What Are Your Must Have Spare Parts??

I think it depends on which trains you like.

For trains with mechanical reversing units, I like to keep e-unit repair parts on hand, as well as brushes with springs, light bulbs. Also smoke unit renewal parts.

 

I keep traction tires on hand. They are stored in a zip lock plastic bag in a drawer. So far I have not had any go bad.

 

How many? - it depends on if there is a quantity price break, and how fast I typically go though them.

Traction tires definitely and smoke batting.

1) traction tires

2) bulbs, bayonet and screw base.

3) motor brushes.

4) e-unit barrel.

5) e-unit 2 finger.

6) e-unit 4 finger.

7) lugs for ZW transformers.

traction tires, bulbs, coupler parts

A metal hip joint and socket that I'm having installed tomorrow.

Bulbs, definitely. On my PW-style layout I have lots of lighted accessories and yard lights. Am constantly replacing them. So when I pick up bulbs always get a handful of extras to have in reserve.

 

My PW rotary beacon bulb (dimpled version) just crapped out this weekend.

Whatever parts are in modern smoke unit.Better get 4 of everything and a 5 lb box of batting.Nick

These are must have spare parts.

Traction Tires

Clear Green/Red PW 14V/18 Bayonet light bulbs

Clear green/Red PW 14V/18 Screw base light bulbs

Painted Green/Red PW 14V Bayonet light bulbs

Painted Green/Red PW 14V Screw base light bulbs

Clear 14V/18V light bulbs Bayonet/screw base

MTH/Lionel passenger car lights

Protosound Batteries 1/2

Complete Protosound units

Super flex wire.

Milk Car doors

 I know it's mostly light bulbs but who wants a layout with a bunch of burned out lights.

 

I've picked up a bunch of ready to use LED bulbs which I'm swapping out in all my 022/042 switches, bumpers, and transformers.  I'm going to get some "soft" light ones for the passenger cars and accessory lights.  This should leave the only regular bulb I need to worry about being the one in my PW industrial water tower (the LED doesn't conduct enough current to make the heat switch work).  Other than that, I usually buy as I go, but I'm starting to buy a couple extra when I have to get a common item.  Traction tires, the screws and hex nut sockets that hold 022 switch motors to the bases, motor brushes and springs, etc

Traction tires, various light bulbs, a few brushes, e-unit drums, and the screw on things for wire posts that I'm blanking on the name of....that usually covers everything.

 

What I'd like to have.....various modern locomotive cabs, hoods, trucks, and small detail parts to kitbash with. But those are though

 

Trevor