How many is "too many"? This has no right or wrong answer
This has no right or wrong answer
Can I point out that inherent in the title of this topic is the assumpsion that there is a right or wrong answer.
Heartland Division CB&Q Economists explain their thoery of diminishing returns. They say each additional item acquired will have less value than the one before it. If they are correct, you will get less pleasure for each new locomotive than the one before it.
Economists explain their thoery of diminishing returns. They say each additional item acquired will have less value than the one before it. If they are correct, you will get less pleasure for each new locomotive than the one before it.
That theory needs to be modified for American mountain railroading because one freight train can have 4 to 6 or more diesels on it. Right from the git go, you are not devaluing the first diesel by adding a second because you need MU consists to pull a train, even considering selective compression. Just sayin...
They could be on to something. If a model railroader owns more locomotives than he can run on his layout, there is no point in adding another one as long as the primary goal is to have each locomotive running on the layout.
Sure, but don't forget some modelers are building a roster with the notion of staging, which has been more and more popular since the 1980's. So if you stage trains and run them across the system, it means you may have quite a few trains, each headed by 3 or 4 or more diesels (remember SP and D&RGW and other roads need lots of power to get trains over the mountains).
It seems to me there are individuals who are in the hobby of "model locomotiving", and they acquire more and more locomotives even though they don't have enough cars to be pulled by the locomotives not to mention enough track on their layouts to run them.
Undoubtedly the above is a "bad" thing. Bad bad bad. And I'm sure you aren't guilty of too many engines - cause it isn't safe to throw stones from glass houses.
Anyway, don't forget there is an up side you may have forgotten about. With all the hand wringing about the hobby in decline etc. the more people buying too many trains and being naughty in that way, they are stimulating the model RR economy. And there are those who believe he who dies with the most toys, wins - so they say
I see hope however. Model railroading is a diverse hobby. It can be just as much fun to make a model of a freight car or a passenger car as it is to make a model of a locomotive. As you construct a layout, you can build bridges, buildings and other structures which are also just as fun. Laying track and making scenery are fun too. My philosophy with model railroading is I get much more pleasure from building models than I do from owning models.
My philosophy with model railroading is I get much more pleasure from building models than I do from owning models.
It's a good philosophy for sure, one which is supported by ample hobby time. For those of us who are not retired and have long honey-do lists to boot, time is something we don't have copious amounts of. Of course building those bridges, building, laying track, benchwork, backdrops, wiring, scenery and many other things competes for that limited time for the pleasure of building models, so have patience with us who often buy models already built. Perhaps that may be considered by some as a necessary "evil".
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
1) All the above.
2) I am of the opinion we buyers are but 1/2 of an unbreakable symbiotic relationship....
We keep buying them, they keep making them.
3) If it wasnt a locomotive, youd just buy something else. Money is only printed to spend.
4) Team tracks and roundhouses arent as appealing - empty. This also applies to shelves.
5) If you could only eat ONE potato chip out of a whole bags worth, would you?
6) All else fails, see answer 1.
PM Railfan
If you ak me, well, then the answer is clearly a must - no one can ever have too many locomotives! If you ask my wife, more than three (1 on the tracks, one in the shop, 1 on the shelf) is way too much. Does that "if you buy one more locomotive, it´ll be me or them!" sound familiar to you? If so, you definitively have too many engines!
Seriously, I am in age age when pairing down starts beginning to be the name of the game. I don´t have a great number of locos, as I had to sell most of them to buy food in bad times, but over the years, quite a few have again accumulated. Most of them are now earmarked to be sold - at least those which will never see the track.
When will I have too many locomotives? Right after acquiring the next one.
When the reasoning behind owning them breaks down.
For instance, I have two Amtrak P42s for my Capitol Limited. I own no excess Amtrak equipment. There's no utility in owning a third one. I can only run two at a time!
It really depends on your other hobbies or priorities. I have to make sure my kids get certain opportunities they want. One will have to play some travel baseball to get more playing time. His right arm might take him somewhere.
Right now my youngest son still has electric Thomas trains and a BLI hybrid GN 4-8-4 along with a Roundhouse 2-6-0...and a couple old Mantua engines from my youth. I have an Athearn 4-6-6-4 in service and another new in box. That is it. Other stuff up for sale or gone.
We are happy.
What does it take to be happy?
Song lyric from Point of Grace: "Have what you want but want what you have".
Sometimes I feel like I had too much.
John
It seems to me there are individuals who are in the hobby of "model locomotiving", and they acquire more and more locomotives even though they don't have enough cars to be pulled by the locomotives not to mention enough track on their layouts to run them .
I see hope however. Model railroading is a diverse hobby. It can be just as much fun to make a model of a freight car or a passenger car as it is to make a model of a locomotive. As you construct a layout, you can build bridges, buildings and other structures which are also just as fun. Laying track and making scenery are fun too.
You may have your own philosophies of course. It's your hobby. Do what you want.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Ricky W:
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
When do you have too many locomotives?
Hmmm.....
It's one of two answers....
First option:
In the flavor of Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a redneck if...."
You might have too many locomotives if.....
Your locomotive lash up goes from one end of the layout to the other, without room even for a scale sized person to fit between them....
Option two:
WARNING:
Can not compute. There is no known answer. Please rephrase the question.
My my brain now hurts and is shutting down to avoid further damage from this question.
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.
Darth Santa Fe Too many!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Too many!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SouthPennWhen you no longer have any room for your locomotives on the layout or staging, and some have to be stored on a shelf, you have too many.
Wrong! That means you don't have enough shelves!
I have the locomotives that I want, but like JaBear said, I could always use more to set up consists. I still watch eBay. You never know when a bargain will come your way.
I have no set limit. The Maryland and Pennsylvania in the early 50's had 4 diesel switchers, 8 steam locomotives (2 retired in 1952), and 2 gas electrics. In S scale I have models of the 4 diesels and 3 2-8-0's. I have 2 0-6-0's that are not Ma&Pa but will do for standins. The others aren't available. What I have is more than sufficient for my future layout (I'm moving in 2 months).
I have more locomotives in S scale as well as some in HO and O from when I was in those scales. I buy more as they appeal to me. Eventually, I'll display them. But I admit that I enjoy collecting model railroading stuff that appeals to me, even if it will have no place on the layout. At some point I'll build a couple of small display layouts where I can run them.
Paul
When you no longer have any room for your locomotives on the layout or staging, and some have to be stored on a shelf, you have too many.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
And furthermore:
HA
Ed
Jimmy_Braum This has no right or wrong answer, and is more a personal opinion thread but, how many locomotives is too many for you?
This has no right or wrong answer, and is more a personal opinion thread but, how many locomotives is too many for you?
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LION operates 12 six car subway trains on a run of 14 miles.
Him has more locomotives, but hose him not runs.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Myself? I'm at a roster of 14 Wheeling diesels, and at least one for each class of locomotives represented (still need a 4000 series-non dynamic brake). So I'm just curious to hear what everyone else says.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).