How much is enough?

I have lost count...   I guess that means (according to my wife atleast) that I have too many pieces. The problem: There are more locomotives that I want! The solution: Sell what cars I feel I may rarely or perhaps never run. Funds can't keep up with demand!!

Cobrabob.

I knew years ago that I had too much. To the fact not sure how many engines or how many freight cars. My layout is in the attic and will never get any larger then 27 by 12. I have not rotated cars or engines on the layout in 3 years. I find it hard to say to myself I have to downsize but after all the years of buying what I wanted at the time I find I do not want to part with them. Some of them was just the fun of locating them and the rest of them was because I wanted certain road names. Now that the weather is turning colder I will change out what is out and find I have things I forgot about. The journey will start over again.   Paul

Right on the mark, Andy. 

How much is enough? How much space do you have?

I fall into the reasoning and situation as Paul2. I have a 10'x18' layout that can't be enlarged. I have 4 times the motive power and rolling stock that can be displayed on the layout at any one time. So...I rotate the inventory on the layout when I tire of operating what is there. Occasionally I will sell a piece that no longer interests me...and then suffer "sellers" remorse. But...I have applied the brakes on additional purchases...and so far have been able to resist.

My layout is about 16 X 28 single level at this time.I have no idea how many I have. If it ever ran through N.C, S.C, or Tenn. I go for it. If I can keep UPS, FED X and the PO using the secret delivery place from my wife, then I'll keep doing well.

1 beer is to much and 24 is not enough. same same with TRAINS.

Larry

It's easy to get obsessive about this hobby. I only have a 9 by 9 layout, but yet I have according to my Collector Dash inventory I have 776 train items.

http://www.collector-modeltrai...howcase/Scott_Smith/

If you think I am bragging, I am not. My lack of self-control is something I will joke about but it is not a point of pride. One day I would like to have a large layout, however I have seriously over purchased trains. So there I have said it I have more than enough--and at this time next year I will have more than enough + a few more trains.

Scott Smith

I believe some here think that the only way you can enjoy this hobby is to buy, buy, buy. The truth of the matter is there is no magic number, and if you are looking to find happiness through the aquisition of material things you will never find contentment. So my guess is if you aren't happy with 11 engines, you probably won't be happy with 111.

It's a trick question. It's impossible to answer. Marisa Tomei couldn't answer it. My cousin Vinny couldn't answer it. There's never enough.

Gerry

I believe someone put this question to Hugh Hefner years ago...

     .....he just laughed.  

- Mike

Marisi Tomei?  I'll answer it like this.  On it's way to me is a mint condition Lionel #6-11863 original TMCC Southern Pacific GP9 from 1998.  This is a mate for the 1996 SP GP9 and the last piece in a puzzle I have been putting together since about March this year, a little after I started checking out this forum.  I will now own every cataloged TMCC GP7/9 except for two, which I believe were never made, the green GTW GP9 and the US Army GP9m.  I've got all the lashups and sets that came with each engine.  It is a fun collection to have.  I love them all.  I think I will have 33 Geeps after I break in the coveted SP #6-11863.  That's enough! 

I am looking at the TMCC SD40-2s... 

http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=77487015&ac=now

   I like James Coffey answer.

Bill

   Remember if you double-head you have only half as many!  If you put on a pusher (N&W) you barely have enough!

I like the limiters of being able to 'park 'em on the layout' instead of a shelve or a box, as well as following an interest or theme. I've 'churned' my collection over the years to follow new interests - selling the old to get the new - and I enjoy being able to eyeball what's on the layout - reminds me what I have to run.

Its like the old saying !!! There were 2, Bulls up on a hill !!! They were lookin down in the Pasture at the 10 cows!!! The young Bull said to the Old bull lets run down there and nail one of those cows!!!The Old Bull said lets be smart take our time getting there.  We  will nailem all 

I think Frank (Moonson) has the best of both worlds. He builds wonderful "scenic modules", which he loves to do...then offers many of them for sale. He can sit in his booth at York and hear people praise his work for 3 days. This is a good example of enjoying the hobby for reasons other than buying stuff.

Never read (or listen to) your own reviews!

As to the the topic - Enough is too much.

Pete

Common sense.  Common sense and toy trains begins with someone challenging the idea of the hobby in the first place as if at my middle age I had a unsatisfied infantile fixation. Another said it was control of a safe little world. Someone else said I was selfish. My take is the hobby has nothing to do with common sense. Why do people collect art? Why do artists paint? Why do folks appreciate it? For me all of this is more like an art, an opportunity to be creative, to do something counter to most of my life which was running errands for someone else just to keep my place in line. To me,  keeping a balance between obligations and whatever spare time I have by pursuing all the facets of the hobby prevents me from being a autonomic drone. How much is enough? One man's common sense is another's lunacy. My take is that folks in glass houses should not throw stones. I have enough, enough projects..enough variety after developing a sense of what I do like ( I think everyone starts out wanting one of everything) and culling the rest. Eventually most develop common sense about this, or end up with never learning we will never have enough toys if we are honest about having to have the latest thing. I told my employees that I can teach them most things but I cannot teach common sense.

Common sense should establish that balance you talk about but it also tells me just not to bother to try to justify my hobbies. I just never try or  bother to justify the hobby to anyone but myself and I make certain I never judge others in that regard either. 

Our interests and our hobbies are personal and up to each of us.    I have a good friend, my age, who makes intricate wooden swords and bizarre costume jewelry so he can dress up and attend "anime" conventions to act out fantasies about vampire hunting.  I really don't get that at all, but I treasure our friendship and his hobby certainly adds fun and color to my world whever we meet.  I'm not sure how much he likes my model trains, but he's always shown an interest, out of respect for me if not because he has "an inn er three year old" that loves them, like everyone does.

Certainly I have exceeded that "too much" definition.  I really can't add more rolling stock to my layout, which is moderately large with some 750' of track and 66 switches.  So, some of my "stuff', sits in boxes under the layout, waiting for a chance to operate.  But, I will be taking a number of items that I simply "had to have" to several train shows to thin out my collection (or better termed, conglomeration).  I kprobably own some 40 or 50 operable diesels, that is equipped with either TMCC or DCS, and probably another 20 steam engines and 5 electrics, also ready for operation. 

So what's the choice?  There are still a number of engines (I limit myself to Milwaukee Road and C&NW rolling stock) that I would like to see built and would purchase.  But some of the duplicates, some other roads, some non-favorites, just have to go.

See me at York for some good deals!

Paul Fischer

Currently, I have "too much" rolling stock and Engines. 

It will not all fit on the layout, not even close.

I have 2 complete consists in the shipping cartons.

(They have both been run but went back in boxes due to lack of storage on the layout)

There are 5 engines on the tracks and there is one more on order. Each has a powered siding to sit on with a consist (except the one on order, need another siding there).

I have 2 docksiders and 2 Galloping goose units on the plywood with the Phantom.

I didn't count the older conventional engines, at least a couple in set boxes.

Those are used for temporary kids layouts at family gatherings.

SO

I'm expanding the layout from 6.5' X 23.5' to 11' X 23.5' around the walls.

It will have a 3' X 8' hidden yard underneath for extra on rail storage.

This has the wonderful benefit of eliminating 2 crawl-under points to fix problems on the back half. The stairs will now end inside the layout.

A Drop section is needed to access the back part of the basement, but this is not a big problem, in the summer It has walk in access from outside and in the winter it's too cold to use. I just need to be able to get the Christmas decorations thru twice a year, once each way.

for my new two rail layout, I have 1 steam engine and 1 diesel engine. 8 of the 12 passenger cars, and 82 freight cars. my pacific will go to 2 rail after the 4 other passenger cars and I buy 2 rail track.

for my old 3 rail layout, my children will each get one train and then the rest is going up for sale.

Going in, I knew I'd have to have some self-imposed limitations.  My plan has always been:

- Diesels, not steam.

- No more than two roads.

- Nothing new, used only.

- One manufacturer.

- The most action possible in the smallest layout space possible.

This has allowed me to have a more visible start and finish to my layout and has been a dramatic help in keeping the scope and financial impact from getting out of hand.