Filosophy Phriday,

[BATMAN]

How full is your closet?

Every layout has a capacity as to the amount of rolling stock and/or locomotives that can be put on it and still make it operable. Where do you stand on that front? Did you ever think you could get to the point have having to store some of your treasures in the closet due to over crowding. Maybe some of your stuff is on the wall in a display case and gets rotated into service on occasion. Do you have the willpower to pass on a good deal or sell off unused equipment or is it all valued treasure.

I was at the local train store yesterday and showed extreme willpower as I went through these boxes, I am proud of myself as I am busting at the seams when it comes to how much is on the layout.

What say you?

[ATLANTIC_CENTRAL]

I have about 140 “powered units”, steam, diesel, self propelled passenger equipment. That is counting B units as a separate unit. About 1000 freight cars and close to 200 passenger cars.

Everything will be on the new layout when it is complete. Virtually everything is within the era and theme of the layout.

I am a very disciplined buyer in this regard.

I do a have a few sentimental pieces, and few pieces that will justify some sort of “railroad museum” on the layout, but those items represent numbers you can count easily on your fingers and toes.

I’m building a model railroad with a very specific “protolanced” theme. I am not collecting model trains.

There is not one locomotive in my possession who’s prototype was built after my September 1954 “date”.

There is not one locomotive for railroads I don’t model in the theme of the layout.

In fact, in my whole 56 years of model railroading I have not owned a great many of the “popular” and “famous” locomotives. I have never owned a UP Big Boy, just as an example. Never had any interest in owning one.

The numbers I listed do include a number of kits yet to be built, undecorated locos yet to be painted, etc.

At this point, my locomotive and rolling stock purchases are carefully planned to complete specific operational and display value goals. I need about 100 more freight cars to complete the desired roster, and maybe about 4-5 locomotives for specific trains.

There will be no display cases or closet storage - it will all be on the layout as the layout progresses and the kits get built.

Sheldon

[York1]

I have a bunch of N freight cars I didn’t buy – they’re sitting on a shelf in the closet. A friend saw the box of cars at a consignment store and bought the entire box for $5.00. These have the old style N couplers, and the wheels are not real good at rolling, so I will be spending some future time replacing parts before they hit the layout.

[ATLANTIC_CENTRAL]

I should also mention that in those 56 years, I can count items that I have purchased and later sold on my fingers and toes as well.

I have never gone thru any kind of major revamping or replacement, only changed eras one time at as pretty young age. I still have and use stuff that actually predates me, that was my fathers or is older kits that I have aquired.

Sheldon

[mgosdin]

Sheldon,

I’ve been at this hobby for the same 56 years. I have some cars from my original HO train set that I’ve restored & reworked. I started in HO but also dabbled in N over those years.

Here in the last 6 months I’ve gone full on into N scale as I just never was able to reestablish my HO scale layout. I’ve kept the same basic proto-lance theme that I adopted in the 1990’s.

Not quite the same as you, but I do appreciate what you’ve done being consistent.

Mark Gosdin

[davefoxx]

I run multiple eras on my layout, so motive power, rolling stock, and vehicles are swapped out to avoid anachronisms. The sidelined pieces are in storage cases hanging on the wall or their original boxes stacked on shelves here in the layout room.

To get things under control a little bit, over the past few weeks, I sold 22 locomotives (approximately 30% of the fleet) with a focus on tightening up the fleet to better fit those “eras” and to eliminate impulse purchases and retired pieces due to upgrades.

DFF

[South_Bank_Terminal]

This is an interesting Topic, thank you Batman.
For my 50 years I had modelled the North Eastern Region of British Railways.
By chance in 2016, YouTube threw-up a (music) video of American Railroads.

I started buying American HO, used models from eBay UK and Hattons.
These were mostly Blue Box and I became very impulsive, buying models that I ‘liked the look of’, almost slightly ‘addicted’ to it.
A good number of these used models were not 100% complete, it turned out - fingers burned.

I had learned enough to steer clear of 40’ Boxcars with peak roofs and roof-walks - but also, that I liked SW1500s, GP38-2s and SD40-2s.

Writing as a newcomer to USA Railroads from across the Great Divide of the N. Atlantic, but mostly through my being a Rookie on this subject, I have bought far too many models and not just B/Boxes.

I have steadily been disposing of surplus Locos and Stock via eBay, generally breaking even - but not always.

But I am pleased to write that I, like you can now resist the temptation - my two PRLX Executive SD70MACs are for me, the ultimate and I know it.

Age is another factor to also take into consideration. One day you, or someone else is going to have to dispose of your collection.

Having learned about and knowing now, how American Railroads operate and which models I would require to operate my layout how I want it to, I should have drawn-up a mandate of models required and then purchased brand new imports, from the major USA suppliers.
In the long term, this is a far more sensible and cheaper option.
Paul.

[KHolbrook77]

It’s difficult to think of a time some day when we are gone and someone else is going through our layout clipping wires and tossing fragile models and stuff in boxes without labels. I was thinking about that last night. And how meticulous I would be if I were say moving and had to tear down my layout. My wife would not even know how to turn my simple Digitrax system on, let alone call up the different locomotive numbers and get them moving. The question is, how bad do you have to feel before you start dismantling it yourself to maybe package it in a way that maybe a grandson would be interested when he’s older. Because any realtor coming in to your home is going to say “that monstrosity has got to go before we try to sell!” It’s a heartbreaking thought.

[HO-Velo]

Now firmly down in the rabbit hole of weathering I’ve developed an aversion to having unweathered rolling stock on my switching layout. Half my collection is boxed and awaiting their turn on the bench. Considering how long it takes me to weather and detail a car to my satisfaction I’m beginning to wonder if ‘the man upstairs’ is going to grant me enough time to finish them all. Collecting rolling stock is like eating fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies; I know when I’ve had enough, but maybe just one more………

Regards, Peter

[Jimmy_Braum]

Yeah, I have kind of reached this myself. But the extra equipment gives me the option to swap out rolling stock or locomotives so it doesn’t get “stale”

[ATLANTIC_CENTRAL]

@KHolbrook77

It’s difficult to think of a time some day when we are gone and someone else is going through our layout clipping wires and tossing fragile models and stuff in boxes without labels.

Well, as a member of a Round Robin Club of older guys we have helped several widows of our deceased members carefully dismantle and disperse their layouts.

But I’m not stressing it one bit, it is just stuff and it is the cycle of life. Maybe my son will want it, or the wife can let the club help her, or if we are both gone the kids can have a big Ebay sale - it might be the only inheritance they get…

But I’m not planning ahead for a disassembly date, to heck with that.

And as explained above, I only have what I want/need to model what I model…

Sheldon

[ATLANTIC_CENTRAL]

@Jimmy_Braum

Yeah, I have kind of reached this myself. But the extra equipment gives me the option to swap out rolling stock or locomotives so it doesn’t get “stale”

I simply designed the layout with enough staging to put it all on the rails. About 30 trains, 40 cars long each.

I would rather not be constantly handling the equipment - rather see it rolling.

Sheldon

[Jimmy_Braum]

I dont blame you at all. I just bought an athearn caboose and knocked loose one of the window covers… basically just looking at it

[KHolbrook77]

Hey Sheldon, I’m not planning on going anywhere anytime soon either. I didn’t mean to drop such a negative thought in the mix.

[IRONROOSTER]

I will not dismantle or otherwise dispose of layout or trains. I plan to enjoy them to the end.

But I am fortunate that one of my sons is into trains (3 rail O gauge) and he will take the lead on what to keep and what to sell.

As for having more than will fit on the layout, I have lots more than will fit and I am fine with that. I like collecting.

But my layout follows the Maryland and Pennsylvania RR of the early 50’s. Specifically August 31 1954 is my cutoff when passenger service ended.

Paul

[Southgate_2]

I can say my monetarily investment into that which will not return it has been comparatively modest. And the far majority fits on the layout and within the scheme of things.

I have no kids, much less those who’d want the layout. But WAIT! A nephew and his kids moved to the area. His almost 5 year old son already shows amazing potential to take on the various challenges the hobby will present as he grows into it. It’s a nice thought. Dan

[FRRYKid]

With my layout, I actually have more rolling stock than I do track to put it on. I have my rolling stock on a spreadsheet to keep track of what I have so I don’t duplicate myself if I don’t want to. I still will purchase an occasional car but it takes something important to do so. There are currently two I’m looking at making. One I have the car for. (From a car I bought awhile ago but the brake wheel wouldn’t stay attached.) The other one I can’t find a correct model for.
As for the mentioned passing of equipment, I actually have pieces from three different people. One was just a caboose but did use it. The second was from a gentleman I met when my Mom and now late Dad moved to a senior living facility. He could no longer model. I have 31 pieces of his collection on my layout, some of which I’ve repainted. Two more are on the workbench to be repainted. The third came from my Uncle. I knew I would get one engine previously. I ended up with all his stuff, including some books. I have 14 pieces of that collection on my layout

[_JaBear]

Thanks for the topic, Batman.

I have to be realistic as to the size of layout I can achieve rather than what I’d like to achieve, so in that case I have more rolling stock and locomotives that would fit, though I had always intended to have off layout staging whether it be a yard (or yards) or cassettes.

That said when I do go to shows, I do keep my eyes open for “Bargains!”
While the Big Mac international comparison test is not necessarily that scientific; looking in the box in Batman’s photo, I’d be grabbing at least 4 of those 50 footers, and two of the double deck stock cars, cos to me they are bargains, and I like building kits.

Cheers, the Bear.

[Canalligator]

I have bought what I need to operate my shortline and class 1 interchange, and a few cars to cycle in and out. That comes to less than 100 locomotives, freight and passenger cars. One time period; no redundant cars, eras, locations or operating schemas.

As I upgrade equipment, I dispose of the replaced cars.

There are another 20 or so pieces on the museum railroad, a freestanding table that I’m building with my granddaughter. Those are mostly for show, or the occasional excursion. And a small table in a different scale that I built with my grandson. I’ve handed off the family Lionel to my adult son.

I’ve mostly gotten over impulse buying. I’d rather take good care of just what I need.

[Casey_Dowling]

I am in agreement with Sheldon on this. I try to limit purchases to equipment for my specific operating period and region. This limits the impulse buys and helps me make sure my equipment lives on the layout. But I understand those who do like to collect and run equipment from all eras.