ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll– December 17, 2003

[Anonymous]

With the Layout 90% sceniced and enought Loco's & rolling stock to cover every inch of track. I've taken A new twist and will be doing more detailing,& scratchbuilding and instead of buying boxcars ready built, I'll be building loads for flats & gons after all my hobby is doing not buying.

[Anonymous]

I plan to purchase a DCC system, and finally splurge on some
Athearn Genesis F's. Just don't tell the wifey.

[AntonioFP45]

Will be purchasing track. I'm converting to about 95% code 83 for the new layout (some industrial sidings will be code 70). Will probably sell or give away most of my code 100 rail.
Will check out next GATS, Greenburg shows. Got decent deals in last GAT show.

Quality locomotives: Atlas & Kato units.

[Anonymous]

I only bought one trainset last year this year I hope to buy 3 or 4 depends on finances and the wife. Although there is a couple that she would like, and the kids want the new Harry Potter one as well

[Anonymous]

I will be spending more this year due to getting into a new dcc system. Other factors include having more time available for the hobby. As I am able to invest more time I will also be spending more money on the hobby. Another factor in this money equation is my subscrtiption to Model Railroader; with monthly issues coming in the mail this will keep me motivated in the hobby and as well as getting out to club open houses. These things keep me from getting "stagnet". With in my local area there seems to be more train shows. This will always bring out the bargain hunter in me.

[randybc2003]

How much I spend depends somewhat on the "moon of my fortune". Sometimes I spend a little, but can bankrupt my hoby shop owner with purchases of Scratch-building supplies. Other times I may construct, or build on kits stockpiled. Or operate. Just depends.

[Anonymous]

I didn't by anything this year (2003) but now I'm all fired up! You can bet I'll buy and spend till I run out. I'll have a layout soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!![:p][:p][:)][:D][:D][;)][:p][:)][B)][?]

[bgilbert43]

The budget review commitee has met and approved my request for additional funding for the coming year. Technology upgrades (DCC) will be the focus this year!

[fndbke]

Hopefully less $$$ this year, since I built out a 20'x32' room in the basement last year!

[Anonymous]

I am guessing I will spend more as I am buying Southern Pacific brass as I can find it for my layout that sat in the 1950's and while there some sweet running engine out there USRA type don't fit Southern Pacific (I do have a Broadway Limited AC4 coming hope they do more SP steam engines )as I can't pass on BarMills kits so guess I be in the 1500 plus spending group

[Anonymous]

IN THE PAST FOUR TO FIVE YEARS I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO VERY MUCH TO MY
LAWOUT; DUE TO THE ILLNESS OF MY WIFE, AND THE SUBSEQUENT DEATH OFMY
LOVED ONE. I NOW HAVE MYSELF AND MY AFFAIRS BACK IN VERY GOOD ORDER,
AND NOW I AM READY TO ROCK &ROLL ON DOWN THE LINE. I AM MORE OF A RECERATIONAL HOBYIST THAN ANYTHING, BUT I SURE DO ENJOY IT VERY MUCH.
I REALLY ENJOY MODEL RAILROADER. SINCERELY, JACK DUNN

[Anonymous]

I now have about 700 square feet to build my N-scale empire so this year I will spend about the same as years past but it will be on track and switches instead of loco's and rolling stock. Will have to purchase additional buildings as the spurs to the industries are laid.

[Anonymous]

I pretty well have all the loco's and cars I need for now, BUT I have purchased a house and have a 700 plus square foot space to build a layout in. I have made a good start on the mainline and have 90% of the bench work in. So this year I will spend the hobby money on track and switches. May need a few more industries as the spurs go in. All in all it should be an expensive year.

STAN

[fiatfan]

Definitely less! The local hobby shop went out of businees and sold everything for half price. I spent waaaaay too much. This year I'm going to spend my time putting it all into operation.

[ralphb]

[%-)] I'd like to keep nup the good works, but I'm trying to clear my shop areas by finishing stalled projects. My major expenditures will be for tools, supplies for specific projects and Special items, such as completing engine or car sets or specific buildings and track items.

[ralphb]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

Do you plan to spend more money on your hobby this coming year? Please vote then share you comments below.


Polls on Trains.com are not scientific and reflect only the opinions of the users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, the readers of our magazines, nor the public as a whole. Bottom line, our polls are meant for fun and to stimulate conversation amongst our forum users.

[?]

[lhrfan]

The money I'm saving since I quit smoking a few years is partly going to my trains. The more the price of cigs goes, the more I will spend!
Bill T.

[BuffaloBob]

Am finishing the R/R room and hope to have benchwork up by the end of January. Trains running end of march.

[Anonymous]

More, undoubtedly. My layout is somewhat U-shaped and divided into three major areas-the town and inustrial-the farming area with grain elevators, seed&feed stores, cannery, etc., and the "little town in the boonies". As each one nears completion, I seem to get "inspired" and make some (not so subtle at times) changes. Therefore, my layout never gets completed. Since I began it in the early 1980's, it has undergone at least a dozen or so changes-most major, so because of past history, I will most likely be spending much more than last year. Another factor is our planned vacation to California this summer via Amtrak, and the fact that my sisters apartment is about two (2) miles, straight as an arrow, from Bruce's Train Shop in Sacramento.
Also, people like Walthers, and Atlas, etc., don't help much by coming out with new equipment, buildings, etc., that I just "gotta have".

[Anonymous]

This year I purchased for my husband the 101Dalmation car,Smoking Caboose and a GG1. And will purchase more in the coming year,Trains are expensive,but what are you suppose to do when someone enjoys this type of hobby,infact I kind of enjoy it ,when everyone comes to see it just the look on my husbands face when he is running it,is a joy to see.He is still a little boy at heart.

[Anonymous]

Obtained my main 3 E8/9's and most of my passenger fleet this year. Major spending will be shut down for a while. Next year will see a track expansion project and general urban development.

RMax

[ejackson]

With having two small children in the house and another joining the family in 04, the first money to be cut from the budget is "Adult Fun" money. That’s not to say that the boys wont have to have sound for "their" Pennsy K4 among others.

[boomer44]

As has been noted here there are rising prices for quality products. They all look great especially the structures. Spending $40 to $50 and up per structure... forget the $200 and up, has sent me back to scratching building again. I'm going back to traditional cardstock, foamcore, plaster, wood and just buying detail parts. I'll make do with my rolling stock and older loco's and kits. I'm semi-retired and don't have a lot of disposeable income. I do see some $20 basic structure kits now being manufactured. I just wi***here were more.

[Anonymous]

Last year before retirement, so I intend to spend more. Need a backlog of material to head into some serious building in 2005.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I probably will spend more. Last year was a very busy year and we didn't get much time to work on our layout. I am busier than ever since I retired. My layout is about 1/4 complete, with 1/2 German and 1/2 American, in an 18' X 18' room. My wife, being German,is the docorator, so, of course the German side gets done first. I hope to complete installing DCC as well as other projects. Maybe sound.

[Anonymous]

YES ! I'm installing a Digitrax DCC on my layout, and decoders must be dropped in. It's expected that all the roster will be running Digital on April-May, so I MUST get those chips untill then.
Happy holidays

[theghan]

i will be spending my extra money on a dcc system and a few chipsfor my locomotives

[holland]

QUOTE: Originally posted by holland

about the same as last year unless there is more c.n stuff coming out

[holland]

about the same as last year unless there is more c.n stuff coming out