Arnold, thank you for the compliments by you a man who we respect and as someone who’s opinion we value. 👍🏻 However, please note nearly all your respondents are over 60 years old! First, we are used to seeing quality and service, which are in short supply today. Second, we have been schooled in the College of Hard Knocks and have finally learned from our mistakes. Third, we already have more trains than we know what to do with. 🤪
Good point, Mark. I hadn’t thought of those factors. But, you are absolutely right. 👍
Arnold,
Really had to give this one some thought. I'm 45 and a well-to-do public elementary school teacher. My Big Ticket purchases are both behind me and in front of me.
Struggling with OCD for most of my life, I have started and stopped layouts 8-10 times over the last 15 years. I started with postwar and MPC hand-me-downs. Then I got into the Bay for any second hand deal that looked good with no purpose and direction. Then I focused on a theme and roadname and sold a bunch of stuff that fit my new direction. After that, I'm good for about one premier engine and a couple of 60-100 dollar cars a year.
Anyhow, I would say that I wasted a ton of money in the past on layout restarts, changes of theme and direction etc. However, because I am treating my OCD and enjoying life outside the hobby as well, that has made it easier to save up for a big ticket item here and there.
I think a great question to ask collectors and operators is at what point did you reach financial efficiency within your collection or operation? I am certain that many people with both more and less items and different budgets have been far more efficient than I have in pursuit of peace and productivity within the hobby.
@Mark Boyce posted:Arnold, thank you for the compliments by you a man who we respect and as someone who’s opinion we value. 👍🏻 However, please note nearly all your respondents are over 60 years old! First, we are used to seeing quality and service, which are in short supply today. Second, we have been schooled in the College of Hard Knocks and have finally learned from our mistakes. Third, we already have more trains than we know what to do with. 🤪
I have to go along with Marks statement about we already have more than we need. I went from a big basement layout to a small garage layout. I downsized when I moved and at the age of 72 I’m starting to thin out my collection even more. I’m not saying I’m leaving the hobby. No but when the time comes it will be easier on my family. For now let’s keep the trains running.
@pdxtrains posted:My "most bucks" days are over, because there is very little I want. MTH is out of the Railking line, there are no new Subway sets that fit my layout, and I'm just not excited about spending $500 on a Lionchief 2+ engine, even tho I think they are very nice.
I still enjoy picking up a Lionel starter set now and again, because I really am a true toy train guy and not a modeler at all. I could care less about scale, etc. My layouts are all temporary on folding tables and I change it up frequently, so I basically use o31 track which means that buying Postwar really makes sense for me, with the added benefit that it's really inexpensive compared to modern electronics.
If MTH was still in the Railking business (where most engines fit o31) and pumping out subway sets I'd still be buying. Right now I have enough to amuse me.
Pdx,
I get emails from MTH almost every day about half are for Railking items RS3 Diesels, boxcars, tank cars etc. Why do you say MTH is out of RailKing. It looks to me like they are still very much into Railking. I am a Lionel guy and a scale guy so maybe you mean they are out of the subway business?
JohnB
@Arnold D. Cribari posted:.On the other hand, if you get good value and feel you have been treated well by the vendor or manufacturer, you become very loyal and enthusiastic customers.
The vendors and manufacturers would be wise to read all your above replies. Arnold
@Arnold D. Cribari - I bet Scott (at Trainz) is reading this, as he's proven (by his comments from time to time) that he often does. 
@PH1975 posted:@Arnold D. Cribari - I bet Scott (at Trainz) is reading this, as he's proven (by his comments from time to time) that he often does.
My impression of Scott (I only met him once at York and spoke to him for 2 minutes) is that he is a brilliant businessman.
Maybe..... At 71 I'm looking for something to drool over for a while, maybe display then sell. Another angle..... MY big ticket sales regrets ARE 2. A boxed 2356 ABA,s I bought in 1979 and a11415 pilot S-2. Should have kept them
@R2D1 posted:Maybe..... At 71 I'm looking for something to drool over for a while, maybe display then sell. Another angle..... MY big ticket sales regrets ARE 2. A boxed 2356 ABA,s I bought in 1979 and a11415 pilot S-2. Should have kept them
I’m not far behind you at 67. You have an excellent point. I have bought engines that I have kept a while then sold. The RS3 in Western Maryland Fireball scheme I posted a couple days ago is a good example of one I sold and regretted. So then I bought another. I sold a GP7 to a forum member, then another forum member asked me if I wanted one, same paint scheme but different road number, so I bought it from him. I hope I have finally learned my lessons before I sell something again! I do have a few items I have been putting through the paces to make sure they run well before putting them on the block. One thing, that forced me to make some repairs that I have just lived with until now. 😄
It is comforting to know that I have a lot of good company in you older guys (I’m 75) who have pretty much accumulated everything they ever wanted and in fact overbought throughout the years, and are now carefully thinning out their holdings in a serious manner. Both to make taking good care of our remaining trains easier and by lessening the burden our heirs will face someday.
As I go through my storage boxes methodically, I am even finding items I don’t remember ever acquiring in the first place. And several duplicates, too. 
It is time. Clearly. Lighten things up and enjoy the trains you treasure the most. For me, those are the Postwar Lionel offerings I drooled over in those great old catalogs from the 1950s but never had the wherewithal to buy when I was a child.
I've sold very few locomotives, but everything I sold or traded away was to a local train club buddy.
One of the advantages of doing that is if you have regrets, it's possible you can buy it back or get it back in a trade in the future.
An example of this was a very nice Lionel TMCC NY Central 10 wheeler (4-6-0) made in the early 2000s. It had very nice detail, and great sounds and smoke. I had regrets, told my train buddy, and a couple of months later he let me buy it back from him at the same price. He was happy because he wanted the cash to buy something he preferred, and I was happy because I got the steamer back.
Also, even if you don't get it back, you can see it, photograph it, make a video of it or maybe borrow it for a while because the new owner is a friend and is likely to accommodate you in these ways.
Arnold
Pretty much, however if someone were to come out with NICTD, single or double stacked commuter cars, I would opt for a set. I limited my roads years ago and it has worked out well for me. I finance my new purchases by selling things I no longer need, that way it keeps my hobby money flowing and not a drain on the wallet.
Not for GGD. But without anymore new and/or big PRR steam,[ HC1, K2,K3,K5] I would say yes, just a couple of older pieces and you can "stick a fork in me", I'm done!
Well, I’ve never been a “big bucks” buyer, but yes- my days of buying anything new are largely over. Just too expensive to justify it anymore and I probably have too much as it is.
Unfortunately it has been over since the last recession hit Detroit in 2006 - even though the kids are now no longer at home.
I just can't justify $1,200 to $2,000 for an engine whose electronics may not be repairable, due to part availability, a few years down the road - without having to do an upgrade.
As an example, I've had to update/repair the electronics of a ROW B&O engine three times in the last twenty years. This is on an engine that I rarely run because I do not have a permanent layout. 
Besides I, more or less focus on C&O and B&O and there has been plenty of engines produced of these road names along with passenger sets and freight cars, of which I have enough.
Of course I've strayed from time to time buying cars of different road names and I do have some classic engines other than the C&O and B&O - but these were purchased well before 2006.
The pricing of the engines today - though very interesting as they have some interesting features - are just to rich for my blood no matter what the road name may be. It is unfortunate as there are some very nice pieces of equipment being offered today.
My only hope is that Menards releases a production engine offering that will bring back some sanity to the hobby.
@Allegheny posted:Unfortunately it has been over since the last recession hit Detroit in 2006 - even though the kids are now no longer at home.
I just can't justify $1,200 to $2,000 for an engine whose electronics may not be repairable, due to part availability, a few years down the road - without having to do an upgrade.
As an example, I've had to update/repair the electronics of a ROW B&O engine three times in the last twenty years. This is on an engine that I rarely run because I do not have a permanent layout.
Besides I, more or less focus on C&O and B&O and there has been plenty of engines produced of these road names along with passenger sets and freight cars, of which I have enough.
Of course I've strayed from time to time buying cars of different road names and I do have some classic engines other than the C&O and B&O - but these were purchased well before 2006.
The pricing of the engines today - though very interesting as they have some interesting features - are just to rich for my blood no matter what the road name may be. It is unfortunate as there are some very nice pieces of equipment being offered today.
My only hope is that Menards releases a production engine offering that will bring back some sanity to the hobby.
Kazar,
I was in Detroit around that time & that was the time I bought most of my brass locomotives. I got some good deals on Overland, O-Scale, 2-rail models of contemporary trains and still spent $1K to $2K, for a single diesel locomotive.
I happened to be at the right place, at the right time, Single-Income, No Kids, working for Toyota, which briefly became the world's biggest car company when GM & Chrysler were struggling. Toyota wasn't laying off like the Big Three and if it weren't for my former immigration status, I would have never left Detroit to move to Peoria, like we both did.
These are just my opinion,
Naveen Rajan
Wow, @Arnold D. Cribari , I’ve read ever comment from page 1 thru 4 and most of the fellows posting are over 60 , some less, many more, and I’m approaching 79 in the near future. I was out of the hobby from 1989 thru 1996, and at one time had a tremendous post war collection. Life happens, trains sold, the future was uncertain…TaDa, in 1996 a friend called me and told me about the all new Lionel TMCC command system and that brought me back into the hobby. Also, re-marrying to a really special wife, she helped me get back into the hobby. This started in 1994… That being said, she allowed me to build a modest size layout in our basement, “Leapin Larrys Looney Lines Railroad, all command/ TMCC/Legacy, and it’s a fun to run model railroad and our local group of fellows enjoy bringing their trains over when we have train days, it’s lots of fun. Now, I might be old, but I see myself as a Senior kid…. Yes, my days of big spending is basically over, however, if I want one of the nice new VisionLine articulated steamers, I just sell a few of my older pieces and make the deal. I am lucky to have what I have and one day it’s got to go, but I’m going to have fun for awhile longer, Lord Willing.
Great Question @Arnold D. Cribari, Thank you.
Now, we are just hours away from Lionel’s latest and greatest 2023 Volume 2 catalog coming our way, I’m so excited…. I do not purchase near as much as I used to, but there will be something in this new dream book that I’ll want. I’m hoping for a Legacy diesel, or steamer in the $700 - $900 range…. My annual budget is around $2K per year. Sell some to buy some….Happy Railroading Everyone
,
Another good topic from Arnold the master conversation starter. For me as a traditional toy train guy, "big bucks" is a $400-$600 engine and then $100-$200 for sets of matching freight or passenger cars.
Definitely not over but buying much less aggressively the last 2-3 years. I added DCS a few years ago and added 6 engines from Mr. Muffins and Stockyard Express. To make room, I gave 2 sets with early TMCC to each of my new sons-in-law to get them started, and I also gave two PW sets that I inherited from my grandfather to my cousin's son (my grandfather's great grandson). They're all in their 20s and 30s so I rationalize that as paying it forward. I'm also planning to sell off a few B&O items before I turn 60 in 2024 but only because I've been finding and adding more Nickel Plate in traditional size recently.
If Lionel re-made the Lionmaster Hudson with LC+2.0 in normal black or the fantasy red/gray Pacemaker scheme, I'd pre-order buy for the first time without question. Same goes for a set of LC+2.0 Alco AAs in one of my preferred road names. So, not done yet, but at the 7th inning stretch.
I just looked at the Lionel 2023 Volume 2 catalog and was happy to see that none of the Legacy locomotive offerings are in road names that I would buy. So, my avoidance of big bucks (and even moderate) spending stands firm - at least for now.
MELGAR
@naveenrajan posted:Kazar,
I was in Detroit around that time & that was the time I bought most of my brass locomotives. I got some good deals on Overland, O-Scale, 2-rail models of contemporary trains and still spent $1K to $2K, for a single diesel locomotive.
I happened to be at the right place, at the right time, Single-Income, No Kids, working for Toyota, which briefly became the world's biggest car company when GM & Chrysler were struggling. Toyota wasn't laying off like the Big Three and if it weren't for my former immigration status, I would have never left Detroit to move to Peoria, like we both did.
These are just my opinion,
Naveen Rajan
Hello Naveen,
Indeed we both share the same work history and struggles during that time working for Caterpillar in Peoria! If you like please email me as I'd like to catch up.
@dorfj2 posted:Let’s see what happens in two weeks when the new Lionel catalog comes out - all the guys that are “DONE” may be singing a different tune 🤔🤣
This “discussion” has been going on forever
Well,
The catalog is out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvLoAfWZfCY
John
@MELGAR posted:I just looked at the Lionel 2023 Volume 2 catalog and was happy to see that none of the Legacy locomotive offerings are in road names that I would buy. So, my avoidance of big bucks (and even moderate) spending stands firm - at least for now.
MELGAR
Ah, Mel, you successfully avoided the big bucks, but you took a chance.
My strategy is not to even look at the new catalogue. That way, there's even less of a chance of springing for the big bucks locomotive.
@MELGAR, I am like Mel, there were no Legacy steamers in the roads I collect either, however, there are some beautiful diesels that I’m drooling over. This is a nice catalog and Arnold, your safe to, take a peek….. Happy Railroading Everyone
@JohnB posted:Pdx,
I get emails from MTH almost every day about half are for Railking items RS3 Diesels, boxcars, tank cars etc. Why do you say MTH is out of RailKing. It looks to me like they are still very much into Railking. I am a Lionel guy and a scale guy so maybe you mean they are out of the subway business?
JohnB
Hi John:
Yes, Subway. I can't fit the 20 series larger scale subways on my layout, I need the 30- Railking versions that are o31. I already have the liveries of other RailKing engines and nothing has really tempted me back to purchase any more. Open to it. The minute a Railking subway is offered I'd be a buyer.
Yes, my big spending days are long over. I bounced around from G to HO, down to N, and up to On30. I'm happy at On30 and I'll keep it at that point. My most recent purchase was a drover-style caboose to complete my rolling stock collection. By virtue of being an operator I've kept my roster fairly small regardless of scale.
@leapinlarry posted:@MELGAR, I am like Mel, there were no Legacy steamers in the roads I collect either, however, there are some beautiful diesels that I’m drooling over. This is a nice catalog and Arnold, your safe to, take a peek….. Happy Railroading Everyone
You have no idea, Leapinlarry, how easily I can be seduced into buying an expensive gorgeous locomotive when I see one. LOL, Arnold
They never started. As long as I have kids in college and a mortgage I will not spend 1000s on a loco. I'm perfectly happy with conventional postwar, MPC, and Williams. My biggest single purchase was about 600 for MPC IC F3 ABBA and passenger cars.
Don
@MELGAR posted:I just looked at the Lionel 2023 Volume 2 catalog and was happy to see that none of the Legacy locomotive offerings are in road names that I would buy. So, my avoidance of big bucks (and even moderate) spending stands firm - at least for now.
MELGAR
@Arnold D. Cribari posted:Ah, Mel, you successfully avoided the big bucks, but you took a chance.
My strategy is not to even look at the new catalogue. That way, there's even less of a chance of springing for the big bucks locomotive.
I looked at the catalog but anything I might have bought would not have been in the "big bucks" category...
MELGAR
I started to look at the catalog and after 10 pages, I gave up. Nothing... Again.
I no longer have the money to fit the new locomotive prices in any price category.
I have enough stuff anyway.
I’ve spent so many years collecting for “that day” that I’m actually now selling off items I know I’ll never use. It’s been a great ride, but paring down the collection in order to enjoy my remaining favorites has been a bit therapeutic. Mind you, there are still some items on my wish list, but I seriously consider them only after determining which ones will go to make room for the “new” trains… which more than likely will be anywhere between 40 and 80 years since they left the factory 😁
Like many responders, my big spenting times are over-I have been a collector my whole life ( presently am in my late 70s)-so have amassed many,(most) PW and a large number of modern trains of most manufacturers. Why only a collestor?-raised 5 children and I always believed that the basemant belonged to them, not to my train layout. I have already sold off my "big boxes" ( bridges, buildings, large accessories, etc)-and philosophically just can't justify making my wife/children/ grandkids/whomever struggle with my trains when I'm gone. I already have outlived most males in my family-so I know that I wont be around forever. I have gotten into scratch building/kitbashing some cars/engines-example,just did a PRR MOW pole car. I have the time and enjoy learning how to do that "stuff". It is still a bit expensive but luckily that is not an issue for my wife and myself. I also agree 1000% with those who don't like the high prices of many new cars/engines-especially knowing that most of us cannot repair or update them ourselves ( like we have done with PW trains). I just looked at the latest catalog-? $130 asking price for a plastic Bethlehem Steel PS5 Gondola with coke containers?-again philosophically, that just doesnt feel "right" to me. Clearly I continue to enjoy my hobby and see no reason why I will ever give it up. Enjoy !! P Hering
i'm late to this thread and have been out of the 'game' for 30 years but - MAN! i am surprised by the prices on some of these fancier/bigger choo-choo$. I suppose i'd want that kind of money if i had engineered all that technology into such a small space, but it still makes me wonder. I just don't know if I can make sense of the cost of the control systems AND the choo-choo$. also the cost of new rolling freight feels like a bit much. i do like the look of those wood-sided reefer$ that i am seeing though...
my big spending might have been finished before i began.
...but i will confess that my personal economics often justify plenty of purchases of dozens of dollars that rapidly add up to thousand$ 
@MELGAR posted:I just looked at the Lionel 2023 Volume 2 catalog and was happy to see that none of the Legacy locomotive offerings are in road names that I would buy. So, my avoidance of big bucks (and even moderate) spending stands firm - at least for now.
MELGAR
Mel, I was pleasantly surprised to see a model of the newly refurbished and repainted C&O (now Western Maryland 1309) offered. The catalog even says it will run on 054 which is my mainline curves. Of course it is way over my head as far as price. I’ll keep my money for some small priced items. Also, I’ll avoid having to reengineer the main ROW to accommodate the assumed extra overhang.
I thought that when I bought the Century Club I offerings that THOSE were my big ticket items. Then came Vision Line and I thought that THOSE two engines were my big ticket items. I'm now at a point in life where I may have to start jettisoning some of my "stuff". As I've said before, I LOVE toy trains, but cannot justify spending the amounts that some of these new high tech engines are carrying. Yes, TCA should be Train Collectors Anonymous. It really reminds me of the Joe McDoakes video: https://youtu.be/t475_VGa7EE
In theory my big bucks buying days are still in front of me. In reality they probably are over.
I now have both the time and the financial resources to be buying trains that I did not have in the past. Thing is that now I am no longer willing to settle for just any locos and cars. The days when I would consider something because it was cool looking, or because they had slapped my railroad's graphics on it even though it is clearly a model of something used by a different railroad are over. I want what I want. I have enough now so that if nothing I want is being offered I can sit on the sidelines. Given the retrenchment in what is being produced it seems less and less likely that there is going to be new things offered that I want.
@Trainman52 posted:I thought that when I bought the Century Club I offerings that THOSE were my big ticket items. Then came Vision Line and I thought that THOSE two engines were my big ticket items. I'm now at a point in life where I may have to start jettisoning some of my "stuff". As I've said before, I LOVE toy trains, but cannot justify spending the amounts that some of these new high tech engines are carrying. Yes, TCA should be Train Collectors Anonymous. It really reminds me of the Joe McDoakes video: https://youtu.be/t475_VGa7EE
Love this!
It seems to be a consensus, for most of us, that if we spring for the big bucks locomotive, we will only do it if it is "a perfect 10," and the manufacturer's quality control better be good because if there are any flaws out of the box, we are not stupid and won't take a chance on any future big bucks engines.
An example is my Yard Goat Sally (the subject of another recent Forum thread), an otherwise outstanding Legacy steam switcher, except that it has a problematic (an understatement) tether/receptacle arrangement between locomotive and tender, at least for 031 curves, and it's supposed to run well on those sharp curves.
As a result, I'm wary of buying another Legacy product.
Arnold
@Traindiesel posted:Just when I think I acquired all the trains I ever wanted, and more, another catalog or announcement leads me astray.
Therefore, Counselor, I refuse to answer this question on grounds that I may incriminate myself.
I'm with you buddy. 
@irish rifle posted:Having recently retired, I made a New Year's resolution to buy only those engines I need or want. I am pleased to report that I have honored that resolution to date.
BINGO!
@superwarp1 posted:I'm in to second hand engines and rolling stock. Engines can be upgraded so I'm not really missing out on the latest and greatest features.
I'm firmly in this camp. A vast majority of my purchases are either non-working or upgrade candidates. I've recently acquired a number of PS/1 engines that I'm busily converting to either PS/3 or Legacy. I'm also looking through my shelves and selling stuff that doesn't fit my current tastes.
Honestly I might just forget about lc2.0 and just stick with basic lionchief as there is now separate sale engines every year
Plus I might ditch the cab3 and just use the lionchief app or remote and conventional engines are always good as well
@paigetrain posted:Honestly I might just forget about lc2.0 and just stick with basic lionchief as there is now separate sale engines every year
If you're willing to give up a lot of detail, and live with lower quality sound, mechanical smoke units, and no cruise control, that works.
Personally, I'm not willing to give up all those things.
