To add to the how long aspect: I got started in 1971-- but actively starting purchasing equipment in the early '80's. Enjoy, Wolf
Ya, I have to agree that it helps along with the "which ones would you save" threads. I have realized that all I will really need are those I would use plus about an extra 30% to swap out for variety. As I think about it that means: Unit train shelf - Maybe 5 Unit trains of 10 cars and 2 locos each with an extra few for variety stored in yard or off layout. It is unlikely I would ever buy more. Most likely I won't run passenger on this level. Agrarianism shelf - Maybe 3 mixed freight of 10 cars plus some on sidings and maybe 8 locos with a few extra for variety. Perhaps there will be one 'passenger' train and an 'excursion' train made up of 'olde timer' cars and locos. Bullet train shelf - Will run all of my current bullet trains but I won't buy any more ever, (yeah, right). No freight will run on this shelf. Just thinking out loud but thanks for the opportunity.
Steve, Never say never when talking about purchasing trains; one day, something new will come out or you will discover something that was made in the past that you 'have' to have. Kato's Orient Express was an example for me; I never even knew it existed until 6 months ago. I have found that my tastes have evolved over the 10 years or so I have been back in N-scale. At this point, for me, there are not any locos currently made, or have been made, that I want (except for an Atlas Shay). I seemed to have focused on locos and passenger trains up to now. Now it is time for some freight cars. I like short trains, so all of my freights will be 15 cars or less (or 8 RC Autoracks). Back on topic, I have about 50 passenger cars and about 35 freight cars.
Got this one, way too fast, but a lot of fun. Backed out of the gas passing 160. 35 Locomotives, diesel & steam. 90 freight cars 12 passenger cars.
Dave < big grin > - Short of hitting the lottery I will not be buying any more cars or locos. I have passed on GG1s, Big Boys, DD40s, and Aero Trains and that is the short list. You can be sure I will pass on ever so many more.
Got over a thousand freight cars, 125 post 1956 freight cars I'm trying to sell, 327 Intermountain kits that I haven't put together yet, 80 or so passenger cars, and about 50 or so brass and plastic UP and SP cabooses. About 125 diesels, about 45 steam engines, a couple of Veranda Turbines. All the engines are UP except for about a dozen SP engines which pull freights and passengers trains which terminated in Ogden pre-1957. Still actively buying Tsunami equipped Athearn Big Boys and Challengers, as well as various E-units, brass FEF's and F7's to complete my motive power roster. I figure another 300 or so freight cars and another 30 or so engines should do the trick and I'm very happy with some of the new offerings from various manufacturers as far as freight cars are concerned. I also really love many of the resin/etched car kits from Fine N-scale Products. I never buy collectors, only runners and I'm obsessed with building specific models of specific UP and SP cabooses from reference photos during my time period that ran on my stretch of railroad. A coupla cabooses: Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
If you want to add to your totals, try switching eras a few times, or maintaining the ability to do multiple eras as sometimes is suggested. I know that adds to my totals.
One can never have too many coal hoppers. One of the joys of Nscale (and Ntrak too) is the ability to run a 110 car unit train of coal hoppers. At train shows, the kids as well as the parents, like to count the cars. Sometimes they get the correct number. Sometimes they don't and we tell them to try again. Sometimes, while they are counting, I will rattle off a bunch of numbers just to mess with them. Afterwards I let them in on a secret on how to count the cars in the train by telling them that every tenth car is a different color. It may be a red car in an otherwise black train or some other color. So you would see nine black cars then a red one then nine more black ones then a red one, and so on. That of course requires a lot of care in setting up the train. One time I made a mistake and there were only eight cars between the red cars. A little girl caught the mistake and demanded that I fix it. I told her I did it on purpose to see if she would catch it. Her mother just smiled. She knew better.
Yes the old smart ass gets outsmarted by the smartass kid! I've had THAT happen too many times to count.....
I have 1 loco and 2 cars. I started my collection a week ago. -Brian Sent from my Nokia Lumia using Tapatalk
Looking good. We all had to start somewhere. My first n scale 'model train' was a trainset from LL. A GP20 and some cars. I still have and run that GP20 ;-)
I really have no idea regarding the number of locos and cars that I have in my collection and I have several older car kits that I have yet to assemble.
