The cost!

I hear you! I have my Sacramento Northern SW-1 arriving from Peterson Supply. I have a BN SD45 to pick up and the Milwaukee Road FP45 will be shipped shortly. Then I have the Milwaukee Road passenger cars to match my 261 coming out. THEN I have the Milwaukee Road Little Joe coming out in October. Plus the end of the year the Great Northern s2 passenger set. THEN in 2014 there is the Third Rail model of the Northern Pacific Timken # 2626. 

That kidney being auctioned on Ebay...mine. Many places in the DC area have turned me away from selling plasma. I've tried them all. I could sell bone marrow...that is the next route. 

But yeah...we're both screwed! SCREWED!!! SCREWED!!!! I'm praying the next MTH, Lionel catalog has no Milwaukee Road, Northern Pacific, Montana Rail Link, Burlington Northern in it.  

A lot of the folks with large collections have been in the hobby for a while. A piece here and there really adds up over time.

If you look at it a one large and upfront expense , this hobby is indeed daunting.

There are ways to save however. Going to swap meets will often yield great deals. I seldom buy new rolling stock from a hobby shop. I find there is usually a lot of new old stock at swap meets.

You can usually find track at a decent price as well.

The For Sale Forum here is also a great place to find a deal.

The point is that if your patient and willing to search for a deal, you can build a nice collection and not spend a fortune.

As for layout size, bigger is not always better. I am building a 9 x 16 and it's demanding in both time and cost. There is nothing wrong with a well executed 5 x 10 or the like.

Keep your chin up and be patient. As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day.

But...it is expensive

The way I see it is----what does it cost for a nice motorcycle ATV boat and trailer 5th wheel camper and truck to pull it?

Small plane summer home sports car, stamp coin clock collection.

Some folks have the cash to make it all happen quickly, others well it may take years.

Just make do with what you have and enjoy!  

rudy

as yankspride4 said Rome was not built in a day.  the hunt is part of the fun.  and layout building get creative on where you get your material.  look around you will be stunned at what you find.    also building your layout should be a enjoyable part of this work.  if your wife complains ask her if she would rather have you out at a bar or a club parting.  she will say she wants you at home.  and if she does get mad fig out how much she spends on her self for jewelry,  nails, pedicures, ect.  it  could be a good barging chip.  but also remember do not rush you will miss out on some of the fun if you do. 

My Gramps split the hobby fund equal with Grandma, so to supplement this he bought every train, liking it or not, he could lay hands on cheaply at garage sales (reselling them at shows, club meets, or in the newspaper classifieds), acted as pawn broker, did repairs, helped others build layouts, etc. anything he could to make a trade, or a dollar from his hobby. Grandma did the same with her hobbies, dolls, sewing, ceramics, and after a while trains. Waiting for the right price, and only the right price is half the game. 

just be glad your passenger cars don't look like this....

visit a live steam track and you'll start looking at O gauge as the economy size.

cheers...gary

The point Rudy's Rails raised is, I think, the correct one.  Any hobby will cost something - golf, hunting, fishing, sports cars, guns - whatever it is it will cost something.  It's a matter of choice.  Toy trains can provide a lot of fun on a limited budget: for years, while putting kids through college, etc., I had a 5 x 9 layout and spent no more than the average duffer would on clubs and course fees, etc., but my trains provided a lot of fun.

Today I have a larger layout, and spend a bit more: my trains are the bass boat or the old classic car that I don't have.   It is a matter of choice.

Frank53, Excellent post. My layout is only 5x8, yet it took me over 2 enjoyable years to build the scenic. I have few engines and rolling stock, and none of it is stored in dark closets. I can enjoy a train show without buying anything.

Lest anyone think I'm "Mr. Wonderful", I have some nutty collecting hobbies that I throw money at.

It looks by your avatar you are fairly young.  When I was about your age I didn't have much either. I see you also have a youngster.  If you can get him interested  in trains and you can grow together in this hobby you will have as much fun as some who have amassed hundreds fo thousands of dollars in trains.  You may find as you grow older many of your trains may just sit in boxes because you have too many.  Enjoy what you have and what you can afford.  Your greatest asset is your family.  If you can enjoy this hobby as a family it doesn't matter how many trains you have. All of that said, it's still nice to scratch the itch and buy something new and affordable once in a while.

Happy training.

quote:

I guess what I am saying is if there are any hints (laughter) or ways to keep the wife(more pathetic laughter) away from the financial knowledge of what goes on here!  I am convinced I have a mental disorder that when I get involved in something its all I think about for a few months!  Any words of wisdom is more then welcome and I am sorry to have bored you with this rant.  

I would suggest against keeping knowledge of the money spent on any hobby away from one's wife.
I would also suggest against buying any hobby supplies on credit. I make all sorts of purchases on credit cards but I pay off the balance every month, so no interest is ever charged.

If you are looking to keep your costs low, consider buying older trains. IMHO many older modern era trains, made from 1970 to about 1993 to be bargain priced. I picked that period because I like mechanical e-units. Even if you like the electronic gizmos, you can still used older rolling stock.

Be careful of what you want; you might get it!  Big layouts and lots of trains means lots and lots of maintenance.  You can spend as much time adjusting turnouts, lubricating locos, trouble shooting sudden electrical bugs, etc, etc, as building and running.  

Relax.  Enjoy what you have.  Take the advice of going to meets-be sure to bargain and you will find lots of bargains.  One day you will look around and wonder where all the stuff came from.  And be careful of what you buy.  Don't just buy stuff on an impulse or you will end up with a collection of stuff that doesn't have any continuity.  Nothing worse than bringing something home and then wonder why you bought it.

Sounds like you are really enjoying trains.  Don't overreach and get burned out.  Have fun.  That's what it's about.  Each in his own way.

Money drought is an obstacle to most dreams.  I fell back on trains when the starting

of auctions in my other expensive hobby priced me out of it.  Now internet and other

auctions have impacted train prices (but have also brought to light trains that probably would otherwise still be rusting in attics).  When I got back into trains, those I liked were inexpensive.  That changed radically.  The active introduction, for a while, of new and varied prototypes seems to have attracted many more to the hobby.  Now,

with little of interest to me in the catalogs, no variety or new prototypes,  new trains are costing me little.  I am, however, finding other ratholes to pound train money down, but spending less.  There are a lot of niches in the model train hobby, and not

all of them eat $.

My son and I began a serious layout 10 years ago come November.  It is perhaps 3/4 done.  The fun is in the journey.  I don't think you would enjoy or appreciate the hobby if you could lay down 6 figures and have some experts build a dream layout.  After the initial rush of wanting everything ever made, you settle in to what you really like and building on  that.  To me that's where the fun is.

As with any new passion, enjoy the ride, but buffer your desire to have anything and everything immediately against the realities of your financial status, time needs for family and friends, etc.  It may sound very Eastern (as in Asia), but moderation in almost all things is the best course.  Many people find the planning and scheming of the layout and purchases as much fun,  or even more than the actual purchases and operation. A little discipline and reality testing won't impair your passion and enjoyment in the least. Savor the moment (I'm having a Buddhist morning here, apparently). And transparency and honesty in dealing with one's partner in life are usually the best course.  Godspeed.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! You all have supplied me with sound advise and certainly set my mind at ease. I am extremely happy with my layout. I think over the past few months I made a few bad purchases but I am learning. I only asked the question based on the fact that there are some magnificent layouts. And I am realizing that Rome is not built in a day. I am plan on building my own out of scratch a elevated passenger platform. I am actually looking forward to this. The only major purchase I plan on making is a MTH DCS. My two sons and I are having a blast with trains and plan on building many new items together. Thanks everyone for your kind responses and smart advise!

Lots of deals out there unless you have to have the latest and greatest item. (which iPhone do you have??)

Any hobby can be expensive. It's kinda what you make it. I more than likely bore some folks here with my '$5 box car' posts or my 'under $50 locomotive' posts. I enjoy finding broken items and items missing parts and rework them into something I enjoy. 

Make the hobby what you can afford and enjoy. Amazing what you can do when you want to.....my $5 box car.....the B&O car....

you are entering the hobby that will ease the daily stress ten fold.

 do you remember how you felt running your trains and the dreaming of what you wanted to do. now ask yourself this what am I willing to give up to make it a reality!

do you need that $5 dollar burger or that coke do I really need that large screen tv? this is how dreaming becomes reality along with looking for good deals on the used market for rolling stock or engines or? 

dream on and when the children are young allow them to participate in the creation of that dream world an experience that costs nothing more than your time and a lifetime bond all for free.

so dream on I have dreamed since the 50's my layout runs from the east coast through the hills and valleys of america and will leave with me when I enter the next world and cost me? only the time I spent dreaming while running my trains priceless while watching my great grandchildren's eyes all aglow with a starry eyed gaze they too are dreaming.

$oo

Consider joining a club!

Gives you a chance to play trains with some friends, and work on a big layout while you build yours at home.  And you'll learn a lot!

If you were closer to Stratford, Ct I'd invite you to join our club.  Not a bad ride from your location - if you're planning a trip near us, email a note and we can probably open up for you and your little guys! (www.bmrailways.com)

Ed

First, you made an excellent choice in selecting O-Gauge trains for your hobby. You will not regret this decision. Second, as Frank53 has said so appropriately, it took most of us many, many years to get to the point where we are happy with our layouts. We still have desires to add to our collections and I don't think these thoughts will ever go away. Lastly, go slow at a pace your time and budget will allow.

To contain costs

Stay with conventional operation. 

Buy slightly used engines on the buy sell board or buy Williams.

Go to train shows and get Plasticville,k-Line houses,etc.  

The whole layout does not have to be filled to the brink. In reality in the world there is a lot of open space. Leave room for development and do it gradually. You will always have something to add or do.

Do the basic layout first,get the lops and trains running. Avoid using a lot of turnouts. RMT sells K-Line Shadow rail,that is what I used. It is inexpensive and often on sale. Justrains of delaware also has had some leftover stock. Fill in the layout slowly when you make opportunistic buys.

Dale H 

quote:

 I think over the past few months I made a few bad purchases.

Don't feel too bad. Most of us have made a few bad purchases. I've been involved with trains for decades, and I still make a bad purchases here and there.

It is a process that takes place over time.  My other hobby, cycling, is the same way. Started with one bike and now have seven.   You buy what you need, trade up, refine your interests, maybe buy something that earns you some extra money (although I can't say that has happened much with trains).  Either way, time patience, creativity goes a long way.

another alternative is to join a club. there are many in your area including NJHR. while having a modest layout at home, you can also be part of a large layout and also have your new purchases shipped to the club so you know who won't see them.

O gauge trains can be an inexpensive hobby with a minimal amount of effort.  MPC-era trains are terrific and generally ignored by collectors, and loose postwar stuff with a few scratches and dings are a dime a dozen.

When I go to train shows, the first tables I hit are loose stuff.  $35 will often put 3-4 dusty postwar/mpc cars in my hands.  Within hours of returning home, they've been completely disassembled, meticulously cleaned with a toothbrush & googone, any necessary repairs made, and they look and run like they just came out of the box.  I've built a good portion of my collection this way, and I'm very proud of it--much more so, I believe, than if I'd spent a fortune putting it together.

It may sound very Eastern (as in Asia), but moderation in almost all things is the best course. 

Actually, it is common thread in western thought, from the Hebrews, pre-soctatic Greeks, the Romans and William Shakespeare.  If it now sounds eastern perhaps that tells us something about the present age in the west. 

Mr. Magoo

I'll share one of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard about layout building.  It came from Steve Brenneisen of Ross Custom Switches.  Steve noted that the overly crowded spaghetti bowl layouts tend to be unsatisfying frequently get rebuilt.  The model railroads that provide lasting enjoyment are the "Model Transportation Systems."

Hearing that from a man who makes track and switches for a living made me pause and think about what Steve was getting at.

Model railroading provides us with an opportunity to model the land and industries around us, or in our family history or in a far away place that we find interesting.  We can model a farm, forest or a mine.  And then we get to model how those materials get to a factory, mill or market.  Our model transportation system provides the link between the producers of goods and those who benefit from using them. 

What industries would you like to have on your layout?  In the space available to you how might you represent them?  Would you like to represent them with classic toy train operating accessories or scale detailed structures?  Depending on how you answer those questions you can then determine what kind of cars your model transportation system will need to handle the traffic on the line.  And then you can determine the locomotives that you will need to pull those cars.  Once you know your train lengths you can plan the lengths of sidings and yard tracks.

Building a layout with your kids will provide opportunities the teach them about carpentry, electrical wiring, scenery construction and model building.  It will also provide a way to learn about the world around us and how lumber makes it to the local yard, fuel gets to refineries and electrical plants and how food gets to the neighborhood market.

I was happy to read that you plan to buy DCS. It is a great system and has added to my enjoyment of three rail trains.  While it has been around for over a decade it is still growing.  Keep tuned to this forum for new ways you can enjoy DCS with your kids. 

When Given a choice: TAKE BOTH!!!

It is a life-long hobby. I like the 'marathon' vs. a 'sprint' analogy. It is tempting to sprint though isn't it?

Sometimes I find myself in discussions with people who are shocked by the amount of trains we own even though it is tame by this group's standards. The important point that has been mentioned is that hobbies take money. I have friends that will drop 30k-50k per year going to Vegas. That is their hobby. Hunting, Fishing, Golf, etc... all can be expensive.

One thing that the average non-modeler doesn't immediately grasp is that while the price of entry can be high, that purchase can potentially last a lifetime. If you look at the big picture it isn't such a shock to the system. Setting ~$5.50 per day aside will add an extra $2k per year for the train budget. It's all about priorities... Do I really need that Starbucks Latte at lunch each day or would I rather spend it on trains? You get the idea. 

If you intend to stay in this hobby then my advice would be to relax. The importers do a great job of creating a sense of urgency and desire in us, but you can find almost any product that has been made with a little effort and patience. So let your budget dictate your pace and fill the time between purchases with actual modeling and running. The biggest pitfall of this O gauge hobby is to let it become about nothing but buying the next train. We joke, but it can be a kind of addiction. If you fall into the trap of "O gauge addiction" you run the risk of running out of funds and becoming frustrated, or worse.

Relax, make a list of prioritized wants, and enjoy working your way down your list. Remember, it truly is about the journey and not the destination.

Welcome aboard!

Jim, if you're not in the mood for a long post, go ahead and skip this one.

I'm not going to try to soothe you with slick talk of how much a model train hobby costs versus a new yacht or a private plane or another Ferrari.  Anyone who could afford those things wouldn't be anguishing over the cost of O gauge locomotives in the first place.

But I can tell you how I, personally, operate.  I've been slowly accumulating postwar Lionel for longer than I care to remember.  I'm not counting the 2026 that I got for Christmas in 1951 -- I mean my grown-up re-entry into the hobby, with a #50 Gang Car in 1973.

I got it for only $5.00, which was cheap even for then.  It needed some work, but when I was done, it looked and ran as good as new.  It still does.  But it taught me something right off the bat: fixing it yourself can save you big bucks.

In those days, I was broke.  I mean really broke.  That five bucks was a big expenditure at the time.  But I discovered that by saving up a couple of dollars each week, at the end of the month, I'd have enough to at least consider adding a new car or accessory or (once in a great while) even a locomotive to the collection.  And if I had to do a bit of work on it, well, I have the skills to handle that.

Fast-forward to the present day.  I'm retired from my former position as a university instructor, but I've used that same methodology to keep up my train hobby ever since.  Of course, the amount I can put away every week has gone up considerably since '73, but it works just as well when I'm at a train show or store.  And no need to max out credit cards or stretch the budget, either.

Then too, I'm not a compulsive buyer.  I don't feel any uncontrollable need to possess the latest $1500 locomotive or (increasingly) $100+ car every time they're released.  I'm interested in creating a particular mood on my rather modest layout, and I don't have to empty the bank account to do it.

I've recently branched out into a bit of 3-rail O scale, but even there, you don't have to sacrifice your first-born.  Not long ago, I bought a beautiful, barely-run, 1993 Lionel Reading Fairbanks-Morse (I have zero interest in DCC) for $160.  No, it won't leave the rivet-counters delirious with excitement, but it's a great locomotive, and there are lots of Standard O freight cars available at bargain prices.  Likewise, Lionel Conventional F3s don't have fine-scale detail, but they're proportioned well.

I'm not trying to convince you to follow my own direction in the hobby -- your preferences are up to you.  But contrary to what you might be led to believe from what you read around here, there is no need to pay the price of a Mediterranean cruise to get started.  Increasingly, this is becoming a high-end hobby for the well-to-do, but you can walk your own path if you're careful and patient enough to keep your eyes on the long-term goal.

I've seen much good advice in this thread, to which I can't add much more.  Just remember that:

1: You don't have to buy brand-new.

2: You don't have to buy it all at once; take your time and create your railroad a little at a time.

3: Don't stand around with your checkbook in your trembling and sweaty hand, waiting breathlessly for the latest releases from Lionel (or whoever).  You don't need one of everything.

4: If you feel like it's more than you can afford, it probably is.

Have fun.  I have.

Enjoy what you have, do not try to match what a "LOT" of forum members have, these folks have great talent, what you can do is learn from them, these great talents you are now learning from will be more than happy to help you, as they have helped me.

I like to include my wife in what I want to do (it is our money not just mine), several weeks ago I wanted a "Drive Inn Theater", had the perfect spot, a forum member was going to build it for me. Shared this with my wife and she let me know that this was not a spot for a "Drive Inn Theater" but for it was great for a "BIG RED BARN" so much for inviting the spouse to help, most of the time she will get what she wants.

Enjoy

Brent

just wanted to add my two cents - i just started 2 years ago with my new layout

(12' x 8') and i have 1 steam engine with 8 cars , 1 diesel engine with 4 cars, a lumber yard building, a two bay engine house, a small passenger station and the DCS system (remote, TIU, AIU). The only additions i plan on making is the scenery later. Today, i am happy with what i got. 

Mr. Magoo:  Think of it this way:  You're not "spending" your money;  You're "investing" it.  If you got into sports, went to ball games, traveled, ate out a lot, you would be "spending" your money.  But, if you purchase wisely, you're not just throwing your money away.  Sure, you probably will never get back exactly what you paid for it in the first place, but that engine, car, etc. will always have some value.

Having said this, I have always throttled my RR purchases by limiting myself to a certain amount each month.  I may not have an item that I want to buy just now, but I will still put $50 to $100 away every month.  The family doesn't want for anything, we do and go lots of places, take vacations, whatever, but I still "salt away" something for the train fund.  Then when that prized new item gets announced, I already have a major portion of the cost, budgeted for it.

Paul Fischer

Be sure of what you want and buy things one-at-a-time and, over the years, you too will have a large collection.

I got my first train at age three, sixty years ago. It all adds up.

Mark

jjmmagoo,

The answer is start slowly.....build up your collection. I am a relative newbie to this hobby having restarted in this hobby after a nearly 40 year drought of being disconnected from it.I restarted in 2005 (after failing to gauge the interest of my then 5 year old daughter in 1995). The way you immerse yourself is slowly by building up year after year. The good news is, this hobby has been around for generations and will likely continue for generations! I found that by engaging yourself with a local hobby club and linking to several train stores in your area and of course the OGR forum here you will find your way. You will soon saturate yourself in trains.

It truly is addicting! Enjoy playing with the boy(your son?) in the avatar, instill in him the love you have of trains and you will see the returns are many and will last for years and years. Most of all ----have fun with your family. Don't worry the cost! If you set a budget it is manageable on a few hundred a year.

The fruits of of your labor is worth many millions remember to take lots of pictures! The memories you make today and tomorrow are worth much more than the mere collection, it all adds up in the end. Start slowly, small..... build carefully....you have time...take advice see where your and his interests lie, what train sets you both enjoy....This hobby only gets better and better.

Most of all have fun planning, there will be a temptation to rush in...be careful to go slowly.

Mike Maurice

Just enjoy this great hobby and this great OGR Forum.

"There is no known cure for an obsession with trains!" 

You've gotten some excellent advice.  I won't repeat it all here, but I will remind you that your child will grow up much faster than you think. 

Be prepared!  Get him involved early and pursue play value with him.  It won't be that expensive and you will be rewarded with the joy on his face. 

Some key items:

1. Buy used engines and only those you really want.  Plan, then buy or build.  Make a train budget that won't bankrupt you and stick to it.
2. Keeping purchases from your wife is a bad idea.  If you do that, you'll probably have to buy a weird hat and join a secret society.  I'm not mentioning any names.    
3. Joining a club is a superb idea.  The social aspects of the hobby are very rewarding.
4. Re-read the posts on this thread.  There is a lot of wisdom here.

Don't be inpatient.  We all started this way.

Best,

George

Don't buy any new gear!!!  Buy everything used..!!!!

Best advice is take your time and enjoy.

Our layout has been under construction years over 5 years. I am just getting around to finishing the mountain. Never under estimate the amount of materials O gauge will use if you come from a smaller scale like I did (OO Gauge). 

Mind you it now cheers me up when I see the price of OO gauge locos these days. I'd rather have one really nice O gauge loco a year. Than 4 or 5 OO models. 

I always like to ask folks that are starting out what their objective is in their layout and hobby, what they want to model, etc.  That decision process sets all kinds of boundary conditions and limits that oppose being just a collector or an accumulator,

It might be a good idea to visit other layouts and run trains on them.  It will give u an idea what you want in your layout.  

You might want to do operations in instead of running in circles.  You might want to be able to run 4 trains at once or a single mainline.   You wont know that until you try it out on other layouts.