Did You Ever Buy An Engine You Didn't Need Because It Was A Good Deal?

Yup, how true!

An D&H Alco C628 with low mileage from an auction site.  I didn’t need an engine at the time, but the starting bid was about 30% off retail so I bid and won.  Didn’t need it, but I’m glad I got it.

well I don't need any of them. what I have I want plain and simple.although I do need a 226E to complete the trio.......and since I'm putting a 1668 together, I need the 221 and since I'm doing streamliners. might as well get that Vanderbilt engine....

No.  At least not yet...but I have been tempted many times.

All the time!  I have never been able to resist a "good" deal.

 

Happy railroading,

Don

Yes, but I'm getting better

Nope!!!

I can neither confirm nor deny a specific action in regards to that question.

 

Definitely.

I've bought seconds of the same locomotives, just because the price was better than what I paid for the first.  Not only didn't "need" the first one but certainly didn't need two!  

 

 

 

 

What, me worry?

Absolutely. 

One in particular........I had no Atlas engines, so I bought an Atlas SW-8 for a song. Good conventional runner, but horrible sound from it's tiny, inadequate speaker. 

 

Roger

It looks like CJB Custom Painting & Design does good model train work, but they are only on Facebook and I refuse to go on there to contact anyone. Do they have a website NOT on facebook?

Here is a video of my 2348 M&StL passenger set:

 

 

I guess I am in the minority here on this question.  Afraid of becoming more OCD than I already am about the hobby, I have intentionally restricted my layout and trains to a few PRR steam locos I like.  So, even if it was a bargain, I have not and would not give in to the temptation.  But this is not a virtue in my case as I have paid more for a loco I do need/want NOW for my meager roster.  The most egregious example in my case is an MTH premier PRR decapod that I just had to have, and of course it eventually needed several relatively expensive ships for rework attempts ending with a successful ERR retrofit.  But, I don't have all those bargains and eye candy.  Sometimes, "the bargain" is part of the fun you need! 

Me Too

What is your definition of "need"?

 

Need or want? In my mind, at the time of purchase I needed every engine I bought. In my wife's mind I "needed" none of them. I have so many engines I don't get to run all of them. Do I "need" them? Yea of course I do. 

Simply, YES....I SIMPLY Love Lionel Legacy Engines....It's an Addiction....My wife is trying her Best to Come up with a Cure....I think she might Win.....After all, there comes a Time.

Happy Railroading.....  I still have a VISION.....

 

I like to buy postwar lots, restore them an sell what I don't want, but that's usually just cars and accessories.  That being said, I picked up a late model 2026 at a train show this past winter with the intent of flipping it.  I already have a really nice early model 2026 and the new one is still sitting on my workbench, but I just need to get around to ordering some small parts.  so didn't really need that one.

 

The most blatant example I can think of is a WBB Canadian Pacific F3 AA set with 4 matching "15 aluminum passenger cars.  Saw it for sale from a forum member, thought about it for a long time, but the deal was just too good so I bought it.  It runs great and is a great looking set and I never would be able to afford the postwar version, but I don't run CP, I don't have anything else CP, I currently don't even have a layout, and when I did, the 4x8 sheet of plywood I was restricted to was a little tight for a train that long.  so, no, definitely didn't need it.  still keeping it though!

Hmmmmm "Need"

 

Has anyone legitimately "Needed" an engine?

 

That being said, I have bought engines that were great deals even though I was not really planning to get them.

Paul,

   Pat is right, we really do not need any of this stuff, and no I do not purchase anything in this hobby I really do not want.  I spend my hard earned money only on items I really like, and have seldom been disappointed.  I also return things that disappoint me by not working correctly.  Now I do over power my layouts, so you could technically say I have more transformers than I currently have use for at the present time, however I need them for eventual expansion of our multi level Christmas layouts.  

PCRR/Dave

Yes I admit that I am guilty of this in more than one scale (O and N scales).

I seem to have the MTH diesels compulsion under control finally! Now if I can get control of the Menard's boxcar and building addiction I think I can stop going to the meetings! !!

Being only 14, I typically only buy what I can afford. Of course, I have to like it somewhat, but I am restricted to a certain range money wise.

I have bought what I didn't need, and didn't want as substitutes for what I did want,

a model of the Baldwin Great Western/Strasburg decapod.  So I have an MTH Russian

decapod and somebody's Pennsy decapod.  This last I need like four flat tires, but I

probably will get around to lettering the Russian for my fictional home road.

Our Train club was selling off a bunch of MTH trains from an estate. There was a wide variety of engines mostly Premier new in the box never run or very very low miles on them.

 

I picked up 5 engines of various road names and types for a $150 each a real deal and am using them for repainting projects or swapping out the guts to power some dummies on my layout of road names and engine types I like.

 

Taking the left over engines back to the club to sell as dummies for what I can get for them.

 

Never needed them but the price was to good and they will be useful for repaints or the re-powering of the engines that I like.

Absolutely.............  these days I need nothing and do not buy much.  But every once in awhile,  yes.   Has to be at least half off the issue price to get my attention, typically.

 

I just have no further "needs" so to get me to buy,  it has to be a very low price on top of being something I would / could have an interest.   I never grew up around or had much interest in the NE corridor electric engines,  but after buying one cheap,  pretty neat.  

 

So ugly it is a beauty,  I bought a PRR L5.   very unusual engine.

 

Mark

You bet!

 

Only one that I "don't need" that tempts me, the VL Big Boy!

It makes no sense for me at any level! I think it's the darned whistle!

 

So far, I have successfully resisted.

 

My problem is not buying engines I don't "need" just because the price is good.

My problem is overpaying for engines I DO need, that promptly "break!"

Ha! I bought an old Ives engine just to get a better look at it!  

I have bought several and they have turned out to be great runners !! Also, an antique dealer I know took in a Lionel FM train Master in like new condition and priced it at half the book value and ones I saw at shows. Broke my hear to pass it up but it wouldn't be right for my layout and collection so I left it for someone else. It didn't last long.

Think about it.  This is a rare hobby in that the things you collect can also be: readily played with; small enough to easily store in quantities; nonperishable; relatively affordable; maintain some of their value; enjoy a flexible accessible resale/trade system; durable; easily identified/graded; easily setup and operated; transportable; . . . . you get the idea.  As compared to antique cars, paintings/artwork; antiques; baseball cards; guns; big game trophies; beanie babies; dishes; shoes; watches; rocks; coins; stamps and I am sure many others.  Nothing wrong with those hobbies.  It's just great to be able to easily play with your articles of affection and have a great group of people willing to help you out.
So if you have too many engines or bought impulsively, just enjoy them. 

Is this a great country or what!

But of course.

An absolute yes!  That's how I got started in this hobby in the first place.  Saw an engine and some cars that were priced right and it just snowballed on from there.

My father-in-law would drive across town -- spend $5 on gasoline -- to save a dollar on toilet paper. Go figure.

Not Yet!

I can't pass up a blow out bargain if it has any interest for me. Sure wish I could..Last week I found a new Williams BL-2 diesel in GM Demo scheme (new) for $115 delivered on Ebay. It now sits on my layout. How could I not?  Looks and runs great, too.

Yes. Two weeks ago. A Rail King Baldwin AS616 demonstrator. Didn't need it, but I like demonstrators.

Can't say I have ever bought train items that I didn't need or know I wouldn't use in the near future.  It has saved a lot of space storing and dusting and all of that.  

Ditto!!!!!!