if the well dried up...

I am already building my own cars, because nobody offers much of what I want, but I

don't have the skills or want to make the investment in shop tools, to build my own

locomotives...or I most certainly would...such as a three rail Mack railbus, a three

rail Little River 2-4-4-2, a small two truck Heisler, that cancelled McKeen car, a......the list goes on and on..

I could get buy without ever buying another loco, but I am glad I won't have to.  

I've built a few rolling stock, and one "scratch built" loco (an articulated 2-4-4-2, using drives and all salvaged from swap meet locos, just to see if I could).  But I doubt I would built any more, just keep and run what I have.

I think I have enough rolling stock to keep the locos busy.I have the correct cabooses matching the loco roadnames. I have enough of my favorite locos in my modest collection, and of those, the necessary passenger, freight, and switcher types. There is one more loco I "need" before things dry up, I have some NYC heavyweights that "need" some head end power. Yea I know, not very original, but once I aquire this last one, I'd have enough,sure there would be others I'd like to have......but this one I "need".

Ditto! And it might make me start my layout instead of planning over and over.

I have enough locos and rolling stock to last 3 lifetimes.  As far as structures are concerned I'd be quite comfortable and happy to build my own.  Scenic materials are free, just keep you eyes open.  Lumber is free, just visit the scrap generated on a building site. I would be quite comfortable with my trains if I never spent another $.

I'm not qualified to answer that but...

I've got four tables at the next train show to sell the excess. Does that answer the question?

Stop it, Marty. Just stop it! There's no need to withdraw...; unless, you're feeling guilty about something? Well Marty... are you feeling guilty about something?

JUST PULLING YOUR TAIL, lad; as you were...

Re: the well going dry - here, at Rick's Train House(RTH), we'll be offering rubber band and string operating systems(virtually, foolproof).

It probably would turn into a type of MAD MAX(rail warrior) scenario; with the have nots trying to ambush and swipe from... the well-stocked collectors among us.

I'm good... if my tastes stays as is - diesels and electrics; but, if I eventually get the steam bug...

Rick

Yes,

Yes,

Maybe.

(Thanks for those thoughtful questions)

I actually have more than enough of what I like, want, or need.  Every manufacturer and dealer could go out of business tomorrow and I could easily make do--nicely--with what I already have.

But since that situation is not all all likely to develop in the near or even not-so-near future, I will continue to take advantage of the bounty of treasure that has been offered to us since the early 1990s.

Allan,

I'm sure there's quite a few of us that are not wanting... when it comes to O gauge equipment. We've reached that relaxed content stage, many moons ago; yet, we still enjoy getting something new.

Rick

My personal well has dried up.  Not much else out there undone that I would want. (really can't think of a single piece!)

I realize now I bought way too much.  I've been selling off quite a bit within the past year or so, and still have a handful of engines to dispose of.

Perfect timing for that question. Last night I was looking at my layout thinking of all the little things I want to do. Make realistic loads for my ore cars. Run the telephone lines. Update some wiring. Things like that. 

I quickly figured I could spend years doing things like that. I would have a ball doing it. I told myself to stop buying for awhile and have fun catching up on the to do lists.  

Then I took my iPad and read the new catalogs in bed for a bit...I realized that I would never stop buying...the stuff is just too darn attractive. Only way I would stop buying is if I became a hermit. I always wanted a two truck Shay. Reading the OGR article last night on it made me want to find an all night LHS and go buy it right then. 

So yes I have enough for this lifetime and no I will not stop buying. Good thing modern medicine keeps expanding our life span. 

I've been blessed that I've got more trains than I ever dreamed of when I was a kid.  So if they stopped making new trains tomorrow, I'd get by just fine.  Nowadays I only buy stuff with new tooling that has not been made before.

I'm still looking for:
Boston and Maine 10-wheeler

Boston and Maine Pacific #3713

Boston and Maine/Maine Central 44 tonner

Maine Central/Portland Terminal Alco HH-660 switcher

Maine Central E7 and 18" passenger cars

Bangor and Arootook E7 and 18" passenger cars

If MTH or Lionel came out with a Maine Central or Bangor and Aroostook F3, I'd be in for more F units, even though I already have several sets of Fs.

The well dried up in S Scale when Sanda Kan booted out most of their customers.  But there were still products to be found, one just had to look a little harder.

It's not like all model trains dissapeared from the face of the earth during this time.

Doubtless there were some that switched scales, considered it, got caught up on projects during the drought (I finally got around to painting some locomotives bought well over a decade ago...) or poked around with something else.

Now, the S drought is ending and well is beginning to fill up again.  Good things come to those who wait.

Rusty

I'm 70, and when my "new stuff" conks-out, my postwar engines will keep running 'till I stop running.

With advancing years and declining disposable income used for freely spending on motive power and rolling stock as at too many times in the past, a major purchase is highly unlikely today. I expect there are many in my 1930s generation with the same circumstances and outlook as we negotiate today's economic uncertainty. My 24 year buildup of inventory of scale Southern and N&W Locomotives and rolling stock that I have never, or will no longer run is already top heavy. 

Having retreated to a much simpler layout in a small attic, I have redirected my focus and much leaner budget toward structures and fronts. Built by the likes of Joe Fauty at Model Structures and the unique 084 curved Depot built by David Duhamel some time back to fit the scarce trackside space on a small layout. These guys are really good and a great asset at reasonable costs for wobbly COFs with hand tremors.

Most of my tinplate rolling stock and engines came from Marx, Flyer, Unique Arts etc that vanished decades ago. Plenty of stuff available. Plenty of sources for parts. Some are over eighty years old. I have enough to have fun with what I have despite the fact that everything I have could be considered obsolete.

Certainly I would try to scratch build trestles, bridges, buildings, etc. Let us hope your scenario never happens...

I have enough in the derelict / repair pile to keep me going for the remainder of my days without adding anything new.

All the current manufacturers could shut down production, and while I think that would be unfortuneate, I would not be impacted one bit. I don't buy any new, or recently made trains.

From new stuff does old stuff sprout. 

What is new gets old, what is old gets older.  If there's no new stuff, there won't be anything to get old.

Rusty

The old stuff I buy usually works, and almost always can be repaired if it doen't. I probably have any required parts on hand.

The same cannot be said about the newer stuff, which generally isn't of interest to me.