After reading the “am I nuts” post, I decided I should probably make an inventory for my trains. Has anyone done this already with a cool form. I’m not the most computer savy guy and I’m not to sure what kind of info would be good to have on this list. Thanks for you replies.
There is a great and cheap software package called MacMove that also runs on Linux and Windows. You can try it for free:
I have a very simple “roster” that I made up using Microsoft Excel. It starts off with a different page for steam, dieasel, and electric locos, the freight cars, passenger cars, and finally non-revenue. I got a little crazy with it and it lists everything about my equipment, including notes, weight, wheels, and about anything else. I could easily send you a copy if you would like, just drop me an e-mail. I keep an updated copy of it on my PDA, so when I go shopping I can try to get different car numbers if they are available, or I can check to see if I already have something that is “unique”. It is really handy to kind of curb my impulse buying too. For example, my plan is to be running a coal-hauling road, so I already have too many boxcars. If I see a cool looking boxcar, I check to see if I already have one (or that road number), then note that I need more hoppers instead, so I usually put the boxcar back (usually). My list has a breakdown that tells the percentage of each type of car for all of my rolling stock, as well as for each manufacturer.
This also has the added bonus of having some idea of what I have if something should ever happen to the shop. Since I do all sorts of other things in my shop (welding, machining, auto and motorcycle work, woodworking, etc.), there is always the chance of coming home and finding it burned down. Or, since I live in Indiana, a tornado could come through and give it all to my neighbor. I keep a copy on my laptop at work, the computer in the house, the shop computer, my PDA, and 2 different memory sticks so as I always have a backup. Good luck!
Yes you should. If you do not have or you are not famaliar with Microsoft Excel, then just use the Microsoft Works program that came with your computer to make nothing more than a list of your inventory; car type, roadname, number, length, date; the things that are obivious. I made a form in Excel and downloaded it to my PDA. That way I have my list with me all the time and don’t have to carry around a couple of pieces of folded notebook paper.
If for no other reason you should have an inventory than for insurance purposes, in case of lose. Even a half way serious model railroader probably has thousands of dollars tied up in his or her hobby.
Wow, I wasn’t fast enough, Morpar beat me too it.
For insurance purposes I make a CD of my lists once a year and send it for my brother to keep… cheaper than sending the PC back to have the chip extracted from the gooey blob should the laptop disintegrate with everything else in a fire… A Chip is silicone so it can be rescued and read… amkes me wonder if other silicone items survive fres… don’t think I’ll develop that idea [xx(]
jcgisel,
I keep my train inventory on a free program (data base) called RRTrains written by Greg Braun. It has all of the standard entries on ready to use forms and can even attach an image to each file if you want to.
Its not as complex as many of the commercial programs available for train inventories, but it can sort by any term you choose and keeps values etc.
The best part is the program is free and ready to go once you download it and load it into your system. This is the link
Scroll down the list to RRTrains 2000.
Give it a try, what do you have to loose?
I made an inventory in Excel with categories - nothing fancy - Vehicles, Engines, Rolling Stock - additional columns for Manufacturer, Product Number. I now have a Dell Axim PDA, synced the file to the PDA and view it with Excel mobile - I carry the PDA with me to the hobby shop and shows, so I can check to see if I already have the item before I buy it - especially rolling stock and vehicles - also reminds me if I have to pick up anything / supplies. I also have a column for cost and quantity so it tells me how much I’ve [:)]invested[:)] in my hobby.
- Joe on the ETO - Essex, Talbot and Ojibway
Thanks guys! I’m going to try downloading that file right now.
Dave Husman has a very nice Access program that does inventory as well as generates car cards for operation. You can find it on the CarCards group on Yahoo.
–Randy
Another reason not already mentioned for keeping an inventory is to give the “lucky” executor of your estate a starting point for getting some of the value back for your heirs. Too many times, the collection goes to the nearest dumpster because none of the rest of the family has any idea of who manufactured what, or what a piece might be worth. Or it goes to an estate buyer for pennies on the dollar, who will turn around and eBay the collection. Of course, if the executor is a model railroader, he/she simply cherry picks your stuff and then sells the rest. [:)]
Fred W
Fred, you are right on.
Being an old buzzard with a mix of run of the mill model railroad equipment as well as rolling stock and a number of kits I know are valuable to modelers, how my estate would recognize values and not just dump them all together in a lot to dispose of with my 16’X16’ layout is something I have not settled on how to do. A fellow enthusiast told me when he is gone that will be someone elses problem. I would like to give a little guidance to my executor. Thought about maybe putting a little green dot on each piece that would alert them of a greater value than others. Just to treat with a little caution. By the same token unless a family member (grandkids) wanted them there is only so much an executor can do I guess. Maybe my friend is right.
Bruce A
It’s the estate sales that will draw the buzzards.
The person responsible for disposing of the estate will have alot of headaches.
I keep several boxes. Each marked a certain way and a log book to each box. I have about 6 boxes right now and probably can assess the value in those boxes with little effort. I feel it does not matter to list the values because if something will happen to them, they are limited run, out of production and unlikely to be replaceable. I would have to start over, which wont be the first time.
If Im dead and gone, there is a set of instructions at the funeral home regarding the estate so that is going to be taken care of without any problems.