When is a lot too much?

[CNE Runner]

My wife and I are on a campaign to simplify our lives. After 26 years of marriage we have managed to fill every nook and cranny of our 2,400 sq. ft. home with 'stuff'. Now begins the process of getting rid of all this unwanted and unused clutter.

Part of the process above was for me to take an inventory of my model railroad holdings. I came up with: 6 engines and 84 cars for my 19th century theme; and 2 engines accompanied by 174 cars for my 20th century theme. This does not count any kits or cars that are either unbuilt or in the process of refurbishing. It also does not count any structures (for either theme) - nor any items that are part of our train show inventory. Folks, that is a lot of rolling stock...most of which hasn't turned a wheel in years.

Thus begs the question: When is a lot too much? Conversely, when is the saturation point reached?

Your comments are appreciated.
Ray

[adari]

My friend has a 27*37 foot layout and he has 206 engines and 2600 cars. That was six months ago so he probobly has 213 engines and at least 2650 cars. He has alot

[rustyrails]

Ray, I'd say that you need enough locomotives to support the type of operation you like plus enough cars to make up the trains you want to run plus fill maybe 1/2 to 2/3 of your siding capacity.  Those cars on your "customers'" sidings will, of course, be picked up, replaced, and sent back toward their home roads, so at any given time, some of your cars will always be "off" the railroad.  It always amazes me just how many cars a layout can swallow up.  I'm anticipating using six locomotives plus 2 RDC's and some 50-70 cars on my 60 sq ft around the walls shelf.
Rusty

[CNE Runner]

I'm sure we'll hear more on this subject in the days to come; however I wanted to respond to the points of view already established.

Rusty - you make a lot of sense. I could see that a large layout, featuring complex freight or passenger movements, would eat up a considerable amount of rolling stock and require several locomotives. Good point. Adari - as a clinical psychologist, I am tempted to send you one of my business cards for your friend. I cannot imagine anyone feeling they need that much of anything (OK, I'll bend on money...within reasonable limits). I once had a client that collected angel figurines...she had something like 3 or 4 thousand! That is not healthy behavior. On the other hand, your friend isn't hurting anyone else, and he (hopefully) pays his bills on time and is attentive in his family obligations...it is a 'little' over the top though.

I appreciate you comments...on the 4th no less. Have a great holiday and I'll check back with this thread on Monday.

Cheers,
Ray

[RAM]

OK, I am like Ray.  I have too much old stuff.  Things that I will never run.  Adari, you friend just likes to collect.  With that many locomotive, if he only spends 15 minutes a year to clean and lube, it would take 52 hours a year. 

[NarrowMinded]

I have his problem also, mine is mostly with detail parts though, I buy with the intention of making a modification or building something unique but then never get around to it because something always seems to need to be done on another project first, I also suffer from the "as soon as I get rid of it I need it" syndrome. so to weed out unneeded items I set them in my 6-month box... this is a box in a closet that is away from my hobby area if I don't use the item within six months I sell give or toss it out. this system has worked very well  for regulating my pack-rat tendencies and has cleared up a lot o space.

NW

[adari]

I'm sure we'll hear more on this subject in the days to come; however I wanted to respond to the points of view already established.

Rusty - you make a lot of sense. I could see that a large layout, featuring complex freight or passenger movements, would eat up a considerable amount of rolling stock and require several locomotives. Good point. Adari - as a clinical psychologist, I am tempted to send you one of my business cards for your friend. I cannot imagine anyone feeling they need that much of anything (OK, I'll bend on money...within reasonable limits). I once had a client that collected angel figurines...she had something like 3 or 4 thousand! That is not healthy behavior. On the other hand, your friend isn't hurting anyone else, and he (hopefully) pays his bills on time and is attentive in his family obligations...it is a 'little' over the top though.

I appreciate you comments...on the 4th no less. Have a great holiday and I'll check back with this thread on Monday.

Cheers,
Ray

hes retired. he works on it day and night  and he is retired from discovery. He has alot of space to run stuff and alot of people who come over and dont have engines. He lets people use his engine. He bought 3 engines the other day. They were 6 axle sd7s and he had no 6 axle engines until i brought over mine. I ussually bring over at least 1 of my engines but ill start bringing more to run. he sold me a mikado for a very good price
adam

[adari]

He has all the time he want to that stuff. so dont be saying hes just a collector he runs has a huge layout. All the time in the world all his retirement money and he has fun at it. If anyone on this board lives around/ near dc shoot me an email at [email protected]
Hes really nice and he going with me over to Howard Zanes layout one of these days. I f you shoot me an email dont do anything about my layout. I havent started yet but I have the plan which is on my site
Adam

[CNE Runner]

Hi Adam - I hope you don't think I was criticizing your friend. He is, as you indicated, retired and trains seem to be his 'thing'...good for him! While a retiree has buckets full of time - they usually don't have large amounts of disposable income (that is called a 'fixed income'). Apparently your friend has made more than adequate preparations for his retirement years and my hat is off to him. It sounds like you have a good friend in this person...cherish the relationship.

Sincerely,
Ray

[Atlantic Central]

The big problem with these kinds of discussions is people tend to view things from where THEY are in life, how much money they have, how much space they have.

People make choices, the person who has a bunch of trains may have foregone lots of things in life that you did do, putting those resources into his hobby. And yes, many people are very successfull and have planned well for the future and can afford to spend their money on toys and hobbies.

What seems like a lot to you may only seem normal to them. What you have spent time or money on in your life may seem silly to them. Some people with only modest incomes buy new cars every few years, spending their whole life making car payments. Yet some people with very comfortable incomes pay cash for a modest car and drive it for 10-12 years saving all those payments and interest. Its all in what is important to you.

Also, many of us have been in the hobby our intire lives, since teen or childhood years. And, depending on life's events and personal values may still have most of what we have aquired over all those years.

I have over 100 locos, 600-700 pieces of rolling stock (and I need more for the current layouts operational plan), dozens and dozens of buildings, built and unbuilt. Parts bins full of detail parts, shelves full of unbuilt kits, cases of flex track, turnouts and switch machines. I have been in this hobby for 40 years. I still have items that where on my first layout at age 12, I'm 52 now. My layout space is over 800 sq ft and may actually get bigger when we move to our retirement home.

I have been accused of being "priviledged" on this fourm, I still resent that remark. I have worked hard all my life and am owing to no one for what I have, except maybe God and the support of my wife. And I have always put the needs of my family first.

I personally know many modelers with WAY more model railroad equipment/layout space, etc, than what I have. I have met/seen the layouts of Howard Zane, Ken McCory, Jim Brewer and a host of others with layouts that make my 800 sq ft look like a 4x8. I'm not jealous of them or think they have "too" much. That's their business. Just the opposite, I respect their acheivements in and out of the hobby and thank them for sharing their efforts in the hobby with me.

I was not brought up with a materialistic view or values, but I was taught to take care of what I had, to spend money wisely and work hard for the things I wanted. I was also taught that material things do represent the hard work of yourself and others and that deserves respect.

You are welcome to believe as you see fit. I personally will continue to believe in the idea that hard work and respect for ones self and others will build the best possible life for all. No one has the right to tell others they have worked for "too much". I live in a paid for house, sit on paid for furniture, and drive paid for cars and it is of no concern to me if someone thinks I have "too much" of anything.

"The univeral misery of capitalism is the unequal distribution of the blessings,
The universal blessing of socialism is the equal disribution of the misery" - Winston Curchhill

Still planning to buy more trains.

Sheldon

[bevernie]

 ;DGREETINGS!! I have over a hundred engines, and, I've stated on other posts, that is my major reason for not going DCC.    I've not counted my rolling stock, but a lot of it consists of "special" items (i.e. Bicentennial, old passenger stuff, etc.).
   This evening, we took a trip over to the local GOODWILL STORE, and they had a little plastic train for $2, so I bought it! It's just a little battery-powered thing, but it has some cute little "snow-covered" trees that would look good on my layout (if I ever get it BUILT!! lol).
   My mailbox area is well-decorated with "train signs" warning people to "BEWARE" of the "TRAIN CROSSING", and little plastic trains (one facing each direction and a third in the center). When Pat, our mailman, (or anyone else) opens the mailbox, a sound module (powered by a 6-volt solar supply) goes off with train sounds- a bell, a whistle, a "clacking sound", etc. I really don't know (nor care!) what my neighbors think, but the few that I've talked to really like it! (One neighbor kid liked it so much that he ran down the batteries before I got the solar unit! I don't think he's found out that I've fixed it yet!)
     Every time I see something to do with trains, I buy it! Many of my friends bring me items "they new I would like"!  
     Will I ever have too much?? I probably already DO, but I try not to think about it, so I'd appreciate it if you would refrain from telling me!!   lol
                                                                                        THANX!!
                                                                                       Ernie
     

[rustyrails]

Sheldon,
I want to apologize for offending you.  I certainly did not intend to, and I'm sorry.
Rusty

[Atlantic Central]

Rusty,

Apology accepted.

Now a little more on this topic in a different tone.

For me personally, even though I did refer to my trains as a collection above, I am not a collector. I consider myself a modeler. My inventory of locos, rolling stock and other modeling supplies is based on a specific set of goals to build and operate the model railroad I have/am building.

I don't buy stuff just because its neat, or famous, or interesting. I do not have hardly any of the "famous" locos all the manufacturers keep making over and over. No Big Boys, GS4's, GG1's, etc, etc. No collection of unrelated locos from dozens of different regions, railroads and eras.

I have a design for my railroad, specific modeling and operational goals, and I only buy the "pieces" to that puzzle. Almost every piece carefully fits the era, location, and specific model scenes I wish to create/replicate.

That is how I limit what I buy and what I have. It's never too much if you have the space, the money, the time and a purpose!

Sheldon

[Atlantic Central]

Ray,

Why hasn't it turned a wheel in years? Some of mine is neatly stored awaiting more progress on the layout, while some does see action on the part of the layout in operation. But I will reach that goal - its my nature.

It is after all a journey, not a destination. But if you have lost interest in the destination than the journey is a waste of your time.

Sheldon

[adari]

Hi Adam - I hope you don't think I was criticizing your friend. He is, as you indicated, retired and trains seem to be his 'thing'...good for him! While a retiree has buckets full of time - they usually don't have large amounts of disposable income (that is called a 'fixed income'). Apparently your friend has made more than adequate preparations for his retirement years and my hat is off to him. It sounds like you have a good friend in this person...cherish the relationship.

Sincerely,
Ray

OH

Thats okay, I really didn't think anything about it.
He really dose have a ton of stuff  I have nothing compared to him
Thanks
Adam