collecting HO big boys

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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Collector seems to be a dirty word in recent years, where hobbyists who are blessed with space for a layout disparage other hobbyists who just seem to “collect” trains. Some, perhaps many of those sorry sods are building up a roster until they have the means to have a layout space and build that layout and run those trains. Of course there some who simply collect.

To some degree, I think we all do that, and sometimes “degree” is a difference between loading up insanely to the point its a financial burden and takes up a lot of space, just for the sake of having a lot of something we fancy.

It’s reminds me somehow of that old Dr. Suess story about Gertrude McFuzz, the bird who wanted a tail with fancy tail feathers but loaded up so much as to be a burden - looked great but she couldn’t fly anymore and it took a bunch of other birds just to move the massive weight. Where that "tipping point of having so much it is a burden is a judgement call. And sometimes it isn’t obvious until later or “after the fact”.

Even in my desire to build up a fleet of trains for running operations for my time period, I’m reaching the point that it’s probably more than I’ll be able to manage realistically, so I’ll probably be re-evalutating and selling off more trains. I do that anyway as an ongoing process, which helps to slow the buildup from becoming even larger and I can then use the proceeds to purchases as I refine the fleet. Some of this comes with age as we realize we’ve reached a practical limit too, which is different for everyone.

Like many, I have some “off topic” trains or out of scope. I never had an HO stea

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I AGREE, i have a layout but i want to slowly complete my collection of big boys i figure 3 a year for 4 years & im done , no way im doing challengers since the UP had 105 of them [#oops]

[quote user=“riogrande5761”]

SeeYou190

I am not a collector, but I do buy some equipment that will never run on my layout.

Collector seems to be a dirty word in recent years, where hobbyists who are blessed with space for a layout disparage other hobbyists who just seem to “collect” trains. Some, perhaps many of those sorry sods are building up a roster until they have the means to have a layout space and build that layout and run those trains. Of course there some who simply collect.

To some degree, I think we all do that, and sometimes “degree” is a difference between loading up insanely to the point its a financial burden and takes up a lot of space, just for the sake of having a lot of something we fancy.

It’s reminds me somehow of that old Dr. Suess story about Gertrude McFuzz, the bird who wanted a tail with fancy tail feathers but loaded up so much as to be a burden - looked great but she couldn’t fly anymore and it took a bunch of other birds just to move the massive weight. Where that "tipping point of having so much it is a burden is a judgement call. And sometimes it isn’t obvious until later or “after the fact”.

Even in my desire to build up a fleet of trains for running operations for my time period, I’m reaching the point that it’s probably more than I’ll be able to manage realistically, so I’ll probably be re-evalutating and selling off more trains. I do that anyway as an ongoing process, which helps to slow the buildup from beco

23

Collecting a large number of steam engines is a bit different than diesels, mainly because steam engines (on the averge) cost a lot more than diesels. For example, over a 10 year period I have collected 18 D&RGW SD40-T2’s which costs ranged from $69 to about $99 each. I’d imagine Big Boy’s average out to a lot more cost.

And while I am no steam expert, a few here have commented that steam engines often have a lot more issues than model diesel engines. Just ask John Mock here who has had enough issues with plastic HO steam engines that he has largely sworn them off and is now a brass steam engine fan. Just something to keep in the back of your mind.

If you want to collect a large number, 25, Big Boys, do your homework rather than just spend spend spend. Hopefully you’ll be able to improve your experience a little by stacking the deck in your favor.

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thanks i am well versed on steamers , honestly riverossi is bullet proof since the casting is from the 60s dressed up lol

my favorite is BLI &

MTH

25

I hope my comment won’t be taken as inflammatory. I do NOT mean to bait anyone or to claim some exalted status for some obscure philosophical reason. It’s just that, at 65, with some potentially serious health issues beginning to clear their throats and wanting to be reckoned with, I’m not taking things quite the same way any more. Life’s too flippin’ short. Or, could be.

I’m a collector. Unashamed, uncowed, unabashed, and oh-so-enthusiastic about it. With that orientation to the hobby, it should surprise no newcomers who don’t already know about my tastes that I have a wide array of locomotives, diesel and (mostly) steam. But, they’re not all from one railroad. Against the well-meant advice of some when I first joined to constrain my enthusiasm to one road in order to maximize my in-depth learning and modelling skills, not to mention keeping the lid on expenses, I realized I like only certain locomotives, across many roads, and wanted to see them run in my scenery on my track system. And that has been my orientation to my enjoyment. I collect steamers, and the bigger the better.

Yet, even though I love articulated steamers, I don’t have, and have never seemed to have, a hankering for a Big Boy. It’s a Challenger on steroids. A Y6-b could drag a Big Boy around the yard if you go strictly by tractive effort. So could a DM&IR or NP variant of the 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone.

I probably will end up with one. I usually develop a crush on a type eventually, as I did with the Class J 4-8-4. When that happens, it qets added to my collection. I have two of those.

I think the great shame in the hobby is, or ought to be, that people think they need to conform to the druthers of others. I feel they should always be encouraged to find out, for themselves, how to enjoy their experience. That means a bit of maturity, internal security, and a focus, or a strong understanding

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no no its all good . im half way there to collecting them all lol

27

Well, I admit to being a collector. I have more freight cars than I need. And all the locomotives available in S for the Ma&Pa - plus a few more. But I still buy cars and locomotives as they appeal to me and the price is right in S, but also in HO and O.

I also have the room for a layout in my new house and expect to start construction early next year after we finish moving in. But I also set up temporary loops of track to run HO and O from time to time.

As others have noted this is hobby, I do what I enjoy - collecting, building layouts, building kits, etc.

Paul

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Well, I have the Proto 1000 model of ATSF Alco No 50, a since they only had one, that is the whole class…

From Rivarossi I have the two Deutche Bundesbahn Class 10 Pacifics, 10 001 and 10 002, the first a coal burner and the second an oil burner… That’s the whole class.

I have a presentation set of the Bachmann LNER A4 “Commonwealth of Australia” issued in 2001 for the centenary of Federation, three locomotives in the 1937, 1950 and 1960 colour schemes. You should only run one at a time, of course.

Peter

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I am not well versed but was just passing on what one of our members here has brought up regarding plastic steam engines. As some say, don’t shoot the messenger.

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Well, it is a diverse hobby that can be enjoyed in many ways.

There is surely nothing wrong with running whatever you like, or collecting whatever you like.

Likewise there is nothing wrong with being highly focused on very specific goals to the exclusion of things that do not pretain to those goals.

Personally, I don’t have any interest in owning one Big Boy, let alone all 25. But I have long joked that so many model Big Boys have been manufactured that surely in some warehouse somewhere there are enough of those things for nearly every modeler to have all 25…

I have a fair sized “collection” of model trains, about 140 “powered units” at last count, and about 1300 pieces of rolling stock.

But the number of pieces that are outside the narrow focus of my layout goals can likely be counted on my fingers and toes.

I have pretty much stopped buying locos, I have what I need for the layout plan.

OK, there are a few pieces that if someone made them, or the right piece in brass showed up at the right price, I might add to the roster. But mostly, after 50 years, I’m done buying locos.

And I can count on one hand, the number of locos I have purchased and then decided to sell off as not being suitable or needed.

Are steam engines “more fussy” than diesels? Sure. But I don’t seem to have that much trouble. My fleet of steam includes:

Bachmann Spectrum - 28 pieces

Bachmann regular line (newer 2-8-4) - 5 pieces

BLI/PCM - 7 pieces

Proto2000 - 4 pieces

Rivarossi - 1 piece

Mantua - 2 pieces

Brass - 2 pieces

IHC - 1 piece

They all have their good points and bad points, and I have modified, improved and kit bashed most of them in some way. But they all run fine and look representitive for my needs.

Diesels - I model the early 50’s, when road diesels were the hot new thing. I only model four railroads when it comes to locos, B&

31

Hello. I did experience some quality issues with plastic locos, generally more with diesels than steam…and I do prefer brass steam power, especially the more recent models from Boo Rim and Samtech, because they are outstanding. If you spend the money you do get what you pay for. They can be amazing.

However the reality is not all can afford brass and I myself have had to fill out my loco roster with plastic. I needed to sell my brass in favor of other things…like to pay for boys’ baseball.

There are still some brass cabooses I hope to get sometime and the Overland SD-20 in ICG.

John

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John,

Just a few thoughts:

First, one simple concept - deminishing return - at what point does the cost increase not justify the quality improvement? In 2002 I purchased a FORD Crown Victoria with the high performance package - like the police drive. It cost $28,000 and delivered 85-90% of the features and performance of a BMW 7 Series, which cost about $85,000.

It was equally if not more reliable, and had a lower cost of ownership - which was the better value? That last 15% of features and performance would have come at an obscene cost.

Second - no offense intended, but I can’t even imagine spending money on a ho

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Absolutely!.

I freelance a made-up shortline, and have all three of their locos.

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Uh Oh… I am with you on this one Sheldon. I am a domestic car guy. We buy a new car every couple of years. I have no brand loyalty. We have had a Buick, Chevys, Fords, and a Lincoln.

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I do not see enough improvements in the vehicle to justify the cost of a premium import.

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However, your comparisson on only performance and reliability is unfair. In flat out performance, American cars will always deliver more for the money. That is the American market. Reliability… The Americans and Japanese are way out in front of the rest of the automotive world. That is what we Americans want, Performance and reliability… and cupholders.

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When it comes to something more intangible, “connecting” the driver to the car, that is where the Eupropean premium cars come in. To a buyer that is looking for that quality, the American cars come up lacking, and the European cars seem like a better value because the American models do not even offer what they are looking for.

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If you ever have the opportunity, please go to the Porsche Experience in Atlanta. It will really open your eyes about what is different about some of these vehicles. It changed my point of view quite a bit.

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It is the same with $1,200.00 new brass models. If they have the features that you MUST have, the price is not unjustified, because nothing else will satisfy you. You get the value for your money because you will not be satisfied with any less of a purchase.

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Oh, and for some people it is just a status symbol. I will never understand that.

.<

35

Kevin,

Every two years??? Wouldn’t you take the greater brunt of the loss in the car’s value that way?

We’ve had our Civic (new) since 2008 and it’s still going strong with nearly 203K on it. Our plan is to drive it until it drops…or it becomes more of a finanical liability than it’s worth. I see that as getting more value from a purchase. Your needs may be different though.

Tom

36

Kevin,

I know all about European cars, I was once a shop foreman in a BMW dealership…

Personally, I hate sports cars, I hate that feeling of sitting on a boat cushion on the floor with my feet out in front of me.

Today my wife and I drive a FORD FLEX LIMITED with Ecoboost, 360 hp, AWD, paddle shifters, 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, 15 second 1/4 mile, great handling, smooth ride, room for 7, upright seating and more. All for half the price of a BMW 7.

New car every two years? Not me, 5-6 years for the wife’s car, my last F150 truck lasted 15 years and 235,000 miles. I plan to get 20 years or 300,000 out of the new F250 that replaced it.

But back to trains, sure if you “must have” that level, and you can afford it, go for it. Not for me…

But then again I like to build models, not just buy and run them…

Sheldon

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Tom, I agree about getting more value by keeping thrm longer, note my comments above.

And I get the Honda thing, they make great cars. But understand, today most of the offerings from FORD and GM are equal to Honda or Toyota in quality/reliablity and many of them better suit the needs of their owners.

Neither has anything that competes with the FLEX or my F250, those are the kinds of vehicles our lifestyle requires.

FORD currently has one of the lowest warranty problem rates in the industry.

Sheldon

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Sheldon–

  1. I have 2 children classified as special needs. That translates as “much more expensive”, and I would argue that for many of us there is not really any such thing as “financial security”. My hope, especially long term, is for the Father above to provide, that what I have managed to save will be “enough”. In any case, I have to work for at least 18 more years while continuing to save, and will likely work as long as I can at some kind of part-time job after.

  2. The amount of money spent on baseball lessons is probably a lot more than you realize, certainly more than I would have ever anticipated. The one coach working with my son one-on-one just narrowly missed getting a job at the Major League level with the NY Yankees; next year he will be gone and unavailable to us. My older son, if he doesn’t make it to pro baseball, will be well qualified to coach, is already proving that he can coach. That is what he wants to do with his life–play or coach those who play. This is his “college education” just sooner.

  3. Buy American? Apparently you do not realize that the American parts content of my Toyota and Honda vehicles is actually higher than most “American” car makers. I’ve compared window stickers. We buy them and drive them for more miles at far less gasoline and total maintenance cost than the typical “American” car buyer is able to do, and then only get rid of them when they are essentially junkyard material. I was once a Ford Mustang fan, even a member of the local Ford club…but the Toyota and Honda vehicles for me personally have been much better.

I did “downsize” my personal train roster to that which I feel I can own without feeling “guilt”. My mission is to have far less trains than most people but

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John, I have three grown children, and three grown step children I helped raise since they were preteen. They have all had, and still have from time to time, their challenges. We are now helping care for grand children. We do what we have to do…

Buy American? I don’t buy those vehicles mainly because they are American companies, I buy them because they better suit my needs and wants. And our service experiance with FORD has been excellent and always improving for the last 20 years.

Our daughter had a 2005 Nissan Sentra, over priced junk compared to the 2008 Focus that went 180,000 trouble free miles for less money.

FORD builds the best truck, I need a REAL truck for what I do. The FLEX is a REAL full sized wagon without being a high entry truck. My wife needs that for her health issues.

Sheldon

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Sheldon,

My point had nothing to do with the type of car driven but with the frequency of turn-in period. Kevin may have a legimate reason to get a new car every two years. In fact - and I didn’t even think of this when I responded earlier - he may have 4-5 cars in his household and that equates to a new car every 8-10 years. If you drive like I do (21-22K/yr), that’s getting the most from your vehicle.

Again, my query and comment were restrictly focused on the value of buying and keeping a vehicle longer - much like you intend to do with the Ford F250. But…this topic disgresses from the original subject of the OP.

Tom