How Much have you spent???

[icmr]

I say not enough for but my mom says too much.
I havent kept track.



ICMR

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[jdolan]

Since I started in 1970, I have spent about 20,000 Dollars on 5 layouts and the engines and rolling stock that I have, so I figure it as money well spent .
Jack

[Anonymous]

Given that my bill for track, turnouts and torises was $1,000 when I started my latest layout.........

Benchwork: $300
Trackwork: $1,000
Electronics: $130

Have no scenery yet. Need more cork and track, maybe a turnout or two.

8 diesels and 3 steamers, +50 cars. Probably around $1000 tied up in rolling stock. Need more of everything.

It's cheaper than therapy, and my other hobbies!

Mark in Utah

[tatans]

About $450.00 and I'm still trying to imagine some of the above figures, boy, did I miss out on something along the way. I can't even, in my wildest dreams imagine some of those vast amounts(if they are fact) and I'm sure there are are plenty of others out here still in shock at those sums.

[trainboyH16-44]

My dad spent all the money for the layout, but since I started buying trains 4 years ago, I'd have to say about $4000 ![:O] Most of that is locos.
I didn't know I made that much from mowing the lawn!
Matthew

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

About $450.00 and I'm still trying to imagine some of the above figures, boy, did I miss out on something along the way. I can't even, in my wildest dreams imagine some of those vast amounts(if they are fact) and I'm sure there are are plenty of others out here still in shock at those sums.

Oh, I'm sure most of them are fact and probably on the conservative side.. There's one I'm having a hard time believing.. I've kept a running tally on this stuff for years. Before I started thinning out the train collection, just engines and rolling stock alone (HO, Lot of brass), it was over $17,000.. Add to that, buildings, electronics (especially since dcc sound hit the market), benchwork (for several layouts), tools, magazines and books.. It adds up.. It can add up fast or slow depending on what you buy and for how long..

By the way, Those of you begging us not to tell your wives, Either You just did or they already know... [;)]

Jeff
[:D]

[Anonymous]

I don't know how much I've spent but I really ought to find out so I can tell the insurance company. But I do know FedEx has another $190 worth in there possesion right now.

[IRONROOSTER]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

About $450.00 and I'm still trying to imagine some of the above figures, boy, did I miss out on something along the way. I can't even, in my wildest dreams imagine some of those vast amounts(if they are fact) and I'm sure there are are plenty of others out here still in shock at those sums.

When you spend it over decades it doesn't seem like so much. I figure I average $50 a month - for 34 years that is a total of $20,400. (That's in today's dollars). $50 a month is less than smoking or playing golf or several other leisure activities (priced a boat lately?). And I still have most of the model railroading stuff.
Enjoy
paul

[soumodeler]

My layout is not even close to running yet, but I have all the track and other items needed to get it going except for switch machines. (I will drill holes for them now but install the later on) My benchwork was free, half of my track was free, a majority of Woodland Scenics risers and inclines free, and a 4" thick 4x8 foam sheet was free. I have spent #150 on track, $20 on WS risers, and assorted items here and there. I have a Digitrax Zephyr, $160. So about $350. Over a year. not bad.

soumodeler
-----------------
The Southern Serves the South!
www.cgmrc-macon.com

[skiloff]

I'm not in shock at all at those sums. You have to figure that lots of guys have been doing this for 20-50 years, which isn't all that much when spread over that time frame. My wife used to complain about the cost of the hobby until her brother went and bought a motocross bike (his hobby). When he said he just spent $7500, all of a sudden my $500 didn't look so bad. I spent about $250 (all Cdn$) on my original N scale layout 15 years ago. I sold everything for about $50 and got into HO. Spent around $800, but bought and sold stuff, so net it was probably about $600, but never got more than a 4x8 track set up - no scenery or anything. Now that I'm starting in N scale again, I've put in about $300 and figure that I'll spend around $1000 more to get it operational with track, DCC, some rolling stock and two locos. Then it will be a bit here and a bit there and likely I'll sink $3000-4000 into over the next 5 years, or about $60-75 a month. In comparison, that isn't even a single ticket to most concerts. A movie for my family with only popcorn and a drink for all four of us is almost $50. You can look at the $150-200 locos and say "Wow, thats a lot" but as guys that have racing cars or classic cars have pointed out, its not much by comparison.

[Anonymous]

All that and can and then some that i can't. But its all good,

[trainfan1221]

Not nearly as much as I wish I could.

[countershot]

1,500 not much but there is some there

[Anonymous]

More than my parents know I have......

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

More than my parents know I have......

correction..."had"....[:D]

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

About $450.00 and I'm still trying to imagine some of the above figures, boy, did I miss out on something along the way. I can't even, in my wildest dreams imagine some of those vast amounts(if they are fact) and I'm sure there are are plenty of others out here still in shock at those sums.

Well, my hat is off to you, tatans. Anyone who can spend that little and find contentment with what that offers in this hobby is okay in my books. [8D]

[Anonymous]

Up_SantaFe you have spent $2500 on 4x8 that is alot for the square footage it seems. Well On my layout which is about 18'x25' I have invested so far about $7000 at most. I have started spending February of 2004 so that is 1 year and 8 months.

[cheese3]

I have spent at least $3000 in five years but, most likely more though

[lesterperry]

Do you want me to include the building in the back yard to house it? That would be about $8,000 according to my insurance company. As for the contents of this building well lets just say i started to add it up a couple 3 or 4 years ago and when I got to $9,000 I quit adding. So now the building & contents are good for $20,000 insurance speaking. That is probably not enough but it would get me started if there was a fire or something.

[mustanggt]

I have no idea, maybe a grand in equipment?
$100 or so on lumber for benchwork + deisel for my dad's Dodge Ram
(another $40, back when it was cheap, 2 years ago)
$125 for an Atlas DCC system ( a big headache, it never worked good)
$100 on decoders
$200 or so on vehicles (my newest the $23.98 GMC Fishbowl bus[xx(])
$100-$130 on various structures now in various stages of completion.
$100 on track, wiring, ect.

No real scenery was included in the building of this layout[:p]

Altogether, about 2000 dollars.[:0]

[fievel]

Over 11 years, I've spent around 14,000 dollars. I spent around 3 to 4 thousand
for my first layout (gone, but not forgotten). The 14,000 averages out to be 106
dollars per month. I feel guilty about the total I have spent, but my VERY
supportive wife reminds me that it is money well spent, as it is a release for
my emotional problems.

It has been an educational experience for me to have a model rr. It helps me
to think through problems that arise,both on the layout, and in real life as well.
I kind of think of the price tag as a sort of tuition or therapy. Still, I was shocked
when I added it all up,and started thinking of all the things I could have done with
the money in terms of our house. But I think I'd rather live in a modest home with
a great,relaxing hobby, than to live in a mansion and have nothing to really
capture my interest. I would probably stare at the ceiling for hours on end.

I have made some mistakes buying "junk", but overall I am satisfied. Lately, I've
been getting back to scratchbuilding, instead of buying commercial kits. Man,
it sure is wonderful to sit down and calculate what you can do with a bunch
of styrene,wood and recycled trash.

[:)]

[orsonroy]

Well, I've built two large home layouts, a 4x8, and something like nine Ntrak modules. Since I've been active in this hobby since about 1985, I'll say that I'm WELL over $20,000 in spending.

I'm about to build a new, third large home layout (I just moved), so the figure will be going up about $800-$1000 for new benchwork materials. Thankfully, I was able to salvage most of the track, and some of the benchwork, on my old layout.

[ereimer]

don't know , don't care [:)]

if i had to guess i'd say about $1500 (canadian) for 4 loco's , a small amount of rolling stock , some track and switches , a few building kits , and my zephyr and a couple of decoders . most of that has been spent over the last 10 months . add to that a couple of dozen books , 20 years worth of magazines and tools bought specifically for model railroading . over the next year i'll probably spend at least that much trying to get some sort of layout started , more if i end up doing any renovations to the room

[tatans]

Hopefully this forum is not a statement (a few are) about the more money I spend the more enjoyment I receive from the hobby, the astronomical sums from a few of the replies seems to indicate this is the intent, so be it, (it's a free country) but there are a few out there that still get a thrill from scratchbuilding or assembling their twice a year car kit. Hopefully this scenario is not "He who has the most toys" I wonder how many of the above would reply to the question " How much money do you have"

[Train 284]

I have spent to much, around 2 grand by now.

[egmurphy]

Since I got back in the hobby about 3 years ago I figure I've spent something between $1,500 and $2,000. That doesn't include books and magazines. Could have done it for less if it had been necessary to do so.

The layout is small and didn't really cost all that much. One hollow core wood door, one sheet of extruded foam, 18 manual switches, maybe 50-60 feet of flex track, some cork, ground throw switches and scenery materials. Including wire, electrical switches, and two used MRC power packs, maybe $450-600 in total?

I spent the biggest chunk on locomotives, but I have more than a layout this size can really use. Likewise with cars. I don't have a huge amount but more than can fit on the layout. I don't purchase very expensive locos and cars. My most expensive loco was around $100, and I picked up a lot of my cars used, either at shows on on ebay.

Just starting with structures, but I expect that most will be either scratch built or some kit-bashing.

The biggest outlay was during the first year and a half, my purchases have really tapered off since then. Now it's an occasional car or two. I might get one new locomotive this year. Last year I probably averaged maybe $50 a month in expenses. This year will be less.

But everyone has different wants, priorities, and budgets.

Regards

Ed

[selector]

fievel, I was not aware of your circumstances. I am glad that you shared your point of view, and that model trains are helping you to cope. May they always do so for you.

[Anonymous]

About $800.00 on stock in 5 years the list is in the order I got them.

$50. (SF) browser dosksider
$50. (SF) lifelike Gp-35 set
$14. (UP) bachmann F-7
$20. (UP) lifelike 0-4-0
$10. (SF) lifelike docksider
$29. (AMTRAK) lifelike FP-40, dummy, & caboose
$45. (CONRAIL) athrean GP-45 & dummy SW-1000
$60. (W & A R.R.) IHC 4-4-0
$30. (UP) athrean F-7
$20. (none) bachmann BRILL trolley
$14. (none) bachmann gandy dancer
$80. (SP) bachmann 4-8-4
$20. (UP) bachmann 0-6-0
$165. (UP) rivrossi 4-8-8-4
$20. (NYC) rivrossi 4-6-4
$44. (UP) athrean SW-1000

& about $150 in freight

[Anonymous]

How about this... I have two small children, a mortgage, a small college loan left and house repairs to do.

I just threw down $800 for an HO engine overhaul and about $50 to $60 a month on blank kits and details so I can have them for a rainy day. I don't have a layout, just two 3-foot pieces of test track.

My wife thinks I'm nuts.

When I was still in Lionel.... O-27 ..... I could easily go through $100 a month. Serious modelers do much more.

Most importantly, I buy junk when I can just so my children have something to play with too. I am starting to work in fine detail, where mistakes mean 20 man hours of reworking. So my 3.5 year old daughter gets a Crayola Brush, acrylic paint and a few old buildings to "paint" and she loves it.

Above all, spend what you can afford and keep your kids involved. Or else, your hobby isn't worth a dime.

[cwclark]

over all I've built 5 different layouts and I would say that since 1977 i've spent well over $10,000 on model railroading stuff....chuck