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Like you, I’m sure someone has asked you this same question at some point, Usually I respond with “I don’t know” or “many” but if they persist I counter with a question. “Engines, cars, transformers, or sets?” I might respond. I don’t even want to ask what era they might be inquiring of. So, what say you? And how do you respond? How many trains do you have?

Last edited by WRW
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@WRW posted:

Like you, I’m sure someone has asked you this same question at some point, Usually I respond with “many” but if they persist I counter with a question. “Engines, cars, transformers, or sets?” I might respond. I don’t even want to ask what era they might be inquiring of. So, what say you? And how do you respond? How many trains

@WRW posted:

Like you, I’m sure someone has asked you this same question at some point, Usually I respond with “many” but if they persist I counter with a question. “Engines, cars, transformers, or sets?” I might respond. I don’t even want to ask what era they might be inquiring of. So, what say you? And how do you respond? How many trains do you have?

@WRW, Next time someone is asking you about how many you have, Answer back saying (not enough, I'm still buying. 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃👍

I imagined myself being asked that question and giving one of two answers:

1: the silly one. "Hundreds to thousands" (since the number of unique consists that you can assemble--given a middling-size collection--could conceivably be that large)

2: one that asks to rephrase the question. "Well, most people with sizable collections don't buy pre-packaged train sets. They may  start with one or two, but after that it's separate-sale cars and locomotives. So a better question would be 'how many pieces in your collection?', if you genuinely wanted to know".

---PCJ

@RailRide posted:

"Well, most people with sizable collections don't buy pre-packaged train sets. They may  start with one or two, but after that it's separate-sale cars and locomotives.

for

Highly dependent upon circumstances.  There are folks who collect sets.  They buy them either all together or assemble them together from the pieces.  Sets are their focus.

For example, although there are a few individual cars I need to complete series, I try to buy only sets of Prewar Standard/Wide Gauge.   The same is true for my 8-wheel plastic and Delux Marx:  in fact, I try my best to buy only complete, boxed sets.

My collections aren't huge, but they aren't tiny,either, and I have been doing this for years.

NEVERTHELESS, I will agree that a person who uses the word trains for individual cars/locos confuses the issue.

Therefore, if I am trying to be precise for someone, I might say that I have X sets and Y individual cars/engines.

I find that when people ask me how many trains I have, they just want to follow-up with “how much did all that set you back?” So I tend to answer with, “just a few I got a great deal on.”

I’ve actually never had a person with a hobby of any kind ask me how many/how much. If a person has a hobby, they know it isn’t about the money as much as it is just enjoying the act of collecting/building/doing/etc.

@CJ Meyers posted:

"My kids know where I keep my inventory list......"

I have a folder of every train purchase (except for cash purchases at shows) that I have made.  One day I'll put it on the computer.  I do this so when I die, and my daughter sells my trains, she won't be hit with the full extent of whatever the current tax laws are at the time on the sale of personal items.

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
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