[soapbox][#dots] Here’s a stumper. What would you say is the most ordered part for model railroading through catalogs and websites? Couplers? Rolling stock? Locomotives? People? Whatdya think?[banghead]
I would personally think track, since that is one universal thing we all need at some point. Just my [2c] though.
That or lumber. And possibly the Boxcar. There’s almost as many of those as there are pieces of track…
A few years back, I;'d say SF Warbonnet F7s judging by Yardsales…
I like cake. Cake is good. It makes you happy. Happy is good. Happy makes you buy stuff. Buying stuff is good. I usually buy stuff at a train store. Train stuff is good. I am an equal-opertunity-train-stuff consumer. Support your LHS.
David B
What’s most ordered is dependent on who is ordering, and why.
For the model railroading community as a whole - including the huge population of armchair operators, I would say publications - books, magazines (back issues and subscriptions) and DVDs.
For me, personally - electricals (switch machines, switches and electronic parts.) That’s driven by the fact that I already own most of the things others are ordering.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Rolling stock – if there’s one thing people might have “too much” of, it’s rolling stock. [;)]
I know the OP referenced online/catalog sales, but just go into any LHS and figure out what takes up the most floor space. Or what one item is in almost every customer’s hand at the checkout.
Rolling stock!
A few years ago I read an article by a guy who started a model railroads only hobby shop. He wrote how he and his partner were idealists and really wanted a shop that catered to serious craftsman and higher-level modelers. He was shocked and almost ashamed when he realized that the product that was flying off the shelves and essentially keeping the place afloat was – those cheesy rolled-up grass mats!
Dave Nelson
It wouldn’t surprise me it the Internet Order answer is “locomotives.” That’s where you’re going to see the biggest single-item discount vs. the LHS. While you might save 50 cents or a dollar on a piece of flex track, you can save a hundred on a big-ticket item like an engine, particularly if you’ve got an MSRP guy running your LHS.
I get almost everything these days by ordering through my LHS. I get the Walthers sale prices, and I don’t pay shipping. Besides, it gives me an excuse to go to my LHS, to “check up” on my order. Just because of where I am in the layout-building process, most of what I order is rolling stock, figures and scenic details.
Dito ^
I think there are some buyers who are industrious to learn and know their resources, even if they might not be model railroaders.
Guilty. For some reason I can’t stop buying hopper cars. [%-)]
Enjoy
Paul
Yup!
I’m building an Excel spreadsheet to inventory everything I have…
I’ve bought some duplicates!
According to repilies on this forum re: amount of locomotives people own, I would say the most ordered item would be “big boys”