How Much Do You Spend?

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering what folks are averaging a year on their RailRoading hobby.

Matt Prescott
http://lionel-trains.blogspot.com/

[Anonymous]

Before 3 kids I used to be in the >$1,000 category but now I'd say I fall into the $800-$1,000/ year range.

[egmurphy]

I only know this because the question came up on a similar poll/thread a few months ago. At that time I went back and checked my credit card billings (since I buy almost all my stuff using my credit card) and it worked out to about $45/month over the previous 15 or so months. This year will be similar or possibly slightly less.

Doesn't include magazine subscriptions and railroad books.

Of course, I have only a small layout.

Regards

[Anonymous]

I really have no idea. It's been an expensive year that I do know - bought a fair bit of LGB equipment last year including a loco, and bought a Lenz DCC starter set in January. That's apart from ebay, LHS, and other mail orders. At the moment, I'm reasonably off thanks to student loan money - a situation which will change when I graduate (2006 if all goes well), start work, and have to pay it back! Hence my trying to buy good quality equipment now that will last for many years to come - that $500 LGB ZillertalBahn loco may seem crazy money, but I'll see at least 20 years of life out of it if reports from other owners are anything to go by (and it was irresistably pretty...).

[jwr_1986]

you left out a too much category.

[selector]

Yup, jwr_1986, too much in my case. Mind you, I have just built my layout and acquired rolling stock and locos over a two month period. So, I am currently at (gulp) $3.5K Cdn.

Somebody, please help me to stop.

[rf16a]

More than I should.
Not as much as I'd like to.

[Anonymous]

No clue. Well over $1000, though.

[IRONROOSTER]

Over a $1000 last year, but this year figures to be less than $1000. I have reached the point where I have enough stuff for the layout and I'm just filling in here and there as well as buying the odd new thing that appeals to me.
Enjoy
Paul

[Jetrock]

Averaged out over the course of a year, pretty close to $100 a month--typically $40-50 a month for the occasional hobby shop stop, plus two or three train shows a year where I spend about half my year's train budget.

Since I quit smoking, though, I have been rewarding myself by spending that extra $50-75 a month I used to spend on cigs (and I was a light, half a pack a day, smoker!) and spend it on trains instead! Now that's real satisfaction...

[JohnT14808]

As I am still in the planning stages, not much yet. However, I'm still looking at major remodel costs, just to get my layout space ( 12 x 12 ) habitable. Needs full insulation and sheetrocking. Plans for the room include work bench, paint booth and layout, so it will be pretty jammed, but comfy.

I am still kicking around doing modules instead of some sort of permanent layout and with the work areas thrown in, I may not have room for reversing loops or turn arounds. But that is why the planning is still in progress. Heck, I may do an overhead 8" to 12" shelf layout all around the room at about 70" and do the modular pieces down below. Who knows.

[rexhea]

With a drawer full of receipts, I am afraid to add it up. Since this is my first 15 months of a large home layout, it is much higher than it will be in the future (I hope!). It is easy to see the money go with items like locos, but the things that sneak up on you are the little things like ground throws, lights, figures, vehicles, paint, ground cover, ballast, wire, and etc...[:0]

REX

[tigerstripe]

I really have no idea, but more importantly; don't care.

it's worth every penny!!!

[powernailer]

Tough quiestion. Do i have to count what I help my 18 year old son with? And do I have to count the beautiful Lionel Southern Pacific Daylight and the first set of passenger cars for it? I hope my wife doesn't see this. That gives you some idea, not counting the two SD70 BN's that my son purchased which also had decorders in them. You see, I have Lionel, and my son has HO, we occupy the biggest share of our basement, 34' by 34', but I'm never bored and neither is my teenage son. Hey guys, want to know a secret? Put a Lionel command engine on the track, get it up and running and hand the CAB 1 to your wife, she'll love it, Last train show,she spend more than I did. There still are miracles.

[Anonymous]

Depends on whether I'm working and what else is going on.
I haven't spent much of anything lately. But, I'm saving up for Timonium next month. That'll be fun.

Alvie.

[Anonymous]

Bout' $250.00 a year.

[CP5415]

Over a $1000 Can per year.

Gordon

[okane]

Just Started back into MRR and spent more than $2000 Canadian over the past two months on Benchwork, Drywall, DCC and Track.

[jrbernier]

I keep track of it, but I really make no limits on the hobby. I just got back from a train show(La Crosse) and I did OK. Bought a book(C&NW Vol 3/$42.50), a P2K C&NW SW600/$50.00), and some Rix phone poles/$7.00). I swore I was not going to buy another engine, but the price was right, and I 'think' I can use it!
As far as the year goes, it is something like this:

$500 - engines
$220 - Digitrax stuff
$100 - Structures/details/supplies
$100 - Rolling stock(Walthers Pullman and some freight cars)

4 of the 5 engines were planed for. The Digitrax stuff was a 'deal' from a LHS that was closing and the owner made one last order; charged a $1 over dealer cost. As far as the rest of the year goes,I may pick up some more Pullmans as they are released, the Intermountain FP7 if it ever comes, and 2 more Undec P2K SD7's if they show up at shows or on eBay.
The 'expensive' part of the year is ending, and I will not spend a lot until fall. Of course I have a 20' by 25' layout that has been basically 'built', so the HD expenses like track/wiring/trains are behind me. I spend most of my modeling money on locomotive 'upgrades'(replacing older engines), or detail items and things like books or mounted pictures. I have gotten back into scratchbuilding and kit-bashing structures and freight cars as of late, so I will have more older stuff to 'flea market' at train show over the next year(and invest back into the hobby).

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

If you worry about spending too much (we're single income ( in effect), three young kids, mortage and the rest) try this; Give control of funds to the non-modelling member(or responsible adult) in the house. I don't know how much I spend, I get my limit from my fantastic wife and never feel guilty. I still buy lots (I'm in the developing phase of an n scale layout). Keep enjoying the modelling. Cheers.

[trainboyH16-44]

Every penny I get, I spend on trains, and I earn about $10 a week average, plus christmas and birthday money. No taxes to speak of, though. I love being a teenager (to an externt, of course)
Trainboy

[trolleyboy]

I try not to keep track but to hazard a guess it's the $1000 cdn range for sure. TB

[7h9h_]

in the old time "fantastic" was a bad word
in the new time "fantastic" is a good slang word

[CBQ_Guy]

As much as it takes to get what I want/need!

[Anonymous]

being that I don't have a job and I do odd jobs around the house to get my money for my MRRing I am in the unknown catagory for now.

[aloco]

If I have the money, I buy.

[Railfan97]

Hard to do when you love the hobby so much!!!

[Texas Zepher]

A thread from 2005!     To bad I didn't post to it way back then.  I could then compare to what I spend today.  Oh wait, I put it all in a spread sheet so I know.

In 2005 I spent $2617.50 -- Last year $3258.74.

[gondola1988]

Over the last 20 years about 30,000. Katos and Digitrax equipment and track, turnouts and about 700 rolling stock dont take long for it to add up to fill a 40 x 60 basement. Jim.

[richhotrain]

Texas Zepher

A thread from 2005!     To bad I didn't post to it way back then.  I could then compare to what I spend today. 

LOL

How does this happen?

The OP's first post, and he finds an 8 year old thread to revive - - - and one of those innocuous ones at that.

Rich