It can still be a budget hobby....

While not retired yet, I have a small trains budget myself.  I love seeing all the expensive locomotives with the latest features here on the forum, at shows, and at people's homes, and I do not feel bad I can't buy any.  I am happy with my small roster of used locos and some recent but reasonably priced rolling stock.

 

Dave

With 2 girls in college, my budget is limited too. I like Dave's pick up and hope to find some Weaver rolling stock still made in USA. 

Dave,

   Great Weaver Box Car pick up at a great price.  Depending on how she sit on the track you may not need to add any weight at all.  I just Picked up an Atlas O Steam Era Master Series PL&E Tuscan Box car for 34.00 and free shipping.  Keeping the cost in check with our hobby is now a full time operation for most of us retired guys, I just might try to pick up a couple more of these PL&E Box cars at that price and have them all shipped together.   Could not find any of the Atlas WAG Wood Sides any place.  I really do like the Green Weaver Box Cars also, way cool stuff!

PCRR/Dave

Almost everything I've purchased since re-entering the hobby has been on clearance or big sale, or used here on the forum. If it's not 40% + off then I probably didn't get it new.

 

That being said, I did manage to spring for the BB, but I've spent the last year planning for that. It's likely the only "full on" purchase I've made, with exception of some smaller items (track pieces and some scenery stuff.) Oh, and the Legacy controller system I had pre-ordered and finally showed up last summer.

 

I enjoy the chase of getting deals, as I suspect many do. I keep up with current prices on things I might be interested in, and when I see it's right I jump right on it, if I'm the lucky one who see it first. A fixer-upper can be a great opportunity as well, with a bit of sweat equity filling in for higher purchase prices.

 

.

I started with ONE SP&S boxcar, then a train set, then....more. I have been happy all they way down the road.

PhilInAustin,

   I like to go to the Train shows, have one here tomorrow in Monroeville, I usually find a nice Tin Plate Car or a piece of good Woodside Atlas rolling stock at the Train Shows, for more than reasonable money, it definitely helps me controls the out flow of capital for the hobby.  The Christmas Box Cars have become seriously expensive, finding the nice ones for reasonable money has become a real challenge.

PCRR/Dave

 

 

I like to fix things that are broken. That keeps purchase costs low.

 

Another technique to control costs is to buy the last generation of something when the latest generation comes out.

Fantastic!  Something like this is a joy to find.  Good show!

Yeah, everything we do here is budget minded. I wish I could spend freely & order all sorts of new items right out of the catalog but there's just no way. Fixer uppers are fine, or older items. 

While I really only have a self-imposed budget that is philosophically limiting, when I can take this car....

 

 

to this car,

 

 

and have a load of fun while doing, I'm good with staying in that same budget.

 

My only issue is that I tend to accumulate too many restored and resurrected cars as an end point.

 

Things could be ever so much worse,

Truly a work of art, Martin.

 

Dave--great find on the reefer! 

 

I'm always on a budget. 

 

--Greg

Some reason I have become looking for woodsided reefers that I have started buying the Lionel 5700 series weathered reefers.

Stunning reefer MWB.

I have some budget price rolling stock for sale right now on the forum." 1/48 rolling stock".

 

Clem k 

There is SO much older stuff out there from previous eras and at very low prices. You just need to look a bit and you will find plenty to choose from.

Also, remember that not everything will (or should) be bought all in a year or two. If you buy a couple of cars and maybe one engine every year, just add up what you'll have in ten!  Keep that in mind and it makes the planning even more fun than it already is.

I too like orphan cases and fixing them up. Your example is FANTASTIC!

I built that same reefer in HO......now I need  one in O!

Trains are like any other hobby, they eat up whatever you are comfortable spending.

Yes, it indeed need not cost the world - and that does not rule out having some really nice things.

Coming from me, that's funny. Mr. Scale Articulated. Mr. I-need-another-NYC-Hudson.

 

But some of my greatest kicks in this insane pursuit have been some of the cheapest.

$10 cars; $100 locomotive projects. The Marx 666 shells I spliced and put on a $50

K-line small Pacific.

 

But, I never listen. Now, just WHERE is my super-scale USRA Heavy Mikado? 

Agreed......... I made this post because sometimes as a group we get caught up in how costly this hobby CAN be. And while I doubt I'll ever order a $2K loco I do love to look at them!!!

This Weaver reefer just triggered the idea there is still a way to have fun by being careful and watching out for deals. Let's not run off newbies with only costly items.

I sold a bunch of box cars for $5 each at the last New England TCA meet. Engines in various need of work in the $40-60 range. Yes, it can be a budget hobby.

 

Tim

 

 

I'm new to this and I've got plenty to keep me busy and happy and I've not spent $500 yet. Lots of discounted and ebay stuff.

 

Like most of life, it's possibly more fun dreaming about this stuff. Once you have it, the depreciation can set in - emotionally, financially or both. 

 

I'm just setting limits and working incrementally - that's the best I can do right now anyway. Right now I have very little time and even less space,

Dave,

   I agree some of the kids coming into our hobby now as in the 50's, have very limited funds to spend on a layout.  Because my father ran the Boys Club when I was young I carry on our O Gauge Train tradition, with certain needful boys & girls & their families.   I have been known to make Christmas gifts of Lionel KW transformers with entire trains, track and all, on a 4x6 platform, especially when I find a child or a family interested in our O Gauge Train hobby, that other wise would not be able to give their children our hobby as a Christmas present.   The KW I just purchased from one of our OGR members will go to a Mason so his grandchildren can run his Weaver Masonic Train at Christmas time around his Christmas tree.   This Mason is basically raising his grandchildren, the expenses are great.  Our hobby when used properly can open doors to a different kind of life for many children, you would be surprised what a little railroad car can make happen.  Just as Ben how much can really happen, just because of an O Gauge train layout.

PCRR/Dave   

Buying items on Ebay and in a few cases resurrecting junkers has been how I mostly obtained most of my Postwar Lionel items over the years. In one case I remember reading a number of years ago about how to restore postwar metal Lionel Sunoco tank cars in that other train magazine and thinking I could do that. I had been wanting one of those 2855 black Sunoco tank cars, but the real ones were way too expensive. I ended up buying a junker 6555 tank car on Ebay for around $10.00 and refinished it with semi gloss black Krylon spray paint. I found a nice reproduction 2855 decal set and the results were very nice indeed. Except for the paint and decals looking too new, it looks close to the real thing. Oh and the couplers are magnetic type instead of coil couplers like on the real 2855.

 

It's all what you want and with enough searching and some skill you can get what you want without spending a fortune. It also helps to have an understanding wife that lets you go over budget once in awhile.

 

Hi all, it also helps if you due ALL your own repairs,even boards repairs on MTH or Lionel engines and accessories! I think fix the things yourself gives you a great sense of pleasure , knowing to did the repairs yourself and also save a lot of money do them yourself, Especially when you have free access to these forums where anyone on these sight are more then happy to help you fix any trains or accessories !

if you ever need help I'm here to help anyone. i have been into HO, American flyer, o gauge, which is my favorite.My favorite engines are steams engines especially the Big Boy,Challenger Cab forward. i have these three in ho and Mth, If anyone is interested i will probably be selling the HO big boy as i have 2 of them in Ho!

Alan Mancus

This is a cool thread.   A lot of diverse schools of thought on display here.  Love the restorations.  Fascinating.

Hi Dave

     I have always had a model train budget. I still look at e-bay every day. I will purchase about two new locos, this year.

     Model Railroading is like golf.

You can play at a public course , dirt cheap or a private course for about $35,000 a year.

Nice find on e-bay, the Weaver woodside reefer.

     I to will also pass on the 2K, for the Lionel Big Boy, there are over one-hundred videos on YT showing the Big Boy. I can watch for free.

Nice car, N5CJonny. That 2855 tanker is one of my favorites.

Thanks! Yeah it's one of my favorites too along with all the postwar metal Sunoco tank cars. I had to get one each of most of the different types.

Prewar or postwar, one can find bargains on eBay, the local hobby shop or train shows. I went to a local show in January (White Plains, NY) and picked up 2 nice postwar Pennsy metal cabooses/cabin cars for $20 each.

Alan mentioned about trying to make your own repairs. What's great is that you can have something that is 75-80 years old and Lionel built it so well, it could easily last another 75-80 years.

 

Tom

Trains can be a "budget hobby" but no matter how you slice it, you will still spend quite a bit of money on them. If you have a layout, track runs about $3-$4 per ft with the roadbed.  Put down 500' of track that is a couple of thousand bucks. Add 30 Ross switches at an average price of $60 ea. and there's another $1500. Engines? Even the cheapest ones are $200. Structures? I build all of my own for a few bucks but figure $30-$100 each if you buy them ready made. Tables? My custom made all clear pine wood 4' x 4' table work cost $65 ea. Add the plywood and there's another $2000. (costs based on a 14' x 28' around the room layout with an extra center section)

Point is that model  railroading is not a hobby for the poor. I may have a reputation in this hobby as being thrifty. Doing it "on the cheap" I still have about $30,000 invested in the layout and on the trains. Although my buying has slowed, I am still buying.  

 In regards to toy trains I have an appetite of a king but unfortunately the pocketbook of a pauper.  I have been retired for 17 years now and the income ain't what it used to be so I  really have to restrain myself from time to time.  Actually, over the years my never ending search for desirable train items within my price range has actually become fun-as long as I restrain myself.   However, from the standpoint of my lovely spouse of 42 years there may have been a few occasions when I may have lost control, but it was worth it.    

I am not on a budget, per se, but I know how much $$  I have available to burn on a found "treasure. Usually at a show, like tomorrow or a couple of local antique shops. Don't do eBay. I like to look at something close, hold it in my hands. An engine covered with old dirt and dust can be a treasure. The hunt is part of the fun, plus, I have found a certain warmth and camaraderie at train shows. Some years ago I had an FFL and was big in to old gun collecting but not the same. Run your trains-enjoy the hobby  !!

+1

Dave nothing wrong with a little bottom fishing. Plenty of "experienced" trains on the market at good prices. Love the Weaver rolling stock

Today track is the biggest investment. I feel Gargraves is the best buy for large quantity. I am lucky in that I bought cases of GG back in the early 1990's because I knew it would not get cheaper......But for someone starting out you can still get old Lionel tubular on the cheap. Again it takes work and patience!!

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to have pretty good time in O gauge on even a low budget. Some the most fun I've had is finding treasures in those boxes under the tables at train shows!

I always hate reading these topics started by Dave, because it means I missed out on a bargain! 

Roger,

I am getting the same notion about Dave!  He really finds the bargains and does some nice modeling work!!

Thanks for the comments.......but there are more deals out there than I can buy!!  I like reefers and hoppers.....so hunt them often. 

 

And putting a positive spin on my current 'issues' (which have me wheelchair bound) with all this snow.....has left me way too much time to look over the ebay listings.....and the OGR for sale section. In place of these deals I'd rather be laying some roadbed and track....way behind on my layout....Winter was going to be my big push on building.....so I gotta do something model train...

Thanks

My best deal so far is a Lionel Legacy Lionmaster. UP Challenger 3985 I rescued for $100 from a well known auction site.

 

It does need some parts, a few pretty major ones like the rear engine wheel assembly and the motor driver board. However I felt sorry for it and I worked out the price of the bits needed I was still "quids in" as we say over here.

 

Nick