Do you have regrets about buying too much stuff?

TURTLE 2 posted:

I could have bought fewer items for my layout and still been happy with it. It took me almost a year of designing the layout to get everything on it I wanted or had purchased. I only have a few vehicles I don't want to use and a couple other items like the pedestrian bridge I did not use. We all have grand ideas for our layouts before reality circles the pile of boxes we have excitedly acquired!!

I think I see some free space. 

Michael,

   Regrets none, a man can never have to many good Double Guns, Bamboo Fly Rods, Bird Dogs or O Gauge Trains, for his Christmas layouts.  

Would like my 39 Hundred Square foot solid Brick Ranch House back, that God removed from the earth in one of his big Slidell, La Hurricanes, it's the only material possession I have ever regretted loosing.  I had several rooms in that home, to build nice big layouts in.

You have a real nice layout and train room by the way!

PCRR/Dave

Yes.. I do to. There is an upper and lower level too!

play trains posted:

I remember reading an article about a guy who had no layout, but in anticipation of having one ,bought buildings, kits, rolling stock and engines, lots of everything! For over 10 years he did this, with everything still in boxes! Finally the time came to finally have a layout! Every weekend he and his friends opened boxes, it was like Christmas every weekend, stuff he had forgotten about suddenly was there and he had a use for it! A great deal of fun discovering things and finally using them the way he pictured them over the years! I am in that situation and look forward to weekend Christmas openings some day soon! Though I 've slowed down on buying, I still go to York, with a vision in my head! I follow this forum with an eye to using what I learn here some day! Silly, maybe, but better to have a dream than not! 

I am in a similar situation. Gave up my last layout in 1972 for the usual reasons, but fiddled with HO in the meanwhile. In 2009 I started to design and collect stuff to build my layout after my 2014 retirement. Finally started to open boxes and put it together about 3 months ago. As mentioned, it is like Christmas 1957 everytime I work on it!

I will say, though, that I had a plan and a design, so I only overbought by perhaps 20%, with the exception of PW transformers, which I discovered I don't need at all, and rolling stock, which I perhaps have twice what I need. But, judging by what others have aid, perhaps twice what I need is really not enough....

I guess my biggest regret was buying any PW. Barring the sentimental attachment I have to a few pieces, I am generally disappointed with it. In 1962 it's all we had, but I will take modern any day.

Going forward, we will clean out the items that are not part of the plan, and make changes on an "exchange" basis only. As others have also mentioned, I feel that too much stuff weighs you down. YMMV

NOPE!!!!

I wish I had looked into steam engines more closely, now that I have a handful of them I rarely run my diesels anymore.

I don't have any engines that cost over $750 and most are below $500.  Anymore than that and they better be flawless and last a lifetime.

Got a few buildings that I no longer use as the theme and size of my industries has changed.

But overall I'm pleased with what I have.  Concentrating on mainly 1 RR (Seaboard Air line) I didn't go hog wild, although I do have 3 other RRs represented (ACL, N&W, NBPL) with engines.

I'm still trying to get a few pieces of rolling stock, got too much SAL and not enough other RRs.  I'll probably top out at 75-100 pieces, more than enough for a 12x12 layout.

After joining TCA in 2000, I went through the stage of (shall we say) "somewhat less controlled" acquisition .  I bought things that I thought would work on the layout, but didn't.  I also bought stuff that was supposed to be prototypical, but later learned wasn't.  As I learned more and started building the Panhandle in 2003-4-5-6, restraint and a more focused acquisition approach took hold.  And about 7-8 years ago, I started deliberately pruning the rolling stock.  The funds obtained from selling the unnecessary items have allowed me to make newer, better purchases. 

But, I still have way more boxcars than I can run.  And while one can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many cabin cars, I probably do.  Have too many cabin cars, that it.  The rest of that statement is still true.   

So yeah, I have some regrets.  But I also enjoyed buying most of that stuff.

George

Interesting thing is I still have a list of items I am looking for.

This will be my first York, yet my capacity is at about 80 percent...my layout is almost complete, and I don't need anymore rolling stock.

Yet I know I will probably purchase way too much.

Yes.  I'd like to see some things go.  I have a lot of pre, postwar and modern, mostly Lionel.  I'm too lazy to go through selling online and shipping.  I'm in S. Jersey, 15 minutes from Comm Barry Br.  

Love to sell or trade... can deliver to York.  Write to email in profile if interested.  TCA since 89.

John

Only when I have to move them to do some work to the layout.

I did buy too many trains. I started with O gauge back in 1997; bought an MTH premier NYC Hudson. At the time, and for a few more years, I thought I was buying collector items. Thinking, buy it now; I'll never have another opportunity to get this model. Geez, I was wrong on that one. The MTH premier NYC Hudson has been produced at least 3 times. I bought a lot of NYC and PRR because there wasn't a lot in road names that I wanted. Now there are many offerings. I have a pre-order in for both Lionel and Atlas O. I've been selling off my PRR and NYC. It's clear that we don't get collector prices like PW equipment. I'm not complaining, just stating a fact.

Bought way too much. My problem isn't that I can't fit it on my layout (which is only 4x8) but that I can't fit in in the train room. I can barely walk in there for all the stacked storage boxes.  I have tripped over them too many times to count and will probably kill myself falling over something someday.

It will serve me right, too. But I sure do love 'em and even keep buying with nowhere to put the new stuff. I am a fool, as my wife continually reminds me.

If I was starting out now, I would limit myself to one road name and stay with that. 

He who dies with the most of any brand toys will then have a clear view of eternity.

I bought way too much stuff and now after several moves I am in a place that has no room for a O gauge layout. So after buying for forty plus years I have decided to down size and have sold off almost every piece of O gauge I ever bought. 

With prices in the stratosphere for new engines and sets and my retired fund shrinking along with space, there was no way I could stay in O gauge, I got priced out of the market. 

But I will still be into trains, I am now building a small 12x4 Ho layout, I'm having fun and not worrying about the next great thing from Lionel and MTH. 

Dan Padova posted:

That's a nice looking train room, not to mention layout, Turtle.  Am I buying too much ?   Absolutely not.  While I can, I do.  Because there may come a day when I cannot.  And if push comes to shove some items can be sold off.  

I agree with Dan, someday I may not be able to buy any more.  That becomes more clear to me as I approach retirement.  Even now, I will sell something I like less than an item I just bought.  I am not a collector, I want to run what I have on a layout.  I will always be able to find someone to take some of it off my hands.

Dave Warburton posted:

Bought way too much. My problem isn't that I can't fit it on my layout (which is only 4x8) but that I can't fit in in the train room. I can barely walk in there for all the stacked storage boxes.  I have tripped over them too many times to count and will probably kill myself falling over something someday.

It will serve me right, too. But I sure do love 'em and even keep buying with nowhere to put the new stuff. I am a fool, as my wife continually reminds me.

If I was starting out now, I would limit myself to one road name and stay with that. 

Dave, I'm the same way, but I'm on a 4x12 with a small 3x4 attached at the end to form an L shape, and there are so many great engines out there, and not enough track.

I did however decide on one road name which is making things a bit easier and more unified - Union Pacific

I have too much stuff also.  I have managed to sell some items but I am reluctant to give up others even though I haven't even taken them out of the box.  I joined a club that gives me space to run things.  I even have too much stuff for the club.  I am not sure what the next step will be.

NH Joe

No - I have owned a Teen Driving School in Michigan for over 30 years. My business partners are golf fanatics and they spend a lot more on golf then I do with model trains. One more time, No regrets. My toy train hobby has always been paid for by what I call, Bonus Income.

My collecting goes beyond O gauge trains, I also have loads of HO gear, action figures and tubs filled with diecast cars. While I do look around once in while and think I really need to unload some of it, I can't really say I regret buying it. 20+ years ago, I was busy making a mess of my marriage and everything else. Getting involved with hobbies played a huge part in helping me change directions. Over the years I've had a blast going to train, toy and antique shows, and the piles of stuff in my basement just prove I was busy. I've built several layouts, and I often spend time rearranging my various toy displays. My marriage survived, my wife has never had a complaint about my collecting, and when my boys were younger it was something I could share with them. Seems like a win all the way around.

 Lately, I have been selling some of my toys and HO equipment. I always feel bad seeing stuff leave, but there is some Lionel I have my eye on, and I'd like to get it without spending any new money - teenage boys have their own expensive habits that I have to feed.

I live in the high population LA area and 25 years ago TTOS had big monthly meets, as big as Cal Stewart is today. This was before all the overseas production. Desirable trains then usually went up in price so buying was considered a investment, allowing me to justify buying and buying. Now I have all this stuff that really isen't very good and mostly stored for me to try to unload someday.

Heck No but I have My confession:

I believe that I have too many MTH Engines, is should try to get some Lionel or Atlas.

Mostly now I only have 35 cars that are O-27.  Everything is Semi Scale or Scale.

Why the heck was I thinking moments:

A member of the AGTTA had some 19th century cars and a ten Wheeler for sale, I just wanted the Boxcar and the stock car but he wanted it sold as a whole so 7 cars and Ten Wheeler I bought, my dad didn't know, he got mad and now I have 3 ten Wheelers in my fleet. However I sold the cars I didn't want off.

I know several members that have no layout that have so much stuff that they can barely walk through their home, but run their trains at the local club.

Yes I have too much,

I am a sucker for bright and shiny objects, but they give me joy

It is a great hobby!

j

G3750 posted:

But, I still have way more boxcars than I can run.  And while one can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many cabin cars, I probably do.  Have too many cabin cars, that it.  The rest of that statement is still true.   

So yeah, I have some regrets.  But I also enjoyed buying most of that stuff.

George

George,

 I had 2 thoughts...

1)Too many cabin cars...how is that even possible???

2)Don't sell that B6.

Tom

Yes, no, I don' t know, maybe. Wait! I've got to order that Menards Power Plant!! Gotta go

I definitely have too much stuff.  As another poster put it, I thinned out the collection (twice!) then bought more.  It makes me happy to see my collection though.  My only worry, which surely affects others, is that I'll have to figure out what to do with it when I get too old or get sick.  Not trying to be a downer, just realistic.

Do not take food off the table to buy trains.  It comes down to dollars and cents.  If you want it and can swing it, buy it.  I am always upgrading.  Over the years, all the postwar went and then early MTH.  I always chase the latest and greatest.  NO REGRETS.   

MNCW posted:

G3750 posted:

But, I still have way more boxcars than I can run.  And while one can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many cabin cars, I probably do.  Have too many cabin cars, that it.  The rest of that statement is still true.   

So yeah, I have some regrets.  But I also enjoyed buying most of that stuff.

George

George,

 I had 2 thoughts...

1)Too many cabin cars...how is that even possible???

2)Don't sell that B6.

Tom

 

1) Really isn't possible.  (Hey, I can quit any time.  )

2) Not to worry.  I love that B6sb.

George

I have to agree with Dan Padova

JoeG

david1 posted:

I bought way too much stuff and now after several moves I am in a place that has no room for a O gauge layout. So after buying for forty plus years I have decided to down size and have sold off almost every piece of O gauge I ever bought. 

With prices in the stratosphere for new engines and sets and my retired fund shrinking along with space, there was no way I could stay in O gauge, I got priced out of the market. 

But I will still be into trains, I am now building a small 12x4 Ho layout, I'm having fun and not worrying about the next great thing from Lionel and MTH. 

Hello David1....

I was too priced out of the "O" gauge market but switched to "N" scale and you can buy the top-of-line N scale Kato U.P. 4-8-4 for 206 dollars !! This engine is the most beautiful made high quality steamer in N scale I ever seen. It was made better than most H.O. and N scale steamers. The N scale brass steamers was in par with Kato's U.P. 4-8-4.  Then later Kato NW-2, sweet little engine !!!!  I run my N scale 4-8-4 on 15 inch radius curves on a 36 by 80 inch hallow door. The Kato track simple oval is 47 dollars for the whole tracks and 40 dollars for MRC railpower 1370 pack, all of that is good grade items no junk.  The point of all this was that you don't have to spend ton of money. This Kato U.P. 4-8-4 is my first steamer with the Coreless motor and there was youtube showing one of the U.P.4-8-4 pulling 2 water tenders and 41 85 foot streamliner passenger cars and that is in N scale. I am almost a senior so I see okay up close watching the trains go by.  I would stay away from N scale Bachmann trains.

Tiffany

I have to admit that I have boxes from Atlas O and others that I purchased new and never opened. Much of it was from the mid-2000s, right before the big slowdown. My layout either wasn't ready or there was some other reason. Whatever the reason, my shelves are full and I still have unopened boxes. I think that is a pretty good indication that I over-bought.

It's a shame to have things in boxes that have not seen the light of day. Over the next several months I plan to right-size and let this inventory go to people that will run it.

Hi

I have been in the lobby for over 40 years. I started with Trainworld/Trainland when they where located on Ave. M and E15th St under the D subway line EL. Over the years I have purchased and sold much of my collection like the rest of you folks. The collection has gone through more twist and turns than a good mystery book. I also had a HO collection. Starting in Sept/Oct of last year started selling the whole collection and started the upgrade. The Ho is all gone expect for a few pcs. The Postwat, MPC and some of the modern stuff is also gone. I refocused the collection to local Tristate transit theme with a few PRR freight and passenger cars. I still do not a permanent layout just a carpet one from time to time.

Again, really appreciative of all the great replies. For me, in the end, my layouts are all  variations of trains going around in circles with accouterments. I do enjoy the hobby but it has taken me a little while to "find my way"... I just need to think very carefully about each next step as I take it.

I have very little stuff, but it's still too much.

I don't regret the amount of trains I have purchased.  I regret the type of items I have purchased.   I built my layout last winter and went a little crazy at TCA, and my local train shop, trying to fill up my layout.   I stuck to my budget but purchased some items too fast.    I should have slowed down as I wasn't sure what I liked at the time.  Thus, I've had to sell off a few items at a minor loss.   Live and learn....

100% yes.  I am now disabled, retired and money much tighter.  I wish I had saved more and spent less. Now planning a move in the future and no idea how to handle the collection in the basement.  One problem with having many modern engines is something is always broken.  Repairs and boards are expensive.  Do yourself a favor buy less not more friends.  Save more spend less.

No. But I do have regrets about missing out on some items like those MTH Premier NP and GN 4-6-6-4's that have become so hard to find! 

I have more regrets on what I bought to build my layout than the trains. But some of my decisions were based on my budget at the time.  My layout is basically 4 frames made out of 1x3s and braced. Just covered with Homosote and that has worked OK. No sags but I have replaced all my tubular track some twice. Got rid of all the used, the witches,the short straights ,and the 031 curves. Wish I had covered the whole top with indoor/outdoor carpeting then put some roadbed under the rack although what I have is not too noisy.  I bought some accessories that I never use and take up space but look good.   Have bought some engines that haven't worked out plus some cars but most of those are gone. A learning experience.

I realize how much I have is way more than enough, as my wife sometimes reminds me.  However, she was the one who had the 1200 sq ft room built above our new 3 car garage for the layout room.  I was working out of town and it was a grand surprise present to me.  As for the number of items, I have been keeping a detailed inventory, including pictures, for years and know exactly what I possess.  It all started with my father and I running trains when I received my first in 1957, which I still have.  When my father passed in 1978, I inherited all the trains he had at his home.  My children and I enjoyed the combined trains on our 12 x 21 ft layout, until they all grew up and moved out.  So, along with everything I still acquire sometimes, and what my sweetie buys me, I do have a lot, but have no regrets.  To me they are all memories of the fun and family closeness enjoyed and shared over the years.  My wife and I actually met on an Amtrak Texas Eagle back in 2003.  So, again, trains have a special place in our lives.  No, no regrets, just memories and a lot of time necessary to complete the present layout and need more shelves !!

Jesse  TCA 

I don't really buy a lot of tram stuff, but when I come across something I like, I'll buy it depending on the price. These days I save all my money for York in October. I'm not a collector, just a guy that likes to run trains.

YES...NO...YES...NO...MAYBE