My latest labor of love has been getting a CB&Q passenger train together. I have 12 of the KATO corrugated cars and 9 of the Con-Cor cars. I still have to resolve some coupler issues, but when I'm ready I have aquired three KATO E8s and am looking forward to pullling a 15-18 car train with the E8s running "elephant" style as CB&Q is noted for doing... This started out as a "low cost" (around $100 or so) effort with an old Con Cor F7A/B set I got on consignment and a 5 car set from Con Cor ($45 or so). Then I saw the KATOs and it escallated from there. I think I'm now into this train for somewhere around $350.00. Is this typical? Or am I out of control and need of intervention? Now I keep looking at Santa Fe GP-30s and think how cool a 5 loco set heading up a 70 car consist would look? YIKES!
Well, too much is really up to you. How about a prototypical 120 car coal train from the PRB? Three Kato 90/43s at $85 each, then LBF coalporters at (gasp) $100 for 6. Over Two grand there. Not that I'm gonna do it, that's better spent elsewhere. So again, it's up to you and what you want to run.
How much is too much? This poses a fascinating question and really the answer is truely an individual one. Harron, I don't think that Bill Gates would find that too much. I would and I know I'd have some pretty nifty explaining to my wife about spending $2255 US on a train. This would be about $3562.90 up here in Canada at current exchange rates and I have a pretty understanding spouse. Of course if you think of it a 20 car train with a pair of Kato's pulling it would amount to roughly $500 rolling around the layout. Is that too much? Probably but who cares!! It's fun!!
Too much?? I have 76 N scale locos. Is that too much ? NAAAAH!! Only when it affects paying the bills and feeding the family.
Dude, I have that exact train, minus the C-C cars, altho I have a C-C set (12 of 'em) in NP lowey green..... I have spent in the neighborhood, all on ebay, of 350$ also on my 'Q' train. I'll call it my 'Twin Cities Zephyr' It can run with my North Coast Limited.... Yes, It is pricey, but I have 5 Dash nines now, all BNSF, all on ebay, but one, the immortal Maxwell Plant sold me the 3rd one... I also have 17 auto racks, investing way too much money on them. Don't ask about MT cars...
Well....It's a matter of what one is comfortable with. Am I comfortable with three large tackel boxes full of locos and rolling stock? Yes! Am I comfortable driving my `72 Pinto with the see through floorboard and the broken seat spring that pokes me in the butt? Well.......No. One of these days though, I got to buy me a new rain tarp for the roof of the trailer afore my layout gits wet. Might not be able to afford any trains that month.
Hobby expenditures and financial constraint never make good bed fellows. When ever I think I am spending too much, I just think of how much golfer's spend for their enjoyment. At least we have equipment and a lay out to show for our efforts. In golf you get a card, play the course, then throw the card out afterwards. Most golfer's probably spend more than we do in a year, so which one is crazier, us or them... lol.
I've spent: $70 for 50 freight cars $70 for 2 Bachmann C40-8Ws $35 for 1 Bachmann C40-8 $30 for 1 Life-Like GP38 (scrapped) $0 for 4 Minitrix F3As $0 for 1 Revell GP7 and after christmas: $145 for 2 KATO SD80MACs $65-130 for 1-2 Atlas B23-7s $50 to convert all freight cars to microtrains knuckle couplers. geez, not enough, lol
Hi Don, I thought I have found a solution when I decided to do some "serious" armchair modelling instead of accumulating rolling stock that never even ran 12" of track. Solution ? Now, I am buried under tons of books at 50 bucks or more a piece, you can even find some under my bed. The trouble is that when you get into data gathering, you never have enough information about the way it was, how it could have been and so on... Look at Tony Koester, he has gone so far to bother old heads to know the exact shade of rust on such wharehouse back in the 50's Thats the trouble with our hobby, when you have got the bug, you can never stop it. My advise : for emergency brake application, ask your wife marc
Ok well You all should know i'm in HO and all first off. Anyway, this Christmas will be 21st year collecting nothing but HO scale. Never ever spent a dime on any other scale and all so... But I have a rather LARGE collection! I spend around $1000 a year buying. Thats a "guess" estimate... But then I have tons and tons of loco's.... Right now the current count is hitting 210, thats steam and diesel. Rolling stock... I have never once counted! I have to many cars to even begin to count! And......I don't let that count stop.... It keeps growing and growing... Any and every thing I can get with common sence I get if possible. Its not Modeling Railroading as a hobby to me anymore! Its more like Model Railroading as an OBSESSION! Its like a kid in a candy store! Only a BIG kid in a HOBBY SHOP! [ 13 December 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]</p>
For me, there are two answers to this question: one if you are single, the other if you are married. If you are single: Make sure the rent/mortgage is paid...make sure your essential bills are paid (insurance, utilities, credit)...buy groceries for the month. Once these things are taken care of, how much money do you have left to play with. If you spend more than what is left, then that is too much. If you are single: Same as above, but add after groceries--make sure your wife is happy and (if you have them) your kids are taken care of... I say this as a person who has overindulged in hobbies (both rail and non-rail related) and still have a portion of my credit debt that was caused by that. While hobbies are supposed to be fun, I have learned to place them in their proper priority location (food, shelter, family, and then fun)
I think I (for a short time more) have the best of all worlds. Being 16 I don't have to pay rent, don't have a spous to worry about, so my money either goes to the bank, or modeling. Is it OK for a 16 year old kid to have nearly 40 Atlas/Kato engines, over 250 Altas, Deluxe Innovation, Micro Trains, Kato and Red Caboose and have them all converted to MT's? Well, I work two jobs (sometimes three) to do this, but still get A's and B's in school and still spend time with friends all the time. Maybe it is to much, but it's working for me and not bringing me down. "what ever floats your boat"........
Craig. You sound like a very mature young man. One thing to consider is funds for college unless you win a full scholership Your consist of engines and cars is more than most of us have. You must have started out very young. Keep up the good work, good grades and good friends.
