More the better Heck, I don't even have a layout and I keep adding more and more engines into my collection. I look at it this way, until I have at least one of every road number and color scheme that matches the D&H roster I still don't have enough. Note to WIFE, X-Mas is just a few weeks away and I've got more on my list to get... mg: mg: mg: mg:
I guess I had never actually laid them out on the tracks of the layout. Counting steam and railcars I have enough locos to fill my yard. LOL It just somehow seemed wrong visually. What's sadder is only two have decoders. Then I had this flash back to being a six year old kid, with a Tyco F unit, an oval of track, and some extra cars. I used to peruse the Tyco catalog endlessly looking at all those sweet animated accessories. I had no idea my Tyco was a piece of junk. Good times day dreaming back then. hmmmm....Perhaps I just need to get out the Walthers catalog and start earmarking new locos I don't have LOL. I could really use a Kato F unit, a Atlas RS11 in N&W, pretty much anything in GTW none of those on the layout yet..... oh oh!
I found this on one of the other loco threads, I think it's priceless: My three year old summed it up for me the other day "we need lots of engines daddy because they are just small." I think I'll try that one out on the wife... John This was by John cater BTW, he has a genius son.
My memory isn't what is used to be, but I seem to recall that when I got active in the hobby a few years ago I had to sign some paper that said I agree to support the model train manufacturers to the full extent of my wallet, and that the words "more than I need" were to never cross my lips........ Regards Ed
Um, I could send you a VS catalog if that would help you get your mind off of locos for a while. As for GTW - Have you noticed how striking the whte GT against the blue looks? Hmmm. Just love those ...
I believe the phrase was "more than I earn", I'll have to get out my Model Railroad Manufacturers contract to verify that though.
The thing is, my grey friend, I do need a GTW diesel, but an O scale one would be just that much more space and cash limiting.
I agree w/hemi. Of course, I have way too many locos for my size layout, but I run what I want when I want. I have a few steam and a lot of diesels. I have a 4-6-2 and an 0-6-0 to a 2-6-6-6 and a Big Boy. I have a Shark nose diesel and an SD90MAC from KATO. Total locos were 70 total rolling stock is 380+ I like the ACF 55' covered 3 bay hoppers. So if anyone has too many locos it is me because I run a 6x9 layout based on the ATLAS Great Eastern Trunk layout.
I seem to have about 3 times the amount of equipment that my layout will hold. but that doesn't stop me from buying more:teeth: And that's staying true to my era(Espee, July, 1967)
You know you have too many locomotives when you have a difficult time finding the one locomotive you want use at this moment. 16 packed Banker Boxes may be a sign of too many. Luckily for me, I am only on 14 Banker Boxes.
14? Yikes! I thought I was getting bad when I had one banker box, half full of locomotives. Now I've got eight locos and the bulk of my rolling stock barely fills half of a banker box. And that'll more than fill the layout that I have planned... if I ever get enough time and money to actually build it.
Too many Locos? NEVER! I have 40 locomotives and about 450 cars, a ratio of about 1 loco for every 11 cars, and I there are still so many locomotives I would like to get, and cars for that matter!
How did I miss this thread? Gotta get out of the cave more often. Missed the end of the world and now this thread. First of all I have probably close at about 600 freight cars having rid my self of the more modern cars in favor of the lowly boxcar and stuff from the 1910 to 1950 era. Passenger cars I have about 75 ranging from lightweight to heavyweight with more being heavyweight. I also have moved away from the more modern stuff although I still have some SD-7s and SD-9s. At one point my steam was down to about 14 running locos after I had thinned out the problem stuff, but with the newer steam and wheel arrangements coming out finally I am back up to about 26 locos for mainline and 12 logging locos. A total of 14 critters are in my roster from a Galloping Goose, to 6 doodlebugs, and a boxcab plus a couple more that defy description. My first generation diesel comprises the bulk of my motive power fleet with the bulk being sets of FA-1s and FA-2s, some FTs, and several F-3s and a few F-7s for passenger work along with some RS units ranging from RS-1s and 2s to RS-3s. All B units are powered and I have them numbered as sets of 2, 3, or 4 units and consider each set as a single locomotive. Two GN and one SP&S E-7 complete the passenger roster. Two more RS-3s and a set of old Alco PAs lay awaiting painting and detailing someday. Some very old Concor/Kato F-3s reside under newer more detail shells. Six older LL F units lay in storage awaiting some refurbishment. Originally they were going to be scrapped when I received the newer Kato and IM F units but since I went to a lot of trouble to detail and paint the shells for GN, including replacing pilots for body mount MTs, they will probably see life again. Since a lot of my trains will run behind up to six units of mostly Alco power I have about a right number to run a number of pre-staged freights as through trains, plus a total of six passenger runs, and a couple of local freights and passenger behind either steam or diesel. With all the B units I have about 60 diesels in working order at this time, but with the F units combined in 2,3, or 4 unit lash ups considered as one locomotive that total drops to about 30 units. I don't anticipate anymore locomotive purchases unless somebody comes out with a Belpaire boilered steamer for GN. With my steam roster, and maybe a few additions from my steam building or bashing, I can run a complete operation on the mainline, branch, and logging areas behind steam, or a transition era mix, or a late 50s all diesel as the mood hits. I won't ever be in the market for any of those SD-1198-E11s or whatevers. I'll be happy in my older and more colorful era with my mix of GN and SP&S, with some occassional NP, CB&Q, and a visiting CP unit thrown in for good measure. I forgot to add in my M. of W. fleet of about 40 cars with some of that built around support cars for pile drivers and cranes and the rest crew material and supply cars including ballast gons. and engine service cars for feul oil and diesel. And is my car collection excessive? I don't think so when I operated my way. By the time one stages cars in a couple of local yards, and at the various industries, the total starts getting used up. Then assemble a number of freights, some with up to 50 and 60 cars at staging at each end, to run east and west, passing each other, and some locals the car inventory gets used up. Same with the passenger collection. Plans for the new layout include running all 8 passenger trains each way and the locals, including mixed. If I decide to run all heavyweight cars I barely have enough. If I run the combined Empire Builder/North Coast Limited behind SP&S headend cars and coaches with lightweight cars for the Builder and NCL and all the other passenger runs with heavyweights I'm probably in good shape and I am leaning that way. The only cars I will probably add will be some more wood boxcars, and maybe a few more of the older tankcars. My collection is the acculmulation of about 30 years with most of the cars, including passenger, upgraded with either body mount MTs or MT trucks with coupler sets. With the way that the current price trends are going I could not afford much today especially with some cars going at near $30 apiece and some passenger almost hitting $50 apiece. The one fortunate bit about starting out in the early years of N scale with a $15 Docksider as the first engine, and cars for $3 and $5 apiece, was that even with the lower salaries I still could afford more. Also back then, insert geezes and wheezes here, if you wanted something you had to build or bash it because it probably wasn't available. As long as I can get styrene reasonable, depending on where you shop, and MT continues to sell thier packages of roofwalks, brakewheels, and even underframes, I just may decide that enough is enough and build some of my own. Even when I add in the cost of a package of MT trucks and couplers, plus paint and decals, the expense is less when spread out over ten cars compared to some of todays prices. Plus I get the enjoyment of building them.
How many loco CONSISTS do you have? Prototype railroad I model often used F-units in ABBA and ABB sets, E-units/PAs in ABA or AB sets for major passenger trains. 3, 4 or more units for freight trains. I will probably practice "selective compression" (or selefctive OMISSION) and now have as many units in a lashup-- since my trains will be shorter overall than prototype. But I will still want multiple unit loco consists. I notice you mention the capacity of your engine service area. How many locos at any given time will be OUTSIDE the engine service area in staging? You will need some empty space for locos coming in and out, but not necessarily a place to store everything. Real railroads don't usually put away ALL of their locomotives for the night.
1) You CAN'T have too many! 2) My layout has a pair in Amtrak livery for the passenger service, and all the other 20 (mainly in ATSF or BN, but a few others) are on freight duty. Four freight trains means a large storage area for the "surplus" locos, actually one track in the fiddle yard. A loco arrives on its train, is uncoupled and moves to the back of the queue. I change cabeese and a few of the cars, locomotive at the front of the queue is moved to the front of the train, and so on. HOURS of sitting about waiting for a few minutes of action: like a taxi driver when there are more taxis than customers! Regards, Pete Davies
My wallet would certainly disagree with you, Pete. :tb-tongue: Thankfully though, I'm grateful for what I've got and my new layout plan supports the amount I do have. I may pick up a few more 40 foot cars to fill it out, but I'll buy used and/or (more likely) trade for it. And I must say that scratchbashing has been VERY fun, so I look forward to more possibilities of that (especially since my old drummer mentioned a pacific or mikado basket case that he said he'd give me if he can find it)!
I have 21 locos and about 68 pieces of rollingstock; which is more than enough in my opinion. But as been said before it's your railroad so it's all up to you.
I have 6 four unit F sets divided between FA-1s and 2s and FTs of both GN or SP&S. A 4 unit set of CB&Q Greybacks that is a mix of FT-AB and F-3 AB. A two unit E-7 set for GN and a 2 unit F-3 and a 2 unit F-3 and & F7 for SP&S passenger, plus the lone SP&S E-7 combined with another F-3 for another passenger set. Two three unit sets of ABA Fs for GN and NP are packed away with the lightweight dome car equipped passenger consists for each road. There are also two four units sets of GN freight F units of ABBA plus two sets of Alco RS-2 and 3 for freight. Two 2 unit sets of GN SD7s and two GP9s in SP&S round out most of the Hill lines stuff. Also have 1 GN F-7 AB set and and one spare GN F-7 set in ABA. Also I have a five unit set of CP Alcos that are a mix of hood and covered wagons plus one Baldwin for a total of six. A lone GN NW-5 and a Milw. Alco round out the collection although I'm probably missing a few other single units like the ones awaiting paint and decals. The staging design for the new layout consists of staging at each end with balloon tracks running around each as off layout storage. Dedicated tracks for storage of steam and diesel will accomodate the off layout engine storage. The train staging consists of 10 car capacity with 3 passenger tracks for both power and consists that curve inside the balloon tracks for maximum capacity and will hold up to ten cars plus power. Since there is only one train at each end with ten cars the other passenger tracks will hold more than one train of about three or four cars on each track. Either a single F, E unit, or a 4-6-2 will be power on those trains. The other tracks in the staging areas will be for pre-made up freight consists without power with the shorter tracks holding the locals. The maximum car capacity will depend on whether 40 or 50 ft cars are in the consist, but the longest track will hold up to 26 to 30 cars and a total of 14 tracks will be in each staging for a total of 28 tracks for storage. The staging represents Wishram and Vancouver, WA at the east and west ends respectively. Available space in the staging areas may be affected by the amount of space available to build in at each end so that is still open. Additional car storage will be at Lyle where the upper level branch line starts, along with additional small loco storage. I've used modeler's license for Lyle in including the small enginehouse and turntable of an earlier era and added two more yard tracks. That area also has the warehouse, stockyard, cannery, and two sawmill spurs. The branch power will stay in Lyle and originate out of Lyle along with one passenger local for the branch. Only one more town will be modeled on the river level and that will have a sawmill and another cannery plus a riverport dock and maybe a switcher stationed there. Trains will be filled out at each town at each end. The locomotives will be stored at each staging in order of run and will back down to thier trains in the staging tracks except for passenger as previously stated. The consists of two of the longer staging tracks may be used for one train with the engine pulling out one consist and backing down to the last half on the other track. Also longer consists can be filled out at each end as stated before in each towns' small yard. The only difference between the two staging areas will be the east end at the Wishram staging. There the branch line out of Lyle curves back and emerges out over the staging yard on a monorail like support to gain elevation before penetrating the backdrop divider to emerge out of a tunnel onto the upper level. Everything on the lower level is waterline grade. Upper level has more storage at the small towns and sawmills and logging camps. The smaller steamers and critters will stay up there and the small yards and sidings provide consists for the Lyle stationed power. Most all the log cars will be stored there along with woodchip cars, and boxcars for lumber loading, etc. This will probably, although still in the planning stage, hold about 50-70 cars plus about ten locomotives. Operations on the single track lower level mainline will be fun. There will be passing sidings and some small local industries between towns. Freights will originate at both ends at the same time and have to meet plus clearing the way for a passenger from each direction. On the operational end this clears out a space for a train at each end to tuck into once the run is done. The actual route is along the Columbia River with a number of short tunnels and mountains. The tunnels and mountains separate the towns and hide the staging areas as each staging is entered through a short tunnel. Minimum radius will be limited to not less than 11 inches and most of the layout mainline will have 16 or 17 inches except the branch where it will be 9 and 3/4. The switches in the staging will be larger radius were the big steam operates and will be restricted to. Lyle will have two steamers assigned that stay there and one switcher. If I'm running all diesel two RS 2 or 3 units and a RS-1 as a yard switcher. The possible maximum car storage in each staging is around 269 cars, minimum about 200, one track for steam of 20 locos and two tracks for diesel totaling about 44 units. Additional car storage in each town is between 50 to 60 cars not counting industry sidings, or between the two towns about another 100 to 120 cars. The upper level has as yet an undetermined amount as it is still in design. Pretty much takes care of my car fleet. My general rule of thumb for power is one unit to every ten or twelve cars. Thus a fifty car freight would have at least a four unit set and maybe a steam helper or a RS-3 cut in. Smaller steam doesn't get doubleheaded until about 20 or 25 cars. Big steam coming off the grades of the Oregon Trunk may have a 2-8-2 cut in about ten cars back of the road power. And the only engine service area will be for steam (oil) and fuel for diesel for the branch line at Lyle. Engines on run throughs would normally take water and fuel at Wishram. Steam on run throughs to the Oregon Trunk from the west and off the Trunk returning west would take water at Lyle from water columns at either end of the station tracks because they did not enter Wishram being the Trunk came in west of there. So I can keep my facility modeling to a minimum.
If you put hundreds or thousands of them in totes and hardly ever see them again...and cant remember what you have...or even where they are...it's called "Hoarding"...:tb-tongue: If you leave them in their factory air jewel cases...or put them in glass display cases on the wall...and they never see a layout...it's called "Collecting" :tb-frown: If you run em all at some point on a layout and aint afraid to get the wheels dirty...Its called "Model Railroading" !! No matter how many ya have...as long as you're having fun...Its all good !!:tb-cool:
