Since MTH has downsized/re-organized, I see batch after batch of engines being released. But in the last Halloween and Christmas ads, they only had a pitiful amount of structures.
Between three O Gauge companies issueing catalog engines, and Custon Engines being announce everyday, does anyone think we are approching overload?? Same for freight cars.
Yep, I guess I'm a hoarder....LOL. I kind of got into the whole northern New England thing. If I see any engine with Vermont on it, I have to buy it. That mentality flopped over to GT, and Maine Central.
Darn, if Guilford didn't buy Springfield Terminal , Boston and Maine and the Maine Central. Now I have to buy those all those engines.
Darn if Guilford didn't morph into Pan Am Railways, so you guessed it: To stray current, now I need Pan Am engines. I have 2.
But wait ! There's more!!
CSX buys the lot of them and the beat goes on. Sitting here with now 50 engines, 2 of which are CSX. All of the above rail lines added to gather might add up to 1000 miles of active track in Maine and Vermont, if even that.
Cars, being generally much easier to find, have petered out at around 80. I can't add them up because my whole layout is still in storage, (I sleep with the engines...LOL).
So yeah, I'll admit that I have yet another Guilford/Springfield Terminal on pre-order. And my last ????? (haha) Vermont Railway locomotive showed up 2 weeks ago. Oh, and BTW...CP has about 30 miles in Vermont along the Canadian border, so I have one JIC I need it!
If anyone ever makes a Central Maine and Quebec....I might be in trouble !
My horizons are controlled by keeping locomotives to one road and rolling stock to the steam/diesel transition era. So 90+% of new product offerings that roll are of no interest. Most of my effort this year is scenery and structures - and that's what I'll spend money on. I have one steamer on pre-order, an item that has not been built before. And I don't need to have all the latest gizmos on my locomotives. Scale accuracy/decor and look are all. The operating features are nice, but not essential.
I'm at the point where I'm passing on things. I passed a killer deal on ebay this week. I just moved a bunch of trains into storage and don't need more at this point. I'm sure this feeling will pass 😃 I'm not good at selling things, and the clutter is starting to take away from the enjoyment.
I regularly bought trains for 20 years, and have plenty. I have sold off some engines and cars, to make room for newer and better versions hopefully coming. I'll still buy if the engines and cars will fit in with the theme of my railroad, but it might ne one out the door for every on coming in.
To reply to an earlier post, I admit that there aren't that many of us who buy buildings like some people buy locomotives. There are some out there, although I recollect that there used to be more of them several decades ago. A lot of them go for unassembled plastic and craftsman kits. Some of them assemble building kits for the joy of it and don't put that much emphasis on the railroading part.
Like the rest of us, these folks share our problem: a lack of space. Even narrow-gaugers with tight curves can't fit all that many buildings onto their layouts: they have to pick and choose what they buy and build. The advent of modular club layouts has alleviated this problem slightly: modelers can add a few more buildings that they couldn't fit onto their home layouts. Still, these guys face a choice when their buildings crowd the available real estate: they can either expand the layout or sell something off. And a few of these guys build kits or scratchbuild structures, then pass them off to friends or sell them off.
--Mister_Lee
member: Tinplate Trackers of Austin
I'm just a small operator running Union Pacific and Santa Fe. I have only 6 engines (5 diesel and 1 steamer) reflecting the 1950s - 60s era running on a winter-themed layout. So, I'm definitely not one of those buying all these engines and don't have floor to ceiling shelving displaying dozens of locomotives, like some of you have.
I've enjoyed operating O scale Lionel, since receiving my first train set as a boy, like many of you. This is why most O scalers are into it, because of childhood memories from way back. However, we "boomers" are beginning to go away and because of this, I think the O scale market is slowly fading and will continue to do so. So, I've concluded that people who don't know what else to do with their money and some who are hooked on collecting O scale, are the ones who are buying all these engines. 😉
Loved "stray current." Was that intentional or a typo?
It’s pretty simple, really. As I became enmeshed in the hobby in the 1970s, I became a fan of a number of locomotives, based initially on HO models but then even more broadly in N. When I switched to O gauge in the 1990s, I carried over my interests for certain locomotives. There are a few that still have never been made for three-rail O.
As we all have seen the recent catalogs from Lionel and Atlas as well as the offerings from MTH and GGD primarily deal with locomotives and rolling stock. The list of accessories continues to decline and I believe this is due to the desire of most collectors and operators to have a scale look to their layouts. In my particular case, When I built my layout in 1987 my focus was on having as many accessories as available. The reason for this approach was twofold. First, I remember the coal and log loaders from my childhood in the 1940's and 1950's The bascule bridge and the magnetic cranes were as much fun to play with as seeing trains run around in a loop no matter how large that loop was. Secondly, I noticed that when our grandchildren came to visit they were much more interested in the accessories than the trains. The unique accessories that K-Line offered were exceptional as well as the Carnegie Science Series from Lionel. These are no longer offered. So, bottom line, with the exception of buildings from Menard's and Scenic Express and turntables from Ross and Millhouse River Designs there is not much else to spend your train dollars on except for locomotives and rolling stock.
For years, people, many on this forum, have pushed the rumor that profit on locomotives was very small, whereas profit on accessories was very high. I always doubted that, just doesn't make sense to me, and the fact that new engines are dominating the market is a hint of how things really are. There must be tremendous profits on engines. Companies like 3rd Rail and now MTH mostly only make engines, although 3rd Rail did release a nice coal tipple many years ago.
When I started buying again in the late 70's with Williams products I bought only engines. They don't take up a lot of space and a lot of different engines were appearing. Then I decided passenger sets looked way cool. Along the way freight cars started showing up in my storeroom. I have no idea how many freight cars I have.
Well, totals: On 3300 linear feet of shelving there are more or less 512 engines, 134 passenger sets totaling over 600 passenger cars and incidental other things on trucks that fill up the rest of the space. There are still some engines and passenger cars that are not on the shelves yet but maybe if I can find space for more shelving they will appear.
Since MTH back in July, 2020 announced their (whatever they announced) I have only purchased one MTH product, a beer train. Early Williams I still buy if it is unusual. The clear shell F7's would be an example. During covid I started buying K-Line made prior to 2000. That turned out to be interesting. I give Mr. Klein a lot of credit for taking leftovers no one wanted and turning them into a really great train company. Using maybe 14 engine and car molds he created several hundred different products. Truly an American success story, until it wasn't. That however is the way of business in this country - feast or famine.
Well, I either have too much or not enough. Only time will tell.
@Paul Kallus posted:For years, people, many on this forum, have pushed the rumor that profit on locomotives was very small, whereas profit on accessories was very high. I always doubted that, just doesn't make sense to me, and the fact that new engines are dominating the market is a hint of how things really are. There must be tremendous profits on engines. Companies like 3rd Rail and now MTH mostly only make engines, although 3rd Rail did release a nice coal tipple many years ago.
It has now been six years since MTH tooled up for a new locomotive. Bachmann has given up on the O gauge market. K-Line ran into financial trouble from locomotive production compounded by low prices and legal trouble. Weaver faded from the industry. Atlas does, oh, so little with its O gauge locomotive tooling despite having quite a bit. 3rd Rail makes very few locomotives and caters to hundreds, not thousands, of buyers.
Why do you think this is? Because they were tired of making so much money from O gauge locomotives?
Apply some learned economics here. The money manufacturers make is small. If it weren’t, you’d see manufacturers diving into our market, not fading away.
I have a few dozen engines and only one was bought new, a K line GG1 when first issued. So it is not me as the rest of the engines were a bought used and most are post war Lionel and Marx. All the engine manufactures would go broke waiting to sell me an engine.
I buy used for cars, houses, tools, vintage stereo gear, etc. too. I am thankful for all who buy anything new.
Charlie
Trains are one my OCD's in that when you get one of a series of items such as an O Gauge Lionel Milk Car you have to get all of them. Just Like Lionel Centipedes, F3's, SD70's, Ore Cars, Log Cars just to name a few.
One day you decide to count the items you have and you are shocked at the numbers.
Our current count is about 1,245 engines, 3,750 pieces of rolling stock (freight and passenger), 135 sets of various types for a total of over 5,100 items.
The worst part of this is, there is a train swap meet coming up in a couple of weeks. We always find something we NEED.
So to answer the question of "Who buys all these engines", we are doing our share in keeping this going.
idea-thinker
Can you imagine the glut of engines there would be if everyone took all of the ones they don't use (on display, still in their boxes, etc.) and put them on the market? 
@Frank Mulligan posted:Can you imagine the glut of engines there would be if everyone took all of the ones they don't use (on display, still in their boxes, etc.) and put them on the market?
How about this alternative thought. How many engines would have never been made if we were not a large part of the market. It is correct that most of my engines will never see a layout but that does not mean that they are not enjoyed. If I get around to another layout it probably will run postwar trains.
@idea-thinker posted:Trains are one my OCD's in that when you get one of a series of items such as an O Gauge Lionel Milk Car you have to get all of them. Just Like Lionel Centipedes, F3's, SD70's, Ore Cars, Log Cars just to name a few.
One day you decide to count the items you have and you are shocked at the numbers.
Our current count is about 1,245 engines, 3,750 pieces of rolling stock (freight and passenger), 135 sets of various types for a total of over 5,100 items.
The worst part of this is, there is a train swap meet coming up in a couple of weeks. We always find something we NEED.
So to answer the question of "Who buys all these engines", we are doing our share in keeping this going.
idea-thinker
@idea-thinker:
I don’t understand how the hobby could be very enjoyable when one has “about 1,245 engines,” and “over 5,100 items.” That’s way too much of a good thing.
Can you say “ D I S C I P L I N E ? “ 🤔 Maybe you need to think of a better idea. 😊
Yellowstone Special;
D I S C I P L I N E, Whats that. Discipline just gets in my way of getting trains.
idea-thinker
@Yellowstone Special posted:@idea-thinker:
I don’t understand how the hobby could be very enjoyable when one has “about 1,245 engines,” and “over 5,100 items.” That’s way too much of a good thing.
Can you say “ D I S C I P L I N E ? “ 🤔 Maybe you need to think of a better idea. 😊
I am 81 and generally work seven days a week to keep the business I am building for my children, grand children and now great grand children growing. Trains provide a diversion for me just as they did when I was ten years old and got my first one. I enjoy looking at them and acquiring them. Trains in no way detract from the real estate they will inherit.
It seems a little unfair for someone to put a number on what I or anyone else should find enjoyable.
I finally realized a few years ago that for certain people the train hobby is like collecting stamps, except that the trains take up a lot more space. 
I have well over 200 and am always buying more but very leery of flyonel due to the crappy QC. I think if you have the cash Go For Broke those with credit card debt pay it off first.
Gunny
@Yellowstone Special posted:It's not unfair. 1,245 engines IS excessive, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. There is such a thing as excess, whether those who become self-inflicted "victims" of it, realize it, or not.
There are people with trains in storage units. Paying rent on their collection! 
@Frank Mulligan posted:There are people with trains in storage units. Paying rent on their collection!
I know at least two of those!
@Yellowstone Special posted:@idea-thinker:
I don’t understand how the hobby could be very enjoyable when one has “about 1,245 engines,” and “over 5,100 items.” That’s way too much of a good thing.
Can you say “ D I S C I P L I N E ? “ 🤔 Maybe you need to think of a better idea. 😊
IMO, the answer to "too much" depends... Tony Lash had at least one copy of everything, but he had a layout big enough to run it on. OTOH, just being able to see the ends of boxes (especially in a storage unit), is excessive. And it's really disappointing to unwrap an old item and discover a serious problem like zinc pest, mold, rot, etc.
I think that a relevant question is... how often do you find a box and say "I didn't know I had that"?
Sheldon Cooper talks with Spock about "mint in box" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPFf5-X8g-A
@Frank Mulligan posted:There are people with trains in storage units. Paying rent on their collection!
And then when they stop paying rent, everything gets sold off - seen that happen at least once now. Heirs apparently did not know there was a storage unit until it was way too late. Poof!
@Mallard4468 posted:IMO, the answer to "too much" depends... Tony Lash had at least one copy of everything, but he had a layout big enough to run it on. OTOH, just being able to see the ends of boxes (especially in a storage unit), is excessive. And it's really disappointing to unwrap an old item and discover a serious problem like zinc pest, mold, rot, etc.
I think that a relevant question is... how often do you find a box and say "I didn't know I had that"?
Sheldon Cooper talks with Spock about "mint in box" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPFf5-X8g-A
Words spoke by no one: "I have too much bacon" and "I have too many trains"
Dealers buy them. Then they hope to sell them.
