Originally Posted by Jim 1939:
Same way with car trucks. Do you really look for them as your train goes by?
Yes. Since I model in the early to mid 1950s, I make sure none of the freight cars have roller bearing equipped trucks.
Model trains in general, 3 rail in particular, have bigger visual issues than similar shaped cars with the same number ! As stated above when the train passes who reads the car numbers ? If you operate then cars with the same number are a problem. Take the extras off the table.
I run em!!!!!!!!!!!
they are goin so fast you cant read anything on them anyway.
Choo Choo
Zoom Zoom
run em fast and furious
I try not to buy duplicates but if i do have them I don't worry about them in O gauge.
I had bought 5 similar 100 ton ore cars in H.O. and renumbered them with stencils, just changed a 3, 6, or 9 to an 8 or something. I didn't repaint but just re-stenciled. I am trying to get out of H.O. trains.
Lee Fritz
For my scale trains, I prototypically nit-pick on accuracy and details, so I do not buy duplicate numbers. If on the extremely rare occasion that I do, then I will re-number them, resale value be dam*ed.
On my traditionally-sized postwar, MPC, LTI, & LLLC stuff, prototypical goes out the window and it doesn't matter to me. Having said that, I tend to only get one of each kind of car anyway with a few exceptions such as if I'm interested in some variations of the same car for example.
I'm the opposite. I model current day and always make sure to have RB trucks.
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by Jim 1939:
Same way with car trucks. Do you really look for them as your train goes by?
Yes. Since I model in the early to mid 1950s, I make sure none of the freight cars have roller bearing equipped trucks.
Sometime people will give gifts of cars with duplicate numbers
Other times hobby shops owners will make a mistake and send out the same numbers that I already have.
Other times I have ordered the same car at two different hobby shops to make sure a limited edition car actually is delivered, then they both arrived that time.
Andrew
I repaint and reletter. Not a big deal. Right now it mainly applies to my Pacemaker Boxcars in my quest to build a prototypical 50 car train. Also a few cabeese.
Pete
Tim,
My WAG Box Cars only have 4 different numbers, 2 Atlas and 2 Weaver, I space them out on the consist and nobody has ever noticed. No way am I changing the numbers.
PCRR/Dave
I don't knowingly buy dupes, but I've become more adept at renumbering and have been stocking up on Microscale decals. If I had a dupe that I really wanted to keep, I'd put it in another part of the train or in another part of the string.
As Chico Marx said : "Duplicates are five kids up in Canada".
Just run them to suit yourself. Any complaints, tell people they're clones.
Run them in a parallel universe.
I would only worry about currency having duplicate numbers.
Who looks at the numbers.
I'm no modeler .... I just like to play with trains .... albeit expensive scale trains .... but, I can't stand duplicate roadnumbers, and I have none.
Same with HO.
To answer your question truthfully...I would put them on the track and enjoy!
Build two different model railroads in two different rooms.
It will give the appearance that the same train has traveled all the way to the other railroad tracks.
Andrew
I have always tried to not buy duplicate numbers for most cars, but of course have a few exceptions. As has been pointed out, it's a real problem unless you are using car cards for realistic operations. I have some unit trains that have some duplicate numbers, but that's not a problem as they are not broken up or switched. I do have some favorite reefer cars that have duplicates and I will renumber them.
I was O.K. until I started attending 2-rail scale operating sessions. The most fun I have ever had running trains since I was a child! Now I am converting my 3-rail hi-rail layout to be able to have real operating sessions. Unique numbers are a must for that.
Art
Think Menards rolling stock, unique numbers. 
