Yah... bought another articulated the other day and came to the realization that the MESS is at its limit for motive power... NEVER! So the question is: When do you realize you have too many Locos?
Answer: When the layout legs start to buckle!
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
This is a funny one. Something I discussed with a friend recently. I have 108 at my most recent count and I'm sure (as long as my employer doesn't find an excuse to boot me out the door), I'll have many more by the end of this year.
You can never have too many locomotives. My view...of course.
I often think my layout is just and elaborate test track for my growing collection of locomotives.
Have a great day
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
Luckily I wrote this down on paper a year ago but haven't bought another locomotive since.
36 Amtrak diesels.
18 Transition Era locomotives.
17 Modern locomotives.
More to come. If you look at it, it's a small roster. I need more modern diesels to my collection. I would rotate freight and passenger trains like the real railroad without having the same locomotive number twice.
My future layout will be 116"x80"x40" a door to door modern layout in 2004-2007. But it be in 2007 when I start.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Evidently, many people think the hobby is "model locomotiving" instead of "model Railroading".
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
I'm sure the answer is all over the map. Some people are really happy with a very small roster of 10 or 20, with less than 100 cars. Others have hundreds. For plenty, and I am guilty too, they buy more than they can use just because trains are cool.
What limits me mostly is money - thats my bottom line. When I don't have enough money, sometimes I'll go through my inventory and sell off a few to help me afford something new that comes along. My roster was getting up near 150 engines but as I've bought some newer HQ models, I've sold off a similar number and it's probably down under 140 roughly now.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
How many engines depends on just what you're trying to accomplish.
If your prototype ran its entire lifetime with a single 2-8-0 (Baldwin, 1896, bought used) all you need is that one Baldwin - and you can spend hours superdetailing it right down to the last rust stain.
If you're a finalist in the, "I have more than anybody," competition, it's one more than anyone else - like the collector who gathered up 26 Big Boys so he could claim one more than the UP. (I wonder which number he doubled.)
In my case, it's enough to run all the trains of a rather hectic prototype schedule, with a few reserves for locos that are on the maintenance line. Since I've achieved that, I'm a happy camper. The last loco I bought replaced a much older specimen that was damaged beyond economical repair. It was a Spectrum 0-6-0T - in for a Tsubomi 0-4-0T with a blown main driver.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I was looking at this thread in a more whimsical tone. Probbly my fault for mis-labeling it.
The Banner should have read:
You know you have too many engines when:
Power company alerts Drug enforcement of spike in power usage
or...
Okay, Fergie. .... I am catching on.
You know you have too many locomotives when your economics professor uses your locomotive fleet as an example to illustrate the law of Diminishing Returns.
How did I do?
Well, let's see, Fergie----
In my case, Baldwin produced 18 M-3/4 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones. I've got 3.
Rio Grande had 20 L-131 2-8-8-2 articulateds. I've got 2
Rio Grande had 15 L-105 4-6-6-4 Challengers. I've got 2.
Espee had 195 4-8-8-2 Cab-forward articulateds. I've got 2.
I have some distance to go, lol!
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
You know you have too many locomotives when:
Your power lash-up takes up so much layout space that you only have enough room left for the caboose before you are coupled front to back the entire mainline length.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
There are 57 locomotives on the BRVRR. Seven of which are either un-powered A or B units, but all of them have sound decoders installed.
Steam power runs from a Three-truck Shay to a UP Challenger. Diesels run the gambit from an S3, through numerous F7s, E8s to a SD-70-MAC.
In my defense, seven of the locos belong to my eldest grandson.
Not included in the number above are Thomas and half a dozen small DC steamers that also belong to my grandson.
Do I have enough? Nope. I would like to have a couple of sets of high quality E7s or 8s with sound and perhaps a few more F7s.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
How Many Engines does it take?
...to change a light bulb? None! I use LEDs for all my locomotive lighting needs.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
LION does not even know how many locomotives him has.
Him not even know how to count them. Is a powered A-A unit one or two locomotives?
Is an A-B-A lash up one, two or three locomotives.
Do stripped out hulks stanidng behind the yard shop counted.
LION cannot count past twenty, because him runs out of claws.
RAOR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Hello All,
This question harkens back to the "How much is too much track" question.
As has been mentioned...just enough to keep some space between the motive power and the caboose!
I figure if I just buy smaller locos everything will be all right.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
twhite Well, let's see, Fergie---- Rio Grande had 20 L-131 2-8-8-2 articulateds. I've got 2 Rio Grande had 15 L-105 4-6-6-4 Challengers. I've got 2. Espee had 195 4-8-8-2 Cab-forward articulateds. I've got 2. I have some distance to go, lol! Tom
Tom, your way ahead of me! I took a passing look at steam era D&RGW in the 80's and concluded brass articulateds were basically waaay out of my ability to afford. A fellow modeler I knew at the time told me he was in the top 3% earning bracket of the US and he was building a modest collection of standard gauge D&RGW brass steam engines. That was it ... I knew I was on a beer, er, diesel budget from then on!
Every engine on a train going to staging gets rotated off the layout as well as the cars. The railroad becomes larger this way as the same engines aren't coming back that left yesterday. I can really have an unlimited number of engines, the majority of which are somewhere other than the modeled portion of the railroad.
You know you have too many engines when there are more engines on your layout than in the four display cases on the walls and in the storage cabinet!
-Bob
Well, I better build more display cases!
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
ricktrains4824 You know you have too many locomotives when: Your power lash-up takes up so much layout space that you only have enough room left for the caboose before you are coupled front to back the entire mainline length.
If you have room for a caboose, you have room for a Docksider instead.
You have too many if you exceed the numbering system you're using. (Hint: Pick a prototype that uses 4 digit numbers.)
Since I have locomotives in 5 scales plus 3 rail, I have no idea how many I have. But it must not be enough because I keep buying more.
Enjoy
Paul
You have too many engines when the money runs out. I have more than a dozen steamers and am still looking. Especially after buying two new ones last month a Proto 0-8-0 and a Spectrum 4-6-0 - I like both and may purchase another of each one.
I swore, when I had about 6 locomotives, that I would not buy more. I now have 25, eight years later, and have the BLI Hybrid UP 2-10-4 due in a couple of weeks (after six years of delays, and with the original price honoured by BLI!!!!!).
So, I am tapping out at 26. That's it. I may pick up two more from the refurbished section at a later date. I'd like a second T1 Duplex and a J1 2-10-4. Okay, and a Sharknose, and maybe an Alco PA, plus a yellowstone....oh why do I kid myself.
Still, comparing my numbers to others, it sounds like I'm well into the low end after a whole decade on rails. Not bad.
Folks with steam engines would have fewer since they cost so much more than diesel! It seems 26 steam engines would be equal to maybe 75 diesels!
Do the math: A 3-unit consist of diesels, at $150 each, can cost $450.
How does that compare with one $450 steamer?
So I'm guessing your proportions are about right.
To answer the question, I don't know how many I have so I must have enough, but it doesn't feel like enough so I'm always on the lookout for more. By the way, are we counting the junkers that are here as parts donors?
Several years ago, I frankly, became tired of the old T/C. To remedy the situation, the pike was dismantled and the space was reclaimed for better use. Haven't regretted the decision.
Just before the end of T/C #1, I had been experimenting with a new color schemes and logos. Finally decided on one I truly liked. Test mule was an OMI GP40, which has gone on to be "ultra" detailed. It does not fit in the 1945-1955 era of the T/C, but... I like it. It'll have a home if another T/C happens.
Current locomotive roster, after serious thinning, now totals 14 units, of which, 3 are B&O S1a 2-10-2, (Sunset). Several GP7 & GP9, (Tenshodo) and a lone RS3 (Samhongsa), along with others, are in the mix. 100% brass from now on.
Cutting edge drives, electronics, lighting and detailing are rules du jour.
I presently only have two parallel pieces of flex track joined by a a pair of turnouts, I'm truly enjoying this phase, a lot.
First of all I started getting rid of engines because they were not good runners on my layout or were of lesser quality, next I limited my time frame somewhat and this got rid of a bunch more. But then I started buying more of my best runners in steam, Proto 0-6-0 and 0-8-0, got 7 or so now for a total investment of around $400 on these alone. Been trying to get rid of freight cars too and have gotten rid of a bunch but a few new ones have appeared too.
FergmiesterSo the question is: When do you realize you have too many Locos?
I'm sorry I don't have a very exciting answer to this because, well, its a hobby + a little bit of addiction, so the only limiting factors to buying locomotives is what we impose upon ourselves.
There is no formula, no rule, no pre determined ratio - nothing like that. The individual modeler decides what his own limit is or if there is one at all.
Fortunately for my financial situation the long departed South Eastern road I model requires only a relitivly small number of locomotives and the location I model requires even less. But unfortunately very few of even this small number are available commercialy and that means many of my engines are kit bashed or rtr locomotives are extensivly modified to produce what I need.
So a requirement to run engines as used by my prototype road is what limits the size of the fleet.
Dusty
OK, this thread was a bit of an eye opener for me. Up until now I have never counted exactly how many locomotives I had in my roster. When I first read the thread I guessed that maybe I had about 30. However, I just did a count and much to my suprise I came up with a total of 46 including the critters and a rail car. Who knew? Guess its time to get JMRI cranked up.
Next step will be to count how many freight and passenger cars I have. I'm sure that will be an eye opener too.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Since my reply to this thread yesterday morning...a memory came to mind.
This is no exaggeration what-so-ever.
I had an aquaintance about 35 years ago. At the time he was a retiring signal maintainer for Conrail. He had a collection of brass to be unequalled. He tore apart his layout a few years before I met him. He had a brass locomotive collection that literally covered his basement walls, floor to ceiling including the basement stairwell...all in HO. At my best guess...there were 1000-1200 brass locos that covered all the walls of his basement. Also at the time he was extensively collecting plastic models and displaying them on Lexan shelves in his living room. Again...at the time...about 1979-80 he claimed to have his brass collection insured for $250,000.
Just thought this would be an interesting little tidbit for the readers of this form.
You can never have too many locomotives.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
When you finally find and purchase that special locomotive you’ve been seeking for ages, then whilst tidying up in the layout room, you find that you’d actually already purchased two!!! (Not a personal experience but one that happened recently to a chap I know). Cheers, the Bear.