Wouldn’t it be great if there was an peel away sticker on the end of the box of that new car you just brought home containing car type, car# and Part #. Just peel it off and stick it on that list you always carry to train shows and such. Real quick and easy.
(Boy am I lazy)
For years I kept a pocket notebook with everything just handwritten. Now I keep it on the computer and print a hard copy to a 3 ring binder. Not real handy at crowded shows, but better than my memory.
What would keeping an inventory list for 12 cars and 4 locomotives do ? what is the reason? I’m sure that if I was to purchase another logging car I think I can remember that I now have 13 cars and 4 locomotives, am I missing something here?
When you’ve been the hobby for 30 or 40+ years, you accumulate a lot more than 16 cars/locos - and your memory dosn’t get any better!![%-)]
It would actually be REALLY easy (if you are a computer whiz) to make a barcode scanner that scanned the data (from the UPC) right into a database… hmmmm… maybe a project…
Brian
Well in my case when picking up a car that is the same as one I already have I have been able to choose a differant car# at least. This is because I had my list.
I keep everything on my computer and just download it into my Sony Clie when I go to shows.
[#ditto] What he said!
I’ve been in the hobby for maybe 15 years, but only somewhat seriously compared to a lot of folks, and I have roughly 75 locos and 400 cars.
Some are in storage at any given time as they get cycled on/off the layout, so I never see them all at once. Because of that, and of course also because of my “mature” memory, I might see something at a show that I’m not sure if I already have at home.
Keeping an inventory (I use a Lotus Approach database) makes this a non-issue. I can print a list and stick it in my pocket when I go shopping. The database options let me print that list in order by manufacturer, car or loco type, etc. so it’s easy to reference at the show.
It’s also a good thing to have for insurance purposes. Besides being a record of what I actually own, it also has the price I paid for each item. In the event of a loss, I can use this to back up any claims I may make.
On a related note, I also use a number of spreadsheets and word processing documents in connection with my layout. I won’t go into too much detail, but I have spreadsheets for (among other things) my want lists, loco/decoder info for DCC, addressing info for my stationary decoders, and wiring/connection info. I use word processing documents for layout standards, switch lists, and so forth.
So are
Seriously now fellows, do I detect that some of you have just a tad too many locos and cars. I can’t even comprehend that many cars or for what reason, you really mean to say there are folks out there that have MORE than 75 locos and 400 cars, that’s incredible ! ! I stayed in a Motel in Spokane, Washington and took a photo of a house across the street, on the lawn, down the side and the whole back yard was filled with 1975 Oldsmobiles, there must have been 50 or 60 Oldsmobiles in this guys yard, well, to me , that’s too many Oldsmobiles. There must be a point when a person has too many of one thing, or not??? I know, I know, the response to this will be “you can never have too many cars” ----just a thought.
What some of us [:D]are trying to say is “WHEN YOU DIE, THE GUY WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS!!”
Since I paint/letter/kitbash most of my models, it really doesn’t matter. The majority of them get a run through the paint stripper anyway.
Dave H.
Of course there are! I know of one person who has over 1200 O-Scale cars on his three-level layout. And he just expanded his house so he can more than double his current layout size.
That’s exactly what I tell my wife whenever I come home with more.
Steve
I have been ‘seriously’ engaged in model railroading for the past 5-6 years. A quick perusal of the inventory list for the BRVRR reveals 29 locomotives and 58 cars, not including another dozen locos and twice that many cars that belong to my grandson.
Keeping an inventory is important for all of the reasons stated above and for my sanity.