Selling my MTH RailKing Allegheny on eBay for a flat shipping fee and forgetting to specify "Continental US"
34", 32", thwn 36" after wheels one day, then added 35" rollaway shelves..I'm going back down to 30" when I get around to new showcase/hutch. where I dont have to stoop to reach for trains.
Buying traditional/non-scale before I truly appreciated "scale". Then selling them off too-too cheap.
Buying all of the FasTrack to build my attic layout and then selling it NIB for $0.50 to the $1.00 when I decided to switch to GarGraves/Ross.
Assuming that "I don't care" is an implied permission to buy something as simple as Glenn Snyder shelves. They never made it into the house and are currently in a land-fill.
Sold off nice working postwar items for the hi-tech stuff and ended up unreliable.
Spending too much money years ago on fireworks that were gone in a seconds. Could have been saved for train money. Still play with fireworks though, only this time it was a brand new PS-2, 3 volt board and the fuse was two leads out of a super cap. That had to be the most expensive firework I ever purchased.
Not consulting Barry's book completely along with not talking or asking the forums before I built the first table. NOW I always check both! I call it experience!
Dave Zucal posted:Spending too much money years ago on fireworks that were gone in a seconds. Could have been saved for train money. Still play with fireworks though, only this time it was a brand new PS-2, 3 volt board and the fuse was two leads out of a super cap. That had to be the most expensive firework I ever purchased.
Forgot one more.....easily the biggest mistake as well:
Getting into Command Control
Failure to accurately judge people.
Gerry
Oh and another mistake that was not totally my doing alone. When I was maybe seventeen or so, I really wanted a Super 8 movie camera, with a projector and screen. The set of pre-war Lionel my parents bought used for my brother and I when we were about 10 and 7 respectively, was traded for a movie outfit. The trains consisted of a scale steam switcher and three Madison passenger cars, a tin 4-4-2 w/Vanderbilt tender and three red tin passenger cars, numerous freight cars, a 4x12 platform with two ovals of track, switch tracks, Tin Lionelville station, signals, Z transformer, and Plasticville buildings that we had bought ourselves.
Sometimes we just don't think things through. The movie camera and projector were replaced with newer models when I was in the Navy. The originals are long gone. The last time I pulled out the reels of film to watch them was about thirty-five years ago.
So post-war trains are still around and running. All of that other technology is too much for us to be bothered with these days.
Trading size for grade.
My rats nest under layout wiring. I wish I had taken the time to properly label and install it.
Starting out in H.O. Should’ve went with Lionel right away, runs so much better.
scott.smith posted:1) Making my layout a crawl-under.
2) Buying the Lionel Acela.
Scott Smith
I don't want to derail this thread. However, i have heard others talk about the Lionel Acela. I see them on Evilbay for about two grand !
clem k posted:Biggest mistake; getting into model trains.
Getting into model trains is never a mistake, it is a life choice 
Dan Padova posted:scott.smith posted:1) Making my layout a crawl-under.
2) Buying the Lionel Acela.
Scott Smith
I don't want to derail this thread. However, i have heard others talk about the Lionel Acela. I see them on Evilbay for about two grand !
And boy it's ugly. Just had to look them up.
Farmer_Bill posted:Buying too many engines that were out of reach as a kid and suddenly affordable as an adult.
$100 here and there soon adds up to real $$$ that might have been invested elsewhere.
And not completing a layout to run them all (though there’s still time for that).
Ditto! I always wanted my grandpas engines! Now that I can afford them myself I buy them and wonder “why the heck did I want this?!”
Not grasping the concept of "PLANNING AHEAD"
Example- Instructions to self: Make sure you permanently install Fastrak weather and add
blast and glue THEN find out you need more power feed drops.This makes it much easier.
...Never time to do it right the first time but ALWAYS time to do it twice 
Nick
I've been in this hobby a very long time ... and THE biggest mistake ever was buying MTH PS-1 locomotives. The ensuing debacle made me leave that certain brand. 
I do, however, have to include a positive: joining TCA/TTOS way back when as well as meeting the greatest toy train guy ever ... Hank Schmidt who owned a train shop in Santa Clara, CA, back in the early '70s. Sadly, Schmidty passed before the end of that decade. 
A few things quickly come to mind -
Expecting O by today to evolve into the same detail level as H.O. If you ever looked through a Walther's catalog, you'd see what I mean. EX: Properly sized scale and period era scale vehicles still has not been addressed even today. One cannot quickly gather all the components to build a layout. Many items have to be hand made. The O industry needs to develop a one stop shopping with layout in a box.
Choosing Gargraves toy tubular track. "I've learned a thing or two"
I only regret not getting back into this hobby sooner.
Im grateful I listened to Dale at Dale’s Trains in Norfolk, VA when he told me two things;
1. He said this stuff is REALLY expensive so be sure what scale, gauge and quality you really want to buy. Educating myself and reading this forum really saved me tens of thousands of dollars.
2. Dale also told me the the most important thing; THESE ARE TOY TRAINS! It doesn’t matter how much ballast, weathering, painting, building or sound-proofing you do, it is still a toy train. Whether it’s a simple loop of track or a grand layout, I love seeing trains run and my biggest kick is when a small child or an older soul sees the train run they get that look of wonder and joy.
I was recently set free of that (it doesnt look right) frustration when I accepted the fact that these are expensive toys that make us happy and not trying to make it something it will never be. For that reason my eyes have been opened to the joy of tinplate trains cuz they don’t pretend to be anything but toys.😃
This is a good post! Sure is lot of confessions given up easily - must be the cold!
My error, totally underestimating the space requirements. It was all fine and good when it was just a RTR set, but with layout growth came the sprawl of it all!
Buying a Williams GS4 about 9 years ago and I could of got a Lionel TMCC Berk or 2-10-4 instead.
Forgive me Father for I have sinned......
(the Catholics will get it)
Mark Gannucci posted:
2. Dale also told me the the most important thing; THESE ARE TOY TRAINS! It doesn’t matter how much ballast, weathering, painting, building or sound-proofing you do, it is still a toy train. Whether it’s a simple loop of track or a grand layout, I love seeing trains run and my biggest kick is when a small child or an older soul sees the train run they get that look of wonder and joy.
I was recently set free of that (it doesnt look right) frustration when I accepted the fact that these are expensive toys that make us happy and not trying to make it something it will never be. For that reason my eyes have been opened to the joy of tinplate trains cuz they don’t pretend to be anything but toys.😃
Well said. My wife often says, you get to a certain point how much better is it going to be? Sometimes I believe we try and make them do too much, and certainly a lot more than they were originally meant to do. This is a great hobby and nothing else.
PaPa Steve,
As I reread the thread I happened to notice your post on letting in to much plastic.
I think this happens to the best of us Tin Plate guys, however I do not view this as a mistake, just a pleasant learning experience, that is if you purchased the correct plastic!
However no matter what plastic you purchased, it's never as good as the Tin, and IMO never will be.
PCRR/Dave
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1. Going with an o-60 max radius instead of o-72. When I started I was running all semi-scale stuff so it wasn't an issue.
Then I aquired the taste for scale size and detail. All the semi-scale stuff was sold off. The only good thing is maybe the smaller radius has saved my pocketbook....nah. Instead of one $1000 loco I'd probably buy two $500 locos anyway.
2. Not learning enough about MTH's control system before going "all Lionel" while constructing my layout. I'm still contemplating on adding DCS, but I'm fearful my wiring could create signal issues with it.
Building my "dream" layout with lots of switches. Now all I want to do is run the trains around and around in circles. Story of my life.
Hal
pre-ordering
My biggest mistake since going into "O" from "N", it also made me distrust any further having upgrades done, and soured me and almost made me give up "O" and go to "HO" instead. Was trusting someone to upgrade an engine my wife bought for me to get started. Then I realized how easy it was to upgrade myself.
It still sours me, but with the Forum, I'm enjoying "O" more so now.
In August of 1997, Davis Trains in Milford, Ohio offered K-Line RB, B&B heavyweight baggage cars at $34 out the door. I bought six. At the time I was in my NYC heavyweight passenger train phase. The six cars were sprayed Pullman Green. Later, some were sold and others were painted for different railroads. John in Lansing, ILL
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Accepting a new employment position that turned out not to be as advertised. Terrible work environment and demands. I've worked for several best in industry organizations, this is not one of them.
It requires a massive amount of longer hours to achieve success than expected leaving ZERO TIME or ENERGY to focus on the O gauge hobby.
Boo hoo. I've spooned the tears of self pity out of my coffee and I'm networking to land elsewhere.
Need to get back to the rails!!
1. Selling my trains that I had as a kid - in particular the train set that my Aunt gave me for Christmas when I was 8 years old.
2. Selling off HO scale to get to N Scale then selling N Scale to get back to O gauge then move to S Scale, then back to O gauge. etc etc.
3. Buying used JUNK on ebay ... what a deal but after the costly shipping...well it adds up and Hindsight is always 20/20
Inadequate access openings on my layout. Terrible planning on my part.
RickO posted:1. Going with an o-60 max radius instead of o-72. When I started I was running all semi-scale stuff so it wasn't an issue.
Then I aquired the taste for scale size and detail. All the semi-scale stuff was sold off. The only good thing is maybe the smaller radius has saved my pocketbook....nah. Instead of one $1000 loco I'd probably buy two $500 locos anyway.
2. Not learning enough about MTH's control system before going "all Lionel" while constructing my layout. I'm still contemplating on adding DCS, but I'm fearful my wiring could create signal issues with it.
Rick, Eric's Trains runs both MTH DCS and Lionel Legacy on his layout. I think he has a tutorial on his YouTube channel on how to avoid that or how to wire it up so it doesn't do it.
Mine was not narrowing my focus soon enough. I purchased trains that are now outside my focus and am now slowly disposing of them.
Jan
"Getting into Command Control"
No - if Command Control - specifically TMCC - hadn't come along, I would have been gone long ago; poor-running locos and F-N-R standing at a transformer was really getting on my nerves. Still does.
"3. Buying used JUNK on ebay ... what a deal but after the costly shipping...well it adds up and Hindsight is always 20/20"
My experiences on eBay have been 180 degrees in the other direction - and I've bought most of my stuff there in the last 15 years. (If the s/h is too high, don't buy it...) I don't buy anything that raises any red - even light red - flags.
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My personal greatest error would have to be, considering how much of this stuff I like, which generates purchases that at this point have largely ended but have been excessive over time, getting into this hobby to begin with. The unfocused should not do it; this stuff is big. I don't impulse buy, but a wide range of prototypes do fascinate me, so...too much stuff and I can't enjoy most of it.
RSJB18 posted:Forgive me Father for I have sinned......
(the Catholics will get it)
Mea culpa... Mea culpa... (and usually in my case) Mea maxima culpa...
Pine Creek Railroad posted:PaPa Steve,
As I reread the thread I happened to notice your post on letting in to much plastic.
I think this happens to the best of us Tin Plate guys, however I do not view this as a mistake, just a pleasant learning experience, that is if you purchased the correct plastic!
However no matter what plastic you purchased, it's never as good as the Tin, and IMO never will be.
PCRR/Dave
Dave;
Your photo reminded me of one of my many mistakes (or as I prefer to call them, character building exercises) over the years... I bought a number of things that I planned on using when I finally built a permanent layout. Two of the biggest items were bridges - the Rockville Bridge and the Hellgate. As my design progressed, I had to eliminate an elevated section which would have incorporated the two bridges (fortunately, I was able to use the 213 lift bridge in the final design). I'd still love to find a way to use the Hellgate - it is just too cool, but my final design has three parallel loops of Fastrack, so I don't think it will fit. As mine is packed away and not easy to access, could you tell me if the opening is wide enough for two tracks of Fastrack to fit on the bridge???
Thanks
Tom McGriel posted:Inadequate access openings on my layout. Terrible planning on my part.
Actually, as I have aged, I've found I should have made them wider.
