Mr. SP, Me thinks you might have as many locos as the Southern Pacific itself! Just look at 'em sitting on those shelves, side by many, purring, air dump valves whooshing, waiting for their chance to touch those rails!
Too many is when you have more locomotives than freight cars! Heck, even having a 1:1 ratio of locos to cars is too many. I think a good, realisitic ratio (for me) is around 8 freight cars for every locomotive. I think I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-15 operatable locomotives and probably around 100 miscellaneous freight cars. Chuck
Believe that it depends on what you're modelling. If you're modelling a 3 engine steam short line, then that's probably enough. However, Horse Shoe curve in the late 50's, early 60's is probably going to require more - a lot more! One of my problems is having three favorite prototypes and all of them will make appearances on my layout, one as a mainline, the other two on a branch line that is jointly owned and operated. The mainline road had about 35 different models of diesels, basically any diesel could show up, although the majority were EMD's with just a smattering of Alcos. So any manufacturer that produces a model painted for my favorite prototypes is going to have me for a customer.
Too many? Don't have more locomotives than freight cars but way more than the layout can handle. I rotate out the cars from time to time on the layout as well as the locomotives.
Someone needs to go on a train diet! I'm moving up between 90 and 100 loco's and trying to hold the line a little by sellings some of those which were impluse buys and out side of my time period. Like those two SP KATO C44-9W's.
Paul- Over the last 30 years, I have picked up around 120 locos. Sounds like alot, but I am addicted to them! I've slowed way down in my old (and now married) age, but every now and again I get a wild hair and pick up a couple. My last buys were 2 SD38-2s (USS and EJ&E) and 2 EMD 40 ton switchers, can't remember the road names. As you can see, there is no rhyme or reason to these purchases, but I swear I heard a voice telling me I really, REALLY needed them. I'm pretty sure it's dangerous to not listen to those voices! So if you hear the same vioces, best that you take heed and do as they say!
"how many is too many?" One more than you want:we-laugh: But seriously, folks, when I first got back into this hobby about three years ago, I just bought whatever I wanted, no plan at all. I ended up with 80 diesels and 20 steam locomotives. I've sort of come to my senses recently, and have sold off quite a few locomotives through eBay. Besides, my train hobby is now self-supporting, i.e., if I want something new, I have to sell off something I have. That keeps things pretty much in check.
I had 105 a year ago but I'm sorry to say the number has increased.My New Years resolution is to inventory my train room and my garage tools..I think I'm drowning in too much stuff. The wife keeps after me to get a booth at a swap meet. I must have bought 50 engines last year.. Tom
I've been considering taking a lot of my older stuff that I never use to a swap meet, but for some reason I keep holding on to a lot of junk thinking that I'll fix it up or use it in some other way someday. I hate throwing things out or even selling things, but maybe there comes a time. Who knows. I think it's a tough spot to be in; knowing whether or not to save or sell...
I not embarrass to say that I have a whole lot of engines. I did some buying over the holidays totalling 27 units. I haven't bought my ATHEARN SP GP40Xs and MP15-ACs, Kato SF and BNSF SD40-2 (mid production), oh yeah the Athearn SF GP50s and SD38ACs.
Oh, I've heard that voice before! And of coure I rationalize by saying "hmmm, I don't smoke, I don't gamble... Well, one little teensy weensy locomotive wouldn't hurt!"
I just picked up 2 engines I didn't need. One was a Genesis SD70M in EMD Maroon and Silver. It was unsold stock from Long's. Long's Price was $94.95. I paid $39.95. I also got an Athearn SD60 dummy in conrail. This was an Athearn Demo unit. I paid $22.95. Got both at Arnie's Trains. First time I went to that particular store. They've got some sort of deal with Athearn, because they had stacks and stacks of Athearn dummies that were demos for shows or test schemes. they had GP38-2s and 35s, the new ones, dummies for $19.95. It's a good thing my wife was with me, because I was ready to buy just about everything they had. And they told me they'd sold off most of what they had which means they must have had stacks and stacks of stuff, because I saw at least 60+ engines at these prices.
