the amount, but I'm afraid I do now. Imelda was right.

These kinds of threads are childish.  (I have more cars than you do.  Nanner, nanner, nanner.) I almost always ignore them, but I'm unusually tolerant and talkative today.

Mark, a happy child

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Posted by twhite on Friday, June 6, 2008 6:52 PM
 tatans wrote:

These questions always end up with the same results, some people have 68 others have 3,000  the quandry is to those who do not collect by the hundreds is why would a person hoard so many cars with no intention of ever using them, what could be the reason??? Most think it's quite a joke to have so many cars they can't count them and they are still out there buying more, doesn't sound too funny to me . But-----we can all do anything we want can't we????

Every time one of these polls turns up on this forum the results get more exaggerated each time, are we to really to believe the vast amounts of cars or locomotives listed??? it is astonishing, I never believed the amount, but I'm afraid I do now. Imelda was right.

 

Tatans--

Actually, I think it could boil down to how long one has been in the hobby as to how big the collections are.  I know myself, I've been 'collecting' since about 1956, and over the years, sometimes without even being aware of it, I've acquired a pretty vast amount of both locomotives and rolling stock.   And frankly, a lot of us have 'squirrel' blood--I know that I have.  I remember when I unloaded a rather impressive array of locos and rolling stock on my grand-nephew some years back, I was astonished at the sheer AMOUNT that he was given.  Yet, that really didn't even make an enormous dent into what I have.  This year I've decided that as far as motive power, I'm strictly limiting myself to DC brass (okay, sounds weird, but that's the way I am) and getting rid of all of my DC/DCC 'sound' steamers.  Frankly, I had no idea I'd collected so MANY of them.  I'm trying to narrow my motive power down to the railroads that I model--Rio Grande and Southern Pacific--and eliminate almost everything that couldn't be classified as a WWII 'loaner' to either of these railroads.  Believe me, it's a lot of 'chopping', but I'm still going to end up with a HUGE motive roster.  But they all run.  Same with my rolling stock--I change it out just about everytime I go into the garage for an ops session.  It's NOT "I've got more than you have," at least in my case, it's just that over the years you COLLECT.  Lots.  Sometimes it's almost 'automatic.'  As I said, you go into a hobby shop for some washers and come out with the washers AND four 50-foot reefers.  Did I NEED those reefers?  No.  Am I sorry I bought them?  No.  Actually, they look kind of cool, and they'll break up the look of the next reefer train I run, probably tomorrow, LOL!

Frankly, it's just part of what can happen in this hobby.  I don't think anyone is really 'bragging' about it--God knows I'M not.  It's just part of my 'makeup', I suppose. 

Tom Big Smile [:D]

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Posted by markpierce on Friday, June 6, 2008 6:59 PM

And let's not go into how many locomotives we have.  I have too many and it is still not enough.

Blush [:I]  Mark

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Posted by lvanhen on Friday, June 6, 2008 7:05 PM
 markpierce wrote:

These kinds of threads are childish.  (I have more cars than you do.  Nanner, nanner, nanner.) I almost always ignore them, but I'm unusually tolerant and talkative today.

Mark, a happy child

There is a very simple and extremely logical answer to the reasoning behind these kind of posts.

V

V

V

V

WHEN YOU DIE,

THE ONE WITH THE

MOST TOYS

WINS!!!

Lou V H Photo by John
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Posted by jbinkley60 on Friday, June 6, 2008 9:01 PM

 

If my spreadsheet is accurate I have 281 pieces of HO rolling stock...  The big question is how accurate is my spreadsheet ?

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

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Posted by markpierce on Friday, June 6, 2008 9:11 PM
 jbinkley60 wrote:

 

If my spreadsheet is accurate I have 281 pieces of HO rolling stock...  The big question is how accurate is my spreadsheet ?

Assuming you don't work tomorrow, why don't you stay up all night and do an inventory check? Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Mark

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Posted by Baghdad firefighter on Saturday, June 7, 2008 12:03 AM
Me about 75 cars + 12 engines a lot of track but NO layout yet. 
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Posted by Last Chance on Saturday, June 7, 2008 12:59 AM

Not the hording. No. As long you stopped trying to hammer AHM, Tyco or Model Power something something into a siding with horn hook couplers.

Then there is this limited run stuff. You bought 3-4-6 or whatever of everything when they are announced to be sure to get at least one.

I bought 4 Gondolas last week that was out of production. One was at the hobby shop, another two was on the east coast and one in Canada. Hunting them by part numbers was a journey of a thousand googles... but Ive got them 4 that I wanted but should have boughten 4 years ago when they were availible everywhere.

No debt necessary to get these things, just a pile of layaway. That's all.

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Posted by wmshay06 on Saturday, June 7, 2008 6:16 AM

Terry .... I guess I'm fanatical about this issue.  My railroad car capacity is a max 110 cars - but having taken to heart the thoughts of John Armstrong, Bruce Chubb, Joe Fugate and others there is no more than about 50-60% of these on the railroad at any one time - the rest will be in offline interchange storage (sort of an infinite sink for cars on and off the line). Car mix has been established by the railroad (C&O), prototype trains run through the region (New River), time period (cut off date of 1952), etc.  I buy/build to that mix and max number of cars.  I'll adjust from time to time, but won't deviate too much.

So..I have about 50 in use now, and enough kits on hand for another 40 or so more.  Plus 5 cabeese and 1 coach.

Charles

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Posted by rolleiman on Saturday, June 7, 2008 7:30 AM

At one time, I topped out at over 1400. I had at least, 200 refrigerator cars alone, all of them different. The passenger fleet (which never saw track) numbered roughly 150. Close to 900 box cars. Tankers, hoppers, gondolas, cabeese, MOW cars, flats, just became too much to keep track of and store. Then the fact that there is no way in H I'd ever have enough room to run them all or even place them on the layout. Forget about being able to control 130 locomotives.. 

Since then, I've cut it down to about 500 (total) and that's still too many.

TCA (Train Collectors Anonymous).  

Modeling the Wabash from Detroit to Montpelier Jeff
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Posted by canazar on Saturday, June 7, 2008 8:05 AM

I am around 250 -275.   With  about 60% of my cars being geared toward my current day operations and 35% toward 1956.   The others..  well, I have no uidea but they were cool looking so I got them.

 

I used to think that I had too many.  Thanks you guys I need to buy more.

 

Woohoo!

Best Regards, Big John

Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona.  Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the  Kiva Valley Railway

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, June 7, 2008 8:34 AM

Terry, 

Of boxcars, stockcar, reefers, tankers, gondolas, hoppers, cabeese, and a crane: Probably in the neighborhood of 40 or so.  My layout is a 4 x 8 so that gives me plenty of variety to work with.  I don't plan on buying any more for now.  An Accurail 41' gondola might be the exception.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Saturday, June 7, 2008 9:11 AM

Well I have at least 100 and less than 200 in S (scale or convertable), around 75 in HO, another 50 in O (mostly scale but some 3 rail), a dozen or two in N, and 3 in G.  Mostly, I am buying S, but occaisionally I get some in another scale. 

I think my real hobby is collecting.  Laugh [(-D]

Enjoy

Paul 

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
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Posted by jackn2mpu on Saturday, June 7, 2008 10:15 AM

217 pieces HO

99 N scale

And that's not counting motive power which is:

19 N scale

57 HO scale

Some posters think we're hoarders? Try the hardcore tinplate guys - I'm talking the ones who have to have at least one of everything Lionel made with every variation of each piece. Now THAT'S ocd! 

de N2MPU Jack

Proud NRA Life Member and supporter of the 2nd. Amendment

God, guns, and rock and roll!

Modeling the NYC/NYNH&H in HO and CPRail/D&H in N

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Posted by C&O Fan on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 8:27 AM

Hummmmmmmmmmm very intresting

It seems to break down into 2 basic groups those with under 100 cars and those with

waaaaaaaaaaaaay over 100

I could see a need for a support group for those with the latter numbers 

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

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Posted by leejax01 on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 1:26 PM
I was around 150+ for a while, but there was no real use for them as the local club had rolling stock. I decided to build a 50+ intermodal train that I never ran as the club closed and there was no real place to run such a long train. So I sold it off and other "unit" cars. So at last count I guess I am somewhere around 80-95 I guess.
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Posted by Flashwave on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 1:34 PM

Another eason I though about modelling CMPA. They have a 10 mile Storage yard for oodles of freight cars

I;d say IO'm coming on 60 freight, just a guess though

-Morgan

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Posted by ChrisNH on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 1:44 PM

I made a decision a while back not to buy rolling stock and power ahead of my layout building. I have about 15-20 cars which is more then enough to cycle on and off my current 3x5 layout. Most were purchased used for less then $5 each to give me something to use while I am building.

I would rather spend the money on tools and supplies to help me with my hobby rather then fill a bunch of boxes with stuff I can't use. I want my Model Railroading to be an active hobby, not a collection.

Chris

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Posted by Flashwave on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 2:03 PM
 ChrisNH wrote:

I made a decision a while back not to buy rolling stock and power ahead of my layout building. I have about 15-20 cars which is more then enough to cycle on and off my current 3x5 layout. Most were purchased used for less then $5 each to give me something to use while I am building.

I would rather spend the money on tools and supplies to help me with my hobby rather then fill a bunch of boxes with stuff I can't use. I want my Model Railroading to be an active hobby, not a collection.

Chris

It's intresting, the difference in outlooks. I;m all for active too, but I find the dead spaces between conscruction, such as waiting for a good day to build the benchwork, as a good time to pick up some more of the cars. That may/will change when it's time for scenery, but if I have what I need for the next phase, then a chance to pick up another car and have the freight fleet ready for the day I can run 

-Morgan

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Posted by jbinkley60 on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:05 PM
 jbinkley60 wrote:

 

If my spreadsheet is accurate I have 281 pieces of HO rolling stock...  The big question is how accurate is my spreadsheet ?

Now at 294 .  I think I am ready for TCA ....

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

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Posted by Scarpia on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:56 PM
I have three times the amount of unbuilt F&C resin kits (25) than functional cars. The acquisition and collection is a fun part, especially when you're looking for specific road names and eras. I'm also more keen on buying something now, long before my layout is ready, in part that I don't know how available it will be when I'm finally "ready". Guess that's why i have more operating locomotives than rolling stock at this time..

I'm trying to model 1956, not live in it.

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Posted by Packers#1 on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:22 PM
I've got 25. Hoping to add a great deal more later on.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

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Posted by Dallas Model Works on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 7:18 PM

I have about 280 cars that are "officially" on my roster.

There are also a few hundred cars in the Dallas Model Works inventory that I have my beady little eyes on! Big Smile [:D]

 

Craig

DMW

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Posted by carknocker1 on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:23 PM

I have 175 freight cars

12 MOW cars and

9 passenger cars

but lately I think I have too much , my layout can only handle 25 cars at a time and that can be tight and I usually use the same 30 cars . I like cars but I think I might be happier with 30 cars that are highly detailed then to have 200 average detailed cars , I may sell my current fleet and buy the better cars , but that is a decision for another day .

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Posted by pastorbob on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 10:16 PM

Current count, including waycars and Maint. of way is somewhere just over 1600.  At a given time, there will be around 500 to 600 on the railroad.  The rest are on the workbench for service, or on shelves inside the molehole area which services three of the staging yards.  Needless to say, I have drastically cut back on aquiring new cars, although I do sell a few surplus off from time to time.  A few of these cars date back 20 years or so.

Bob

Bob Miller http://www.atsfmodelrailroads.com/
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Posted by Texas Zepher on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 10:18 PM
The scarryness continues.  Since the last time this thread surfaced to page 1 of the forum, I've aquired 16 more freight cars.   I just couldn't resist Intermountain cars for $12 each at that sale I mentioned.
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Posted by ChrisNH on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 6:38 AM
 Flashwave wrote:
 ChrisNH wrote:

I made a decision a while back not to buy rolling stock and power ahead of my layout building. I have about 15-20 cars which is more then enough to cycle on and off my current 3x5 layout. Most were purchased used for less then $5 each to give me something to use while I am building.

I would rather spend the money on tools and supplies to help me with my hobby rather then fill a bunch of boxes with stuff I can't use. I want my Model Railroading to be an active hobby, not a collection.

Chris

It's intresting, the difference in outlooks. I;m all for active too, but I find the dead spaces between conscruction, such as waiting for a good day to build the benchwork, as a good time to pick up some more of the cars. That may/will change when it's time for scenery, but if I have what I need for the next phase, then a chance to pick up another car and have the freight fleet ready for the day I can run 

I think everyone has to find their balance. I am also limited in resource, so saving my money for construction rather the collecting more cars is sensible for me. I am also looking down the line where I may or may not be able to use that 85' autorack, but I will definitely be able to use that spray booth I want to build.

Chris

 

 

 

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Posted by Flashwave on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 1:58 PM
 ChrisNH wrote:
 Flashwave wrote:
 ChrisNH wrote:

I made a decision a while back not to buy rolling stock and power ahead of my layout building. I have about 15-20 cars which is more then enough to cycle on and off my current 3x5 layout. Most were purchased used for less then $5 each to give me something to use while I am building.

I would rather spend the money on tools and supplies to help me with my hobby rather then fill a bunch of boxes with stuff I can't use. I want my Model Railroading to be an active hobby, not a collection.

Chris

It's intresting, the difference in outlooks. I;m all for active too, but I find the dead spaces between conscruction, such as waiting for a good day to build the benchwork, as a good time to pick up some more of the cars. That may/will change when it's time for scenery, but if I have what I need for the next phase, then a chance to pick up another car and have the freight fleet ready for the day I can run 

I think everyone has to find their balance. I am also limited in resource, so saving my money for construction rather the collecting more cars is sensible for me. I am also looking down the line where I may or may not be able to use that 85' autorack, but I will definitely be able to use that spray booth I want to build.

Chris

 

 

 

Build? You have to build them? I just taped a cardboard box down. Big Smile [:D]

-Morgan

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Posted by jbinkley60 on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 7:08 PM

 Texas Zepher wrote:
The scarryness continues.  Since the last time this thread surfaced to page 1 of the forum, I've aquired 16 more freight cars.   I just couldn't resist Intermountain cars for $12 each at that sale I mentioned.

Yep, I am +13 since the thread began with the WGH show in Louisville this weekend....

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

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