lee drennen posted:I’m enjoying everyone’s input on this thread as well. Another Home Run Arnold. Mom and Dad always bought me Tyco Train set when I was young but I was still very grateful I got one because I knew they really couldn’t afford it but they would pull it off some how. We was poor but didn’t know it they always provided for me and my two older brothers. Now that I’m older have a good job I can buy the trains that fit my budget yet I enjoy. There was a older gentleman on the forum once said buy big ticket items when your young and have money so you can enjoy them when your old and that’s what I did. I don’t have any Lionel Legacy locos but I’m happy with my Post War Lionel, Weaver and MTH Steamer. I would never had dreamed I would ever own these. I’ve been very blessed.
My family wasn't exactly poor in the 80s when I was a teen but the parents were frugal. My mom though was rather poor during the mid to late seventies before she got remarried in 79. from 74 to 79, she was a single mom who worked as a school nurse. She couldn't afford much but I had relatives who gave me money so that was how I got some nicer toys that I desired. However she did what she could. My parents had gotten the Lionel trains before they divorced in 74 (I think) and I don't know what happened to them soon after. I only really remember playing with the Lionel twice when I was young.
However i did get a couple of Tyco sets like you did when my mom was single. I remember getting a typical freight set from Tyco from her one Christmas and I believe that was the same year I saved my Christmas and Birthday money and got the Broadway Limited Tyco trainset that started my love of passenger stuff.
I'm now finally at the stage of my life where I can indulge a little bit. I can't afford any of the high end engines but I do what I can. I try to spend about 100-200 a month on buying train stuff. To me that is a reasonable amount and doesn't negatively impact me. But that means I can't afford a $1000 dollar engine unless I were to save up for 5 or more months but I always seem to find irresistible deals during that saving period. So i'm happy with the same kind of stuff as you have.
