How Many Train Engines are Too Many?

I don’t know the exact number.  But I will tell you this, most forum members are always just one short.

It don't stop.  You are an addict, just admit it.  I couldn't stop either.  We need help....

I agree with Jim and Laz.

If it's any consolation.(or not)

There's a post over on the Tmcc/Legacy forum where folks are complaining that Legacy can only accommodate 99 engines. 

Those with 100+ engines are having issues.

I dont count anymore so who knows if I have enough?   In the end, it didn't make a difference anyways.  There's always one more that you just can't do without.  

I don't believe there is a definitive answer. Is it too many if you cannot put them on the layout or you don't have enough shelves to hold them to display them. I find myself with each passing year still buying locomotives. I know I am past the point of no return but guess what I wouldn't have it any other way....................Paul

So when your friends come over and ask to see your trains what can you do? You have to have something new to show them! 

Quit worrying.

Ray

My collection was started by my Dad on Christmas 1949. I now have 200+ engines. I had a reason to purchase each and every one. I purchase a lot less than I used to. I'm down to 1 or 2 per year. I guess the only person that will stop me is the Good Lord.

I have lost count. I do know I have far more than I plan to make use of on my new layout, but that won't stop me from selling-off excess and purchasing new ones (that will fit the scheme I am planning) in the future. I already have another five or six on preorder. Little by little, I do intend to reduce the "inventory" due to space considerations and a desire to hopefully see other hobbyists make use of items I no longer need or will use.

You know you have too many if...

Your caboose inventory is 90+ and you have more than that many engines.

You have to buy boxes for engines that you can not find the original box for.

You would add more display shelves, but you are out of wall and floor space.

You are getting bids on a 3 car garage building addition and you only have one car.

RickO posted:

I agree with Jim and Laz.

If it's any consolation.(or not)

There's a post over on the Tmcc/Legacy forum where folks are complaining that Legacy can only accommodate 99 engines. 

Those with 100+ engines are having issues.

Exactly .... a good rule of thumb might be that when you can't program any more engines into your command control system(s), it might be time to reconsider your next purchase !   

I know a fella that has over 600 O gauge locomotives to pull some 1,800 O gauge cars.  For me, I have more wants than needs.  NH Joe

ONE MILLION ONE 

I have two. Lionchief RTR sets. Wife might kill me if I buy more. But getting interested in MTH proto 3. Then again just to set up dcs control it is over 300, with no engine. Have to think about that for carpet central. The Explorer is nice but want full sound function, so might have to spend for the full system,without accessory control, no switches intended at this time.   Had American Flyer when I was a kid so 3 rail is all new to me.         Lionchief very easy for grandson to run. 

Of course a question might be, am I doing this for the grandson, or me, or both. For sure gives more bonding time.

Of course if I look at it a different way, I am doing one engine a month, at this pace it could get scary.

Oldmike

A good statistical estimate a while back was determined to be 83 engines for non-OGR members.

For OGR members the number was slightly higher at 322 engines.

After that you need to worry.  

Not sell anything, just be concerned. 

aussteve posted:

A good statistical estimate a while back was determined to be 83 engines for non-OGR members.

For OGR members the number was slightly higher at 322 engines.

After that you need to worry.  

Not sell anything, just be concerned. 

Is that Both steam and Diesels? What about Electrics and M.U's?

I talked to a friend in the Evansville, Indiana area that has, 1080 engines. I do not have near that many pieces, cars and engines....So, I say, there is no limitation on how many engines are to many, it’s an individual thing.  I am in the down sizing mode, so my thoughts are 20 nice engines....I love Legacy and VisionLine engines.Happy Collecting....

You put aside only so much space to hold all locos and cars.  Rule 1: Ifyou run out of space you must get rid of one piece if you buy another.  Rule 2: you are not allowed to expand the space that holds all your locos and cars.  If you can obey both rules you will maintain some degree of control over your buying habits.  HA!

SantaFeJim posted:

I don’t know the exact number.  But I will tell you this, most forum members are always just one short.

SantaFeJim - agreed!! LOL!!

1080? I had someone call to see the layout whom I had not met. He told me he had 600 engines. I said, "Time for an intervention?" jokingly, of course. The man did not smile. Uh oh  . . . . .  

I recently completed an inventory, I was shocked to learn I own 111 locos and 437 pieces of rolling stock. Funny that I mostly use about 20 locos and the weathered equipment. I am organizing a pile of stuff for sale. Less really is more!

I figure you have too many engines when you have to get them down from a display shelf in order to run them.  All my engines fit on the layout or in the yard.

Dennis

Two is too many and a hundred is not enough.............

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

aussteve posted:

A good statistical estimate a while back was determined to be 83 engines for non-OGR members.

For OGR members the number was slightly higher at 322 engines.

After that you need to worry.  

Not sell anything, just be concerned. 

Is that Both steam and Diesels? What about Electrics and M.U's?

That was all motive power units, including the 3927 track cleaner.  

Of course it is your choice as to what to count as motive power.  Say a minimum number of wheels (maybe 10) are needed to truly count as an engine at your house.

It is also your choice to repeat numbers as you count your engines.   Say 1,2,3,4,4,5,6,6,7,8,9,9 and so on.  

This method allows OGR members to keep their engine count artificially low  especially in areas of potential marital conflict.

This in no way solves the problem of storage space.  That is a physical liability that is hard to disguise.  Perhaps have a friend or trusted, tight lipped family member claim some of your engines or store them for you.

Bad question to ask, a couple of weeks before York!!  

When the trains have displaced God, family, and responsibilities, and the acquisition of more has become a burden financially and emotionally, you have too many.

Talk about a 1st World problem . . . .

I have 43 Norfolk Southern Powered units alone with an additional 13 NS non powered dummies. I stopped there and didn't even bother to count the Conrail's , NYC's, UP's and CSX Units.  So I would say limitless......

If you need to buy another house, that's enough engines! 

My last inventory was at 68 engines. After 25 years of buying for the moment when I had a larger layout and had bought anything that appealed to me. I sat down and went through them, and decided that BNSF, BN, UP, Rio Grande, NP and SP were enough road names and am keeping 32 engines and associated rolling stock, the rest are slowly being pared down at local swap meets and club members wanting just one more.

My main layout gets saturated with more than 7 engines at a time,4 on the main lines (2 passenger, 2 freight), 2 in each yard and a switcher doing duty, and only run 2 long trains on the upper shelf tracks (20-25 coal cars, hoppers or tank cars ), so the storage racks get lots of use when swapping them out. My layout is mixed DCS/Legacy with DCS WIFI. The majority of my engines are TMCC, with MTH,Weaver and Williams getting some representation in the mix. I enjoy being able to run with one remote or IPAD, and letting others use a remote or smart phone/IPAD if have company or grandkids, who have 3 Williams Chuggington/Brewster engines I put on for them with short consists. I am hoping the train bug stays with them, thankfully Thomas has them hooked for now.

I do have 5 sets I use for the club, as most need  larger curves, My layout is 060/048 for the main lines so I could cram more into the space I had (13x20).   A N&W J , a Weaver E-8 SP Daylight with 10 passenger cars, A TCA PA AA upgraded to PS2 with 10 of the TCA cars, an Alaska SD-70 with passenger consist and BNSF double headed Dash 8 with grain hoppers.

I have a soft spot for a great deal, as well as always on the lookout for good used equipment that I can make sets and layouts for Foster kids or kids from a needy family during the year.

WAY TOO MANY.  I stopped buying about 5yrs ago and I'm cool with that..

I know exactly how many because I maintain a running inventory.  Along with all else I own.  But, a good portion is what my father and I collected of Lionel postwar and prewar.  These, naturally, will never be sold or given away, except when inherited by my children.  As for the rest, I am still acquiring additional from time to time when a good bargain is at hand.  As for engines needed to have for certain consists, or whatever need there is, I am pretty much there.  I have over 300 passenger cars, over 800 rolling stock, so..........   Gotta have what I need to pull it..... right?  Is that all too many?    I do not think so....... and still working out ways of making the layout functionally larger.

Jesse 

You know you have to many when you can't afford, food, the roof over your head, the wife leaves you, or you need to join a support group for your addiction. 

For me it goes like this.  I buy a locomotive.  Let's say a GP-7, Western Maryland.  Lionel comes out with an NW2 switcher for WM.  Gotta have one so that my WM keep doesn't get lonely.  Since I am mostly a Pennsy fan, a GP-7 in Pennsy livery would look good.  He too needs a sibling.  

A couple of weeks or months go by and I get attracted to the little Navy Yard and Army switchers, 51 & 41.  Can't just have one of each, suppose something fails on one of them.  I need an organ donor for it then.  

Lately it's been GG1s.  In all the years I have been into model railroading I have only owned one GG1, an MPC #8753.  In the past year, I now have two K-LIne versions, another Lionel version and two more coming this week, a 2332 and an MPC 8850 Penn Central.  

Sure, I would like to have the space to have them all on my layout, but that's not happening.  I just like the option to run what I like, when I like.

Lastly, 35 years ago I couldn't afford to buy too often.  Some things were bought on lay-away back then.  Now I have a bit more means to acquire stuff, so I do.  

What'sUpDoc? posted:

You put aside only so much space to hold all locos and cars.  Rule 1: Ifyou run out of space you must get rid of one piece if you buy another.  Rule 2: you are not allowed to expand the space that holds all your locos and cars.  If you can obey both rules you will maintain some degree of control over your buying habits.  HA!

Pretty much my rule. Whatever I have has to fit on the layout and I can't make the layout larger (it's space constrained anyway). This limits me to 8 engines. I've also limited myself to one roadname (Santa Fe). I am gathering some track and materials to do a little rearranging on my layout, so I will, at some point, have room for two more locomotives and consists. I never built shelving or under layout storage on purpose....

My other hobby is modifying cars. I have an old Ford Thunderbird I tinker with. My wife put the kibosh on more cars so trains it is. They are cheaper and easier to store than multiple project cars.

I don't have an upper limit per se, but I do limit my purchases to no more than 1 new engine a year.  So far that plan has worked for me.  In the 4 years since switching from HO I have acquired 4 engines (but I'm about to pull the trigger on number 5).  I also concentrate on my favorite roads  (PRR & NYC) and timeframe (1940s) which helps curb temptation to purchase an otherwise cool engine that doesn't fit my theme.  So far so good, but of course I reserve the right to alter this plan when tbe cool factor of a given engine so motovivates me!

superwarp1 posted:

You know you have to many when you can't afford, food, the roof over your head, the wife leaves you, or you need to join a support group for your addiction. 

I thought this was the support group! 

You know you have too many engines when you bring a new one home, only to discover that you already purchased the exact same thing a year or two earlier.

Ooops!!! 

When you sell all of you O gauge engines and have the money to purchase a new  1 to 1 scale EMD or GE locomotive, you may have too many O gauge engines.  But for me I'm looking for a good deal to purchase engine #35.

Is this a test question? This is like asking a women if she has TOO many shoes!

CBS072 posted:

When you sell all of you O gauge engines and have the money to purchase a new  1 to 1 scale EMD or GE locomotive, you may have too many O gauge engines.  But for me I'm looking for a good deal to purchase engine #35.

Oh... I thought it was #9....

Engine engine number 9

On the new york transit line

If your train falls off the track....

Pick it up, pick it up, Pick it UP!