Run. But I do display my Red/White/Blue fleet when not running them.
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I run everything. Bought a new old stock 783. Ran it. Bought a nearly mint 726. Ran it…and boy does that one run smooth. Acquired a nearly mint 2343. You know I ran that one! To each their own however.
Larry, Thank you. I appreciate your kind words about the layout.
I'm with stangtrain 
@leapinlarry, I keep my eyes open for a 763e chassis, but they aren't easy to find. The warping on mine is barely noticeable until I put it on the track to run it. So, for now, it looks good on the shelf. My black prewar 763e runs like a Swiss watch. I run it on special occasions, like when @Wood came to visit a few years ago. As for the prewar scale Hudson and switcher, they will remain shelf queens, with the Hudson under glass, just as my Dad displayed it during the 30+ years he owned it. I'm fortunate to have many Hudsons that I run, so I'm good with keeping the 700e under glass. I've been in touch with harmonyards Pat about modifying my K Line Hudson, so that will be another great runner, as you well know. 😀
Both, when i'm not running certain equipment it's on display. Some in the yard and others on the shelf's
Depends in what state of disrepair they happen to be in.
Working Perfectly? They sit in the yards waiting for their turn to be throttled up
Working ... mostly? They sit in the yards, some may have their shells removed as I procrastinate fixing their minor issues, then are run in an as-is state
Not Working? Fancy enough = display, otherwise the shell is removed and the guts are stuck in a bowser foam cradle in my room until I get around to fixing them. I swear I'm not procrastinating fixing them.... But I'll get around to them soon, just not yet, and soon can't be measured in time. Also soon may not be soon, but I do swear they will get fixed ... eventually.
We have many (several thousand pieces on display in cases) and several hundred pieces on the layout. First I like being able to see my trains which are on the shelves but then I like to run various trains. At some point those on the layout go on the shelves and items on the shelves go on the layout for a while. Very few sacred pieces in our collection do not get run such as the chrome Burlington F3 MPC set (fingerprints on this engine leave a lasting mark). I see my collection as a set toys that I like to work with and not necessarily that much of an investment. For me the joy comes from seeing them and running them. We even run the Pilot Engines which look very nice running.
Thanks;
idea-thinker
I'm a clear operator (runner). I built a layout in a 9X14 room with sidings to accommodate 10 consists, each of which have special meaning. Begins with the trusty 2026 (like Jetsfl's post, a prize gift from my Dad) to modern LionelChief+2.0 for grandkids to operate. For example, grew up walking distance from the Long Island RR, so had to have the RDC units for that line. Then lived in Ithaca, NY, so I have an Erie Lackawanna line with an Ithaca labelled passenger car. We have a lakeside cottage in northern Ontario, Canada, so have an Ontario Northland consist (beautiful coloration. Wish Lionel would make a modern motorized unit.) Of course, must have a Santa Fe diesel with the warbonnet color scheme (Had a 2343, but sold it and got the LionelChief version, again for grandkids to run). The only motorized units and rolling stock that are in storage are Christmas items that come out during that season.
Enjoy running your trains in your smoke filled rooms!!
Michael
Run! Since my late father and I quit collecting in "74" my Models have always, found a place on the layout! sidings' spurs rail yards. I will never go down that rabbit hole again. no collecting!
Run 'em til they don't, rebuild 'em and run some more!
I buy stuff to play with it. I'm not a collector. I sell stuff, so I can buy different stuff.
The only exception is my Legacy N&W Y6b. I only have room to run that on my Christmas "carpet central" layout around the living room. The rest of the year it is displayed in my office at work ... where it universally wowed.
The collections of OGR members that I see here sure are impressive, though.
Run, of course. They're no fun on a shelf or in a box.
I am both a collector and operator. I enjoy watching the trains run that is part of the enjoyment. I have been enjoying trains since I was 6 years old. I cannot imagine letting them in boxes sitting on shelves.
@Nation Wide Lines posted:As a collector, I like to have trains that run. That being said, some of the trains get run more than others. For instance, these two early electric steam engines may not see any more run time on the layout, because after 105 years they deserve a break.
NWL
It’s good to stretch your legs once in a while. This is great! Thank you for sharing these speedy elders. 👍😎
