The thread regarding the late, great K- Line made me consider what I have collected. Regardless of intention, would your collection of rolling stock and engines represent (A) more of a variety of types and manufactures, or (B) more examples in number of the same type, and a closer bias toward a more limited selection of manufacturers? A or B?
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I am an A guy.
How about category "C" for cheap second-hand fixer-upper vintage items. "C" also represents my middle name.
For example, I picked up some boxes of old rusty trains for cheap, cleaned and repaired most of them and have this great vintage stuff with character that runs well !.
Like Marty, I'm an "A" guy.
A
A works for me
I am an A Guy.
I have a variety of rolling stock, covering a wide range of dates and road names. But 99% of my equipment is Lionel. Does this make me an A+ ? 
Strictly a "B" guy. Lionel only, and then mostly just Pennsy items.
I have mainly Lionel postwar and new TMCC engines. TMCC is more simple, at least for me to cope with.
All of my passenger cars (semi-scale), and most of my operating freight cars are MTH.
I buy whatever I like that appeals to me. Mostly Lionel because they're classics, but the other guys sneak in some neat stuff sometimes that I just have to have. 95% Lionel & the rest is split between everyone else. I'm a little afraid to buy locos from manufacturers other than Lionel just because parts & repair will be harder to do in the future. I do discriminate country of manufacture with regards to Lionel. I prefer the US made products & I don't own ANY new locos. My newest one is from the 1990's.
B) When I make a purchase. Nowadays, I'm usually an "N" for Nothing guy as unless I either really need it or really want it and it fits in with everything else, I won't buy it. Too much wasted money on impulse buys that I shouldn't have bought.
I'm in the middle: was B, moving toward A. The vast majority of what I bought has been Lionel but this year's pre-order list is split evenly between Lionel and MTH with a tiny portion to WBB. Basically my list is down to a few final locos I want, I go where I need to get them: e.g., MTH Premier PRR S-1 already ordered), 3rd Rail 2900 Northern, even Darstead British tank engines, etc.
A for the most part. I limit myself to what I buy. I prefer K-LINE/LIONEL ALUMINUM rolling stock, Atlas Reefers, MTH products. The manufacturer does not matter as long as it fits into my scheme of things.
A
I guess Im a "C" as well, C for cheap castoffs. I tend to buy used modern era trains with out of date sound or no sound that don't seem to be desireable anymore. Brand doesn't matter, although I have started to lean towards scale Pennsy steamers. Being on a budget, my thinking is I would rather have several older engines than one with all the swinging bells and smoking whistles. I was able to get 5 scale pennsy steamers (MTH Premier Proto 1 K4 and G5, Weaver C1, and Williams E6 and B6sb) for less combined than the MSRP on a Legacy or PS3 K4.
Probably would not change anything in the way I have collected O-Gauge equipment. I have learned some very important lessons along the way which have altered my buying criteria. I am now very happy with the assortment I have, not to say that if something comes out that I really like, I would not include it.
A but trying to focus on Rio Grande equipment and steam era.
I have only one engine on the layout that is not steam or late steam era.
Then 2 galloping geese, those are steam era but not steam power, just odd.
Since I'm packing to move I'm getting a real eye opener about what I have.
Regardless of intention, would your collection of rolling stock and engines represent (A) more of a variety of types and manufactures, or (B) more examples in number of the same type, and a closer bias toward a more limited selection of manufacturers? A or B?
ITs "A" for me as I focus on PRR, modern Conrail [purchased new power] and modern Amtrak [up to 1998] along with demonstrator models [up to 1998] too!
I am a "A" guy..................paul
The thread regarding the late, great K- Line made me consider what I have collected. Regardless of intention, would your collection of rolling stock and engines represent (A) more of a variety of types and manufactures, or (B) more examples in number of the same type, and a closer bias toward a more limited selection of manufacturers? A or B?
I think my collection will always represent a variety. I am not a "brand loyal" model railroader. I have quite a variety because I buy what I like regardless of who makes it. I have locomotives from Atlas, MTH, Lionel, K-line and Williams. The same is true for my rolling stock. If one of them has what I want, I buy it from that manufacturer. Matt
I am a B guy.
Probably because I try to put together trains that "make sense', ie locos and rolling stock that would commonly be seen together at any given selected time in history.
I reckon the "traditional 3-rail" folks are predominantly "A" types because they like the variety. Tinplate also trends towards "A" type, with variety for fun.
Scale and prototype modellers would trend towards "B" type, seeking reality instead of variety. HO scale would have proportionately more of those types.
I've been an HO modeller for 40+ years and I originally bought mostly Athearn items, with some MDC. I wanted the consistency of quality affordable products, and I chose mostly western road names for plausibility. But I've gone a totally different route with my 3-rail O-gauge because I like the "toy train" heritage as a counterpoint to my HO scale railroad.
Of course there are many permutations of O-gauge, with some folks doing outstanding scale railroads, or combining detailed scenery with hi-rail trains.
A if I'm reading the question correctly. Everything* on my layout needs to have been in use in the late 1940s. Mostly PRR, with some interchange with a couple of other roads for variety. In that sense my buying is very restricted (focused?). However, I have every manufacturer represented in both engines and cars and use both Legacy and DCS.
Ron
*Does not include my ever growing collection of bicentennial cars and engines from all manufacturers.
I'm in the A group all the way.
B guy. Whatever strikes my fancy, so long as it's MTH.
This is all based on what YOU want. I personally model one railroad in one era. I get the best models from whatever mfg makes them for a given prototype for my chosen road. I like it that way. It keeps my purchases focused, I don't have a need to buy everything that comes out. I only need to look twice if it Pennsy and compatible with the late 40s. Actually I model 2 eras, I also have a bunch of early 60s stuff.
But there is nothing wrong wtih being a collector and following a specific mfg or some other theme - - - or no theme. It all comes back to how you enjoy the hobby. There is not right or wrong here.
What I choose is a realistic Variety of freight cars and locomotives from any company that makes the closest or only model. I have items from most of the O Scale and O Gauge companies.
Andrew
I'm on the 'A' train. Engines from Ives 1920s clockwork up to AMTRAK Superliners. Many different manufacturers.
I am an A type,I model certain railroads so I have Legacy and DCS Locomotives Steam and Diesel thru the 50s era.
A
Count me in as A.
A definite A.
B
But, the "type" has changed a few times, where I sell off the old type to help fund the new type.
Tinplate also trends towards "A" type, with variety for fun.
Totally.
One of everything that exists. Always new discoveries.
Somebody asked me what I was looking for at York, and I said - something I've never seen before.
Probably have to be considered an A guy all the way. 
Well...an "A" guy for the 3 rail stuff, but I'm a "B" guy for the 0n30 simply because I currently have nothing but Bachmann...and one kitbashed engine.
G gauge was all "A" but that's what was out there then...alot...but possibly someday someone else will have all my remaining G...
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