How many trains are too many?

One is not enough, two is too many, three is not nearly enough. Oh wait, that's for drinks...guess it applies to trains as well...

More than I have now!

I'll take the Collyer brothers for $500 Alex - I figure I might be verging on having too many trains when a photograph of my train room looks like the inside of the Collyer brownstone...it doesn't so, like NWL, it has to be more than I have a present.

@Mill City posted:

One is not enough, two is too many, three is not nearly enough. Oh wait, that's for drinks...guess it applies to trains as well...

While giving me some valuable advice, my Dad would share a more colorful version of this statement about drinks after work with coworkers.

How many trains are too many? Two more than you already have.

I’ve been working on solving this riddle for years and after breaking the 30 engine mark recently, I still don’t have the answer. But don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll have one before I reach the 50 engine point.

All kidding aside, for many of us, it’s a hobby and a collection.  Whoever asks coin collectors how many coins are enough? It’s whatever makes you happy in pursuit of your collection that you can afford and maintain, limited by the space you have.  I made sure to collect all of the subway trains that I rode while commuting in NYC. I also collect assorted engines from the LIRR and MTA that I remember or appeal to me.  I only buy what can be displayed on my shelves or the layout (on mainlines or sidetracks), but other than that, I’m still looking to add more.  I really enjoy finding and acquiring new pieces, so for me, I clearly haven’t hit a magic number yet. Good luck on finding your number.

When you start finding things under the layout or in other places ,still in the box that you didn't know you had...thats too many.

Great responses and boy did I open a big can of worms!! Lol

I have a lot of pretty boxes. Guessing what is in them is fun.

Like I stated before, “ more then I need, but not as many as I want.”😀😂

Are your bills paid?  Are your kids fed and clothed?  Is your home is decent shape?  If you answered no to any of these, you have too much.  If you answered yes to all of them, enough is what you enjoy and too much feels cluttered.

We have a club member that had over 600 HO engines and 8,000 HO cars. He has sold many of the engines and cars in the last few year due to health.

So Too Many Trains is in the Hundreds to Thousands.

I only have 40 Powered and Dummy engines and about 100 freight cars on the layout. I'm running out of room on the Layout.

Over 1100 engines and still not enough.

Thanks;

That number has yet to be numbered. But stay tuned.

@Coca Cola guy posted:

Are your bills paid?  Are your kids fed and clothed?  Is your home is decent shape?  If you answered no to any of these, you have too much.  If you answered yes to all of them, enough is what you enjoy and too much feels cluttered.

This is the correct answer! Family comes first!

According to my sweetie, one more is too many.  (She's probably right.)

What ever your mind is made up to be, is. Remember all that is required to enjoy the hobby is one. Most of us can still recall when we were happy with just one.

That number may change as we get older. My train investments served to sooth my desires at the time. But as I observe increasing societal needs, I now think I would be more than content with 10% of what I bought, and know that the other 90% might be “laying up treasures in Heaven.”

If someone handed me a dollar for every time I’ve thought “ok, no more” I’d have several “free” engines by now. 😉

Seriously, as several have pointed out above, if your bills are paid and buying a new engine doesn’t negatively impact that or putting food on the table or a roof over your head, do what makes you happy.

Curt

I've stopped buying (for the moment).  I have several each of... Locos, Passenger & Freight sets that are brand new and I haven't even opened the boxes.  Even though there are a *few* other locos and rolling stock sets I would like... I promised myself (and, my wife) that I wouldn't buy anymore until I thinned out the pile a bit.

To answer the question:  "How many trains are too many?"

The answer is:  "About that much."

Well have over 80,  mostly postwar do I want more, YES

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

I've stopped buying (for the moment).  I have several each of... Locos, Passenger & Freight sets that are brand new and I haven't even opened the boxes.  Even though there are a *few* other locos and rolling stock sets I would like... I promised myself (and, my wife) that I wouldn't buy anymore until I thinned out the pile a bit.

I agree. After this Q1 2021, I am embracing the happy wife happy life concept. As accepting as she is of this thing, it’s hard to ignore unopened boxes that I am walking around. But I did get some really cool stuff.

@chefmarkt69 posted:

I have this debate in my head every now and then. I own 10 locomotives and a couple of dozen freight cars and two sets of passenger cars. I start to feel guilty that I have too many and I don’t know why? I’m new to this hobby maybe a year or so and find myself wanting to get more. I work hard for what I have and have to pre teen kids and a stay at home wife. Does anyone have any advice on this? Thank you

If you are able to fulfill your responsibilities to your wife and your children, if you are able to maintain all that they need and meet their desires as well as your own; that is, if you are able to balance your life among them and devotion to your faith and fulfilling work and service to others, then you do not have too many.  Once that balance fails, once the trains become more important than any of the truly important things in life, THEN you have too many, whether that number is a thousand trains or just one.

The one you get after your wife busts you.
Alan

@chefmarkt69 posted:

I have this debate in my head every now and then. I own 10 locomotives and a couple of dozen freight cars and two sets of passenger cars. I start to feel guilty that I have too many and I don’t know why? I’m new to this hobby maybe a year or so and find myself wanting to get more. I work hard for what I have and have to pre teen kids and a stay at home wife. Does anyone have any advice on this? Thank you

This is a question that has vexed us over the ages. Basically, if you want it, can afford it (after other economic priorities) and have space for it, go ahead and get it. Enjoy your hobby responsibly.

Of course, if you want a silly answer:

• If your layout is full of trains, you don't have too many trains; you have insufficient layout. Expand it.
• If your layout has consumed every inch of the room, your layout isn't too big; you need to toss the kid out and expand into his/her room.
• If your trains and your layout consume every spare square foot of your house, you don't have too many trains; you have insufficient house! Expand or get a bigger house!
• If you're taking this list seriously, you've made the mistake of listening to a man who is a few boxcars shy of a freight train.

41 engines and every one of them get run on a regular basis...

Asking the wrong crowd.  Most of us passed that milestone without blinking an eye (or acknowledging our addiction).

What, me worry?

I love trains, and count my blessings every day that I make my living doing what I love.

I also collect guitars.  recently, my beautiful, patient and sainted wife was looking at the guitar collection - and yes, this philosophy also applies to trains, or for that matter, any collecting bobby, and so she presented me with a t-shirt that said:

"How many guitars do you NEED??"

"Just one more, honey, just one more..."

So, use your good judgment. "Happy wife, happy life" - but also "happy spouse, happy house".

This was a fun post. Let's hear from more of you!

Lenny

@palallin

Well said.

These things are just toys, not investments.

Investment was putting ones free cash into stock market a year ago,

not spending $10,000 in the spring 2020 catalog.

Doesn't apply to single guys though.

I have my first set from 1960, one set from my late father in law, 2005, and a couple of engines recently purchased. And, no track to run them on.

Not a blip on my families radar screen, but there are a few more pieces i want.

Wish i could figure out why.

@Mallard4468 posted:

According to my sweetie, one more is too many.  (She's probably right.)

My wife also.  NH Joe

If you have to ask, you have enough...for now.

My career was in consulting...  What is the answer you would like to hear?

Coca-Cola Guy and palallin have the correct answer.

I will add that even though you have your life ducks in a row, thus you can have a BUNCH of trains if you desire, don't forget: If you run those trains, they will have to be serviced, maintained, and at times repaired.

THAT is where the "too many trains" comes in: When you are spending more time maintaining the throngs of engines and cars, etc, and it becomes a task to the point it's causing you to no longer actually enjoy running them, that's TOO MANY TRAINS.

(Unless you simply collect, that's different. Typically the collector doesn't run their trains.)

Andre

I’ve been collecting since 1975 and I acquired my late dads collection started on and off again since the late 50’s.

So there’s never enough until your flat out finished with the hobby .

So apparently there’s never a limit to reach , only a finale of your collecting .

I can't count....so"I don't know!  

I'm 67. My three children graduated from universities debt free. My house is paid off.  I have no debt.  I have three hard earned defined benefit pensions.

In other words, I have fulfilled my obligations. Time for some trains. Bring em on. As long as I can fit them in my hobby room, they are coming in!

Enjoy, everyone.

Sometimes wonder if "trains" are a hobby or an addiction.  If one has to have an addiction "trains" are the way to go, however, an incurable one that only death can end.

Money and space are the driving factors. Within reason, money is not an issue now that the kids are out and pretty well established, but I have long ago run out of space. In process of a major reset. I've sold a last the past year, but have not scratched the surface yet.

Steve