I understand your point Rich. I tried several train inventory programs (the first was on Windows 95) but they were too restrictive for my needs. I worked extensively with spreadsheets as well as Oracle databases in my former job. My train spreadsheet started as a temporary approach and evolved over 20 years. My oldest archived file is dated July 4, 2000.
My Excel workbook has an inventory tab and a purchases tab related by a purchase number field. I have report tabs based on pivot tables. I use auto-filter so I can sort or filter on any column and I can edit multiple records easily if I want to refine or correct the records. On other tabs I have specialized lists like all Post War Celebration, 6464, etc.
This approach is not for everyone but all this is second nature to me. One downside of this, for example, is no data validation on fields - but since I am the only one using it I can remember my own "rules" on what goes in a particular column. I do occasionally go through and make things consistent like PRR vs. Pennsy.
One thing I would like to have is images and have considered moving to a true database but that in itself is a big job.
Partial sample sorted on Number and filtered on 6464 in Comments.
