Some backward rules working on 3 rail or any hobby.

A week to a month after you throw out some junk that has been lying around for ten years, you will need a part that was on it to fix something else.

@VHubbard posted:

Don't buy one, hoping to find the other. Example, I have a TMCC powered UP F3 B unit, it was a deal. Finding a dummy A unit or even a matching A unit shell is like finding hens teath.

@VHubbard,

I'm going to be the nonconformist here.

There's an opposing corollary to this observation, and so far it works quite well for me.

I buy the 'A' units first.  Once that's done 'B' units are fairly easy to find, relatively plentiful, and surprisingly low cost, for some reason.

It doesn't work every time but for me it works pretty well -- and more often than not.

Mike

I've run into the trash/treasure issue a few times.  The best occurred when I was a teenager.  At the time all you could get were Lionel Lehigh Valley Hopper cars.  I decided I wanted to have something different so I ordered 4 sets of decals from Walther's for different roads/owners and then started checking the for sale ads in the back of Model Railroader.  One seller advertised Lehigh Valley hoppers in poor but usable condition - price a dollar each.  Perfect!   I sent off the money, a week or so later UPS brought me a package, I opened the package and inside were 4 brand new, still in the box Lehigh Valley hoppers....I still have the cars. As for the 4 sets of decals - they are still in their envelopes.

@RoyBoy posted:

A week to a month after you throw out some junk that has been lying around for ten years, you will need a part that was on it to fix something else.

THAT is absolutely, positively, TRUE.

It's an amazing phenomenon that's bit me on the azz over and over again... but I never seem to learn and end up getting rid of something.

Oft times it's something I've kept for years... only to need it 1-2 weeks after it's gone.

Something sinister is afoot.

Andre

I'll have something I know I can use, so I put in a place where it won't get lost.  Sure enough when the time comes I can't find it, I search everywhere, every box, every shelf and drawer, nothing.  So after spending days searching I break down and repurchase the same item (now much more expensive) and low and behold once the replacement arrives, I find the original sitting there in plain sight,..

However this never works with bourbon,

The more you tell yourself you will memorize forever and never forget where you put that tool/part, the less likely you will remember where it is when you need it most.

Less is more. Except for trains, then more is more.

Here's my "medical variant" on this thread ....

After a TIA, a stroke, a cardiac incident, and placement of a cardiac pacemaker, I decided to spare my "likely widow" the pain and agony of disposing of my extensive Rock-Island-related O-gauge train collection along with accompanying control gear and action accessories -- an inventory list 8 pages long. Stout Auctions handled the sale, and nearly all that stuff was sold in a weekend. I kept a few treasured items, and they are now on display in my train room. Refer to the attached photos.

With help from family members, hobby friends, and a hired helper, I designed and built a 15x19-feet L-shaped layout. It's big enough for me and my great-grandkids.

After the auction sell-off, my medical condition improved and remains good to this day. With 20/20 hindsight, I sold it all prematurely; although I realize the collection would have to be disposed of sooner or later.  I'm now 83 and have resisted the temptation to "re-buy" those trains. I consider that resistance an affirmation of will power. However, I miss them; especially several of the favored action accessories: Lionel's Nuclear Reactor, Lionel's Sawmill, and MTH's Fire Station.

Like other responders to this thread, I bought some replacement accessories (MTH Mel's Diner, MTH Car Wash) rather than wait a year or more (so I thought) for repair of my existing (non-operating) accessory at a repair shop. Soon after the arrival of the "replacement" accessory, the original (and repairable) accessories were fixed.  I told the repair shop to place them with a worthy Train Club that would welcome them. I hope those items will be appreciated by young hobbyists-to-be who may visit those Train Clubs.  Nothing "given back" is wasted.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

@Mike H Mottler posted:

Here's my "medical variant" on this thread ....

After a TIA, a stroke, a cardiac incident, and placement of a cardiac pacemaker, I decided to spare my "likely widow" the pain and agony of disposing of my extensive Rock-Island-related O-gauge train collection along with accompanying control gear and action accessories -- an inventory list 8 pages long. Stout Auctions handled the sale, and nearly all that stuff was sold in a weekend. I kept a few treasured items, and they are now on display in my train room. Refer to the attached photos.

With help from family members, hobby friends, and a hired helper, I designed and built a 15x19-feet L-shaped layout. It's big enough for me and my great-grandkids.

After the auction sell-off, my medical condition improved and remains good to this day. With 20/20 hindsight, I sold it all prematurely; although I realize the collection would have to be disposed of sooner or later.  I'm now 83 and have resisted the temptation to "re-buy" those trains. I consider that resistance an affirmation of will power. However, I miss them; especially several of the favored action accessories: Lionel's Nuclear Reactor, Lionel's Sawmill, and MTH's Fire Station.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

Mike, I empathize with you and am delighted to I hear to hear that you still have some of your beloved trains.

I've given much thought, like many of us have, to the issue of when it's best to sell off most of the collection as we get up in years.

My current thinking is to hold on and continue enjoying, to the maximum extent, the trains I have.

IMO, this hobby is a very good activity for an old timer. Our multi-faceted hobby keeps us active, mentally and physically, without being too demanding.

It would be great, Mike, if you could join or visit, on a regular basis, a club layout or the layout of a fellow Forumite or friend, where you can see and run the trains and accessories that you love. Arnold

Arnold:

Fortunately, I live in central Arkansas (Conway, near Little Rock), so I'm not very far away from one of the best (and tallest) O-gauge layouts; i.e., the home layout of Alan Arnold of OGR fame. A visit to his layout is good for my humility -- I'll never achieve the level of skill in design and construction evident in his IMPRESSIVE layout. Thankfully and gratefully, Alan is a mentor who inspires other hobbyists by example; as you do with regular, helpful postings to the OGR FORUM.

FYI, for five years or so, I led a group of central Arkansas O gauge hobbyists who designed and built a LARGE modular layout that was shown daily for three weeks during five holiday seasons at Laman Library in North Little Rock. Some pix of that layout are attached. LCCA sponsored that special event, and more than 22,500 folks visited the layout during its multi-year run. Unfortunately, that event ended as the core members (me included) grew older and less capable of presenting and staffing the show.

Santa knows ... kids (of all ages) love toy trains in action.

Mike Mottler     LCCA 12394

Voice operated light switch, Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Assistant, the Clapper, metronome with extended hand, etc. 

When at train shows, look at EVERY table, even if it looks like all junk.  That is where you will find the gems you might be looking for, and many times for very cheap prices.  Dont be afraid to root thru boxes of stuff under tables, sometimes under those busted car bodies is a treasure waiting to be found.  You spent the $$ in gas to get there and get into the show, leave no stone unturned.  AD

@RoyBoy posted:

A week to a month after you throw out some junk that has been lying around for ten years, you will need a part that was on it to fix something else.

@laming posted:

THAT is absolutely, positively, TRUE.

It's an amazing phenomenon that's bit me on the azz over and over again... but I never seem to learn and end up getting rid of something.

And don't forget its corollary...

After you pass on your kids trying to figure out why you kept all these busted trains.

My favorite is piecing together a loco with about $150 worth of parts over time and then seeing one at a show for $100.

Jerry