I Model six railroads so when Lionel,MTH or Sunset bring one out that I don't have I have to Buy it, so it is about one loco a year but this has been going on for 67 years.
Mikey
CLIFFORD posted: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!
Well, I look at that ratio and say you have plenty of locos...
...time to bulk up on rolling stock to go with the motive power you already have.
After a quick roster count I have:
Conventional - 11 ( 4 diesel, 7 steam)
PS2/PS3 - 44 ( 36 diesel, 8 steam)
On preorder - 3 ( all diesel) Will probably be more when the new catalog comes out this month.
More than I thought I had but nowhere near too many. As long as you keep your budgetary priorities in order it doesn't matter how many trains you buy.
1. bills
2. groceries
3. trains
If you are skipping meals or not paying bills to buy trains you have a problem, otherwise buy what you want.
Spare no expense, stop counting, because it’s all for the Kids!
or Grandkids!
or Neighborhood kids!
When you have more locomotives than rolling stock.
Craignor posted:Spare no expense, stop counting, because it’s all for the Kids!
or Grandkids!
or Neighborhood kids!
Let's see - Kids are grown and have no interest, Grandkids have no interest, no kids in the neighborhood so that just leaves the 74 year old kid and he says maybe one more - AGAIN!
John F,
A man can never have enough O Gauge Trains, Fine Double Guns or Incredible Bamboo Fly Rods. Never let anybody tell you different, or make you feel guilty about owning them. Own as many as makes you happy.
PCRR/Dave
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When you can't get thru the doorway to enter your home.
too many engines? on a steam locomotive it's 3... or 4... or 5... oops, forgot about the triplex... 7! ... oh, wait, there's the air pumps... 8 & 9... and feedwater pumps 10, 11... hmm, i suppose there could be a booster engine... 12... and stoker... 13... and of course there are the generators... well, they're technically turbines, but they still run on steam... 14, 15... drat, i forgot about the bell ringer... maybe 16?
ever wonder why steam locomotives were so labor intensive?
20 years ago I built a layout that held all of my engines (24) with a 4-6 car consist, took it down years later. Wish I had kept it in tact.
My New Years resolution for 2018 was to run all of my engines and cars, after lube oil & check on a rotation complementing them with a change in cars, running on 4 tracks, sometimes 1 others up to 3 on a track at same time and some days changing out everything more than once, it took me 7 weeks to accomplish this.
But did I stop there of course not, I added to the rail lines, increased storage space and kept rolling along. I have 4 shelves ready for more!?$😂🤑🤪
I am definitely OCD about trains and loving it.
Don't know for sure but last year per my layout login spreadsheet I ran 101 different locos.
Bill
I have a grand total of I think 8 engines, with over half of them being steam. Though I have recently started into the hobby. I keep seeing engines I like, but I am unable to get them, because for one my wife would not be happy at the price, and two it is not a 19th Century Steam Engine which it the only locomotive my wife would want me to have. There are some that I absolutely want to get, but I need to try to find them on eBay or see if a Hobby shop has them, since the are not being offered anymore.
Glad to see I'm not the only one asking himself this question. I have WAY more than I can run or even fit on my layout. I could easily trim the roster, but there's something I like or can rationalize about keeping each engine I have. Mostly, I've gone for diversity and don't have a lot of duplicates. For example, I have 2 Junior Berks, but one is the green PRR and one is a black NKP, so they're both staying. I have a NYC Lionmaster Hudson, but "had to have" a K-line NYC semi-scale because they're so nice. I think those are my only duplicates.
Thinking about abandoning my Wabash GP-9s just to trim the number of road names and also because the GP's look a bit too big (near scale size) compared with my semi-scale/O27 roster. But, they are a beautiful set that I can justify keeping.
I have a proximately 45 locomotives on display. A combination of prewar and postwar and a combination of steamers, diesels and switchers. Before any locomotive goes on display in my train room they either run very good or excellent.The majority of the locomotives are pulling the consists of their original sets.
The one problem I have is when someone comes into my train room and they see a locomotive with its original consist and it brings back memories of their childhood they asked me if we can run that set. Unfortunately, sometimes that locomotive and set have been on display two or three years since I tuned the locomotive up and sometimes when I put it on the track it’s a little embarrassing that it doesn’t want to run and I have to do a quick lubrication job on it. Of course I have my favorites that I run almost consistently.
Jim
More then I need but not as many as I want!
How many engines are enough?
When I have one of every engine the Pennsylvania RR owned. Wait, they often double headed K4s on their passenger trains . . . and Decapods on their freight . . . and diesel engines . . . and I need GG1s in the different paint and stripe configurations . . . and gee I love the GN Empire builder, I need a passenger set with an A-B-B-A . . . I love Rutland Milk trains, I need a steam and diesel to pull that . . . and . . . and . . . and . . . . . . (I think I need help) 
Bill Makel posted:I have a friend who has several thousand pieces of various scales and countries of manufacture.
Bill,
I did not know you were my friend, but it describes me.
Regards
Fred
Despite what some may say, life is more than trains. Just in the financial sector alone, there needs to be perspective.
An excessive loco total should match excessive savings.
A common metric average used is expressed in multiples of annual earnings.
At age 40 we should have saved 3 times our annual gross earnings. At age 55 we need 7 times our annual gross. By age 67 we should have set aside 10 times our annual gross personal income.
These figures are a financial planners industry average and represent a bare minimum. Survival at best for some. However, sad to say, not representative of many in this country.
When tracking in excess of this guide line, it opens the door for hobby expenses.
I have reached the point of saturation. Not enough space to keep the trains. My attic is a fire hazard full of empty boxes. Not enough room in my remotes.Here is what I have.
Scott Smith
This thread has raised some good questions, how many Steamers, and Diesels, and Electrics are Enough? I have decided to model simply 5 Railroads, PA, NYC, UP, CSX, and Sante Fe. Now, I will do an inventory and everything not related to these particular Railroads will be listed here on the For Sale Forum. My prices will be fair, my equipment will be in Excellent Condition. This has made me aware that shelves full of trains, are simply not necessary. 
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scott.smith posted:I have reached the point of saturation. Not enough space to keep the trains. My attic is a fire hazard full of empty boxes. Not enough room in my remotes.Here is what I have.
Scott Smith
Great story, Scott.
"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"
I agree Dennis. I got up to a bit more than 70 when I had to tear the layout down to upgrade the circuit breaker box and replace the water pipes in the ceiling. I got up to 70 by running 37 trains simultaneously. I got to that point when Ron Cerise explained the "ALL" command and I found about double and triple headers/ MUs - permitting 4 consists running per loop. On the rebuild, I have scratched the itch and I am trying to lay out the layout so that my grandchildren can run them. To that end over 30 engines have been sold (at 50% off of my purchase price). Unfortunately that has not stopped my purchases except that I sell 2 engines for each engine I have purchased over the past 4 years with the largest switch being the Lionel Vison Big Boy for NH ABA F7s and 5 Weaver Black NH 21 inch cars (a purchase I should not have made given my issues with the cars). I do have three spare engines (SF Class 2900 to back up the E6's, Reading T1 to backup my Kline (proto2) F3, B&O F7 with its backup of my Kline Lt. Pacific B&O (proto2).). Three engines have not been on the layout yet (Kline - Proto 2 Reading Tank and my two SMR consists -One ERR/TMCC and one Proto 2) - I still have the 4th level to build and see what can and how many engines can run on it. I just updated my spreadsheet - excluding the 5 conventional engines given to my son, I have purchased 84 engines and sold 30.
Wow, some of you guys have A LOT of trains. Good for you.
The best thing about this thread is that I can print it out and keep handy for the next time my better half makes a crack about “more trains?” when a package arrives.
If l was still in HO, l would have a lot more shortline locos and cabooses, for so many more have been made, but l was just thinking about collecting brass shortline cabooses in the mud eighties when l rediscovered my child
J Daddy posted:Is this a test question? This is like asking a women if she has TOO many shoes!
To quote a character from a book my wife and I love, her husband to be asks her how many shoes does she need, and she says "one more than I have now"..so yep, just like engines *lol*.
Part of the problem with these kind of trains is there are multiple reasons to own them. With "modern" equipment, there are always new, neat things being issued or reissued we always wanted but couldn't/didn't get, for post war trains there is always (for some of us, anyway), that engine we loved we wanted in our collection, even if we don't run conventional. It is a market that combines running trains/operations with nostalgic collecting, so it makes it really hard to say no to something 'we always wanted" or is "neat". On the other hand, if you have post war engines sitting in boxes, not run or not on display, to me what is the point? Likewise, if you have modern "runners", and you aren't using them, then why keep them (and again, this is me, not commenting on what drives others
?. They say with things around the house that if you have something and never seem to use it, get rid of it, if you haven't been using it you likely won't in the future, and I think it is kind of like that with trains. Obviously, sometimes you have things, like trains you had as a kid your parents gave you or grandads trains, that have memories and you would like to pass them down that you otherwise don't run or cant' display, I have things like that
Continue ...mid eighties when l rediscovered my childhood trains. Left HO. I mostly acquire rolling stock and structures, for the engines are not made. (Saves a lot of $) Third Rail will hit a small one sooner or later, though. They were close with a recent small Q steamer. But generally there are no interesting engines to buy. Not true for HO brass, with infinite prototypes. Don't want to fool with small HO trains antnire., rhough.
Originally posted by LeapingLarry:
This thread has raised some good questions, how many Steamers, and Diesels, and Electrics are Enough? I have decided
to model simply 5 Railroads, PA, NYC, UP, CSX, and Sante Fe.
You know those 5 RR's right there have a LOT
of equipment in of themselves!
I have a Problem with just The following:
Pennsylvania RR
Modern Amtrak [OK falling back to Phase 1- SDP40F to Genesis P42] and
Modern Conrail [GP38- SD80]
Good Luck sticking to that Montra!
Tom Tee posted:Despite what some may say, life is more than trains. Just in the financial sector alone, there needs to be perspective.
An excessive loco total should match excessive savings.
A common metric average used is expressed in multiples of annual earnings.
At age 40 we should have saved 3 times our annual gross earnings. At age 55 we need 7 times our annual gross. By age 67 we should have set aside 10 times our annual gross personal income.
These figures are a financial planners industry average and represent a bare minimum. Survival at best for some. However, sad to say, not representative of many in this country.
When tracking in excess of this guide line, it opens the door for hobby expenses.
When You state "Savings" are you including savings investments, 401k retirement and Value of home? Or is it just what you should have in your bank account for easy access and the Retirement money is Separate. 
Inquiring Minds would like to know.
I have about 40 engines in my roster. However, given my limited amount of siding and shelf space, I usually have to sell something in order to make room for my latest purchase. I'm one of those people that does not want to have too many engines to where some or most don't get a good run in over longer or extended periods of time. I can only run two trains (three if you count the DCS capabilities of my longer outer loop of track on the layout) at a time.
prrhorseshoecurve posted:Tom Tee posted:Despite what some may say, life is more than trains. Just in the financial sector alone, there needs to be perspective.
An excessive loco total should match excessive savings.
A common metric average used is expressed in multiples of annual earnings.
At age 40 we should have saved 3 times our annual gross earnings. At age 55 we need 7 times our annual gross. By age 67 we should have set aside 10 times our annual gross personal income.
These figures are a financial planners industry average and represent a bare minimum. Survival at best for some. However, sad to say, not representative of many in this country.
When tracking in excess of this guide line, it opens the door for hobby expenses.
When You state "Savings" are you including savings investments, 401k retirement and Value of home? Or is it just what you should have in your bank account for easy access and the Retirement money is Separate.
Interesting guidelines. I also wondered if that assumes full Social Security as a supplemental source of income. My SS statement says I will only receive 75% of my benefit at full retirement age of 67.
I'm betting the value of the home is not considered, but probably assumes your mortgage is paid off of close to paid off by retirement.
Don't want to hijack the thread, but would be interested if poster could send a link.
When You state "Savings" are you including savings investments, 401k retirement and Value of home?
No thoughts on Tom Tee's post.
Personally, I don't see the value of ones home as being part of savings. Everybody needs to live somewhere. And nobody knows where the real estate market might be when it comes time to cash in.
I know folks who were counting on liquidating their collection of stuff to pay for retirement.
Too bad the "stuff" market is off considerably these days, and may never recover.
The original poster wrote that his space was maxed out.
That is one of two metrics I use to determine whether I have too many trains:
Am I out of space?
Am I spending money that should go elsewhere?
Space is easy to address: clear out stuff you can live without.
Money is a bit more difficult: sell stuff to generate money for new stuff. The problem comes when one decides that they want something they sold. In my experience the replacement item always cost more than you got for the one you sold, and might not even be in as nice condition.
It has been a over a year since I helped dispose of a friend's large O scale train collection. Matt I.'s collection was shelved in his garage, and several rooms of their home. Most was trucked to Ambrose Bauer for auction. Approximate net value of retail price paid was about 15%. Not what you really want to call an investment.
Social Security is always a part of the picture. Note that in most cases your value/bank deposit, we don't do checks any more, is increase by 1/2 your value for your wife/partner, Or you can both collect your own, which ever is the larger value. One partner dies, the value is reduced significantly. The $225 death benefit is paid to the funeral home, when the undertaker reports the death. Kind of the way the Gov. keeps track of who is still around.
The other part of the Social Security discussion is early retirement. Medicare, not part of this discussion is available at age 65, you must sign-up when you turn 65. Heath care benefits are a huge part of the retirement calculation. Social Security can be had as early as 61. You maximum benefit at your designated retirement age is reduce by 8% per year, calculated consecutively.
After 2 years of retirement, it appears that every day expense, is pretty much double/or more, what Social Security would provide, even at the max values. Sad to note that many retirees exist on nothing but Social Security. One of the few luxuries, I afford myself, is breakfast at the local coffee shop/restaurant, each morning, again, sad to note, that there are morning I set at the counter, by myself.
I could be wrong and often, there has to be a financial planner, who has trains. 
I have the sign"My wife tells me if I buy one more train she will leave me. Gee I will miss her" She is still here so I guess I don't have enough. When I packed to move I found locomotives that i did not know I had. There is not enough "0"'s behind any number will be enough!
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.
Don't forget the trunk of your car!
Social Security is always a part of the picture.
If a person has other income that is taxable, there is a possibility your social security benefits will be taxed too.
It is on a sliding scale. The more taxable income, the larger the percentage of your benefit that will be taxed.
Many states tax social security too.
ADCX Rob posted:CLIFFORD posted: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!
Well, I look at that ratio and say you have plenty of locos...
...time to bulk up on rolling stock to go with the motive power you already have.
The problem with this idea is that these things are not interchangeable; they - the locos - are not commodities (50 lbs of wheat is 50 lbs of wheat, but this 4-8-4 is not the same as that 4-8-4) to be bought and sold because of quotas. ("I have plenty of Pacifics." "Yeah? Which Pacifics?")
Of course, as a primarily steam guy, I often deal with locomotives that are much more individualistic (by class and type, not so much as individuals) than most diesel electrics. Steam, typically, is not merely a "paint scheme" collection. And I'm a rail fan, so the prototypes weigh heavily on me when I admire and perhaps purchase a loco. I have said before that modern motive power "rail fanning" is as much "paint fanning" as anything else.
I have far more RR stuff than I want. My purchases are approaching zero*. I am trying to sell some of it. Not easy for two reasons: One, I live in a small-market (for model RR'ing) area - like most areas, and Two, I start looking at them and I run into mostly "oh, I don't want to sell that one" in my head. And I have some really odd and interesting stuff that few would want.
I need to put some on the Forum Buy/Sell again, but then I have to ship them....
* I did just receive 2 - one for me and one for a friend - new Atlas Trainman GM&O covered hoppers from Legacy Station. So - not Zero yet. There are things that I would buy if they would make them. But they won't.
Savings refers to both qualified and non qualified cash. That encompasses all lump sums whether or not they are in a tax deferred account. Qualified refers to tax deferred accounts like IRA, 401K, etc.
Any income stream such as SS or pension is not considered. The former statement covers just cash.
You should be able to search something like "how much should I be savings" and come up with similar numbers.
Personal residence value is not factored.
Generally speaking, for investment value, model trains are one of the most unfavorable expenditures, isolated circumstances aside.
There is a tremendous hobby value to model anything, we just need to be financially honest with ourselves.
The premise of advertising is to make you feel incomplete without that "whatever" product or feature.
You should be able to search something like "how much should I be savings" and come up with similar numbers.
Tom Tee: Sounds like you are a financial person, or at least well schooled on the subject. What percentage of folks have as much saved as they should.
Any income stream such as SS or pension is not considered. The former statement covers just cash.d up as they should?
Why shouldn't social security or pensions be considered? Is it out of concern that the pension might disappear?
Too many trains is like too much fun.......no such thing.
C.W............
Those numbers are very scary. There is a variety of ways to measure that informtion and they spit out different numbers but all the numbers are extremely poor.
I will not give the numbers because of variables and ways of working the metrics, search for your self:
look at the average credit card balance of those who have a balance.
Amount of actual cash the average person has at age 65.
What percentage of people who can put their hands on $400 within 24 hours?
What is the average net worth at retirement of US citizens?
Percentage of folks who live paycheck to paycheck.
Student loan balances of adults.
How many parents of adults have student loans for the children. Balance per parent's age.
How many parents are financing the child and grandchildren due to abuse of any kind?
Mortgage balances of those on SS?
Granted, information gleaned will be population based and not a direct reflection of model RRers.
In fact Model RRers as a whole are in a better per capita range according to somewhat recent survey.
The thing to bear in mind is that the above facts are where we are as a country. The financial future is bleak at best. Save your money, spend responsibly, do not assume other's debt, keep your powder dry. (have powder to keep dry).
When caring for any relative not your spouse do not sign any medical form put in front of you for any reason.
A recent pol asked "How is your retirement funded?" Three of the top five responses were:
Win the lottery.
Lawsuit.
Inheritance.
=High lack of personal responsibility.
Another popular option:
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