Keeping Inventory?

I write manufacturer, number, road name, description, when I bought it, condition, any thing else that may help identify it as I have a lot of stiff, whether it has a box and or instructions, and what I paid.

I do the same and use an excel spreadsheet, you can insert a picture too. The challenge is to use consistent terms so you can sort and group your items.

Same here....on a spread sheet I set up. That way you can track value and/or cost.

 

Problem is I fell behind and now I have to do it all over as I've lost track!!

Just be sitting down when you total up what you have spent in total. 

 

Art

One 'problem' with doing it on a spreadsheet on your PC.......that total at the bottom!!!

When I did it 6 years ago I was shocked......and since then I have bought my PRR T-1, S-1, Q-2, J etc etc....may not want to update that list!

I use MS Data Base which came loaded on my PC when I first started the inventory back in the 1990s.  I simply list everything in numerical order since most is Lionel.

If it is another manufacturer's item, I put a letter designation as  prefix on the number (i.e. "K" or "W" or "M"). In the next field I describe the item as appropriate. Finally, I then have a column for condition of each item.

 

I have separate lists for Postwar and Modern Era.

 

My interest in the inventory is "for insurance purposes," and as a help to my family should I pass away, etc. As far as values are concerned, I don't worry about listing them; current values can be found from LCCA's Interchange Track prices or Greenberg Price Guides, should they  be needed.

NO, NOT, NADA.......not for myself, I can see it for a collector, a club or for insurance purposes but not for someone who just enjoys running trains.  If you have so many trains that you can't remember what you have or see what you have then you have too many trains.  To me inventory would take the fun aspect out of my train time.  I'd rather do other things, like make a list of what I want to buy.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Which ever inventory method you choose, just make sure your wife doesn't see it............

I did almost exactly that - lots of data - for a while but frankly I have neglected it.  

 

My advice is to think through the detail you really need, and stick with retaining only that: keep it simple.  Otherwise you get where I am.  It would take so long to go back and check and update my list to today that I am never going to do it.  

 

Now, I just keep a simple count of what I own as "Legacy Blue Comet loco - 1" and "WBB Baldwin ten wheeler - mod w. railsounds - (2)" and " Lionel ATSF scale map-slogan reefers (13)"

This is a popular topic that is raised periodically. I suggest a search of this site with the keyword: "Inventory".

I made an inventory using Excel, primarily for the purpose of keeping track of rolling stock and the weight of each piece so I could compare them to the NMRA standard.  I weighed each piece and recorded it on the spreadsheet, later on as I added weights I updated the spreadsheet until I finished the job.  Out of 50 cars i think I had only 1 that was overweight (never had an issue with it derailing).

 

Eventually I also added engines and cabooses, just so I'd have some sort of inventory in case of fire.  I still need to add my passenger cars.

 

I didn't keep up with pricing and can't recall how much I paid for each piece.  Besides, how do you put a price on an item that had been modified or scratch-built?

I still use Train Minder and have begun adding my latest purchases to it.  You can never have too many trains, but my wife says I've got too many boxcars. 

Good idea to have an inventory of your train collection. There are lots of reasons from insurance purposes, referral (before you go to a train show to avoid duplication unless that is your intent), and planning for future purchases.

 

I would suggest manufacturer item number, description, car number and name of applicable, purchase cost, date of manufacture, and location (layout or storage).

Back when I got back into trains in 2000.I prepared a Excel spreadsheet and kept it up to date.I lost track of what I had during a big buying spree a couple of years ago. Most of my of my trains are in storage and some of the trains of my youth haven't been unpacked in 30 years. Presently,I am working overseas so it will be a while before I can get a handle on what I have.I am sure I have lots of duplicates.

Actually, I began inventorying again when I bought several items after a move.  It was then that I discovered that I already had them.  Maintaining an inventory is a simply a smart idea.

I'm getting to the point I need to start one.

I need to have a list to avoid duplicates in some items.

something like a boxcar I'm not worried about dupes, but other things get too pricey.

I use an application called "RRTrains 2000".

 

It's a general purpose model railroad inventory program, so it's not tailored specifically to O-Gauge collectors, but it does allow you to enter an exhaustive amount of information (to the point where you can even enter the weights of individual cars/locomotives)

 

The only problem is the same as with any sizable collection--getting over the hump of entering the whole collection in the first place (so far I have about 360 entries). I've resorted to entering only basic info to accompany photos of individual pieces as I take them (marking each box or unboxed piece with a small Post-It to indicate it's been photographed). The plan is to establish the entire database first, then it should be a simple matter to look up one or two pieces at a time to add info as the mood strikes.

 

---PCJ

As I've posted in other similar threads, I assign each item my own inventory number, and each piece gets either a tag or a sticker with that number.
Multi-piece items, such as a steam engine / tender, or an "AA" diesel share the same number, so its easy to keep matching pieces together.

Makes it easier for me to keep track, and someday, it will make the handling of my estate easier.

I have used Excel forever, probably 15 years or more.  I have a worksheet for Rolling Stock, one for Buildings, one for Vehicles, one for Accessories. and one for Electronics, plus a few misc. ones.

 

On my Rolling Stock worksheet, I have columns for Maker, Model #, Description, Quantity, Price, Date Bought, Assigned to Train (I have made up a number of trains), Remarks / Bought From, and Box # (All my storage boxes are numbered).

 

The cars are furthered divided by type or grouping - Locomotives, Cabin Cars, Hoppers, Boxcars, Reefers, Tank cars, etc.

 

George

Microsoft Access. The database is over 10 years old (developed when I was teaching a class at Mt. SAC). I'm re-designing it with the plan of putting code behind it instead of macros based on some new techniques I've developed over the past few years.

 

Old school here.  I use the TCA inventory sheet and its, AARRGGHH, Paper.  I make my additions to it when I purchase a new item.  No sweat, cokes for everybody.

Using an Excel Spreadsheet.  Modified it a little from the version I originally recieved.  Have separate pages for engines/locos, freight, passenger, buildings, and accessories. I include track, transformers, display shelves and any tools.   I also use same file (another page) for N gauge that I have.

 

Happy to share the blank if anyone wants a copy.  Another forum member was kind enough to share.

 

I do keep it updated and do submit for insurance coverage purposes with my policy.  I tend to keep the MSRP figure on there, which it typically a lot more than what I paid.  If I am going to sell, it really does not matter what I paid for the item, so I do not keep that figure; it's what it is 'worth' now and/or what I think I can get in the market place.

 

I have in the past placed my MS Excel file on a Barnes & Nable Nook Color.  There is software already on the device that reads the Excel file very well (zoon in/out) and it's a convenient way to carry the inventory to a train show.  Not using it at the moment, but I may get another Nook just for that purpose.

 

Hope that is helpful/informative. 

i keep a spreadsheet - basic data for cars and accessories, but I include a photo for the expensive stuff, like locos. Since I like post-war, year of manufacture and general condition is important for me so I can quickly check my inventory and conditions when I find a "deal". Avoiding duplicates helps me focus resources on items I really need (lol). 

Manufacturer	Stock Item Number	Description	Cost
MTH	20-3232-1	0-8-0 Scale Steam Switch Engine (Custom Paint for Coca Cola)	$600.00
MTH	30-015C	4-6-0 Christmas Express Steam Engine Upgraded to PS 2.0	$300.00
MTH	30-122E	F-40PH Loco Sound Diesel Engine	$250.00
MTH	20-2904-3	F-40PH Alaska #32 Non Powered Diesel Engine	$250.00
MTH	30-1137-1	2-6-0 Baltimore and Ohio Proto sounds 1.0	$229.00
MTH	30-	2-8-0 Pennsylvania Proto Sound s 1.0	$299.99

 

This is What I do  this allows me to keep up with what I have and what i need to get i use this same format for Train Sets/Accessories/ Freight cars/ Passenger cars/ and also my Department 56 Buildings and Accessories for my Christmas Train Displays

 

Perhaps it's the lazy way, but I use a train inventory program.  I use MiTrains.  it's really good, but I don't think that it's kept up yo be compatible with newer MS operating systems.

Alan

I use an Excel spread sheet my daughter made for me and it list Manufacture, catalog number and date, car number(so I can get it in the correct box) date acquired, price paid, description, color, road name, era(Lionel, postwar, MPC,etc)class, subclass(from Train Tracker)condition,box condition and location(empty boxes are stored in number plastic tubs), set number(if part of a set) and club(if a club car) current value.

How secure are the "managed inventories" I see advertised by dealers(?)? If I utilize one of these, does the supplier know what's in my collection? Is this a kind of subterfuge or a real service?

 

Wally