I wanted to build a small branch line with 5 locomotives and 2 leasers (heavy traffic season) making 7. It was going to be sit in or around 1993-1996.
If that's all I was doing I would stay with it. But I don't.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
M636CWhy would you ever want to count them?jcopilotTo M636C and everyone else, You ask why would anyone want to count their engines? I can answer in 2 words: house fire. A 3rd word: insurance.
jcopilotTo M636C and everyone else, You ask why would anyone want to count their engines? I can answer in 2 words: house fire. A 3rd word: insurance.
You ask why would anyone want to count their engines? I can answer in 2 words: house fire.
A 3rd word: insurance.
My story is that I had a friend's wife come to me. She said something to the effect that "her husband already had 5 locomotives and he wanted to buy another! How many locomotives did I have?" I told her I had just tried to count them for the insurance company. I said that I got to xxx (a high number) got scared and stopped counting. The number more than an order of magnitued over her husbands 5 locos. She was a bit shocked but he now has a decent sized fleet that many would be envious of.
I never finished that initial count, but I have carefully recorded everything I've purchased since then, and it is on file with the insurance company.
FergmiesterI was looking at this thread in a more whimsical tone. Probbly my fault for mis-labeling it.
M636C 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. Why would you ever want to count them? I have occasionally purchased duplicate locomotives, but usually just swap them for a different version or road number of the same type. My problem is collecting far too many different prototypes. Being Australian, I was brought up with British OO (on HO gauge). In the early 1980s, I realised that Chinese made British OO was selling for ridiculously low prices. I purchased an LMS design brake third coach by "Mainline" in BR red and cream and realised that there were coloured triangles on the windows of the non-smoking compartments. (Now you can read the lettering on the 1/76 decal, of course) So I started buying the locomotives and realised that some were ordinary but others had detail equivalent to hand made brass. A lot of the models were Great Western prototypes. That railway used standard boiler designs (like the PRR in the USA and CP in Canada), so I thought I should get at least one of each type of boiler. Then I thought I should get one of each type of LMS taper boiler, since they were derived from the GWR designs. Of course some types had the older parallel boiler designs, and I had to wait years for an original Patriot to go with the Royal Scots (with both types of boiler) and the Rebuilt Patriots that were made in the 1980s. And the parallel "Scot" boiler had a firebox based on the Southern "Lord Nelson", so I had to have one of those. One reason to do this is that so many British locomotives are 4-6-0s differing only slightly in overall dimensions. The Patriot, Rebuilt Patriot, and parallel Royal Scot use the same chassis with three different boilers (that's the prototypes, not just the models). Well, that resulted in quite a few British models... We couldn't ignore the LNER... I visited Europe in the 1970s, and ended up with quite a few French and German HO models, mainly steam. Of course there were some strange puchases. Virtually the whole range of Jouef passenger cars in Singapore. A friend flew them to Butterworth in the empty gun pack of his Mirage IIIO (appropriate for French HO models). Surprisingly, my first electric train set came from Singapore too in the 1950s but that was delivered by a Royal Navy T class submarine (but it was Hornby Dublo British prototype). Back to locomotives: Somehow I got Rivarossi models of both of the two DB class 10 Pacifics, one coal burner and one oil burner, but I think that is the only prototype I have with the full class represented. Of course I have a lot of USA prototype locomotives. A local hobby shop was very overstocked with Walthers coaches and sold off Amfleets and Budd streamliners in Amtrak liveries at ten and fifteen dollars each. With some Superliners bought at higher prices, I ended up with 58 of them. So I had a campaign of picking up Amtrak motive power for that. There are a lot of the relatively recent Australian models, of course. I've picked up a couple of the pre-unification East German models of Russian built DR prototypes because they were there. But I wouldn't want to count them... I spend some time on the Classic Toy Trains forum. I'm sure they would understand me. M636C
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.
To M636C and everyone else,
I have personal experience, a house fire that ruined, not destroyed, a great many engines, freight cars, structures and track. I was lucky in that my whole house did not burn down nor was my train room destroyed. After the fire, I was able to go in and remove everything. Even salvaged the benchwork and used it to build my current layout. In my case, I had the melted carcasses of my engines, rolling stock and structures to prove my loss. Had the house been a total loss, I would have had to rely on my inventory. Yes, I keep an inventory of everything I buy including wire, track nails, lumber, homasote, 2-56 screws, scenery items, tools ..... When it comes time to meet with the insurance adjuster, you'll need every piece of evidence you can provide regarding what you owned and how much you paid. (You do have replacement cost coverage, don't you?) While I don't have photos of my equipment, I wouldn't consider that excessive.
Why count your engines? So you can tell your insurance adjuster how many you had.
Jcopilot
Well, if your modeling theme requires camelback locomotives, you can reasonably collect one of every model made... and keep them all in a shoe box!
Camelbacks rule, diesels drool.
Jim
In the house, I have about 50 locos. Only three are diesels (all RS-1's). 85% will never be run by me again as the bulk are HO steamers. As I am currently in HOn3, I have 10 Blackstone k-27's and C-19s (mixed) and three brass NG engines that I have restored to modern motors and DCC/sound.
I figure that I will buy no more engines ever again..............Ha!..... Until Blackstone introduces their new K-28 and K-36's.
There is no such thing as too many locos, says ole "loco" Smith...
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
Soo Line fan I would urge people to use restraint. Nothing worse than needing money later in life and realizing you squandered to much on a hobby.
I would urge people to use restraint. Nothing worse than needing money later in life and realizing you squandered to much on a hobby.
I should chime in here:
It might not have been clear but I purchased a large part of my collection at very favourable prices. I have never spent more than I could afford.
In Australia we have a health system with relatively low costs. I haven't had to use it much, yet.
I have an assured income whether or not I continue working. During the Global Financial Crisis I ignored some advice from my financial adviser (who never seemed to come to terms with the changed conditions) and rearranged some investments which recovered very well.
My late father worked in a bank and I was trained to avoid debt of all kinds. Sometimes I think I'm collecting money as some people collect trains. It isn't as much fun.
Recently I have purchased only a few Chinese made Australian models. Some of these sell for more than I paid for all the Amtrak cars I obtained at bargain prices.
But never forget the big picture.
M636C
I currently only have 4 that are layout ready, about 8 more that need decoders installed. These should cover my operating plan for the forseeable future.
There's also about 8 more junkers that will be used as scenery at the Mingo roundhouse, trainset stuff mostly that will be painted and weathered to look like the junk it is.
Call me practical but I could use the money for better things and frankly more locos just clog the layout.
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
As my primary road engines are kitbashed GP-20s (Tyco shells on slightly modified Athearn GP-35 drives with Tyco metal handrails and modified Athearn stanchions. I term them "Tythearns." All 8 of them!), when you get tired of bending stanchions to fit! Each engine has 25 stanchions on them. There have been times where I have had to bend extra stanchions as I have made mistakes or in one case, an endrail disappeared on one engine.
Now that I'm single again, the sky is the limit. Almost at 100, hope to be there by the end of the year!
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
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?
I'll take "Why Is My House In Foreclosure" for $200, Alex.
You have too many locomotives when the cost of them is equal to a 1:1 scale SD40-2 in good shape.
Fergmiester 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!
Answer: When the layout legs start to buckle!
In all truth if I had stayed focus I would have 2 SW1500s or 2 RS1s)(2 GP9s maybe?) lettered for my Summerset Ry instead of the 47 locomotives of various road names I now own.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
M636C Why would you ever want to count them? I have occasionally purchased duplicate locomotives, but usually just swap them for a different version or road number of the same type. My problem is collecting far too many different prototypes. Being Australian, I was brought up with British OO (on HO gauge). In the early 1980s, I realised that Chinese made British OO was selling for ridiculously low prices. I purchased an LMS design ... M636C
Why would you ever want to count them?
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I put a limit of about 30 to 40 on my collection. I actually have about 45. They are all kitbashed and/or superdetailled to D&H standards. About 80% are D&H and the rest are CP and a few others of related railroads. They are all diesels from the 1950s to the 1980s.
I keep my totals down by selling off a few every now and then and replacing them with new projects.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
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.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
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!
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
FergmiesterSo the question is: When do you realize you have too many Locos?
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.
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.
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?
Tom
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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!
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.