How much do you spend a year on model railroading ?...

[Tracklayer]

Each time I buy a model railroading item, I either write a check or pay for it with my debit card, after which I record the transaction in my check book. Just for the heck of it, I added up all of my model railroading purchases from October 1st 2005 to October 1st of this year, and was shocked to discover that I've spent almost $2,000.00!... I couldn't believe it at first, but then realized that I've bought several locos at about $100.00 each and probably no less than fourty or fifty pieces of rolling stock for anywhere from $5.00 to $25.00 each depending on what it was and how badly I wanted it. Oh well. All I can say in my defense is that you only go around once in this old life, so you might as well enjoy it. Besides, I was always told money rots if you leave it laying around in some old musty bank vault...

Tracklayer 

[Milwhiawatha]

Tracklayer,
    add this one up my family gos to Walthers we arent that arjust at Walthers along we drop about $2,500 or so  a year its lower now a days because I dont need as much anymore. Add up all the reciets rom when I started I am sure we could have bought a nice house in Hollywood.  My last trip to walthers was $300.00 before that it was $200.00 In march it was $600.00 and that was just this year.

 

 

[SilverSpike]

I don't have an exact figure since my spending on model trains is eratic. I really need to record all my expenses, the railroad is still in the red though, no shipments have been made to date.

I might throw down $1,200 one month on track and turnouts, then go a month and only spend $50.00. Overall I'd say I have spent over $2,500 this year on the layout, the upswing and initial stages have been the most expensive. I have purchased the following since May of this year, lumber and hardware for benchwork, track, turnouts, wiring, DCC system, tunnel portals, scenery materials, and a few pieces of rolling stock.

[Anonymous]

Too much.... and I don't keep track, that would make it too easy for the soon to be ex-wife.

[Anonymous]

Ditto...

[dansapo]

Only if my wife knew! But she loves me anyway.

[Anonymous]

Needed a new place for new layout and change from O scale to HO. Bought 12x12 shed, installed insulation, electrical service and outlets, exterior paneling to interior walls, lighting, and vinyl flooring. Placed skirting around exterior from floor level to ground to keep cold air and critters out. Built table with l-girder 1x4's, joists each 16 inches, 3/4 inch plywood top, 2" foam insulation board. Caulked and painted all sides of everything to minimize expansion/contraction and used bolts and screws (no nails).

1'x2' extension for hump yard installed with shelf brackets and topped as above. BTW, table is only 5'x9'. Built work table and installed wall shelves. Bought portable 3 drawer storage cabinet and book case. Bought 11 loco's, 2 w/sound, six decoders, 15 rolling stock, NCE Power Cab, MRC Prodigy Express and PA Handheld, extension plates, wiring, tools, test equipment, disposable items, and a lot of Kato Unitrack/NCE Switch Kats, electric fan, electric heater, vacuum, air brush, etc.

Since May to date, estimate $7,500.. Next twelve months forcast at less than $500. Thanks for reminding me.

Don

 

[mondotrains]

This question comes up every once in a while and I usually respond with something like the following:

 

I probably average about $2,000 per year or around $40.00 per week (I was a math teacher back in the 1970's, so I know the math is more or less correct).  Now when you think about it, there are a lot worse things that I could spend $40.00 per week on.  I know a college graduate who has spent much more than that on alcohol and drugs, most recently, cocaine.  Not only has it ruined his marriage and made his son disrespect him, but he has lost good jobs and now at the age of 56, he's in a job that pays a little above minimum wage.

 

Let me say to you younger folks (I'm 58), that the money you spend on this hobby is worth a lot more than you could ever imagine.  Yes, the toys are fun and we all like fun.  However, there is a side benefit that many won't realize.  I was married to my FIRST wife for 20 years beginning in 1969 and heard her say over and over that I was "smothering" her.  You see, I wanted to do everything with her.  I even dragged the poor woman to stamp shows, where us crazy stamp collectors bought those sticky little pieces of paper that belong on envelopes.  Could you imagine how boring that must have been for my FIRST wife?  She could care less about filling up my stamp collecting book.

 

Now, fast forward to my SECOND marriage which began in 1993.  Soon after we married, I discovered model railroading.  I went to hobby shops, train shows and had a great time ALONE, leaving her to do her thing while I did my thing.  I can honestly say that if I had discovered model railroading a long, long time ago, I'd probably still be married to my first wife and I can tell you that DIVORCE costs a fortune both in money and emotional impact.

 

So, enjoy your hobby!  Remember that your wife will always know where you are if you're in the "train room".  Don't go crazy spending the kids college fund or grocery money on your hobby.  Budget, like any smart spender does.  If you smoke, quit.  That will not only get you all the money you'll ever need for the hobby but you may avoid lung cancer and/or emphysema and end up with more years to enjoy your hobby and family.  If you're accustomed to drinking, cut down.  I've seen people spend a lot more than $40.00 at a bar, just to then risk driving drunk and waking up with a headache in the morning.  I'd rather have $40.00 worth of train stuff than a hangover.   Interestingly, I don't think I've met any alcoholics in this hobby.  Maybe we're all having too much fun model railroading to screw it up with a "buzz".  And, we need a steady hand which alcohol can certainly ruin.

 

Anyway, enough of my philosophy.  I hope it helps some of you "kids".

 

Mondo

 

[cwclark]

If i had to guess i'd say about $1,200 to $1,500 a year...it's slowed down a bit since most of the expensive stuff is done so far....the best part is, my wife usually picks up the tap...it's her way of keeping me at home and out of the beer joints.... ;)       chuck

[BRAKIE]

While I don't keep a exact figure I would say its around $1800.00 a year.

[modelalaska]

Far more than I ever imagined!  About $2000 the first year and I figure I will have about $600 this year.  But unless I find more room or more ways to expand with existing room, I figure that will level off.
Peter

[C&O Fan]

According to Quicken $1490.23 last year But only $164.93

This year

This does not include Ebay purchases of approx $500

[mononguy63]

I'm insanely jealous of anybody who can sink the kind of bucks into their trains as some of you guys. I'm still buiding my latest layout (constructed mostly from scrap lumber scavanged from home builder site scrap piles) and have put maybe, MAYBE, 100 bucks into the hobby this calendar year. I'll need to put in double that much again for roadbed & track and I can't presently say where that cash will come from.

[inch53]

I noramly spend a bout a $100 or 2 most years, but with building a new layout, I'm geussing probley $500 in the last year.Most of it at Ebay and swap meets.

Ended up with some things that I thought would work, then found out they wouldn't. I have managed to sell or swap some of those, so I figure I'll end up alright in the end.

Thats just on HO stuff,  but I also collect toy battery trains and train colletables. So there's another $100 or so at yard sales and flea markets.
I can't hide any thing I buy. I don't drive anymore, so the CFO is always there to kept track. Helps keep me in line.
inch

[Tracklayer]

If i had to guess i'd say about $1,200 to $1,500 a year...it's slowed down a bit since most of the expensive stuff is done so far....the best part is, my wife usually picks up the tap...it's her way of keeping me at home and out of the beer joints.... ;)       chuck

Okay Chuck. I see how you are. You reply to my post about how much money goes into the hobby each year but not my e-mail asking about the caboose antenna last week... Some brother railroader you are - and it was a Southern Pacific caboose too... That's okay. Be that way.

Tracklayer

[Anonymous]

$500 a year for me..  I do try to maximize the buck though, purchasing stuff only if I see good deals.

Case in point:  The NYC J1e 4-6-4 Hudson locomotive in HO with DCC and sound from Broadway Limited.  Almost all the vendors on the web and local hobby shops were selling it for $230.  That would have wiped out almost half my annual budget...  Until I saw Trainland has it for $129.  Jumped on it so fast I would have left an Olympic athlete in his tracks. 

[GearDrivenSteam]

Alot.

[Tracklayer]

I'm insanely jealous of anybody who can sink the kind of bucks into their trains as some of you guys. I'm still buiding my latest layout (constructed mostly from scrap lumber scavanged from home builder site scrap piles) and have put maybe, MAYBE, 100 bucks into the hobby this calendar year. I'll need to put in double that much again for roadbed & track and I can't presently say where that cash will come from.

Please don't let me make you think that I have a money tree in my back yard mononguy63. I really have to save and conserve to be able to buy what I do... I'm sure a lot of the other members do too.

Tracklayer

[Tilden]

That question is a bit tricky.  You see, you can't really count the $465 spent last month on the custom oak display case cause that's furniture.  And any costs for Thomas engines, rolling stock or decoders doesn't really count cause that's for the kids.  And stuff bought for repair or maintenance only counts half....

Still, a review of the olde credit card indicates a little over too much last month.  But it probally does average a couple hundred a month.

Support the hobby and your LHS. 

Tilden

[selector]

What price can happiness take?  Well, I am happy generally, but trains add greatly to it.  I am just under two years in the hobby, and have spent something like CDN$6000.  That figure includes all the tools and materials that I had never previously needed due to other priorities in my adult life to that point.  For example, never had the need for a power hand saw, a table saw, saw horses, soldering stuff, etc.  I killed my older Costco 12v cordless drill a few weeks back, so I am $80 lighter for a replacement...14.4 v this time.  Locomotives must be in the range of $2000 by now.

Happily, I am at the point where I can have fun with the layout and take my time over the winter detailling and refining.  So, my expenses should drop right down to next to nothing for many months.  There is no room to grow, and I have my kits to put together to place here and there.  I only need time and patience.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

[Bill54]

Since February this year I've spent $8,800 on model railroading. 

This is my first year so there is an initial investment involved.  I purchased the NCE Power Pro Radio DCC system with a extra power pro cab, booster and power supply.  That alone was around $750.  Approximately 100 pieces of rolling stock.  More locos than I need, track, structures, repair parts, bench work and the list goes on. 

After having several hobbies in the past (Drag racing 68 GTO, Radio Control Race Cars, Slot Cars, Bass Fishing, Hunting) I've come to realize there is an initial cost then it tapers off.  I expect to spend a few hundred more this year probably bringing the total around $9K.  Next year and the years after that I expect it to drop down to around $1,000. to $1,200. 

Bill

[IRONROOSTER]

I'm insanely jealous of anybody who can sink the kind of bucks into their trains as some of you guys. I'm still buiding my latest layout (constructed mostly from scrap lumber scavanged from home builder site scrap piles) and have put maybe, MAYBE, 100 bucks into the hobby this calendar year. I'll need to put in double that much again for roadbed & track and I can't presently say where that cash will come from.

Don't be,  I had many years when all I could afford was a couple of magazine subscriptions.

Now that the kids are grown and on their own I'm probably up to around $1500 a year with an occaisional spike for locomotives. 

Truth is I had a lot of fun in the beginning with a couple of Tyco engines and Atlas Snap track.  It's a hobby not a contest.  Enjoy the ride.

Paul

[Anonymous]

My wife keeps very close tabs on all of our expenditures. We have used computers in our home since 1978. We have used spread sheets since 1979 to control our budget.

Having done this we were able to retire two years ago knowing exactly how much money we needed to live comfortably in our retirement years.

According to our records I spent $7,000 in the past 18 months on model trains.

The reason for this amount is due to building a completely new layout in a smaller scale. I was in G scale for years. But our retirement home did not include a large enough lot to continue with G scale.

My new HO layout is about 90% complete now, just needs some scenery, and includes a Lenz 100 DCC system, 30 Tortise switches, NCE SwitchIts and many, many kit structures. All my loco's and rolling stock are new and this includes about 120 cars, 10 locomotives.

So now my expenditures will drop to probably under $1,500 per year.

[ARTHILL]

All I have. Although, at the moment, I really don't need anything but time to finish the projects I have started.

[zgardner18]

I'd say that I'm going to spend about $2,500 this year.  That's about where I'm at right now and there isn't anything else that I'm looking to get until I progress onto a layout.  I have all the engines that I could want and rollingstock is okay but I first need to detail up what I got.

I've been taking inventory on what I got so far and writing down the prices that I've spent.  I'm scared to see what my total on everything that I've ever bought in my hobby lifetime.

[GAPPLEG]

Way to much and not enough !   If I couldn't pay my bills then I would worry. Have really slowed way down this year, layout is mostly set in stone, now the detailing take over. Only a couple hundred in small stuff this year.  Next year after 35 years in the hobby, I will switch to DCC. That will cost me an arm and leg for all the decoders. 70-80 locos, and I'd like to make all my switches dcc as well.

[tstage]

Since February this year I've spent $8,800 on model railroading. 

This is my first year so there is an initial investment involved.  I purchased the NCE Power Pro Radio DCC system with a extra power pro cab, booster and power supply.  That alone was around $750.  Approximately 100 pieces of rolling stock.  More locos than I need, track, structures, repair parts, bench work and the list goes on. 

Bill

Yowsa, Bill!   That's a chunk of $$$.  I'm just curious.  Are you buying your rolling stock RTR?  What percentage of that is locomotives?  Do you buy online or from mostly from your LHS?

I do understand very well about the initial investment aspect.  I'm technically into my 3rd "fiscal year of operations".  I've managed to spend much less this year than the first 2 previous years - especially the first, where I had to buy just about everything (i.e. glue, paints, brushes, structure and car kits, track, power pack, locomotives, etc.) to get up and going.

This year, I'm guessing I've spent maybe $500 - and that includes buying my NCE Power Cab.  Mostly its been small stuff in the effort to detail my layout.  I've gone to two train shows this year and managed to walk away spending a total of $30 between them both.

Even though I usually buy my locomotives online for 50% discount or more, I do give ~90% of my  business to my LHSs for supplies.  The knowledge base on one of them, to me, is invaluable.

Tom

[cwclark]

If i had to guess i'd say about $1,200 to $1,500 a year...it's slowed down a bit since most of the expensive stuff is done so far....the best part is, my wife usually picks up the tap...it's her way of keeping me at home and out of the beer joints.... ;)       chuck

Okay Chuck. I see how you are. You reply to my post about how much money goes into the hobby each year but not my e-mail asking about the caboose antenna last week... Some brother railroader you are - and it was a Southern Pacific caboose too... That's okay. Be that way.

Tracklayer

marc,

Give me a break brother!...I did reply to your e-mail yesterday....My home computer was in the shop the last two weeks getting a new hard drive installed and the only computer I have access to is at my work and they block out e-mail sites....I just got your e-mail yesterday and i did reply...sorry,...by the way...did you get my reply yet?...chuck

[whitman500]

I think I average about $500 per month (though I was bad last month and spent more like $1,000).  My layout has only been under construction for about a year and the startup costs have been high since it seems like you need to buy some of everything to keep making progress.  I really hate to have a project stall while I wait for the next Internet shipment to arrive so I sometimes over-buy.  I've also bought some stuff that I won't need for a couple of years but I was concerned would sell out.  For example, I'm planning on having an ore dock and bought one of the Walthers' kits that has been discontinued.  However, I won't actually install it on the layout for probably 2 years since it is at the far end of the track plan.

My total is also a little high because I'm generally willing to spend more money to save time.  Work + commute eats up close to 60 hours per week and so if a scenic feature can either take 2 hours and $100 or 5 hours and $20, I'll go with the former. 

Anyway, the hobby has been well worth the investment.  Before model railroading, I used to spend a lot of money on dress clothing and video games, things that gave me far less satisfaction per dollar.  While the hobby isn't cheap, very few things in life are and I don't regret a dollar of what I've spent.

[ClinchValleySD40]

The wife asked me the same question once.   My response - don't know and don't care.    I know what it is worth insurance wise, but that is probably way low.