I have seen a thread going here, "what was your last purchase?" I am not always up to date. I model 1950s, run on DC, try not to replace all my computer programs every other year... It takes me forever to get my planned projects done. I tend to look more long term, rather than "what is the latest thing?" Got me to thinking, what is your BEST purchase? What is the best, most satisfying, or best train-related deal you have ever gotten? Mine was an April 1954 Official Railway Equipment Register I got for five bucks at a hobby shop in Austin, Texas 25 years ago. It is my era, and I have to consult it about once a week. I have made a slip case for it to keep it intact. Best $5 I ever spent on the hobby.
If I answer this from the perspective of "what has been the most satisfying over the long term", then my answer would be the Minitrix F9 I bought new for $10 in about 1971. By modern standards it is very noisy, but it pulls well, can still crawl, and has given me years and years of frequent and trouble-free operation.
Ooh, I'd love to get my hands on one of those. I model 1954. For me, my two best purchases have been a couple engines I didn't really need at the time, but couldn't resist because of the price. The first was my first N scale engine, purchased a couple years ago: a new Broadway Limited Imports E-7 with DCC and very good sound, and in C&NW colors, no less. I think I paid $116 with shipping. Just last week I received a new Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-2 heavy Mountain with DCC for $99. Both were purchased at closeout, blowout prices that were close to half (or less) than the original retail price. Actually, I've been darn happy with just about all of my hobby purchases. The rest of my dozen or so locos and nearly all of my 120 pieces of rolling stock were purchased used for about half (or less) of their original retial prices. I've only recently begun buying new pieces, and only when something is a perfect fit for my era and locale. Jim
The Atlas Wring book. No explanation necessary other than to say electricity has always been a mystery to me.
Espcially knowing the prices these bring today! These are fabulous references for historic and modeling purposes. My best purchase? Modeling-wise, this might just be my analog DC power supply throttle. It cost a good sum, but is the best I have ever found, before or since then. It is a "Track Glide" and only three dozen were ever made. The manufacturer was testing waters, had excellent response, but could not get anyone to pick up their line for distribution. So it was shelved.
I would say my DCC system. Iin this case, Prodigy Express, due to price. I left the hobby in the early 90s and have always been intimidated by block control and wiring. It was not until 2010 that I happened to wander into my LHS that I discovered DCC and re-discovered model railroading.
I'd have to say my first run Life Like GP-18's. I didn't have any money for the higher end locos fifteen years ago, but bought one GP-18 for about $18.00 and it ran very well and I was so excited to get a great running loco for what I could afford. My son and I then bought half a dozen more as we could afford them. They've given great service, ran and still run great so I love them. I now own a lot of Atlas and Kato stuff, but these old GP-18's still make me smile going down the tracks.
My best purchase if I may call it my most important is a decent two cartridge respirator. I include it here because I use it painting model railroad projects. I say it is the most important because after losing my mother-in-law to lung cancer and witnessing another friend right now who is dying of cancer I can see how precious my health is.
I think mij best purchase is the Minitrix Northlander Train set about 8 years ago. It brought me in contact with mij model railroadclub the "PH&LF rra" and north american railroading. In 8 years now I bought several best purchases, the last one was on Ebay germany, it's an GOtransit GP40 and it made its first run on the clublayout 2 weeks ago:tb-biggrin: [video=youtube;omrQDbl-trw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omrQDbl-trw&context=C4b3da4cADvjVQa1PpcFNO_4-fQeJno0s02Kj2pO7Iy1Ir-q6HCBc=[/video]
Hmmm, best purchase? Considering $costs, performance, "affection" and other unspecifiable factors it would have to be a pair of New Jersey Central RSD 4/5 Atlas Classic unused at an estate sale. This for a Pac NW based Amtrak/Commuter system. Impulse city, for sure. Then, I did my first upgrade by changing Rapidos to MTL couplers. Cost was 1/2 of current eBay w/o MTLs. Best runners I own.
As far as best bargain was being a ATSF employee in the early 70's when a special reprint of Dale Worleys Iron Horses of the Santa Fe Trail was offered to SF employees, think our cost was about $35. Dust cover wore out years ago, outer book covering "camo-ed" with ink, paint, glue from 40 years of model railroading.
Going DCC and the Digitrax DB150 with radio throttle. Because there would be and there is no block wiring.
Always Keep Your Eyes Open At Swap Meets A Con-Cor 2-10-2 for $100.00. Was at the Lakota (NMRA, MCR Div 7, Cincinnati OH) Show & Swap meet. Was talking to a member of one of the N-Scale Clubs. We got to talking about STEAM and he mentioned, off-handedly, that he had a NEW CC 2-10-2 that he wasn't happy with. Just didn't run like he wanted. I asked "Do you want to sell it? If so, how much?" When he stated that he'd take $100 for it, I couldn't get my wallet out quick enough. I asked him if he would be happy with $100 ( I don't take advantage of fellow modelers), he said sure and we sealed the deal. Wish I could find about 3 more CC 2-10-2's for $100. each!!!!
The place I'm living now - allowing for a 44+ foot long layout around the living and dining room. Other than that? Tooo many to count.
Just picked up a Con-Cor (prewar style) CB&Q Zephyr for (out-of-pocket) $40. Yeah, pretty sure I win this thread Cannot WAIT to get home and take it for a lap!! To top it off? Think I might hire the dude I bought it from. It's a good-karma kind of day!
Um, er, I mean Kato Unitrak. Without that I would be dead in the water. So, ya a combination of: Buying my place - $350,000 Buying Unitrak - $100s CP Bathgons - Bright red with multi-mark - $240 Finding the right woman to let me put it in the dining / living room? - Priceless
Several dozen cars for .99 each at Long's Drugs years ago, and then recently, two Fox Valley BNSF ES44ACs with DCC for $100 for the pair.
My best purchase is one that I need to renew every year and yet it has helped me in so many ways, both with locomotive detail projects and my layout. Last January I signed up and joined the Boston & Maine Historical Society. I get a great B&M calendar for the shop, 4 issues a year of the Bulletin that rival many magazines in quality, bi-monthly newsletter and information on everything from a whistle post to a grand station. I would say that has made me a better modeler and has helped me progress on my layout. When I get back home, I'll also be joining the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Historical Society as the "Q" is my other favorite road. Heck the last Bulletin they sent to members was 95 pages on the CB&Q SD-7's, 9's and 24's. Beautiful pictures and diagrams for a locomotive detailer like me. Second best, lately was my Kato GS-4 in AFT colors. Picked up at Springfield MA train show last year for just under $100.00. I saw them for sale at the same show this year for $140 and up.
The tool collection that I have accumulated over the years. I probably get more enjoyment out of building things than actually running my trains.
