I am so much wanting the USA trains B6 0-6-0 but its listed at $1,499.00 and I am just wondering if people really spend that on engines.
I want I want I want, but i dont know if i should
I watch for specials in the garden rail magazine, if it’s something i like and the price i can aford, i’ll by it. I am still looking for one certain RS-3 ,WHICH is comming out next year, with the RR name where i retired from., i voted$ 200–to–$ 400 dollers. ben[:)]
I have yet to spend over the $100 limit I imposed on myself when I started in LS.
The most I have spent was $130 for a Bachmann Silverton Flyer train set but seeing that I got two cars and powerpack I consider that allowable under my limit. I gave myself this limit to keep my spending under control. As it is I still ended up with several engines, LGB Porters, HLW Macks, MDC Hustlers, and Bachmann Tankers for my tiny tiny layout
Average price? Hmmm… $60
I couldn’t vote because I don’t as of yet own motive power, I did however set my sights lower on $ going from LGB mogul, to bashing one out of an Annie.
This is a hard question, do you regard the ICE train as an engine. my little Stainz is only worth about $400 with the works, but my Mallet is worth more like $4,000.
Any way what dollars are we talking about here, Aussie dollars or Euro’s or what? As this is a multi national forum this should be spelt out more clearly!
Regards Ian
Hi
I dont have an average price I would spend on a locomotive.
I judge that for each one I buy
While I will hapily spend $2000Au on a live steam locomotive
I am not willing to spend that kind of money on an Electric locomotive no matter what the out line.
I dont care what the manufacturers say an electric is not worth any where near the same as a live steam locomotive
regards John
I’ll pay about $100 USD for a loco and no more. I have the time and the inclination and just enough talent to kitbash and scratchbuild just about any loco I want. Also, I’m not hung up on exact prototype replicas. I model a very generic backwoods, post depression era, narrow gauge railroad. My locos and rolling stock are plausible but in no way attempt to replicate any specific prototype. I pity the guy who’s decided that he has to model the New York Central exactly as it was in July of 1940. He’s pretty much stuck with having to buy specific locos from specific manufacturers and has to pay whatever the going price is.
In my opinion people should limit their hobby spending to just a couple percent of their annual income, remember, IT"S JUST A HOBBY! My goal is to leave my heirs their inheritance in the form of stocks, bonds, and cash. I don’t want to saddle them with hundreds of expensive but hard-to-dispose-of models which may or may not fetch the original selling price.
Please excuse me while I go glue on an extra pair of drivers onto an old Mogul to turn it into a Consolidation that looks something like a C-16.
Walt
I have to agree with John here. I can’t really say an “average,” since there’s a considerable price gap between my live steam locos and my electric mice. The mathematical average would be in the $400 range, but that’s hardly an accurate reflection of actual money spent. The “average” price for my exectric locos is somewhere around $250, while the “average” live steam price is in the $600 range. (Both “low” when compared to the average price of what’s available.)
What’s also not reflected in that response is how much I’d be willing to spend for a model of a specific prototype. While I have yet to pay more than $900 for a live steam loco (Roundhouse boiler/chassis kit), I’d certainly be willing to part with more for the right locomotive. I’m not going to spend 4 figures on a locomotive that doesn’t resemble anything that ran on the East Broad Top. (And for that price, it better be live steam) I’m also not going to spend 4 figures on a locomotive more than once, at least not without buying something sparkly for the other half first. There are too many other “necessities” in life that require that kind of cash outlay for me to be able to justify 2 large-price-tag locos.
An average price, though, is hard to figure given the diversity of prototypes available. I’d be loathe to pay $500 for a live steam 0-4-0, but a mogul at around twice that may be a good value. (Accucraft’s 2-6-0 is a great value for the price, though not something I desire.) Electric locos go the same way. Is a $250 LGB 0-4-0 the same value as a $400 Bachmann 2-8-0? That’s a personal decision each of us makes. Is a die-cast electric locomotive worth three times the price of a plastic locomotive? If it’s a prototype you covet, then the answer most likely would be “yes.” Otherwise, let it sit on the store shelf, and buy it on clearance for half the price.
Later,
K
GRAND POPS WALT
Dont glue your fingers fast to the engine??? I said 2-to-4hundred , but it’s usely around150 -to 200 hundred , i watch for specials .,being retired you watch the bucks a little more and if i don’t need it ,i don’t buy it ben[:)][2c]
My average price doesn’t really count as I am into live steam and my least expensive engine was $400 and the C-21 cost me about $2100. The others are closer to an average tho being $1250 to $1550…
Cheers,
i guess i must be pretty green, I had no idea that most of you pay around $100 for an engine. I guess i just dont know where to look.
I dont plan on modeling a paticular scene, railroad or era. My wife and i just want some made up layout. I just really like the looks and operations of the B6 060. I am in pursute of one for my HO layout as well.
Kevin
Hi ben,
Not to worry, I managed to not get my hand kitbashed into the C-16. I’m retired as well and I know exactly what you mean about watching your expenses. I suppose that if I had a six figure income I might spend a little more… but not much more. Unless of course I knew for certain that the investment, and at $1000 to $4000 USD it is an INVESTMENT, would appreciate in value over time. But for the time being, I’ll spend the $100 on trains and the $4000 on a good solid stock. And I’d bet that I enjoy the hobby just as much as the guy who spends tens of thousands of dollars on it.
Walt
Most of my LOCO stuff is BACHMANN, thus I try to keep purchases to $160 or so. There have been a few Aristocraft things I’m after.
I voted on the $200-400 but so far the only ‘new’ train I have bought is the Sam’s Club Annie for $129. A used shay cost me $300 and then found out the new version was comming out so I don’t know if I’ll get one of the new ones now or not. I suuuure want one tho!!! My first large scale purchase was a small layout from a friend that had 75 ft of track a LGB mogul, Bman 4-6-0, Crest pwr supply and TE for $500 and I did buy a new F-3 for 150 bucks. Still wanting more stuff
T Ranes
Hello all,
I votet $ 400 - 600; I´ve 4 engines in stock, for 2 of them i payed more than usd 1000, but the´ve been ever since my favorites.
in future i´ll spend more money for track and accessories.
best regards
klaus
most of mine are in the 100-200 price range and a few at more then 200.
I voted for the 200-400 range. the reason is i am only 13 and need a low cost live steam ruby. Money only comes a round 2 times a year and latly I have been spending all of my Money on track.
MY Grand father bought me a $800 (US) LGB mogul at the age of four. It’s still running strong.
I bought a Bachman Spectrum mogul for $200 on EBAY.
Ever since i visited a friends live steam railroad I have dreamed of owning/running a live steam engine. So now i plan on buying a Accucraft Ruby Kit for $250 at Ridge Road Station.
It depends if it is a Bachman engine i am willing to spend around $200 for it. On the other hand if it is a LGB Mogul then i would spend 3 to 4 times that. [bow]
If the engine is live steam i am willing to pay a lot more than a Bachman engine whos tender conecter breackes when you drive it. [banghead][swg]
Hard. Real hard.
I’ve got about 16-18 in battery r/c, plus a whole sXXt-pot full in boxes…
Add in the live steamers, probably $350 average.
Some I picked up “distressed”, some as “junk”, some just “used”…some “new”.
I seem to be able to ressurrect dead locos.
Maybe even less.
TOC
Do you want to know how much, or what our wives think? Just kidding, happily my wife is all in on the RR obsession. Unfortunately the price I’ve paid is in the moderate to high range, but the quality is good and I’m willing to accept quality over quantity. Of course being a steam nut doesn’t help.
I’m going to have to echo Vic’s comments.
The only “self poewered units” I have acquired that were NOT in a “starter set” have been street cars ($60 USD) and gadydancer ($45 USD). The transformers in the starter kits serve well as power supplies for lighting and other such thins. One powers the “auto reversing” section for the street car. If you do not like the cars in a starter kit, the make a good resource for building something else, or even a “train wreck”. I’ve got one shorty box car that will eventually become a “section house” (spent three hours trying to get it to rum smooth but failed.)