Anyone else not in a buying mood?

I have a number of hobbies, and I devote more time to some of them (archery, guns, collecting 3-D photography, and reading) than I do to trains. However, I do very little new spending on any of them. My current focus is to become better in shooting sports, which mainly takes practice rather than money. I still enjoy going to train shows to look, and meet friends. I'm also on this forum almost every day (as well as many other forums for each of my hobbies).

Buying mood?!?!?!, I'm not even in the train running mood at present

 

My wife just got out of the hospital a week ago from having a heart attack and yesterday I had to go to the ER.  I thought it was appendicitis, but turned out to be ANOTHER kidney stone (5x7mm).  Still got it and won't be able to see my urologist until tomorrow.  Dilaudid killed the pain at the ER, but made me throw up until about 11PM last night (odd how nobody says they LOVE to throw up ).  Can't sleep more than 1 hour at a time, I don't wish these on anybody

 

This is about the 5th one since last May when they lasered one out, the rest (except for the current one) I passed.

 

We'll be meeting our "out of pocket" limit pretty early this year, no $$$ for trains I'm afraid (and it seems everything I've been wanting has somehow appeared lately).

Each and every time I look at my bank account.

 

Bob, sorry to hear about yours and your wife's health problems. I hope things improve for the two of you.

 

Kind of puts things like hobbies in their proper perspective.

The biggest obstacle I see in my "O" gauge buying, is the price of the tracks, switches, etc. I decided to go from tunular to fastrack, "Mistake". Tooo late! Now I'm were I look for used trackage to justify the hobby. Prices of switches would buy some very nice engines.

To be honest, if I hadn't started into "O" and selling my "N", I would have stayed in "N". If I had to do it over with what I now know, I would have stayed in "N". I would think the manufacturers of track(s) would want to sell more for less so we'll buy their rolling stock???

Since this topic was first posted almost a year ago, my buying mood has slipped to further lows. Between the worsening economy, the state of the nation, struggling to get my son into a college, and the very nasty cold winter that we weren't supposed to have anymore - train purchases just don't ring the bell these days. Weather is expected to be better for Allentown next week, but I don't see myself getting up at 5am and driving 3 hours not to experience fireworks and tingling sensations. I can't wipe away 6 months of negative with 2 hours at a train show. The wallet just doesn't refill as fast and any purchase before April could cause me to cancel my York trip. Regardless of spending money or not before April, this is the first time since 1991 that the idea of skipping York is actually on the table.

I have slowed down recently mostly because that my money just is not there. Pension was cut in half so between my SS and now my half pension big spending has come to an end. The pension was not that big anyway but I'll survive. 

 

Besides I have enough trains to enjoy. I'll have a nice point to point layout to run my articulated engines and others. Who says you need a big space to run those big engines. My space is 27'x2' and yet I run all scale engines. 

l 

I'm more in a selling mood than buying. No real problem with money, but my storage space is overflowing and I want to focus on some other priorities like getting the cars fixed up and cleaning up the yard. I haven't been skiing yet this season, the house needs some things, it's time to bring trains down a few notches on the priority list. 

 

I still pick up an item from my backlist from time to time (just got a K-Line Midnight Chief set) but there's not much new from Lionel or MTH that interests me. The one exception is the MTH Euro line, but I already have an Orient Express and two electrics and that is enough for the moment. Might just have to spring for a German 2-10-0, though - that will be hard to resist.

 

Watch the Buy/Sell board - like I said, I'm in a selling mood and I'll be posting plenty as I get the photos taken and the ads written. 

After some really serious medical problems last year I actually  have returned to a buying mood ... just not toy trains yet. For toy trains I am awaiting another predictable downturn in the economic cycle

 

For the most part  the problems have been one of supply or customer service/support. And the situation cuts across many different consumer categories. That's the scandal with this political jobs, jobs, jobs mantra. No supply = no sales; no sales = no profits; = no need for B&M, salespeople and up the manufacturing & support chain...

 

Supply of ambitious, wanna be political climbers? I'll let others comment thereupon.

While I'm selectively buying I sell lots more. I'm not getting any younger and I have so much old Lionel and other trains that I will never run again except under the Christmas tree. I'm doing this because if something were to happen to me there is no one to help Vicky sell all that stuff. It really feels good to sell most of it. Don

For me, the economy is interrupting my train buying habits. I would love to buy more, but I just take care of what I have and make the best of it. Hopefully, the economy will improve, hiring will go up, and people can make more money. Moreover, I hope and pray that our nations "leaders" will do something about the economy. Everyone is catching it these days.

I'm definitely not much in the buying mood these days.  If anything, I've been contemplating selling off some things.  My wife and I have been looking for a new home and more than anything, I don't want to lug all of my things to a new house.  To some extent, I've been losing interest in the hobby.  The high cost of new items, slow shipping times and constant quality control issues have played a MAJOR part in it.  And with my career of never being home for much of the year, I just don't have time to sit back and enjoy my collection.  I more than likely will list some items on this forum when I get a chance.

My mind says I am not in the mood to buy more trains, my wallet reminds me that in the past two months I've bought enough aluminum passenger cars to keep an Alcoa plant busy....guess I am fooling myself with not being in the buying mood unless something I want comes along or I find something new in which case all bets are off.

Experiencing a temporary lull. But once my new layout room is available Katie bar the door!

I have to pitch my vote in with Don's and John's. I am wonderfully blessed with good health so far and although one prays for such a running streak to continue, still one

must be aware of the onset of aging.

My dear wife even has mentioned that "perhaps, you might start getting rid of all those

toys so if you go first, I won't have to do it". 

 

But happily....I haven't started and kind of got my "eye" on some items.

 

Besides, who would want all those trains and assorted "Stuff" ???

Started out to purchase every example of PRR and N&W motive power MTH produced along with cabin cars/cabooses. Limited myself to MTH as I run DCS and Lionel was getting to expensive. But now have stopped and limiting myself to select steam as I have more that I can ever run or find shelf space to display. My dreams over extended my pocket book and basement space.

First, I am very thankful for everything I have.  Both trains and in life.  Funny how a few tragic events in life make you realize what is really important.

 

As far as 'new' purchases, I am in for a VL Big Boy and possibly more PFE reefers if they are made.  I love UP steam, so I'll add another BB.  That'll be it.  Like many, I've been disappointed in the reissue items. To me, not worth the cost to upgrade. This has always been an expensive hobby but it seems new train prices are out of control.  That has brought my 'new' purchases to a stop.  

 

My 'gold mine' has been used trains.  The sale forum here has been good to me. Great folks and great deals.  Hard to beat.  

 

I've only 'gotta' have a few more items.  Train purchases have really slowed.

 

In the mean time, I'll keep buying things for the layout and building items.

 

Beside this ongoing lousy economy where they take more while we get less....  Ive been whipped into depression on buying. I watched a new Y3 and J come out with NO bells and whistles . Now i know theres nothing for me for a while. I have been loading up on era and roadname correct rolling stock though...

I am with WITZ 41.  "If you build it, they will come."  They ain't buildin' it and I

ain't goin'.  Detroit auto problem:  What they want to sell is not what I want to buy.

(in factory new trains, except scattered cars)  There is a lot more I can and am doing

in this hobby, structures, layout construction/extension, biding my time until fresh

breezes blow through.

JD's Trains has an Atlas O Trainman custom run of undecorated PS-2 3-Bay Covered Hoppers for MONON in the Pre-Order section for Custom Runs on the website.

 

Lots of good comments on this thread, thanks for sharing.  I have been in the train hobby since I was a kid (with time off for college and other pursuits).  The single biggest thing that changed the hobby, IMHO, was Command Control, which fundamentally changed how I run and enjoy my trains.  I have more trains than I ever dreamed of when I was a kid, even after selling off most of my older non Command/semi-scale stuff.  i limit my train purchases to just a few New England roads, and lately the major manufacturears have not offered much that I HAVE to have.  Since the economic downturn in 2008, we have (understandably) not seen much in the way of new tooling, so we have largely been seeing reruns/rereleases of existing tooling.  In addition, I am planning a new layout, so I will be buying track and scenery materials rather than the trains themselves.  When I see something new in the liveries I want, I will buy.

 

MTH, make us some 44 tonners in B&M/MEC/Portland Terminal paint, and I will buy at least a pair of the critters.  

Definitely not in a buying mood. While I have a job, a nice home with finished basement and train layout well underway, I am finding it hard to justify buying anymore trains. They're just not worth the expense. However, I know if I don't buy some PE items from the new catalog I'll regret it later on.

I go in cycles but even when I am in a buying mode I try to be very select in my purchases by looking for blow outs and good deals when they can be had.  Recently, I bought a Lionel Legacy Virginian SD70ACE for $320.00 from Sidetrack Hobbies which I thought was an excellent price since the going rate normally seemed to be about $450.00.  This will be my last purchase for a while.

Interesting.  My own experience has been that CC has all but eliminated any new locomotive purchases for me.  Scale is fine, but I want nothing to do with CC, even to run conventionally.  That means that my train purchases are largely limited to pre-CC or modern Williams.  It changed the hobby, all right, but not in a positive way for me.

 

Although seeing the prices of the latest Lionel electronic wonders makes me wonder if I wouldn't have stopped buying their new locomotives anyway.

 

No to buying trains but bought two North Carolina Highway Patrol cars. Black and silver '49 Fords---first car I  ever owned was a used '49 I bought in Nov '52 upon rotation back to USA from Korea.

Diecast Direct. 

After paying for the vision line big boy and 765 berk, I think that I am done  buying engines this year. Well if I come across a legacy B&O Mikado I will add that as well. Now back to working on my chevelle which is sure to eat up more money than Lionel has done this year.

I can relate to others that are looking to retire, there will not be a lot of left over disposable income to support $2,000 Engines. Like "Scale Rail said earlier", I am selling the older Technology in exchange for the newer Legacy Engines. I was fortunate to get one of the JLC Legacy Big Boys, That's enough. I was going to get the VL BB, but, I would rather have the 765 Berkshire, and the L&N Mikado, SANTE FE E8's, than one really big engine. Although the New Big Boy, which is truly Feature Rich, I would rather spread the money out for a variety of 3 than a majority of 1. I am still working or I would have to be content with less. Lionel has a great 2014 Signature Catalog And the selection is Wonderful. This hobby, or any other Sport, Fishing, Stamp Collecting, knife Collecting, Watch Collectors, Coin Collectors, is Expensive. My thoughts are, get what you can afford, and Enjoy the World of Model Railroading the best you can. It's truly the best Time Ever, in Toy Trains....Truthfully, we older "Senior Kids" should tell our families how to dispose of or Toy Trains.  TCA, LCCA, OGR Magazine Ads, And our Railroad Buddies, can help Loved Ones Sell the Memories......Until, our Bell Rings, Lets have fun with Our Friends and our Hobby...

 

 

 

 

 

 

I bought into S scale a couple of years back and I have to admit, that it is very very dear to me now. I could sell off most of the O gauge with out hesitation, but my S scale "carpet empire" evokes so many memories and good times.

Im with you on this one. To me the O gauge hobby is fundamentally different from HO (which is a scale) because O gauge is a toy train. I have and always will have regarded my O gauge trains as Toy Trains. I love the charm and the nostalgia, not to mention the memories of toy trains. I just never could get excited about Command Control and TMCC. Not the way I get excited about an old Marx 666 steamer or my S Scale toy trains

There's doom and gloom in very scale. I am into G and its demise has been predicted a couple of times with Aristo folding and LGB having been through bankruptcy. Has nothing to do with enjoying my trains. I am more concerned with enjoying my trains than the future.

No buying mood. No need for additional O 27 trains (which are kinda getting hard to find for me anyways). G scale on the other hand, I could use a couple of things...

My mood was shot Thursday morning when I showed up to work and was told I no longer had a job. They eliminated the position I was in and out sourced it to a staffing company. 7 years there and they couldn't even give any of us notice. they didn't even notify my boss about it till late Wednesday night.

So that shot our trip to Hollash's today.

Rick

Sorry to here that. I am too watching my money. but getting ready to go see Bill about some parts and an issue with a engine that I am having trouble with and of course see if he got another collection in. 

 

Doug

 

That's why wife and I wanted to go today. He got in a mother load couple weeks ago and she wanted to pick through it. Wouldn't have had much to spend anyway, but I enjoy visiting and spending a few dollars with a local shop. Always left there with something.

 

My buying has shifted away from trains to fishing and boating the lovely Chesapeake Bay.  My trains see little to no activity from May through October.

Rick

I just got home.  Bill still has a lot left from the collection. I was picking through it a couple of days after he got it.  All post war and MPC/Kline/MARX/ Buildings/K line track, etc. nothing scale which I was looking for. It filled up a good portion of his garage. He listed some of the stuff on E Bay. He calls me Army Doug.

 

Doug

Got to see some of it, but not enough time that day to really go through it all. Jean was on her way to Tarpon Springs area to get the rest. I wanted to get some more rolling stock and wife wanted scenery stuff, so the buildings would have been her focus. oh well, this unemployed thing can't last forever and then will be happily spending money there again

Count me as another priced out of the market.   Can't afford all the electronic  bells and whistles.  Wish manufactures would focus a product line on reliable, no frills, conventional engines and traditional cars w/o all the easily broken parts.  Keep the price down into the more affordable range.  Thats why most of my recent purchases have been Williams and RMT.   Looked at the recent catalogs and will not be buying.  Why would anyone want to get into this hobby from scratch once they see the prices?  That includes RTR catalogs.

buy a boat and go fishing  

He can do the same with a pack of cards, too!

 

 

I liked it when Toy trains were in fact Toy trains. I do not like where O gauge or for that fact any of the scales are headed. Just because you can do something, does not mean that you should. $1200.00 dollar locomotives, $70 boxcars, ipad controlled layouts? really? Maybe just a hard fact that young people are just not into trains anymore. And at with the prices today I dont blame them. I really miss K-Line and how they were relatively well made for low prices and were lots of fun for not much money. It never fails, the most fun I have is always loop of track and old postwar train.