Lists - Do You Use Them?

I think its a good idea, I keep telling myself I need to list what I have as well as the MSRP and if possible what I paid for it.

Yes I use lists.  I'm too old to remember anything. 

It's a great idea, and no I haven't done it.  I'm sure I'll regret it if I ever have to inventory everything!

I don't care if I get two or three more of the same car. It just makes the train longer. Its also a great excuse to double head a train.

You mean I got three of those engines!! Lets put them on the track and see how much they can pull!

Amen! & Amen!

Yes, I sure do.  I carry a "want list" to the train shows.  And I have my inventory listed as well. 

Aside from the inventory I keep to do lists.  I started doing it a few years ago for all things I wanted to do in addition to the trains.

I tend to get a little overwhelmed  looking at what needs to be done on the layout.  But now I keep a small list of specific items to do.  Each item is confined to a small amount of time required for the task, ie. ballast xx feet of track, wire 4 buildings, etc.  Being able to knock off smaller items provides a sense of accomplishment and it doesn't take long to see real visual progress.  Plus if the items are small in scope I tend not to put them off due to other outside demands.

Works great for me.

Ed

I do keep an inventory lists. Unfortunately, my hard drive crashed and I lost my list. Starting from scratch again!

Certainly a great idea.  I just wish I followed it! 

Actually, in my early days back in the hobby--and even further back when I was a young boy--I kept very careful track of my train inventory.  Sadly, I just let that fall by the wayside in more recent times.

At one time I started an inventory list but sadly never completed it.  Now is the time to make a New Years resolution to do so.  My wife says if anything ever happened to me she'd have no idea of what I have so I'll my butt in gear and do so.  Good topic and my first check on the LIKEsection.

I keep a list of locomotives and rolling stock in a school notebook.

Regret that I didnt include where purchased, when purchased and the cost.

I keep a lube and maintenance records in a separate  notebook.

About 20 years ago I decided to make me a "to buy/wish" list after making a fairly expensive impulse purchase and then quickly getting a bad case of buyer's remorse.

This has worked out great for me. The key is sticking to the list, which I have been able to do for the most part. I did purchase a number of engines not on the list about 10 years ago when some of the big dealers were having blow-out sales on Lionel items for less than half the list price. Other than those hand full of items, almost everything I have in my collection consist of trains that are on my list.

When my hard drive breaks, I insert the end of it into the old Boston sharpener and grind a new point!

I keep many lists and spreadsheets, but I can quit anytime I want.  I think I have CDO.  Others refer to this as OCD, but I have put the letters in alphabetical order like they belong.

Personally, I hate lists as they have become a necessary evil as I get older. I actually have one of those 24" x 36" paper tablets that hangs on a kitchen wall for a very visible list of things I have to do. I guess a list does help to stay a bit more focused on priorities. That said, I have learned that a definitive grocery list keeps 'grazing' costs under control. I do use code words for including multiple items within one listed item. This method allows me to secretly snatch a donut with a gallon of milk!    I keep a list of maintenance/repair/service items for the truck and tractor, and my trains are completely detailed in a spreadsheet. I also put 'to do' things in my Thunderbird calendar...which keeps them in a chronological list.

My greatest fear will be realized when I need a list of my lists to know what lists I have. I may need to start a list for lists I don't have...

Before I headed out to york last year, I made a few lists of things I would like to purchase there. I had a lists for modern Lionel, postwar Lionel, prewar Lionel, Marx, and Plasticville. Having several smaller lists made it easier to go through, as most sellers didn't have but one genre(?) items anyhow.

J White

I write in Greenbergs price guide what I have so I don't buy duplicates if things I don't want duplicates of at train shows. I also have a list of what I own, a description, what I paid, if it came with the box, when I got it. I have a current list but I was a real active buyer, then out of the hobby for years and I put my what I own list somewhere for safe keeping and I have searched and searched and now I am using I hope it turns up theory.

My train lists are paper as I started before computers.  I have just kept the up and in that form.  The computer would be the way to go for many.  I would keep my paper lists of magazine articles as it seams easier for me to have a paper list and pencil at hand, near my recliner, than my laptop that normally stays in my computer/stereo closet.

I keep lists of my vintage stereo gear in Word on the computer that started 10 years or so ago.  This list is also used to note what items need fixing, when they were fixed and how, and history of each item, where the item is installed or in storage, etc.  I have lots of systems setup and lots of stereo stuff in various states of condition.

Computer lists are very useful but I save the latest copy in a couple places and email to myself a copy and save a copy on a separate hard drive in case of crashes.

I could never have survived managing the construction of my two story two car garage and train room without a "to do" or punch list.  One major item was to call my contractor Royce to get things done and done right!

Charlie

I haven't the time to maintain or update a list or spreadsheet.My time off from work and travelling is too valuable.I only get to spend a couple of months out of the year enjoying my trains.I have a pretty good idea as to what I have in motive power.I don't know exactly what I have in rolling stock. It is rather fun to discover a car I have purchased and forgotten about.

Ricky

After we opened our store, whenever my friends and I would go to York, I made sure they would have a list of the M.P.C. items I was looking for. I would have a price on each item so my friends knew what to pay. I guess you could call it a shopping list. My friends, had a lot of fun buying items for me.   

I maintain an Excel spreadsheet that inventories all of my train stuff, including buildings and accessories and what I paid for each item.

When I was expanding my layout last year, I also created a "to do" list and then crossed off various tasks as I completed them.  As Ed notes in his post, this helps keep the job manageable and does give you a sense of accomplishment every time you complete a task and cross it off.

Several have mentioned keeping maintenance lists for their locomotives.  This is an excellent idea and one that I will adopt.  Great suggestion to those who mentioned it!  

Curt

I list when jumping out of bed too quickly.

What, me worry?

I often make lists of particular items that I wish to buy. The biggest problem I have with them, is that I forget to take them with me!  

I used to have that problem.  

I solved it by getting one designated backpack for train meets.  It includes my list of wanted items, pencil, note paper, small measuring tape, some mt plastic Walmart bags for packing cars, engines to protect and couple long shoe laces and a knit mesh large shopping bag, both to hold large or extra treasures that will not fit in backpack.

I have been known to load all those up and having to make more than one trip to the car especially if I buy lots of old magazine issues!  But hopefully those days are over.

I also take a small digital camera and spare batteries as I do not have a camera on the phone that is worth anything.  I also take a couple photos of my layout in case I get to telling train stories with some the guys at the meet.

Charlie