Hi guys
I have a 4x8 layout,what would be a avg. number of engines to have for this size of layout.
Jeremy
I have a 4x8 layout and was wondering about this myself. 3 seems to be about right but I have collected 7 locomotives so far.
Shaun
I also have 5 but my CN GP-35 is in the shops
[:o)] It is every model rail’s obligation to have more locos than they could ever possibly use on their layout!
As big as you want. I have a 9X12 & I have over 30 locomotives & I plan on buying more.
You have to remember that what are you going to pull your trains with when you have locomotives in the shop?
Just my 2 cents
Gordon
Probably 3 or 4 would be about right but it’s hard to stop. Locomotives are really cool and it’s hard to run a train without one. Adding loco’s is very easy to justify, especially to oneself if not always to other significant people.
One of the good things about off layout staging is that it gives you a place to store additional trains and a reason (maybe an excuse) to add them. I’ve got a six track staging yard in the room next to the layout room now and I need to add another off the other end of the railroad. That way I can simulate trains coming on to my railroad from either direction. And add more locomotives and trains.
In the real world 1 would be too many for the trackage on a 4X8. I have about 4 times that area and own 15 locos. I run 6 regularly and could part with the other 9 if I didn’t just like looking at them. The 9 set on a shelf most of the time.
You can never have too many locomotives. What other reason could you have to expand your layout? LOL[:o)]
I have 1, lol. But then I’m starting all over since passing my last batch of equipment on to my nephew. And since all I have right now is a 2’x4’ HO module, I don’t think I really NEED more than 1, lol. But need and want are 2 different things. 
have as many as you want, keep the roundhouse full, 3 on the layout, 20 on a shelf
I was going to keep the number of locomotives small on my layout, but I’m up to about 8 now… I just keep putting the old units back in service. (I can rebuild a Bachmann motor in about 30 minutes.)
How big is your bank account?
Hi Jeremy,
I don’t have any plans to stop expanding my roster. If they are taken care of, they don’t really wear out so locos tend to keep accumulating. I am planning to redo my layout to allow for more trains running from staging tracks and therefore more jobs for my locomotives to pull.
Charles
Hillsburgh On.
I buy all my locos in pairs. One to lead the train east and one to go west. Cheap motors become spares or kitbash candidates. On different days, I like to run different trains. Have fun with your layout!
If you’re asking how many would be realistic for a small RR, then the answer is different from what you’ve heard so far. Think in terms of what work needs to be done. Do you have a yard or local businesses that need cars switched? Then you need a switcher! You can use a road freight unit as a switcher if it’s about 20 years older then your main freight locos. (When the real thing was built, not how old your model is). Do you run freight trains? Get a freight engine or two. Passengers too? Get a passenger loco. Now you have the work covered. As you expand your layout or start pulling longer trains, you may need more. If you want to add another era, you can repeat the process for, say, steam. I hope this helps.
It doesnt matter how small your layout is, thats what shelfs were invented for. Plus the more locos and cars you have the greater the Variety you can chose to run on it. Streamliners one dya light freight the next. In HO the trains take up little space individually compared to the layout itself, so its really a matter of how much storage space you can devote to your roster. I have 15 small locos for a small (for G guage)indoors layout. I can operate 3 to 5 seperate trains ( one operating, the rest on sidings and alternating which train has right of way), so I can vary which engines will run of the layout for a given time frame. I like to change locos because each are different and have unique characteristics. So the sky is really the limit, as many as you want or your spouse will tolerate.
I think vsmith has defined the outmost limits of not just locomotive population, but of model railroading itself.
Thats why my layout is out in the garage and my workshop is in the closet[:D]
I’m not aware of an upper limit for loco rosters - as many as your shelves and wallet can stand!
Buying engines is an illness, I think that is why locomotive shortened spells LOCO. For instance I have a friend that doesn’t have a layout yet he is a member a local modelers club. He has around 100 cars and a little over 2000 engines, not kidding guys. I believe that if I keep buying like I am today I will catch up to him by the time I’m his age, I am 28 he is in his early 60s. I currently have a layout that is a 12X33 and am currently begging for half of the other half of the basement so I can expand. I have 57 engines mostly 6 axles, and 112 cars. Every time I go to the hobby shop the owner and I discuss the illness about buying these things. I keep promising to my self that the next purchase will be cars. I haven’t bought a car in over a year but I have bought 8 new Kato & P2000 engines, I think it time to go see the doctor or something.
Everyone is right so far, having too much is fine but unlike my friend and I try to keep it realistic like Tank says.
Ross
Spokane, WA