July 7, 2013: a terrible mistake on my part

I hope you have begun again. There must still be train shops around Pittsburgh.

MELGAR

Walt,  Let me start by saying how much I look forward to your Christmas themed layout each year.  I admire it because of the many hours you put into it, making it different each year.  That requires way more effort that I could ever repeat year after year. Next, I am miffed by this post.  Was the Pittsburgh connection the bulk of your trains?  Are you getting away from the hobby?   Moving and downsizing?

If am sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong just say so.

I hope all is well and I am looking forward to your Christmas 2019 layout.

Allan Miller posted:

What's the reason for disposing of them, Walt? New area of emphasis?

........

SantaFeJim posted:

.....................,,,,,,.  Was the Pittsburgh connection the bulk of your trains?  Are you getting away from the hobby?   Moving and downsizing?

,,,,,,,.

Unless Walt made a typo, I think you both missed he called out 7/7/2013 as the date of his mistake.  So it's a 6 year ago decision he has re-evaluated as a mistake, not something he did today.

Walt, very sorry to hear you regret your decision 6 years later.  Some of those items probably would be hard to replace, as you suggest, but if you wanted to just get a sampling back without going for a "complete" collection, I am sure some can be had reasonably.

-Dave

Sorry, but I don't understand this entire thread.

I seem to recall you sold everything to change to tinplate.  Did not realize your original stuff was mostly Pittsburgh theme. 

I have never been to the 'burgh.  We have neighbors from there and they go back often to visit.  We tease the wife she cannot go five minutes without saying something about "home".  Suspect they will eventually move back there. 

I think most of us have sold stuff that later we regret doing. All you can do is move forward. Never look back.

I've sold stuff and I've also bought stuff that I regretted later, I think almost everyone has done that at some time.

Dave45681 posted:

Unless Walt made a typo, I think you both missed he called out 7/7/2013 as the date of his mistake.  So it's a 6 year ago decision he has re-evaluated as a mistake, not something he did today.

I believe you're right, Dave! In that case, I withdraw my post (or will in a minute). We all regret parting with something only to regret it later, but there's really no looking back unless one wants to start the hunt over again (always a possibility, I suppose)..

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I've sold stuff and I've also bought stuff that I regretted later.

Yup. This hobby gets you coming and going. And it's expensive both directions. 

Which is worse? Buyer's remorse or seller's regret? At least the seller's regret yields some money, but, really, unless it's life-changing or for an emergency, another few bucks in the pocket isn't very entertaining.

For example, on many occasions in the past I have gathered some RS to sell. Say 4 - 5 pieces, yielding maybe $100 at a show (if they sell). I realized that this would open up only a very small space and get me money for 2 tanks of gas. Meh.  Since I have made very few impulse, why-did-I-do-that? purchases in this hobby, most of what I have I still like. Not easy.

At least the purchases have stopped, too.

Walt, I may have sold some pieces i had a temporary regret on.  But a six year regret is significant, especially if there was some sentimental attachment.  Hopefully you can find and repurchase the trains

But I would rather have a regret on selling a train than on:

Changing a job

Changing a spouse,

Selling a home

Retiring from a job,

just to name a few.

eddie g posted:

Sorry, but I don't understand this entire thread.

There’s a surprise... 🙄

Farmer_Bill posted:

I seem to recall you sold everything to change to tinplate.  Did not realize your original stuff was mostly Pittsburgh theme. 

I have never been to the 'burgh.  We have neighbors from there and they go back often to visit.  We tease the wife she cannot go five minutes without saying something about "home".  Suspect they will eventually move back there. 

They probably will. This place is like a black hole, it sucks everyone back in eventually...

When I was a kid on Christmas Eve in the late 40's I saw something in a dept. store window I had to have. It was the Lionel Construction set. All my friends had the Gilbert sets. About ten years ago I saw the largest set Lionel made up for sale. I had to have it. I won the bid and paid a high price for it. When it came I realized I really didn't want to take the time and build anything. I wasn't that kid anymore. I sold it a few months later. Those things just happen. Don

Allan Miller posted:

I believe you're right, Dave! In that case, I withdraw my post (or will in a minute). We all regret parting with something only to regret it later, but there's really no looking back unless one wants to start the hunt over again (always a possibility, I suppose)..

To put a slightly different perspective on things. Allan, I have a GP7 Polar Railroad engine that I purchased from you. Were it an item that you regretted selling, know that I cherish it and think of you every time it is run. 

I sometime miss items I sell too. But, if it helps to continue and promote the hobby all the better.

Walt, look at this as an opportunity to build a new collection. Perhaps not exactly a replacement of what you had, but I'm confident that there are lots of cool items offered since 2013.

eddie g posted:

Sorry, but I don't understand this entire thread.

Nor do I. We must be getting old.

eddie g posted:

Sorry, but I don't understand this entire thread.

Perhaps it is time for that long overdue neurological evaluation?

Perhaps its time for Walt to explain his post, if he cares to.  

Respectfully,

Jeff

I didn't have a 'point' in mind.  I guess I was just thinking back and posted it.  Just to name a few: Gulf Oil, Heinz, Clark Bar, P&LE, Westinghouse, Pittsburgh Brewing (Iron CIty, IC Lite, American, etx), Rolling Rock, Groundhog day car, Steelers, Pirates, Kennywood, Idlewild, etc.

I had 20 pieces just of Pittsburgh Brewery stuff including the entire very rare cream colored set.  Had 7 Rolling Rock pieces.

The reason is, as alluded to above, very personal.  It had nothing at all to do with money or the desire to get into tin-plate.  Yes, I did use some of the money to buy 2 tin-plate trains but that was so I could continue having a layout.

- walt

Walt, sadly we've all let something go that later we wish we hadn't. Been there, done that as they say. As mentioned remember we get a lot of Joy seeing your yearly well thought out layouts! 

Walt,   

 Enough said, personal is personal.. When I was much younger my parents moved into their second home. In the basement there was a paneled door that opened up to an area that housed three 4x8 sheets of plywood full of lionel postwar trains. complete layout, ZW, gargraves flex track, you get the picture. I had no interest in trains at that age, so I proceeded to trade it all off for lesser junk. Something that I regret and still think about frequently. Needless to say, I have bought back everything that I remember and so much more.  Just know that you are not alone in the regret department. Thanks for your reply.

Jeff