Came to my own reality check the other day. With a 2 level 8'X 19' layout, having 20 locomotives probably isn't too bad but the new reality is that I've been fighting to get at least 6-8 of them working reasonable. All of them are least 15 years old with old Digitrax fleet decoders so it seems silly to spend time, effort and money to try to get them working reasonably. It might be time to cut the losses and start looking again.
Scott Sonntag
My reality check came a couple of years ago. We had had a house fire in 1996 which seriously damaged my Lionel equipment which was in boxes in the closet the fire went through. At that time I decided to switch to HO.
As the new house was taking shape, wife and I walked up the stairs to the 2nd floor. She looked to the right and said "that's the trainroom." Needless to say I didn't argue about accepting a 13x22 space.
Did't have a lot of time to get started, as I was still operating a small dairy and driving school, but.... I did go to shows and watched ebay and bought things I thought would go on the layout; trains, buildings, scenic materials, vehicles and figures.
Before I got transitioned from dairy to beef (much less time) son moved home, youu gurssed it, into the train room.
There was a small room (7x14) in the basement. That's about 1/3 the size and had boxes of "stuff" enough to fill the room.
It took me awhile to change my buying mode. An inventory found some 36 locos, about evinly divided between steam anad diesel, 357 freight cars of which 145 were box cars, 23 cabooses and 23 passenger train cars. I'd have needed the whole upstairs to have them all on the rails.
A show came to town and I decided to try and sell some stuff. I have now done several shows, but COVID haulted that, with plenty of stuff to go.
Finishing the room proved to be a challenge, existing 4x6 layout sat in the middle of it, making working difficult. I finally bit the bullet this fall, sold the layout and started to work on the room. Got the room sheet rocked, then painted Christmas day. This weekend my eldest son helped me finish up the electrical work and put up the grid for the suspended ceiling with the lights in. Have some painting to touch up now that I have good light.
Will we finish the ceiling next weekend? When will I get the shelf up? When will I get the backdrop done? Will there be a show in March to sell some more stuff, so I dont fill the space under the shelf with unsold "stuff"?
I still buy things occasionally, but reality makes purchasing much more fussy and I still have a lot of decisions on what buildings and vehicles to keep.
Should be retired so I could wok on the layout more, but I enjoy what I am doing (except on days lide today, 12" of snow or 20 degrees below 0 with 30 mph winds), so progress will be sporatic.
Have fun,
Richard
Tophias....
"My point is it's a bit disappointing that I won't be buying any additional locomotives, and I'm wondering how you all feel about this?"
Doesn't bother me at all your disappointed. Means more for us! (just kidding!)
Hmmmm, have seen this thought/topic a few times.
Its part of the 'disease'. Very much like an addiction. "Oooooh look at that, gotta have it"! Nothing wrong with that as long as your bills are paid, and the wife is either 1) ok with it, 2) doesnt care, 3) doesnt know, 4) all the above. Kids dont count - they should be seen not heard. So why stop just cuz your layouts too small? Sledgehammers and walls were made for each other.
Remember, money is printed every day. Its only printed to spend. Your giving a train a good home. The train will bring you enjoyment. Its pretty much win-win, as long as conditions 1-4 above are met.
Now if the kid needs purple hair and an iphone, or the cat is gonna have puppies... yeah, take care of those first. But after thats paid off id be wiping my forhead going "whew, i need a Lionel" or "its Mantua time".
This is prolly one of the very, very few hobbys where having too much is not even a thing. If your life is on track, and you have time for a hobby (youve had 20 years), its provides you with the returns you seek from it.... then why not indulge in the good thing.
Besides, what if tomarow you hit the purly gates and Peter Paul and Mary ask you how many trains you have? I hear anyone with 20 or less gets to clean the Big Guy's bathroom. (someones gotta do it).
Lastly, in the time it took you to read this nonsense, you coulda bought yourself something nice on that 'bay' thing. Now, how do you feel about it? See? So go buy something, youll feel much betterer. Every time, i promise.
PMR
Lakeshore Sub Came to my own reality check the other day. With a 2 level 8'X 19' layout, having 20 locomotives probably isn't too bad but the new reality is that I've been fighting to get at least 6-8 of them working reasonable. All of them are least 15 years old with old Digitrax fleet decoders so it seems silly to spend time, effort and money to try to get them working reasonably. It might be time to cut the losses and start looking again. Scott Sonntag
When I started my layout about 20 years ago, I had already made the decision to go DCC and had a lot of DC locos from my old layout, mostly Rivarossi steamers and Athearn BB diesels. My plan was to install decoders in all and repain/reletter them for my new layout. I also picked up about a half dozen Athearn BB F-units from Trainworld at a blow out price of $30 apiece. When I made the decision go with code 83 track, that wiped out my Rivarossi steamers as a viable option because they all had the old pizza cutter flanges. When I finally got enough track laid to actually do some running, I bought my first factory equipped DCC loco with sound and saw how much better the detailing was on the new locos. I soon forgot all about retrofitting my Athearn BB diesels and began buying all new locos, either factory equipped or DCC-ready using plug-in decoders. I never regretted that choice. When you weigh the cost in time and money to upgrade the old vs. the better quality the new locos have, it was an easy decision for me. I was able to recoup some of the cost by selling off much of my diesel fleet to my LHS. I see older Rivarossi steamers are still fetching a decent price on ebay so I think I'm going to go that route.
I just bought an undecorated Athearn GP-35 on eBay because it was a killer-good price, and GP-35s were my favorite locomotive back when I modeled 1968.
It was the last thing I needed, and I will probably not do anything with it for 10+ years, but it was less than $30.00!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
me i have 30 big boys all BLI/MTH/ATHEARN/RIVAROSSI all DCC & sound & 2 challengers & 10 other steamers of various wheel arrangments.
10 diesels of transition era ilk
being that i work in a hobby shop , its tough to not buy the locos from the collections we get from the widows / kids that want to dump them on us.
one guy i wired his layout up & he has all bli / mth locos & he just dumps them in a box like they are 1970s tycos
hes 91 so im thinking in a year or two my boss with get the call...
My layout is about 15 years old. I thought I could rehab my old BB diesels and put decoders. When I started looking for replacement parts, I found a couple of Proto GP9s at MB Klein for $30 a piece.. I ordered one and installed a simple motor decoder. I was so excited that I ordered another one, and maybe at the same time ordered an RSC3. I was really in business after installing another pair of decoders.
Those engines now have two sound decoder upgrades, both done by me. The old geeps I was going to fix up got turned into dummies or disposed of.
I later bought a GP9M from Walthers. This is a model of an engine that's a converted older GP9. I renumbered one of the dummies to be the same engine they made the GP9M from. Running them as a consist is just a little joke only I get.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I also collect Bachmann Thomas locomotives and freight cars. I'm almost done with the engines. Just missing BoCo, Stepney, Daisy, and the future releases of the narrow gauge engines for season 1-4. That includes Peter Sam, Sir Handle, and Duncan maybe Duke if they want.
I still need to find the past release of the Tar and Oil tank car, mail car, cattle wagon.
My HO scale Thomas and Friends is almost complete and basically the only one.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
angelob6660I also collect Bachmann Thomas locomotives and freight cars
I have heard the Bachmann HO Scale Thomas locomotives have very good mechanisms.
Is this true?
I started collecting Thomas and friends for the grandchildren.
After about six months only Thomas runs. The rest have been altered to Leeds based items. The grandchildren only run my diesels now!
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
I too have come to a big realization but, save that for later. We all have our reasons for being in this hobby. For most of us, it is to hold on to memories. A place, a time or even a dream that is important to us. I agree with Paul 3, who put a limit on the number of locomotives I should own?
When something I want comes along, I get it. Scale Trains just announced a GP-30. Sign me up for one of each of the Rio Grandes. And, wait until they do L&N, Southern, SP and, Cotton Belt-2,2,1 and 2 of each. Just took delivery of one of their SD40T-2s along with some Southern Pacific SD-45R's. Now my Athearn Ready-to-Rolls might be headed for their boxes as I acquire more 8300 series T-2s. Jason Shron will be able to rescue more buses and prototype equipment. I will do my best to help keep him afloat, as long as he continues to feed my addiction to quality models. I'm already signed up for New Haven FA/FB-1s, H16-44s and PA-1s. The FAs and PAs will replace earlier, less detailed offerings, as did the RS-11s and SW-1200. As far as recreating memories, Southern, Erie Lackawanna and New York Central E-8s are also on pre-order.
When Athearn released the Genesis GP-9s, I replaced my P2Ks, seven for seven, New Havens. Also six for the Southern Pacific. At one time I was an avid detailer of diesel models but time and age have caught up with me and, I no longer have the ability to drill number 79 holes, or bend brake cylinder piping for EMD Dash2 diesel trucks.
I am modeling New Haven and SP. I also acquire or, am looking for certain models of B&M, CV, NYC, C&O, Southern, Central of Georgia, L&N, ICG, ATSF, MILW, SLSF, D&RGW and BN locomotives I have known or, photographed, to cement memories of people, places or times that have meaning for me. A lot of which, are no longer in existance.
You see I am one of those vile creatures known as a rivet counter. I know the difference between ACF and Pullman-Standard boxcars. I won't paint F-7s in New Haven colors and call them FL-9s. I will not number a Ready-to-Roll bay window caboose in the SP 4700 series because, that is what it is NOT. Does it matter to anyone but me that the Athearn SD45 is only semi-accurate for SP's first 45 units? And, it has both, the ratchet style handbrake on the fireman's side of the short hood AND the wheel type on the engineers's side, at the rear of the long hood? I know SP went for lots of extra lights on their locomotives but, DUAL handbrakes of differing types, on the same unit? Ratchets only appeared on the first order of 45, 8800-8844. Scale Trains got it right for the small slice of the GRIP series on the box of the units they sell to the point of putting the number series of the correct prototypes on the labels. Just as with Rapido, these folks will see more of my dollars--lots more.
Being a lone wolf all my life, I only have myself to please or attempt to impress. Both of my children are nearing 50 years of age and were raised to become self-sufficient adults who paddle their own canoes. Son has no interest but Daughter came out last year as a rabid SP fan, raring to go looking for trains in the middle of July in west Texas. Even has an SD39 and C50-7 caboose. SP of course but, there's a sweet spot for the MoPac and Miss Katy as well. When I begin my final cool down, it will all be hers to do as she sees fit. I will be beyond caring.
I don't gamble, drink, or chase wild women. I owe no one and my mrs departed this life 12 years ago, therefore I neither ask for permission or forgiveness. It's my belief that you only have one go-around in this life and after your responsibilties are attended to, enjoy what's left.
Paul 3 was right. There's no limit to how many locomotives you can have--if you can find them!
I stopped buying at 27 locomotives. I'm now beginning to think maybe I should sell off some of the least used ones, but that's still in the 'thinking' stage. Yes, I swore off buying any more and then Scale Trains announced their latest offering. Oh well.
NHTX You see I am one of those vile creatures known as a rivet counter. I know the difference between ACF and Pullman-Standard boxcars. I won't paint F-7s in New Haven colors and call them FL-9s. I will not number a Ready-to-Roll bay window caboose in the SP 4700 series because, that is what it is NOT. Does it matter to anyone but me that the Athearn SD45 is only semi-accurate for SP's first 45 units? And, it has both, the ratchet style handbrake on the fireman's side of the short hood AND the wheel type on the engineers's side, at the rear of the long hood? I know SP went for lots of extra lights on their locomotives but, DUAL handbrakes of differing types, on the same unit? Ratchets only appeared on the first order of 45, 8800-8844. Scale Trains got it right for the small slice of the GRIP series on the box of the units they sell to the point of putting the number series of the correct prototypes on the labels. Just as with Rapido, these folks will see more of my dollars--lots more.
While I would not say that I am a rivet counter, far from the definition in fact, I do apprecite finer details and having the "important" details included.
I too have replaced locomotives that no longer compete with locomotives that offer more of what I'm looking for (front and rear LED ditchlights, operating beacons if so equipped, proper motor control) etc.
One thing I am noticing are the paint jobs. The chalky, flattish factory sheen is more desireable than what I can get with dullcote, and infinitely more desireable than the new as-built factory fresh look. While weathering is an option, starting off with a proper factory paint job that gets me a head start is better than one that doesn't.
Not a loco here, but I recently bought Scale Train rivet counter hoppers. I returned them. The large black lettering was glossy black, and the roof walkways and hatches were painted a high gloss silver that was nearly mirror like. A very dissapointing paint job for such a detailed rivet counter series product. Accurail products have the kind of sheen I look for.
I've also retuned locos in the past because of a nearly "electric" blue color that the artists rendering did not reveal.
I'm now sensitive to adding any loco to the fleet unless I see a proper photo of the finished model....sort of inhibits pre ordering....but yes, I will return it for simply a gaudy paint job when the artists description failed to reveal it.
Producers are beginning to offer more second hand or merger patch out schemes...especially in rolling stock...and those are the product that are gathering more attention from me.
- Douglas
NHTX When Athearn released the Genesis GP-9s, I replaced my P2Ks, seven for seven, New Havens. Also six for the Southern Pacific. At one time I was an avid detailer of diesel models but time and age have caught up with me and, I no longer have the ability to drill number 79 holes, or bend brake cylinder piping for EMD Dash2 diesel trucks. I am modeling New Haven and SP. I also acquire or, am looking for certain models of B&M, CV, NYC, C&O, Southern, Central of Georgia, L&N, ICG, ATSF, MILW, SLSF, D&RGW and BN locomotives I have known or, photographed, to cement memories of people, places or times that have meaning for me. A lot of which, are no longer in existance. You see I am one of those vile creatures known as a rivet counter. I know the difference between ACF and Pullman-Standard boxcars. I won't paint F-7s in New Haven colors and call them FL-9s. I will not number a Ready-to-Roll bay window caboose in the SP 4700 series because, that is what it is NOT. Does it matter to anyone but me that the Athearn SD45 is only semi-accurate for SP's first 45 units? And, it has both, the ratchet style handbrake on the fireman's side of the short hood AND the wheel type on the engineers's side, at the rear of the long hood? I know SP went for lots of extra lights on their locomotives but, DUAL handbrakes of differing types, on the same unit? Ratchets only appeared on the first order of 45, 8800-8844. Scale Trains got it right for the small slice of the GRIP series on the box of the units they sell to the point of putting the number series of the correct prototypes on the labels. Just as with Rapido, these folks will see more of my dollars--lots more.
I am right there with you. I have gotten rid of most of my "good enough" locos and rolling stock over the years. I am one of those who want my passenger cars to be 85ft, my E units to have a proper nose, and the long hood of a SD45 to be the scale width. I am also willing to pay for it. I am sure the manufactures love me, as I will buy something that I want. My wife just rolls her eyes at me.
An "expensive model collector"
n012944 NHTX When Athearn released the Genesis GP-9s, I replaced my P2Ks, seven for seven, New Havens. Also six for the Southern Pacific. At one time I was an avid detailer of diesel models but time and age have caught up with me and, I no longer have the ability to drill number 79 holes, or bend brake cylinder piping for EMD Dash2 diesel trucks. I am modeling New Haven and SP. I also acquire or, am looking for certain models of B&M, CV, NYC, C&O, Southern, Central of Georgia, L&N, ICG, ATSF, MILW, SLSF, D&RGW and BN locomotives I have known or, photographed, to cement memories of people, places or times that have meaning for me. A lot of which, are no longer in existance. You see I am one of those vile creatures known as a rivet counter. I know the difference between ACF and Pullman-Standard boxcars. I won't paint F-7s in New Haven colors and call them FL-9s. I will not number a Ready-to-Roll bay window caboose in the SP 4700 series because, that is what it is NOT. Does it matter to anyone but me that the Athearn SD45 is only semi-accurate for SP's first 45 units? And, it has both, the ratchet style handbrake on the fireman's side of the short hood AND the wheel type on the engineers's side, at the rear of the long hood? I know SP went for lots of extra lights on their locomotives but, DUAL handbrakes of differing types, on the same unit? Ratchets only appeared on the first order of 45, 8800-8844. Scale Trains got it right for the small slice of the GRIP series on the box of the units they sell to the point of putting the number series of the correct prototypes on the labels. Just as with Rapido, these folks will see more of my dollars--lots more. I am right there with you. I have gotten rid of most of my "good enough" locos and rolling stock over the years. I am one of those who want my passenger cars to be 85ft, my E units to have a proper nose, and the long hood of a SD45 to be the scale width. I am also willing to pay for it. I am sure the manufactures love me, as I will buy something that I want. My wife just rolls her eyes at me.
That is all well and good. But I never seem to get an answer to this question from anyone with your point of view about rolling stock - what if no one makes the model you need/want for your layout theme in a correct, high detail, RTR model?
I model the early 50's, and compared to more recent eras, a WHOLE LOT is missing from the available selection of high end models.
I personally am not going to restrict what I try to represent on my layout based on what is available in "perfect" models.
And I have worked, planned, saved, accumulated, built kits, long enough. I'm building this layout NOW, not waiting for the all the right "pieces" to be made "someday".
Just a question?
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRALThat is all well and good. But I never seem to get an answer to this question from anyone with your point of view about rolling stock - what if no one makes the model you need/want for your layout theme in a correct, high detail, RTR model?
I can't speak for others, but I would think the same thinking applies to most of us. Over the course of 20 years, I settled for the next closest thing made. Its not like I was stubborn and didn't buy or run anything.
And now that the stuff I always wanted is being produced, its out with the stuff I settled for and in with the new. Sell the old for 20 bucks and buy the new at 45 bucks. Its no different than trading in a car, which is something that I also don't do much of in 20 years.
The new stuff still has to fit the theme. Its just a version of the car that is better than the one I have, more accurate, and better in a few other minor ways.
And yes, sometimes I pull the trigger quicker and more often than what makes total sense, simply because I like to get new stuff.
Doughless ATLANTIC CENTRAL That is all well and good. But I never seem to get an answer to this question from anyone with your point of view about rolling stock - what if no one makes the model you need/want for your layout theme in a correct, high detail, RTR model? I can't speak for others, but I would think the same thinking applies to most of us. Over the course of 20 years, I settled for the next closest thing made. Its not like I was stubborn and didn't buy or run anything. And now that the stuff I always wanted is being produced, its out with the stuff I settled for and in with the new. Sell the old for 20 bucks and buy the new at 45 bucks. Its no different than trading in a car, which is something that I also don't do much of in 20 years. The new stuff still has to fit the theme. Its just a version of the car that is better than the one I have, more accurate, and better in a few other minor ways. And yes, sometimes I pull the trigger quicker and more often than what makes total sense, simply because I like to get new stuff.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL That is all well and good. But I never seem to get an answer to this question from anyone with your point of view about rolling stock - what if no one makes the model you need/want for your layout theme in a correct, high detail, RTR model?
For me, I buy my share of the new high detail stuff. But selling off old stuff that I was happy with before is kind of a non starter for me on several levels.
One, it is a time consuming not fun task.
Two, since I my last layout was large, and the new one larger, we are not talking about tens of freight cars, we are talking about 100's of freight cars, the current roster being just under 1000.
And there is a fair amount of time invested in some of them.
Again, a lot of what I buy today is nice high end, high detail, but again, for my era there is a lot missing anyway in that level of product.
Example - early piggyback is a big thing for me, over 100 flat cars. Do you know how many accurate high detail early piggyback flats have been made in HO? Or more importantly how many different prototypes there were to try to represent?
Well there might be/have been three highly accurate early piggyback flats made in the last decade. There are easily 100 to 200 prototypes, because most early piggyback flats were home built by the railroads - the industry will NEVER make all those models, and I don't have time to scratch build them all - so close enough is good enough....... as trains of 35 to 40 of them roll by in each direction.
Happy modeling the "bigger picture".
Tophias How did you all know when enough was enough?
Color me "too pragmatic", but on my layout, a loco needs to have a purpose in order to be added to the roster. Usually this means that I have a particular scheduled train in mind that is in need of a loco, or could use a different substitute loco for variety. Add in switchers and helpers, and that would suggest that 15 to 20 locos would be "about right" for my medium-size (21' x 18') HO layout.
While I'm not a collector-for-the-sake-of-collecting, deep down, I am a sucker for that little mistreated brass loco at the train show bargin bin that just needs a "wee bit of TLC". Fortunately, the temtation to buy is tempered by the fact that I already have several of these awaiting re-motoring, decoder/keep-alive installation and painting.
But hey, if building a large fleet of locos is part of how you enjoy the hobby, go for it!
Jim
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Doughless ATLANTIC CENTRAL That is all well and good. But I never seem to get an answer to this question from anyone with your point of view about rolling stock - what if no one makes the model you need/want for your layout theme in a correct, high detail, RTR model? I can't speak for others, but I would think the same thinking applies to most of us. Over the course of 20 years, I settled for the next closest thing made. Its not like I was stubborn and didn't buy or run anything. And now that the stuff I always wanted is being produced, its out with the stuff I settled for and in with the new. Sell the old for 20 bucks and buy the new at 45 bucks. Its no different than trading in a car, which is something that I also don't do much of in 20 years. The new stuff still has to fit the theme. Its just a version of the car that is better than the one I have, more accurate, and better in a few other minor ways. And yes, sometimes I pull the trigger quicker and more often than what makes total sense, simply because I like to get new stuff. For me, I buy my share of the new high detail stuff. But selling off old stuff that I was happy with before is kind of a non starter for me on several levels. One, it is a time consuming not fun task. Two, since I my last layout was large, and the new one larger, we are not talking about tens of freight cars, we are talking about 100's of freight cars, the current roster being just under 1000. And there is a fair amount of time invested in some of them. Again, a lot of what I buy today is nice high end, high detail, but again, for my era there is a lot missing anyway in that level of product. Example - early piggyback is a big thing for me, over 100 flat cars. Do you know how many accurate high detail early piggyback flats have been made in HO? Or more importantly how many different prototypes there were to try to represent? Well there might be/have been three highly accurate early piggyback flats made in the last decade. There are easily 100 to 200 prototypes, because most early piggyback flats were home built by the railroads - the industry will NEVER make all those models, and I don't have time to scratch build them all - so close enough is good enough....... as trains of 35 to 40 of them roll by in each direction. Happy modeling the "bigger picture". Sheldon
I think for some of us its a matter that the old stuff isn't going to get much use once we buy the new stuff. I also cannot scratchbuild with sufficient talent that I can approach the quality of what I can buy.
Once I replaced a less than ideal model for one closer to what I wanted, those older models just sat there not being used. It took me a few years to figure out what was going on and to let go. Now that I know the older model won't be used much, the process of replacing old with the new is no big deal.
But getting rid of stuff is not a fun process. A lot of work.
And for a modern era modeler, there simply weren't as many choices to buy, say, a GP15 that EMD didn't produce until 1980s. There were always a lot more models for a 1st gen high hood GP.
If you're not going to want DCC and Sound, I wouldn't think about selling P2K GP7 from year 2000 just to by an Athearn Genesis GP7 or a new Walthers Proto version that was produced in 2016 or later. Not much difference. True rivet counters might find bigger differences.
If you like DCC Sound, then replacing a QSI with a LokSound 5 or Tsunami2 wrapped in a better shell and details, is another motivation.
I listed all of my locos earlier in this thread. It took 20 years to find something better than what I had. I don't think I'll find anything better in the next 20 years, so turning over my inventory is pretty much behind me. It will happen occasionally, and I'll probably find that stuff I bought won't get used much. I'll decide if I want to keep it in the cabinet unused or move it on.
For me the first change started happening about 10 years ago when building my previus layout, got rid of stuff I would never use and everthing that did not live up to my standards at the time and then toward the end of that layout, most of the stuff that didn't fit my era. Then we moved and got rid of most of the stuff that was not highly detailed or I just didn't like the pain scheme like on some Atlas billboard reefers, kept lots of those though. Now I am allways on the lookout for stuff but rairly find and the fact I will only buy bargins regardless of the fact I don't have to (being poor a few times in my life really influenced me). Also with new latout I got into DCC and sound. The engines available and decoders available are much better than 10 years ago or so when DCC was more of a pain than fun unless you were into things like consisting or multiple trains running at one time on the main (previus layout had separate power packs for the yards). Bought a bunch of Sound Value from Bachmann and they run so well and sound great, sure a WOW sounds better but not that much better and the price of the Bachmanns starting at around $50 is too good to believe. Even some of the other manufactres are starting to offer similar items as low as $150.
Doug,
If we are just going to talk about locos (others brought up other types of rolling stock), nearly all my locos are newer (last 20-25 years at the oldest, Proto, Intermountain, Spectrum, BLI, Genesis, etc) and since I have no interest in DCC or sound, I guess that meets your criteria.
But I don't have "left over" stuff that would not get used in any case. Right now I have just enough rolling stock and only slightly more locomotives than it will take for the proposed operating scheme on the new layout.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL n012944 NHTX When Athearn released the Genesis GP-9s, I replaced my P2Ks, seven for seven, New Havens. Also six for the Southern Pacific. At one time I was an avid detailer of diesel models but time and age have caught up with me and, I no longer have the ability to drill number 79 holes, or bend brake cylinder piping for EMD Dash2 diesel trucks. I am modeling New Haven and SP. I also acquire or, am looking for certain models of B&M, CV, NYC, C&O, Southern, Central of Georgia, L&N, ICG, ATSF, MILW, SLSF, D&RGW and BN locomotives I have known or, photographed, to cement memories of people, places or times that have meaning for me. A lot of which, are no longer in existance. You see I am one of those vile creatures known as a rivet counter. I know the difference between ACF and Pullman-Standard boxcars. I won't paint F-7s in New Haven colors and call them FL-9s. I will not number a Ready-to-Roll bay window caboose in the SP 4700 series because, that is what it is NOT. Does it matter to anyone but me that the Athearn SD45 is only semi-accurate for SP's first 45 units? And, it has both, the ratchet style handbrake on the fireman's side of the short hood AND the wheel type on the engineers's side, at the rear of the long hood? I know SP went for lots of extra lights on their locomotives but, DUAL handbrakes of differing types, on the same unit? Ratchets only appeared on the first order of 45, 8800-8844. Scale Trains got it right for the small slice of the GRIP series on the box of the units they sell to the point of putting the number series of the correct prototypes on the labels. Just as with Rapido, these folks will see more of my dollars--lots more. I am right there with you. I have gotten rid of most of my "good enough" locos and rolling stock over the years. I am one of those who want my passenger cars to be 85ft, my E units to have a proper nose, and the long hood of a SD45 to be the scale width. I am also willing to pay for it. I am sure the manufactures love me, as I will buy something that I want. My wife just rolls her eyes at me. That is all well and good. But I never seem to get an answer to this question from anyone with your point of view about rolling stock - what if no one makes the model you need/want for your layout theme in a correct, high detail, RTR model? I
I
As I said in the quoted section, I had settled for "good enough" in the past. For the most part, as someone who mostly models the late 60s PRR, everything I need has been produced. There are a few things out there still that I want, but don't need. I will wait for them.
Signed
"Keyboard Warrior"
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Doug, If we are just going to talk about locos (others brought up other types of rolling stock), nearly all my locos are newer (last 20-25 years at the oldest, Proto, Intermountain, Spectrum, BLI, Genesis, etc) and since I have no interest in DCC or sound, I guess that meets your criteria. But I don't have "left over" stuff that would not get used in any case. Right now I have just enough rolling stock and only slightly more locomotives than it will take for the proposed operating scheme on the new layout. Sheldon
The evolution in rolling stock hasn't gone as far as locos, for obvious reasons, so there has been not as much tunrover. And producers seem to introduce completely different models, so they are not really replacements for what I have.
But if I had a bunch of Athearn BB 5250 covered hoppers (the "55 foot covered hopper") from 30 years ago with the thicker ladders and stirrups and roof walkways, I'd check out the new Atlas 5250 covered hoppers.
But the Athearn BB covered hoppers would not be left over until they were replaced by the better stuff.
Looks like you need a lot of equipment for that big layout. I enjoy seeing the progress.
SeeYou190 angelob6660 I also collect Bachmann Thomas locomotives and freight cars I have heard the Bachmann HO Scale Thomas locomotives have very good mechanisms. Is this true? -Kevin
angelob6660 I also collect Bachmann Thomas locomotives and freight cars
I would like to make a correction and a couple of additional points to an earlier post. First, I mis-identified the Athearn Ready-to-Roll SD45 as having two types of handbrakes on the same unit. The offending unit is actually the RTR SD40R in Southern Pacific. They produced models of some of the last ten SD40s SP leased/ purchased, which had the handbrake mounted on a stand at the very rear of the long hood. It resembles the steering wheel of a ship in that position. They simply forgot to replace the short hood with the ratchet brake with one that didn't include it. To Athearn's credit, they did offer the correct part to anyone who wanted to retrofit it to their model. By then I had already eliminated the ratchet on what Athearn sold with the unit number of SP 7351, which was long since changed to a unit number I am much more familiar with.
My other comments about errors on the SD45 still stand, regarding position of fuel fillers and air reservoirs in relation to the handbrake position. The air reservoir and a fuel filler are correctly modeled as found on the initial 45 units SP rostered, 8800-8844. Another fuel filler is needed on the forward portion of the fuel tank and check pix of the unit in the timeframe you model to determine the need for the dial gauges that are nicely molded into the model's tank. Over the years these things were in and out of favor. If it matters to you, check. These were the units with the ratchet handbrakes on the left side of the short hood. All brakes with wheels on cutouts in the right rear of the long hood and a fuel filler repositioned toward the rear of the tank, causing the air reservoirs to be shifted forward, were found on units 8845 and up, for all you SP fans out there!
I am extremely glad Douglas brought up one of my pet subjects--the ACF 5250 cu.ft. covered hopper model in HO. Although Atlas' car is a marked improvement over what we've had to date, it still ain't where it should be. Finally that cutout in the side sheet where the slope sheet (end) transitions from angled to vertical is right. Since Athearn got it wrong on the initial offering back before 1970, true to monkey-see-monkey-do, every knock-off done over the intervening 55 years, has copied that error. Atlas has seen fit to offer two body styles of what should be an iconic car that was SO common they just became part of the railroad scenery. Unless it was painted some garish color like Shell's yellow or Sclair's orange and white. To my eyes, covered hoppers are grey-end of discussion. Okay, allowances are made for Santa Fe's brown and DuPont's red and Arco's blue, but these colors are subdued when road grime begins to build up on them and, they don't give you a headache.
If Atlas, or the next producer of an improvement over Atlas' model begin's to offer these cars in the paint schemes the prototypes wore, they will be busy for a long, long time. These cars were the "billboard reefers" of their day. They went everywhere hauling plastic compounds to customers large and small, across America. Down here in Texas there would be some in almost every train, from lowliest drag to right behind the power of the hottest hotshot. They traveled alone, and in herds. Plain grey with just ACFX and a few SHPX will dominate for me. There is room for the decal manufacturing sector to greatly increase their lines by producing some of the currently unavailable names. There is also a great need for ACFX reporting marks and accompnying number jumbles in all of the fonts they use on all of their cars.
To Atlas I say thank you. Just why did you put the you-know-what in the punchbowl with that molded plastic end ladder detail (?) from the 1970s? C'mon man! You left the door wide open for some body to bring out models with end detail up to the standards of today's high end models and steal your thunder. Still I have about 25 with more to come, since I model SP in Texas, circa 1985. Maybe one of these after market suppliers will produce improved details. I don't play tackle football with my cars, so chunky, 1970s plastic details are not necessary. Thank you, Douglas
NHTXTo Atlas I say thank you. Just why did you put the you-know-what in the punchbowl with that molded plastic end ladder detail (?) from the 1970s? C'mon man! You left the door wide open for some body to bring out models with end detail up to the standards of today's high end models and steal your thunder. Still I have about 25 with more to come, since I model SP in Texas, circa 1985. Maybe one of these after market suppliers will produce improved details. I don't play tackle football with my cars, so chunky, 1970s plastic details are not necessary. Thank you, Douglas Add Quote to your Post
You're welcome. Yes, the 5250 was a main staple, but it is too old for my era. Even the Atlas 5701 is getting long in the tooth for anybody who would model present day (I'm not fixed on a year, more or less later than 2010).
I'm sure that Atlas sees a lot of pretty paint schemes in their future with the 5250.
I have the Atlas 5800. Not a lot of Plastics covered hoppers to choose from, unlike grain covered hoppers.
While they do have molded on ladders, they are fine enough, IMO, and look very good considering how hard it must be to put little wire ladder rungs into a thin ladder support column. The 5250, 5701, 5800, and the Pressureaide covered hoppers use the same molded ladder ends. Even the BLMA Trinity 5660 Flour Covered Hoppers introduced by Trinity in about 2010 (replaced the Pressuraide covered hoppers) and the BLMA 2 bay 3230 covered hoppers (replacing the ACF 2970 for the most part) have finely molded ladders.
Its the stirrups on all of these that are the real dissapointment, IMO.
I have been "bad" with wanting to try the latest greatest thing from most importers, and that does include buying too many engines.
I have only a modest folded dogbone mainline, maybe 1.2 scale miles in length. Yet I currently have almost 40 units, not low end either but mostly ScaleTrains rivet counter rtr units with dcc/sound or equivalent level models from other manufacturers.
The real truth is I need some of that money toward my sons' college tuition, etc. Periodically I have to refocus my model railroad interests, and then purge unnecessary items that are not part of my mission. As much as I may love Mexican engines and a whole variety of American and Canadian roadnames, my first two engines as a child were Santa Fe, and though I may dabble in other things, I seemingly always return to Santa Fe. Plus now with Dad gone, when I see Santa Fe engines of a certain era it reminds me of good times running the trains with my dad.
So even though I have some fantastic new engines, I have made the choice to slim down to only Santa Fe motive power, which right now for me includes one Walthers Proto Santa Fe GP-30 from 2014 (traded back from a friend), and two brand new BLI Santa Fe GP-20's. I have two Atlas U28CG units pre-ordered (so far) for January, 2023, and will likely add more.
My very first model train set had an engine in that red/silver warbonnet paint scheme that was uniquely worn by U28CG's (only red warbonnet units that did not have the yellow and black separation stripes), so for me this is a kind of closure--getting the engine I always should have had that was never really available before (excluding a handful of rare Overland Models brass units), plus also getting at least one blue/yellow warbonnet unit of the same thing.
I have a bunch of items selling through my local train store, and I will be running tables on behalf of that store at the Harrisburg Train Show in March. There will be many deals on very lightly used engines and freight cars (still in mint/like new condition) to be had. If I can move the stuff and take home only empty crates then I will be thrilled. Though the store will set some prices on items they own, I can accept any reasonable offers on anything that is mine.
Done dabbling in any motive power that is not Santa Fe.
John
Doughless NHTX To Atlas I say thank you. Just why did you put the you-know-what in the punchbowl with that molded plastic end ladder detail (?) from the 1970s? C'mon man! You left the door wide open for some body to bring out models with end detail up to the standards of today's high end models and steal your thunder. Still I have about 25 with more to come, since I model SP in Texas, circa 1985. Maybe one of these after market suppliers will produce improved details. I don't play tackle football with my cars, so chunky, 1970s plastic details are not necessary. Thank you, Douglas Add Quote to your Post You're welcome. Yes, the 5250 was a main staple, but it is too old for my era. Even the Atlas 5701 is getting long in the tooth for anybody who would model present day (I'm not fixed on a year, more or less later than 2010). I'm sure that Atlas sees a lot of pretty paint schemes in their future with the 5250. I have the Atlas 5800. Not a lot of Plastics covered hoppers to choose from, unlike grain covered hoppers. While they do have molded on ladders, they are fine enough, IMO, and look very good considering how hard it must be to put little wire ladder rungs into a thin ladder support column. The 5250, 5701, 5800, and the Pressureaide covered hoppers use the same molded ladder ends. Even the BLMA Trinity 5660 Flour Covered Hoppers introduced by Trinity in about 2010 (replaced the Pressuraide covered hoppers) and the BLMA 2 bay 3230 covered hoppers (replacing the ACF 2970 for the most part) have finely molded ladders. Its the stirrups on all of these that are the real dissapointment, IMO.
NHTX To Atlas I say thank you. Just why did you put the you-know-what in the punchbowl with that molded plastic end ladder detail (?) from the 1970s? C'mon man! You left the door wide open for some body to bring out models with end detail up to the standards of today's high end models and steal your thunder. Still I have about 25 with more to come, since I model SP in Texas, circa 1985. Maybe one of these after market suppliers will produce improved details. I don't play tackle football with my cars, so chunky, 1970s plastic details are not necessary. Thank you, Douglas Add Quote to your Post
And they did not even exist in my era, so I'm not remotely interested in how good or bad which model is. I can actually say, in 54 years of model trains, I have never owned a model of a "modern" (1960's or newer) covered hopper.
Respectfully, the 60's and the 70's are without question the least likely eras I would ever model.
I'm sure others feel the same way about my 1954 era choice.
Covered hoppers, as we think of them today, were a very new idea in 1954. But I do have my share of era correct covered hoppers.
B&O wagon top covered hoppers from Spring Mills Depot - truely a state of the art model.
http://www.springmillsdepot.com/n-34modelphotos.htm
Some F&C resin kits of the same.
And some Athearn (now in the Roundhouse line) PS-2 2003 models from about 8-10 years ago? Upgraded version of an older Roundhouse product, a very nice model for its modest price at the time.
All good enough/close enough for my needs. I have been known to replace an over sized plastic sturip step or two, but not loosing any sleep over the idea......
The point of this reply? As I have said, we all see this stuff thru the prism of our interests........
There were covered hoppers in the 30's, just rather rare.
ATLANTIC CENTRALThe point of this reply? As I have said, we all see this stuff thru the prism of our interests.......
I didn't think that simply posting a benign but descriptive comment about modern era covered hoppers and new products that have been offered would trigger a thought otherwise.
Once in a blue moon, I like to read comments on this forum that pertain to my interests, even if I have to type them myself.