The last time I moved I didn’t feel safe letting the movers take the trains so I rented a U-haul truck. That became the point of enlightenment. When unpacking I divided everything into want, don’t want and not sure. I set up at train shows for the next three years and priced everything so that the table was empty before the show was over.
I only sold the stuff I was sure I didn’t need and kept everything else because I didn’t want any regrets. I still buy, but have become very selective on my purchases. When I look at my collection I feel good and don’t feel overwhelmed plus I met a lot of nice people and made new friends setting up at the shows.
I am in the process of selling off what I no longer want and then I am very selective on what I buy with the proceeds from the sales. I have limited the roads I want to a very few, makes life easier.
I am more selective, have a rotation schedule to make sure I run all my trains, and got rid of most boxes to create more storage space, which is also organized. Got rid of paper magazines years ago, as the boxes they were in took up much space. I reduced the scope of my layout by eliminating a peninsula. I have a shelf layout around the basement. I limited my right of way to one track and a long passing siding, with sidings for the shippers. My aim: simplicity. Mark
I just pick up a car or two if it is a unique or desired road, but buy unique structure kits to build. IF models available for years in O 2 rail and HO were made in three rail, l would jump on those specific items, a fairly long list, and all from steam era. With the apparent current trend of aging customer base and vanishing makers, l have little hope.
@Allan Miller posted:More than enough--far more--with more on the way.
Great reply, Allan!
Having never sold any trains and after being an enthusiastic hobbyist for most of almost 7 decades, I have more than enough. So my goal is no more trains, unless. . . .
Have I piqued your interest?
Unless the item fits the theme for my layout: The Put. No more Santa Fes Union Pacifics, etc., for me. This plan gives me hope that I can achieve one of my goals, which is not to become inundated with trains.
Unless something unexpected happens. What was unexpected last year that resulted in me buying a lot of new trains was 2 things: MTH apparently going out of business, which motivated me to buy for fear that I would possibly never be able to buy certain things in the future; and Covid. Buying new trains during Covid kept my spirits up.
At this time, I barely have enough room for the trains I already have, and yet, I plan to go to York in October.
Why?
To meet in person my Forum friends. That is all of you.
I will not be buying any trains at York, unless . . . .
Unless . . . .
I find something that is IRRESISTABLE!
Arnold
More then I need, but not as many as I want.😊😁🤣
The feeling of wanting is far greater than having.. for me...
Yes.....but if i see a locomotive in a road name that i used to see on the CNJ mainline back in the 60s, well then maybe just one more. Right now i have more trains than layout so purchasing is tempered to that reality.
As far as O gauge trains,I've mostly have everything I want. I thinned my O gauge collection down to focus on late prewar Lionel 1930-42, Chicago made American Flyer 1930-36 trains and Postwar Lionel 1946-69 era trains. I've kept 25 scale Korean made modern Lionel locomotives and sets from the 2000's that I display. I also have on display some 20-30 O scale brass steam locomotives.These are locos (USH,KTM,Max Gray) that belonged to my father. Nowadays,I just pick up an item or two here or there to finish a postwar cataloged/uncataloged set. I operate and actively buy Märklin HO trains nowadays as well as participate in very active local HO modular club.
11 GG1's,10 EP-5's,12 F3's,30+Alcos,40+ Steamers....still can't answer the question....
Sign over the train room,
"Just one more item, then thats it"
Corollary to the sign in the bar,
"Free beer tomorrow"
Pete
I've had an interest in O gauge trains since childhood, but didn't really begin seriously collecting until the last year. I'm mostly collecting O scale Monon, but also include other related and nearby railroads like Nickel Plate.
So, for me, I don't quite know what "enough" is going to look like quite yet. I know I'd like to have pretty much one of every type of diesel in Monon's roster, but that's about all I've decided.
I have kept four command engines. No more in future. My focus past few years is post war strictly. I have now pretty much limited my purchases to rolling stock to complete cataloged sets for the post war engines I currently have. Don't forsee many additional engines except maybe diesel AA set for passenger set I currently have.
For me, I use a formula to determine how many is enough. I apply this to guns as well.
Where n = the number I have, then the formula is n+1.
More then enough, but I keep buying after all someone has to support the Local Hobby Shop 
Actually, yes. I know that might sound like heresy, but I have everything I wanted as a kid in the 50's and the layout to run them on.
Of course, if something extra should come along...
@artyoung posted:Of course, if something extra should come along...
That's the point I want to get to right there. I want to have what I like and like what I have but if something extra should come along....
My problem is that I have lived in five different states and want to model the railroads from all of them. I need to narrow my focus to where I live now, well at least that is what I tell myself. At one point I had a 40 year collection but I think I have reduced it to a 15 year collection in the past few years. Almost there.....
In answer to the question: Do You Have Enough Trains?
Absolutely – I have much more than enough. I love and am thankful for what I have, including many beautiful items that I never expected to be made.
There were hundreds, maybe thousands, of railroads, many types of steam and diesel locomotives, and numerous types of electric motors, even on the few railroads in which I retain a particular interest. The problem is that when a new type of model is offered for one of those railroads, I’m tempted to buy even though I should be able to do without. But the list of possible purchases is now down to three or four, and none is being offered at this time. So, I hope to stick to that.
MELGAR
Getting close to that point with selective downsizing. This year I have been selling off scores of cars and a couple dozen or so locomotives to get my roster down to a level where an estate sale vulture won't find expensive pickings by swooping down to rip off surviving family members.
Now there are less choke holds in my yards, sidings and whisker tracks and the action flows much more smoothly. Still have a few more items that need to find another home.
Too much is simply too much.
I have to take the title of this thread literally. I do FEEL I have enough, but it's only a feeling. Once I get passed the feely, I'm into touchy and then I take it home.
Yes...and no.
I suppose my answer is that I have enough trains, but I don't have enough of the right trains.
I think the real question is how many trains do I have and if something I like comes along do I have room to add it to my collection or am I willing to sacrifice something else I have for it if I don't. I don't think you ever have enough trains, I think it is more like do you feel if you have enough space and money
My wife thinks that I have too many. I think that I don't have enough. Most of my train friends have many more than I do. Go figure. NH Joe
I ordered more shelves from Glen Snyder. I have too much, but my too much makes me happy, so I am fine with it.
I'm headed to the O Scale National in Denver in 2 weeks. Maybe I'll find something I can't live without.
Dick
I have enough trains, until I see the next one I'd like to have.
@Alentown posted:Yes, I have enough trains, but I will continue to scour the Buy-Sell board as well as train shows when they resume. I'm ok with the second-hand market but will not put a new nickel in the economy of our nation's enemy.
Chuck,
I am with you in that I buy on the secondary market or at train shows.
I have more than enough trains to keep my grandsons happy till their retirement and beyond. Besides, I looking around to buy a second car/toy to have and watching the sites for the right Pontiac Firebird.
addiction more and more
I feel that I have enough trains, at the moment. I have them separated into which I can run on my home layout (a point-to-point switching layout) and which I can run at the club, mostly passenger trains and road Diesels. Although I would like a brass Williams 2-8-2 or a scale FA/FB combo.
With regards to rolling stock, I don't have the need to buy more, I have been kit bashing some cars into steel mill models suitable for my home layout.
Maybe when the train shows reopen, my feelings might change.
Seems every time I decide to thin out the collection, I begin to focus on another avenue: moving from postwar to prewar Lionel, for example, or expanding my HO Marklin collection (which has never really undergone a thorough purging, and probably never will). Right now, I'm primarily interested in maintaining the collection I have, and if I purchase something new, more than likely it will be an item I already own, but in much better condition, in order to let one go. Limiting myself to just two manufacturers and specific periods of production has helped keep things manageable.
My available layout space is much smaller than I had planned for so I've got more than enough trains and accesories and the pricing has pretty much stopped any new purchases for me. Even set breakup pieces are selling for $20 more than they were a year and a half to two years ago. I'm even scrutinizing secondary market purchases more closely now. It's got to be real special before I'll pull the trigger.
no but i don't know if i'll ever be able to buy anymore the way my situation is
I have too many, but the hunt will never end. Purchase boundaries are that items should be postwar Lionel, fit well on a 1957 era layout and are in good to excellent condition...and fit my wallet. I avoid Scale sized items and am waiting for the next train show so I can unload tinplate and non-Lionel. We have been, like many of you, running trains since the 1940's, wherever we live, no matter the size of the room (or basement or attic). As careers began and wives came along, multiple sets went to AZ, a few more to CT, and my last bedroom in NY became Dad's layout. Today, all of that, and MUCH more are reunited under one roof, and bit by bit is being passed along to the 'new' career makers and their spouses. Sister just got her 1930's Red Comet going again this month....isn't this what it is all about? No, we never have enough... as long as we pass them down the line.
No, and my wife who supports me in this fun hobby does not let me sell anything because once I do she knows I will regret it. Do we own a lot of trains? Yes. Does anyone need a toy train? Yes!
I think that if more younger people got into this hobby then more people would understand.
Simply, does a stamp collector have enough stamps? No. The same question for baseball card collectors? No.
What about shoe collectors? No.
There could be a point where one does become a hoarder and gets trapped in their own home but that is few and far between.
So, my opinion is just have fun with the hobby! Oh, and yes, buy another train while you are at it!
Awakening, had one yesterday. Our club was invited to clean out an entire collection and layout that belonged to a gentleman who recently passed. We had one day to do it. Many great Vision Line and Legacy engines and newer rolling stock in great condition. Five or six suv's and pick up trucks full of trains all to be matched up with the boxes later, since there wasn't enough time to properly pack on site. All donated! Don't do this to your family
I feel as though I am unlike a lot of people here as I have a very limited budget and that alone influences most of my purchasing decisions. However, even with that factor, I feel like I have plenty. There are a lot of items that I think I would like to have, but I cannot justify spending the money. I have made my peace with this by cherishing what I do have. I inherited roughly 50% of my collection from my grandfather, so that will always have a special place in my heart. The pieces that I have purchased were carefully chosen so that I would get higher quality for the $$.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Plenty, but that doesn't totally preclude buying something else.
However, I have actually been selling a few items to make space for incoming stock.
My problem is similar. I am out of display room. I try to replace them with same but new and improved. I need a UP F or E to rplace an ALCO set. some cars Steve is auctioning off for me. Hard not to look at the catalogs and get away unscathed...Last one resulted in 2 preorder locomotives. Have about 8 months to make room.
Have enough? What is that? Ran out of room adding on to basement? Should I add on to the upstairs? LOL looking at making a couple shelfs over 300 pieces of rolling stock, So yes always need more projects! (If I can afford the wood)
God Speed!
