A survey why you've purchased the particular engines you have.

Road name and era aside, I viewed them on video either on the forum or youtube to make sure I liked the sound before I purchased.

 

I will never preorder a loco.

I'm pretty sure my roster of engines is a lot smaller than that of most others in the hobby so I'll just go down the line and list of what and why I own em.

1. NYC 4-4-2 Christmas present when I was 2yrs old
2. Santa Fe 4-4-2 Birthday present for my Dad....it has since morphed into my collection...
3. Christmas Lionel Trolley Christmas present
4. Santa Fe FT A unit Birthday gift
5. Safari 0-4-0 birthday gift

(here's where I started to buy them for myself)

6. Polar Express 2-8-4 Loved the movie....bought the set
7. NYC RS3. It was on sale and I love NYC
8. New Haven ALCo FA A-A set. Desperately wanted an A-A set of something.

9. Union Pacific 2-8-4. My first set with electronic sounds of some sort. (trainsounds)
10. Union Pacific 0-6-0. I wanted a switcher engine for yard switching once I built my layout.
11. NYC 4-6-4. The Hudson was my all time favorite engine. I mowed a lot of lawns for it!
12. Pennsylvaina RR 4-6-2. Only 1 reason for buying this engine...MTH DCS/Protosound2
13. CSX SD40-2. Wanted a PS2 premier diesel. I wasn't disappointed.

Well that's my current list. I'm 99% sure I won't be getting any more trains for the next 4 years due to college but hey; my parents made a deal with me. They will buy me an MTH Coronation Class Steamer and matching passenger cars once I get my BS in Aero-Sci. A coronation class steamer and 2 amazing parents! What more could I want??

Started with "looks nice and is low cost" (SP&S docksider blowout on the 'bay').

Then got a can't beat the price MTH starter set. (Conventional)

Got a TMCC up grade for the first docksider (Still have both)

Went to Awesome ! Gotta have that! Imperial Railking Big Boy (Still my Favorite)

Picked up a couple more that will be rebadged to Rio Grande (PS2)

Grabbed a Starter set breakup engine because it was too good a price to pass up.

And recently got a PS-3 Northern for re-badge into Rio Grande.

scraping up funds for a Rio Grande Challenger.

This is what I look for.  Bear in mind that I have had lifetime loyalty to Santa Fe and am retired from a career with that railroad.

1. Santa Fe prototype from 1955 or earlier.  I set the cut-off date there.  All hood units would need to be in the black and aluminum zebra scheme.
2. Authentic detailing.
3. DCS or Legacy preferred, but TMCC acceptable.

What I would be tempted to buy in the future would be:

• More brass ATSF steam, but not another 4-8-4 or a 2-10-4.
• An A-B-B "bobtail" 300-Class F7.
• 3000-Class F-M H16-44's with Legacy.
• 600-Class RSD7's.
• A Baldwin diesel switcher.
• A 4-unit 200-Class F7 with cigar band on the nose, with Legacy.
• FT's from Atlas.
• Authentic ATSF waycar in mineral brown.  Brass would be okay for this.

1. Try and get an example of each diesel and steam locomotive that was modeled for the era of my layout.

2. Models of the livery I model...Southern Pacific.

3. Whatever the "bargains" are available for desired engines.

 

Matt

GEVO.....the green flashing lights got me!

 

Peter

The Poster above provided a great reason to add a UP M10000 to the Cincinnati & Western Railway. I had always liked the looks of that train, just needed a reason and thanks to wonders of Google, one was discovered.

 

She now rides along side the NYC, PRR, and B&O.

Now that you have all of this information, what is the plan to use it?  Are you going to publish some kind of statistics or some other type of categorization?

Color, size and runability!!(is that even a word)??

 

For me it's pretty simple.  Born and raised in Altoona.  Dad worked for the PRR.  My first set, Lionel 681 Turbine, Christmas, 1950.

 

The sounds, sights and smells of Pennsy's Altoona yard, car and engine shops blanketed the city.

 

Fast forward to the present.  My collection and focus is everything Pennsy by Lionel.  There's so much, more than enough actually, to keep me happy.  If it's PRR, and built by Lionel, I probably have it.

 

The fact that I service, repair and restore probably goes a long way to explaining my enjoyment in this hobby.

My collection of engines and cars covers 2 eras:

 

1. 1950s Pennsy and NYC (steam, diesel and electrics)

Freight and Passenger

 

2. Modern CSX

Heavy Freight and intermodal

 

3. Modern UP

 

4. Other groups:

    MOW and work cars

    Extra large and specialty flatcars

 

 

I guess I never really gave any thought to this topic overall.  But in looking at it, reasons for my buying engines would include all these:  It's the favorite road (ATSF), impressed by the looks or performance, a junker specifically to repaint, lacking one of a certain era or category of engine, nostalgia (had or wanted one when young, or bought from a childhood friend), having a certain technical feature, part of an auction lot.  I like trains.    

101% nostalgia.

If it ran on Long Island, I'll buy it.

 

Andy

My 2065 Lionel steamer i got with my first set for Christmas in 1956... still runs too!

218 Santa Fe Alco FA1 and dummy A  I always wanted them & got them for Christmas in 5th grade  ... stll runs too!

 

Scale Williams GG! and Scale William non powered GG! because I always wanted to double head GG1s  and love the locomotive design.  I always wanted the Lionel GG1 as a kid but it was out of my parents price range.

 

William FM Trainmaster ( Reading ) I always liked the Trainmaster as a kid.  The Reading TM fits into the theme of my railroad which is Class 1 RRs of Maryland in the late 40 - late 50s

 

MTH GP 9 ( B&O ) Railking because that is my favorite RR and I grew up near the Metropolitan Branch mainline.  I saw many GP 7 and 9 as a kid.  One use to service the spur to my hometown of Savage, Md.  The crew even invited my on board and let me ride with them as they switiched industires.  MTH because of price and quality.

 

MTH Premier BL2 ( Western Maryland ) I love the design of this locomotive and Western Maryland owned 2 of them.  Fits into my RR theme.  MTH because of price and quality.

 

MTH Y6b Mallet ( N&W ) Railking.  I always wanted a mallet on my RR.  This one fits with my theme.  MTH because of price and quality, and smokeability ( is that even a word? )

 

Lionel 4-8-4 J class scale northern steamer ( shrouded ).  I always loved the J since first saw it in the Lionel cat. as a kid.  At a 2005 cat price of $1250 I thought that the accounting dept of my railroad would never allocate the funds.... so I did some horse trading and by golly I became the owner of a brand new J class with TMCC.  I love this locomotive !!!  To see it run always puts a smile on my face  :-)!!!

 

Lionel 2 - 8 - 0 consolidation ( scale TMCC ) Western Maryland.  I got because the price was right and I wanted consolidation on my RR....... since WM ran alot of consolidations.

I pre - ordered this loco from the cat and was disappointed because the cat. showed wireless teather and it came with a teaher.... not cool to bait and switch Lionel

 

Lionel 0-8-0 switcher... scale, TMCC... C&O   I really got a great deal on this loco and could not turn it down.  The N&W actually bought 30 of these wheel arrangements from the C&O and that is how I justify it on my RR  ( C&O never ran in Maryland in my time period which is before the C&O - B&O merger in the early 1960s ) In my fantasy C & O is letting N&W test drive this loco on the Shenandoah branch to Hagerstown, Md.

 

Lionel 4-4--2 Atlantic ... scale with TMCC ( early TMCC )  I bought used for a great deal.  Wanted a B&O steamer for pulling my scale B&O passenger cars by MTH.  

 

MTH  SW 9 Railking ( B&O ) because I like B&O.  MTH because of quality and value.  This loco is a real workhorse in my fleet.

 

MTH SW 9 Railking ( Baltimore & Annapolis )  This RR always intriqued me.  I bought this loco at a show from Public Delivery Track.  Beth really knows her product because she would not budge on the price ( because this is a rare loco ) so I got up off my wallet and bought it.  Has early proto sound.

 

MTH SW 1 with proto 3 ( Maryland & Pennsylvania ) Fits into my RR theme period.  MTH for quality and price ... plus only manufacturer to make this road name.  Thanks MTH

 

MTH MP 15 with proto 3 ( Canton RR ) fits into my theme period.  MTH is only manufacturer to make this road name. Thanks MTH.  MTH for quality and price

 

MTH Aerotrain ( Railking proto 2 ) I thought this was the coolest looking loco ever when as kid I first saw it!  I just had to have one!  Again MTH only manufacturer of this great model.  MTH for quality and price.  Thanks MTH!!!

 

K line Collectors Club GG1 -  Only semi scale GG1 to have full length side doors to cab.  I bought this engine new at a show for a good price.  It has no horn ... only headlights.  Great puller!!!!

 

K line MU cars ( Pennsylvania )  OWL eyes.  I needed some unique commuter cars and these fit the bill.  I bought them new at a show ( just after K line announced its going out of business ) for $80 bucks  .... GREAT DEAL!!!  Great horn sound!!!  The announcements are entertaining  :-)!

 

MTH Docksider ( B&O ) for my mountain division logging train.  I always liked this loco.

Again MTH only manufacturer to make this item.  Thanks MTH

 

I have more locos   ( postwar Lionel ) but am too tired to go up stairs and look what numbers they are.  The ones listed are among my favorites.

 

Happy Railroading

Patrick W

The Free State Junction Railway " Where the trains always run on time"

 

 

 

 

 

 

My last six engines have all had whistle Steam and Legacy, including my purchase yesterday. Railroad Lines NYC, PRR, CNJ, READING.

 

I love that Whistle Steam.

 

 

 

 

IT CAUGHT MY EYE AND THE FUNDS WERE THERE

I limit my purchases to one or two roadnames:  The Boston and Maine, and the Maine Central. 

 

I would very much like to see MTH produce the 44 tonners in those road names.  I would also be interested in F3s in Maine Central green.

 

THANK YOU Weaver, for making the B&M #3713 Pacific!!  My all time favorite steam loco.  I look forward to gettting mine later this year.

I am much into "electric" engines.. PRR and NYC. The PRR dark green and the NYC black paint schemes give to the engines this "industrial" look that I love.

My last purchased locs are a Sunset models E7 PRR in Green... a true beauty, a real Gem! I love the amount of detail on this model and a K-Line 4-6-6T wich is a very uncommon engine with the best price/quality ratio we can dream of.

 

The Milwaukee road have fantastic engines, but I just can't stand that orange paint sheme... how can locomotives be paint in Orange.. seriously! 

Anyway my next purchase will be the Sunset NYC T3-a

What I will buy in the future :

a pair of PRR O-1

NYC S-2 or S-1

NYC J1e Hudson

Sunset Models PRR P5 Boxcab ( already got the MTH version)

Sunset Models FF-2 ( already got the MTH version)

You could get a Milw Bi-Polar in black !!

 

yep I was tempted when I saw the MTH E2 ... but It would be an orphan in my collection

Appearance and road name are most important to me. I stick mainly to roads that ran/run in Michigan and Ohio with Lionel Lines and Christmas trains for pure fun and enjoyment.  My favorites are C&O, Pere Marquette, Hocking Valley and Lionel Lines.  Hardly anything available for HV, but that's ok.  I will also buy a locomotive that never ran here, just because I like the uniqueness of it or its paint scheme.  Lastly, I have a thing for red locomotives which is the main reason I like Christmas trains.

I buy scale equipment and what is visually pleasing to me.

 My brand preference is post war Lionel, for family nostalgia. Williams in modern for the bang for the buck. Sorry, but they are the only realistic priced locos around. Why should I spend a grand for a bunch of stuff I wont use? If the mfgs ever truly standardize digital control I may dabble, but Ive only "bought"(chosen gift) one tmcc and traded for one other. Mfg's proprietary design squabbles chased me even further away. Its unlikely Ill give in unless I hit the lotto for the $400 mil.

 

  

 Gadgety operating cars are my weakness to this day. I don't care who makes it.

 

A General is a must for Christmas.

 

Order of preference- 1. Steam, If it has 4 or less drivers its from the 1800's or a porter or dockside running cab forward

2. STYLE, anything different from the "norm", streamlined, or demos (I (would) like the Ford 125 ton switchers with grills that look like they were taken from an old ford car http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightning72/3967649957/ , the #520's, EPs, Whitcomb diesels, geared locos, BL2, RS's, Westinghouse turbin, Jawn, etc.)

3. Electric anything (its the pantagraphs OCD?)(Hate Buds etc.[no style] but like bullets.)

4. EMD E's  5. small diesel switchers(Plymouths), 6. F's through the 7s   7. FM Trainmasters for size and ability

 

 Road names-Freight- Michigan Central, DT&I, PRR, PM, Great Northern, Soo, C&O, Lackawanna, Erie, and Ill Central.

Passenger- Santa Fe aluminum vista domes, Madisons, any "daylighter"(a little color please)

Never liked "squared" diesels much. Even SWs, NWs, GPs, and U boats. Hate the look of most modern trains. If I had to pick a modern diesel NS paint wins "I like the ponies" It reminds me of Ferrari. Just a nice logo.      

My favorite engines are steam and most are from the super steam era. They must be scale sized and have legacy although I do have some MTH also. Road names don't matter. 

Aside from my PW collection it's all Western Maryland.  My grand daddy was an engineer for the Wild Mary and I rode in many a loco when I was a kid back in the 50's.