Seeing as how the end of the year is right around the corner, I thought I’d start making out my list of resolutions for 2007. One of these will be to ban myself from buying anything model railroad related for one year (365 days) after the first… The reason for this is because I’ve spent over $2,000.00 this past year on model railroading items which was twice of what I normally do. I seriously doubt I’ll get very bored in that year with the rolling stock and locos I have. I’ve been involved in this hobby for over twenty years and have quite a collection. One year away from it isn’t going to hurt me all that much. It was either that, or give up the other stuff that Bergie won’t let me mention here on the forum…
I’m gonna buy trains, drink a lot of beer, eat lots of junk food and gain some unneeded weight. I’m not going to floss enough. I’ll spend too much time on the computer, and get to bed too late a lot of nights. I plan to end the year in worse physical shape than when I started.
One of mine will be, to try to complete my track layout and have it operational before buying another piece of rolling stock. I will however have to purchase some track related materials as it comes along.
I concur with the ‘cutting back’ aspect of the hobby when it comes to purchasing in the coming year. I have almost everything that I need - it’s the “want” part I’ll have to work on.
The temporary shelf layout will get finished. And I hope that I find a good layout plan somewhere so I can build a good size layout.
This year my goal was to get more done on the layout before purchasing any more rolling stock or locos. I came close but most of my money went to DCC supplies. I did get most track layed and the layout runs good.
This year I will attempt to do the square foot scenery aproach as it seems much more satisfying to see some finished work. I resolve not to purchase any more locos but I will invest in more apropriate rolling stock. I will install metal wheels in everything and detail stractures a little here and there.
I need to get some operators too. I have a fair size layout in N-scale (15X17) and have a three track stagging yard (hidden) with a major yard a summit to overcome and a town on the other side of the summit to switch. Anyone interested?
I will keep to my general rule that if there is something around the house that needs to be done then in all fairness to the family it must come first.
Well, for 2006 my resoultion was to reduce my locomotive inventory by 50%, but that didn’t happen. I think I have 20 more now that I did when the resoultion was made. My second 2006 was to cut my 2005 budget by 50% and stay on or under it. Then when the Broadway Limited California Zephyr cars came out in February they sucked it all up in one fell swoop. And then the Walther’s Empire Builder cars started coming out in August, so here we go … way over budget and it isn’t even Christmas. I think I will not make a resolution in 2007.
Although the choice is yours, I would think it better to reduce your current MR budget by 50% of the next two years. But, if you KNOW you can’t or won’t hold to that, a moratorium on buying is probabaly the best way to go.
My only New Years Resolution is going to be to get more involved with the NMRA and my Region and Division chapters. I have all the rolling stock and locomotives that I’ll ever need so I doubt I’ll be buying anything new next year. Buildings and scenery material, thats about it.
Instead of buying Engines, Freight cars and Buildings. I will spend my time finishing up the train room and getting the track laid out so we will have trains running by next Christmas!!! Sounds pertty good to me… Kevin
I’m with Ernie. I don’t feel the need to link a special date with a resolution. If I am overspending, then I resolve to stop.
I am still in the acquisitive stage of the hobby, although I haven’t the room or the finances to continue to purchase and use, let alone store, several pieces of rolling stock and two or three locos per year. I did make one resolution public here a year ago, and that was to never have so many items that they began to pile up in their boxes on shelves or get placed in drawers. If there is no room for them for daily ops, they don’t exist…period. So far, so good.
Tracklayer - sounds like you’ll never make it! LOL! I can’t make that resolution or my layout would never get finished. I will however, make a resolution to complete my layout this coming year!
I should try the same thing. It would force me to get caught up on other modeling projects I have already started and set aside (I probably have about a year’s worth).