How Much have you spent???

[countershot]

1,500 not much but there is some there

[trainfan1221]

Not nearly as much as I wish I could.

[Anonymous]

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

[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.

[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

[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

[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.

[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]

[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

[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.

[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

[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

[icmr]

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



ICMR

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[waltersrails]

about 1500$ over the past year and 3 mouths.

[loathar]

Only about 2 grand so far.I'm figureing 15-20 thousand by the time the new layouts done.My trains are really the only thing I spend money on anymore and spend I will!
Art- Thanks for that foam scrounging idea. Their building a lot of homes around me.

[ARTHILL]

I built 3 layouts with almost no money: used stuff, friends and a few Christmas presents. I was poor and the hobby served me fine. Many hours of building after many hours of scrounging for stuff. Now I have a little money and I have spent it all. If I had $50,000, that is what I would spend. I still scrounge, got all the foam for both floor to ceiling mountains from dumpsters and roadside trash. At any price building a pike is cheap per hour. I suspect that collecting is MUCH more expensive.

[jag193]

Over 30 years of model railroading, I've probably spent about $30,000 or so but a lot of that has been sold to refinance a change in scale or change in era or change in electronics. I prefer to think of the cost in hobby-hours - that is, the expense for my escape/liesure time - as far as I can tell, that's a lot closer to about $5 an hour. I probably have around $7500 in my current On30 layout (in a two-car garage). The great thing about this hobby is that once the skills are developed and the innovation sets in (I still need to figure out how I can use dryer filter stuff on the layout), the costs go down and the enjoyment goes up!

[Pruitt]

Well, as the late great Calr Sagan would say, "Billions and Billions."

Not really, but it seems that way!

Over the years, probably $25k or so all-told.

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevnbety

I refuse to answer on the grounds that I may inciminate myself with the wife! [swg] [(-D]

What he said, and for the same reason.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831

Judging by my own running tally and those of others I'm acquainted with in the hobby, the figure typically grows by $15,000 to $20,000 per decade for most dedicated modelers with average-sized layouts. Perhaps not a shocking figure in this day and age of extravagant hobbies but still a lot more than most newbies ever imagine. Hard to believe? Just look at the layouts that appear in MR these days...most are probably in the $25,000 to $75,000 range and many of the larger ones far in excess of that amount. If you don't think so, ask any custom builder what they'll charge you to construct a mid-size layout nowadays!

CNJ831

That sounds about right. Although the first decade is probably the most expensive, as you're still building benchwork, buying track and scenery items, accumulating tools, and have all those other "start-up" costs associated with beginning any new hobby.

[Piedsou]

I don't have the slightest idea. I could give you a figure and be $20,000 off or more.
I have been in HO since about 1958-9 and I had Marx sets before that.
Of course, my parents paid for those.
I would say at least $35,000, probably much more., maybe even twice that. But remember, that's spread out over 46-47 years.
I would have to include magazines and books, NMRA conventions, stays in motel rooms while railfanning and visiting other layouts, gasoline in the thousands of gallons, cameras, film, eating out while railroading, train trips, museums, etc. Add it all up and I'm sure it would surprise me.

[CNJ831]

Judging by my own running tally and those of others I'm acquainted with in the hobby, the figure typically grows by $15,000 to $20,000 per decade for most dedicated modelers with average-sized layouts. Perhaps not a shocking figure in this day and age of extravagant hobbies but still a lot more than most newbies ever imagine. Hard to believe? Just look at the layouts that appear in MR these days...most are probably in the $25,000 to $75,000 range and many of the larger ones far in excess of that amount. If you don't think so, ask any custom builder what they'll charge you to construct a mid-size layout nowadays!

CNJ831

[Anonymous]

I am just a poor ol' country boy and I have only been doing this for a year so take that into account. Benchwork $35.00 (a slab of 3 inch foam and some hardware the rest of the materials recycled from other projects). Track and power pack $120 (I made a mistake with the cheap power pack) Locomotives $50 (E8, 0-6-0 and trolley all from eBay) Rolling stock $50 (eBay) Paint and scenicing material $150 This is not counting tools because of course they are all multi use and not JUST for the trains.

Please don't ask how much I have invested in books in the last 7 years.

[GMTRacing]

After a year I have about three thousand in the layout and rolling stock which makes my wife berserk. On the other hand it takes about the same amount of money each weekend that i go racing with my vintage car but that gets written off to the business. It's all a matter of priorities. I have a friend who spent 20k on curtains and throw pillows for his boat. Go figure. I read somewhere that the average semi-finished layout costs around 10k. It's just that a few of us can't walk past a train case without some of them following us home. [:D] J.R.

[aussiesteve]

Loco's - 7 Austrains + 3 more on the way @ $220 ea & who knows how many more [:D]
7 Lima @ $110
2 Powerline @ $220
15 rtr coaches @ $30
20 rolling stock kits @ $30
DCC $500
Rail & track building supplies $750 and rising

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RockIsland Line

Here is you chance to let us know how much you have spent so far (estimate how much) on your layouts. I am curious myself, i am a beginner, with 2 little boys of my own that i want to pass this on to. Feel free to show a picture of your layouts also. Again a round about dollor figure is fine. Thanks for your time, this is an awesome hobby and everyone has bragging rights here.[:)]

Now RockIsland Line, why did you have to go and remind me of the money part of it ?!...
Now I'll start feeling guilty about it all - especially with my current financial situation.
But since asked... I would figure about roughly $900.00 in my layout, and about $2,000.00+ in my locos and rolling stock - and that's after selling off at least that much in the last year that I never should have bought in the first place. Oh well. Live and learn.

Tracklayer

[dgwinup]

A lot! Too much! Ohmigod!

Take your pick. I took my two grandsons to a train show last year and their dad came along. After wandering around for about an hour, he came up to me and said, " This stuff is EXPENSIVE!" I'm sure he was more worried about possibly needing to have TWO layouts, one for each son, to eliminate the fighting! My brother went with me to a hobby shop. He looked around a bit and said to me, "Does this guy have as much stuff as you do at home?" Smart-alec-ery runs rampant in our family!

Since June, I have spent nearly $700, mostly on steam engines and a small amount that wasn't for the layout. This could be considered excessive by some (like my wife!).

You don't have to go into debt up to your eyeballs for trains. Getting started is the biggest expense, but after that, you can pace yourself. Just be prepared if you take BOTH sons to the hobby shop at one time!

Darrell, broke and quiet...for now

[selector]

About Cdn$600 on materials and tools for the bench, $300 for scenic material, $70 for paints of all kinds, $200 for track of all kinds, $300 for structure kits, about $2200 for acquisition, shipping, and conversion to DCC of locos, $300 for rolling stock, $400 for an SEB, ...uh, I'm beginnning to sweat and my heart is pounding....I think I had better leave it there....[xx(]

[Anonymous]

I estimate that I have about $3500 so far on the current 4x8 I have. I anticipate my next layout will use about $2500 in track alone, it will be a two level 5x8.

[Grubby]

wow, stuff must be cheap in the US... I have spent over $5000 in the first six months alone and I have still to even seriously start on scenery, signalling, control or building a small fleet.... I expect to continue to spend $200 per week for the next 12-18 months before the back of it is broken....

The real secret is taking the price tags off everything [:P]