I’m sure this would have a lot to do with an individuals income and so forth. I personally can’t afford to go more than $75.00 on a diesel and $100.00 or maybe a little more on a steamer - and even at that, not that often. The cheaper the price the better - but that doesn’t mean in quality…
So what’s your limit ?.
Tracklayer
i would definately have to agree with your limits, as i am a student and dont exactly have a fantastic job, but, i occasionally do like to splurge and get myself a $$$ engine. but most of my model money right now is going into my passenger car fleet and benchwork and such
Mike
For an HO diesel engine the most I’m willing to pay is about $130 for a none sound engine. I’m buying at Atlas GP40 when it’s released for about $120. I’ll wait on a sound equipped engine and hope the decoders, speakers, etc, come down in price. If I can ever find a sound equiped HOn3 engine I’ll go up to $300 to $350. But that’s a one time purchase, if I can find an engine that fits that in the next few years I’ll be set for a decade or more.
Even though I’m not a student, my railroad budget is limited. For an exquisite steam engine that is a real jewel, I could probably cough-up up to $400. I would have to use layaway. For the ultimate deisel that I really really wanted, maybe $120 - $150. Again, I would have to use layaway. I don’t like to put much money on my credit cards. Usually a steam engine costs between $100 - $150, and $60 - $90 for a deisel. I’m in Nscale and my local hobby shop sells below retail. A $90 Atlas deisel usually is priced between $65 - $75 . Obviously I’m not into brass. To me, cars are by far the most expensive as you need a lot more of them. I have about 35 or so engines. It has to be something special for me to buy. I already have more engines than I can run. Now cars, that’s a different story. I could use (would like) many many more.
The most I ever paid was $307.00 out the door at a LHS for the Rivarossi Allegheny. No regrets but won’t pay that again.
The Athearn Challenger at $259.00 and worth it.
New Deisels, somewhere up to the $150.00 level w/o DCC/Sound.
I’m pretty well maxed out so a subsequent buy will have to be at a deep discount.
£120 for an LMS beyer garret kit. and about £130 for my new W1.
i certainatly wont pay more than £70 for a diesel and not more than £150 for a steam loco.
Peter
RTR Australian gear is unfortunately expensive due to our smaller hobbiest market so around $240AUD for diesels and $500AUD for steam
First off I’m talking Canadian dollars (before I shock or amuse you) some past highwater marks: Rivarossi Allegheny $908.00 (LHS), Key Imports brass Big Boy (used) $1019.00 (from Mitchells final price after exchange,GST,import tariffs),usually I stick to the $350- 775 range before heart palpitations over the sticker price get me.Diesals I swing in the $50-185 range. Other than the first two highwater marks my locos are Ebay specials and from the LHS’s.Local diesal prices range from $50.00 (used) to $325.00 (new ,DCC, sound), local steam prices range from $145.00 (used or sale priced smaller steam engines) to $725 or more (larger steam engines, DCC, sound, Brass). Local brass(if you can find it) prices start around $700.00 or so and go straight up ( which is why I haunt Ebay for brass ).No I’m not rich, just once in a while I live beyond my means.
I was in Germany about 20 years ago (vacation trip) and rode a tain or two. It was the smoothest and fastest ride I ever had, so I just had to have a model of it. I found what I wanted in a well stocked hobby store in downtown Nurnberg and bought a DB Class 103 (I think that’s how it is designated) by Fleischman and a couple of passenger cars. The loco cost 195 DM (I still have the box with the price tag on it). If I remember right, that worked out to about US$130 at the time, which makes this my most expensive loco. The second closest is a Kato CNW C44-9 for just under $100. So, these are pretty much my limits.
I would if I had the money.
Allan.
I would hate to pay much more than $120. for steam or $75. for diesel.
I already have more than enough locos to operate the railroad with and as I freelance, I don’t have the urge to buy a loco in my favorite railroad scheme.
So, I can be much more selective in what I buy and look for the best deals possible.
For instance, I have never paid over $75. for an Atlas or P2K engine. Timonium is coming up in 2 days and unless I saw a fantastic deal and I mean fantastic, I have no need to purchase any locos.
I am in high school right now but if I save enough money I would pay up to $600 for a diesel and up to $1000 for a steam engine. The highest I have paid so far has been $125 for an Athearn Genesis SD70 ILLINOIS CENTRAL #1006.
ICMR
Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]
canadian dollars … i’d pay at most about $250 for sound and dcc steam . it was higher but the price of sound decoders has come down . lucky for me i’m only looking at buying 4-6-0s and 2-8-0 or smaller , those big articulateds are gorgeous but i doubt i’ll ever have room to run one. i’d consider spending more on brass if i was confidant of my ability to add a decoder to a brass steamer . i don’t buy diesels
In N-scale today? Nothing because of no budget. But I’ve never paid over $40 for a non-DCC loco, and would not go much higher (if at all) if I had the money.
Not to go all preachy on everyone – but even if money were no issue, I would have great difficulty justifying paying the cost of most locos (or other hobby items) these days. I think there are too many other things in life that would be worth more than what I’ve seen some say they have spent on this hobby. It’s only a hobby afterall!
It is not hwo much you would spend, it is what does it cost for whay you want. I have spent $1,500.00 on a brass steam and $9.00 on a 1960’s AHM Switcher. I will spend what it takes to get something I can not live with out. Or as my father said “A FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED”.
As long as its a very nice, good quality loco then I would pay $250 Canadian. When you look at Kato, Atlas and Proto P2K loco’s quality and reliability you really don’t need to spend more then 150 for a great loco. I am waiting for the CN and VIA Rail Turbo train to come out, those will probably be the most expensive ones I buy. A set is suppose to be around 600 US. I’m kind of lucky that my wife and I have great jobs so if something comes along I want I can just go buy it.
i think i spent £25 on an Nguage gp30-2 but funds willing am prepaired to pay up to £80-£100 on something i want
I would spend up to $100.00 on a diesel and a Steamer ??? I really don’t know, not much in to Steamers, I suppose if I really want a nice one up to $175.00… Joey
When I was in HO, my limit was about $150 but that was philosiphically painful (I just can’t wrap myself around something that small costing that much - of course, my wife’s jewelry belies that point). Anyway, now that I am in On30, I am struggling with $300. Brass? Forget it … I’m looking for operation performance … I am adept enough to put in the details that please me.
I don’t know if I have a limit… The most I ever spent was $500 on a brass D&RGW L-131… Typically though, my limit is about $50-$75 for a used, $150 for a new loco (BLI, Genesis, etc)…
Jeff
[8D]