How Much Do You Spend?

In mine, it's a fairly significant chunk of change.

 

More than my wife knows and less than I'd like. 

  I'm fortunate and have had a good amount of disposable income all of my life. I spent early on, every year and still spend what I want BUT my spending has always been guided by a VALUE judgment. For instance I run my layout with two late 50's era ZW transformers. Sure I think that the ZW -L is great but my layout runs just fine with the old ZW's. Same with the Scale Hudson. I could afford a rare 1937  5344 scale Hudson for several thousand but I could never justify the cost. My 5340's look nearly the same and run on the layout fine. Plus the people who see the layout don't know the difference anyway. I realized long ago that what we collect are just toys and nothing more. A toy to me is worth $100's at best, not thousands on something that in all likelihood not be worth much when we check out.

I still attend about 4-5 shows/meets per year but my purchases are held to about $300/yr right now because I have more trains that I could ever run. My train layout has four loops and two passing sidings. I can run/ display 6-8 train sets at once so what am I doing with 30 sets?????? I guess that when the layout is done some serious shelf work will need to be installed.

Whoa!  Fertilizing or mowing the lawn is no more a hobby at my house than washing dishes or cars, laundry, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, painting, scrubbing the bowl or taking out the trash.




What, me worry?

Once I decided on what road, then type of rolling stock I wanted to use it has become decreasingly expensive.  Most of us go on a buying spree at the beginning and then regret buying so many things we will not use and end up selling it off.  Now that I have limited myself on roads etc I only buy what I really want, no impulse buys anymore....You will be surprised how much that helps keep costs in line......IMHO.  

Funny thing is I see model railroads and gardening as having almost the same appeal. Both are essentially nothing more than creating your own perfect little world. Sure, you get to run trains on a layout but the gardening folks would point out that they can eat some of the fruits of their labors while also increasing the value of their homes. 

 

The only part about model railroading that occasionally makes my head spin is the cost of the little things that seem to add up when you're building a layout. I'm redoing my layout right now and can't believe how much I'm spending in little things like spade connectors and such. Has been worth it - proper wiring has made a very noticeable difference in how well my trains run. 

I hold down hobby expenses by buying used and building scratch where I can.  Actually I enjoy the building and repairing more than just paying top dollar for new.  I have bought only one engine new, a K-line GG1.

 

Another point in my favor is I like vintage as in 50's trains and 60's hi fi stereos.  These can be found at good prices at train meets of old, garage sales.  I try to pay cheaper than ebay completed auction prices. It is now hard to pay cheaper on trains but I buy fixer uppers but still possible to buy much cheaper on vintage stereo.  I tell my adult children the trains and stereos are a large part of their inheritance!

 

Charlie

Sure this hobby is expensive.It's when you get 4 or 5 of them going at the same time that it really gets bad!

For a long, long, long time I was thrilled to just be able to buy one O-27 freight car a year.   After lots of life's dues were paid, the new bigger home became reality and the fun began!!

 

As far as trains go, for as long as it lasts, I'm having a blast!  Sometimes I pick up a boat load, sometimes I come home with nothing, it all depends on what talks to me.  My wife enjoys the hobby along with me and we have fun planning the layout.

 

But it's not without a plan.  As I will enjoy a layout that can fit many eras and styles, we have eight (as of now) Grandchildren to pass them on to someday.

 

Besides, the value of the fun, happiness, sharing and all the wonderful friends we've met through this hobby and this forum in incalculable. 

Gentlemen,

   I agree with both Spence and Ray, this by no means is a test run, and the people I have met in this hobby really make the hobby great.  Being the private conservative

person that I am, I judge people by the company they keep, and what they participate in.  We have a great bunch here on the OGR, each participates in our hobby as he can afford too.  I will tell you this, I have risked my life for this country many times, I expect people to use the freedom that we have provided as they most desire.  The cost

of this hobby is only money, the cost of your freedom to participate, has been very very high.  We are all free to participate at the level we can most afford, and that to me, is all that counts. 

PCRR/Dave

 

TOO MUCH - tens of thousands over the last forty-plus years! 

 

Probably $60,000 -$70,000.  

 

NOTE: Does NOT include any custom layouts - ONLY locos, rolling stock and accessories from Gauge One live steam (Aster, Roundhouse) to prewar standard gauge, Lionel O/027 postwar, MPC, Kughn era, and modern, plus MTH tinplate and O gauge. WHEW!

 

Also quite a collection of AHM Rivarossi HO locos in the early 1970's.

I tend to be concerned about the cost, but I attribute that to Scottish blood.  ;-)  However, I agree with what many forum members have stated that if you have it to spend, why not.  My hobby spending has gone up and down over the years depending on our income and necessary expenses.  At one time, both my wife and I were working, with no kids, and I spent more on the hobby than when she stayed at home with two little ones.  In fact, when I got out of HO, I didn’t put the money into O gauge, but into tuition for the kids.  Since then, I have had the ability to buy a very modest amount of O gauge rolling stock, but it will be enough for the modest layout I will have room for.  As I close in on retirement, I intend to buy layout building materials, so my hobby costs will be minimal when I have less income than now.  Also as many others have said, the friendships and stress relief are invaluable.

Whatever's left after bass strings, guitar strings, vacuum tubes, and hookers and blow.  IOW that's my business and none of yours.  Why do you ask?

 

Pete

Vacuum tubes? I remember those...there was a machine at the drug store where

you could test them...when your TV went out...all that to get 3 - count 'em, 3 -

channels, plus "educational television". Who makes such things anymore?

 

Of course some people still have locomotives that buzz.

D500,

   Watch out now, my original 263E still has a beautiful buzz going, and she runs like brand new with my DCS remote control, ya got to love the Buzz.  You got to appreicate the history man.

PCRR/Dave

If you want your electric guitar to sing through an amp tubes are the only way to go.  Still available.  Truth.  Check it out.

 

Pete

So true Lee. When you see the big RV's, boats, cars, whatever some people are into, trains is not such an expensive hobby, and you only buy what you want over time. You may end up with 30K or more worth of trains, but you can't buy a big boat in bits and pieces.

We live near the ocean, and my wife's brothers all have boats. Much more expensive than trains. 

As with any hobby: more than I should, less than I'd like to.

As Much as I want. I have no limit. If I like it, I buy it.

Not enough; I keep getting obstructed by my wallet going dry.

Well I have two college educations I need to save...and someday I hope to retire. Between all of that, taxes and everything else I really limit myself to one motive power purchase a year and 6-8 cars a year.  I always hope that MTH has only one CSX unit per catalog. 

If I read the original post right, you seem to be saying that the price to become a Premium member of this forum is $350. If true, seems pretty steep to me.

I have come to the conclusion that after collecting,selling and buying all these years that this hobby is like some uncontrollable disease. Even tho it offers peace of mind,solitude,and a feeling of opening presents at Christmas. It is expensive and can be a burden in later life when one wonders what to do with a vast collection. It is a disease that I can not seem to come at grips with nor am I sure I want to yet.  But you know when its done, I will have some of the best memories,best train shows,best friends,best events that one could ever ask for. In the end thats what were all going to have anyway is only the memories. 

 

 

well lets see I by most of my stuff on auction sites so I don't pay high dollar. it's funny I was just talking about this this morning with my father we talk trains but he's not into them. which is cool. I was watching the lionel video about the big boy and he walked in he goes wow that looks real yep I said but with the price on it of 2699 I will never own it I said (unless some body wants to purchase it for me ) I just don't see spending that much on a train. it's cool it really is but I can't bring myself to spend that. my train hobby is cheap compared to my other hobbies. I have a 1986 Iroc Camaro that I sunk about 10000 into last summer. and god knows how much over the 6 years I have owned it. so is this hobby cheap nope but it is cheaper than my other one. here's a list of what I did to the car last summer before it's first show
rebuilt the 73 ls6 454
rebuilt the th400 stage one clutches and shift kit
new drive shaft
new crossmember
new radiator and fans
new sound system
new complete steering
new exhaust 3 inch
new paint (hugger orange)
new graphics
and I know I am forgetting little odds and ends
the white car is what I started with 6 years ago.

the multi colored car is the black car next to the orange one in the garage that's what it started out like. I do all the work myself Paint and all

 

I saw them back in 79 at Hammerjacks!!!

 

Jerry

I live in CA. I can't afford anything!!!! 

I'm seriously into maritime and naval history as another hobby and folks always ask me why I don't own a boat - a big one, too.  I tell them that from observation of many, many friends over the years, I have determined that you do no own a boat: it owns you.  

 

Lee posted:

 

I tell them that from observation of many, many friends over the years, I have determined that you do no own a boat: it owns you. 

 

From personal experience....  I concur completely! 

A lot of interesting views and commentary. Before I started selling at York, I limited myself to $300 at each York. This included travel, food and train purchases. For Allentown, I would take less then half of that. My buys included only rolling stock, some of which were birthday and Christmas gifts.Any engines I bought were from a friend who lives nearby. Since I'm out of room, and don't have a layout, the only trains I buy for myself are club cars we offer on another forum I belong to.I do have a suspended layout under a covered patio attached to my workshop, but that hasn't seen much use lately. I still pick up rolling stock as gifts for friends and family. 

I no longer have to budget funds from savings, as purchases come from profits from sales at both York and Allentown. I also buy occasionally from E-Bay, but again, strictly for gifts, or to get a hopper or gondola as a template for loads I make. Until at least one of my sons moves out, I won't be buying anything for my own collection, as I'm already using the attic of a neighbor's garage to store my empty boxes. I can't even display the club cars from this past year!

Besides playing guitar and percussion and singing in our church choir, I don't have any other hobbies, so it's not a matter of choosing one over the other, just space. As some of the other posters have mentioned, I too won't spend the big bucks on engines, especially because I can't run them as I'd like to. 

Nice Camaro!

Don

Trains give me pleasure. They are relaxing and fun. The gov't has no interest in how many I buy, where I keep them, or what I do with them. My friends think I am odd but harmless. Some may even like the trains.

 

When you are 64 and something makes you feel like a kid again it is worth the money.

 

As I get older, God willing, my other hobbies will fade to finance this one.

 

But the cost of the hobby is a legitimate question. Those are my answers.

I am pleased to have reached the point where incidentals exceed the mortgage payment and I can actually afford both! 

Too much, again!

I save up and then buy what I can afford.  Still working on finishing the track (still want to add 3 more sidings and change out manual for remote switches).  I have been buying rolling stock off and on for the last 25 years (mostly Christmas boxcars). Currently running traditional but got a lionel chief set this last Christmas and I like the remote so, I am now looking at Command/Control systems.  Paying for the kids' college and grad schools takes priority.

So do I.

 

It is really something how such a simple subject can get side-tracked. When I said $350.00 this was just for magazine subscriptions, club memberships, professional publications and the like.

We can keep going the route it's taken now. Anyway, it makes for good reading.

sometimes toooooooo much and other times not enough. Been to several shows where I past over an item, only to get home and wish that I had purchased it. And other times (though not many), bought an item only to have it sit on the shelf.