Yes, You would be wise to downsize to stay under the $2K for the whole layout. I started the hobby two years ago and now have 91 locos — about 20% with sound and the rest with bulk purchased NCEs @ $13.50 ea. and Digitrax D123s at $15 ea. And my decoder costs alone are greater than your planned outlay. My bad [:I]
But that was my desire. I keep em all running in rotation and in a nice display of road colours and steam history when not on the track. There are always a half a dozen or so in “sick bay” waiting for me to tweak up a noisy shell or upgrade to sound or something.
Two years and 91 locos! I’m 40 years in HO and have just over 50. The thing is, I model the Santa Fe in the late '40s and up thru 1959, and only have locos that were around at that time. But I’ve got about 10 switchers, and could easily spare 6 of them, plus an extra set of E6 ABA and PA ABBA locos. Every year I do an Ebay train sale (had 100 auctions last year), and use the process to thin out and upgrade. Any monies coming in from Ebay go back into the trains. So over the years my old Athearns (great locos/company) got upgraded to Stewarts, P2Ks, etc., and the old Rivorossi steamers got upgraded to BLIs.
Switchers move onlly a few cars at a time, ease of stopping and accuracy iis para mouunt…
Everyone of coourse has their favorites, but but for comparisons beware of single brand owners…I haven’t ownened all of those on yourr nlist (and probably has no-one else) so individual condition will come into play.
First off.i would test all on DC. . Stewar’st B’alldwin’s with chassis from Ojiin are tough to beat.