How do you answer the question “How many trains do you have?”

I usually quote one of my friends, who said, "If they were drugs, we'd have done an intervention by now."

SORRY  The battery is dead in my hearing aid

@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. 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃👍

More than some, but not as many as others...

Pretty much every top of the line 1950s Lionel engine, cars, accessories and transformers I didn't have the cash for at that time.

A few

More than my wife wants and I'm really not looking for any more... BUT who knows...

2 postwar locos from my childhood

14 modern locos I bought in the last few years

3 on order

7 SMU's (small motorized units)

I just say, oh, I don’t know.

How many ... "A fair amount but  always room for one more"

Unless its a fellow O Gauge enthusiast then I give accurate roster counts

Worse than that question is "How much is all this worth?" Last time I answered;

"some are worth a bit but many are worth only a few dollars"  

Really didn't like the question or the answer

Nor do I. Thank you!

I think the answer for most of us is

"too many Trains but not enough yet"

"Always one more "rare" find needed to complete collection or layout"

"Such a Deal and I can always sell it for much more on EBAY"

"I could tell you, but I would have to **** you after that."

"About twice/three/four/ten times as many as my family thinks I have."

Yep.  All those answers are quite familiar

Don't  have a clue.

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 say “I am not really sure, I never counted them all”

(I really am sure, but it’s none of there business)

Counting the ones in the storage unit?

Jon

by saying it's classified info....need to know

hey, being the new guy to the forum, finally a question i can answer.  i have 12 locomotives, just startin" out

I'm curious, do ABA's count as one locomotive or two locomotives or two powered locomotives and one unpowered locomotive?

i have 1 aba, the rest are geeps, rs's and steam

Ask them..... Why? .... do you have any for SALE...!

no, i love my trains

I just did a quick count from memory...lower limit of 33 O Scale locomotives (I don't count conventional) but I did count some of the unpowered B units that are sold separately.

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.

NOYB.

If I have to use my shoe horn to get into my train room.

@WRW posted:

And how do you respond?

I respond with, "What is your bank account number and routing number, and password for you ATM card?"

@mwb posted:

I respond with, "What is your bank account number and routing number, and password for you ATM card?"

Don't forget the SS number

If I was to respond to this, I would say: "Sorry, that is secure compartmented information"

Bryce

If it’s a lady asking, I might come back and say “dunno, how many pairs of shoes do you own?”

@Craignor posted:

If it’s a lady asking, I might come back and say “dunno, how many pairs of shoes do you own?”

My girlfriend already came up with the notion that she won't ask about how many trains I have and I won't ask her about the number of shoes she has.

@Jack Texas Special posted:

2 postwar locos from my childhood

14 modern locos I bought in the last few years

3 on order

7 SMU's (small motorized units)

Holy COW!  Someone that can actually answer that question accurately!

@A. Wells posted:

I just did a quick count from memory...

My memory isn't good enough to get even close with that technique!

I don't know, I can't count that high

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

Like I always said, “ more then I need but not as many as I want.”  That should say it all.👍😃👍😁

@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.

Answer: "Too."

They'll hear: "Two."

Of course, you meant: Too many ...or too few

....But that's just between you and the fencepost, right?

“Don’t know. Don’t care.”