(I just figured out on my computer how to resize my photos for the web)
Here's a quick and easy listing of my engine collection (minus the two Kato E-8's in Southern colors just out of the camera frame and a Bachmann J-Class 4-8-4 in NW colors). I obviously have a problem with collecting too many engines (and I've got three more on the way...Bachmann UP DD40AX, Kato UP SD70ACe in Rio Grande Heritage colors, and a Kato BNSF SD70MAC "power wedge" scheme). I'm actually thinking of selling a few engines that I just don't run often (or at all). Almost all my engines have really low time - since I've torn down my old layout and am in the process of building another in DCC. But here's the collection...and I hope to take some real pictures of them at a later time and add them to this listing.
Never have enough locos.
Fine looking list. Can't wait to see the locos themselves.
Wow, that does look impressive. Hope your new layout comes along well too.
I've got about 24-25 engines in HO (and/or the similar British 00). About 16 of these are British and the rest are North American. They range in age from being 50 years old to brand new (in terms of the actual age of the model).
I've been thinking of selling a few of these as well, but I can't decide which! It's a tough decision.
Rob
My apologies for not taking pictures of them all...but I just figured out how to adjust pictures for web posting yesterday, so now that I know how, I'll take some pictures of the engines.
It's kinda funny...most of the engines I've bought were bought for a specific reason, and very few because the price was so great. So it's hard deciding which one to let go as each fills a specific need on the layout. The tie-breaker will be which diesels won't be converted to DCC (or really can't be converted due to frame or space limitations), those engines I'll probably try to part with. It's more accurate to call my roster a "collection" since I bought engines without regard to a particular time period I was modeling, but instead, the qualities the diesel possessed or what they meant to the overall advancement of the technology. I basically cover the diesel years and mostly almost exclusively start from the "transition" years and go to present day. But it's funny, or maybe heartening is a better word, that so many older diesel models are still plying the rails somewhere in the country. So for me to have many older diesels isn't too "unprototypical" as it might seem. Somewhere, somebody is running a GP7 or GP30, an F7 or E8. My railroad staff just rationalizes that those engines are making the trip to my layout for repair or refurbishment. That little bending of reality gives us all the license we need to see some great older engines in older colors ride the rails next to the newest diesels in the latest paint schemes. And the good news is that in real life, once defunct RRs are starting up again...Central of Georgia comes to mind. It makes me wonder just how hard would it be to start a very small regional RR that would feed into the larger mainlines like NS or CSX around my part of the country. Not that I have any operational experience to do that...but it is something to thing about. Wonder just how hard it is to get your license to run a diesel? Hmmmmm.
Hi Herc,
Impressive roster look forward to the pics
WOW thats quite a large collection you got there Herc!!
Lots of NICE Kato's you got there too!! Dang i just looked again and there are some nice Athearn and Atlas ones too!! Im just refering to BNSF, UP, SP, and CSX locos cuz thats what i model and would love to have LOL
Thank you. I pretty much like all 'roads...BNSF, UP, NS, CSX, even the Canadian 'roads. Since I fly all over the country, when I get a chance, I try to stop into the local mom-and-pop retailers to see what they have on hand. I've found quite a few great deals that way. Plus, at many stores you can find a good deal on a railroad that doesn't frequent that part of the country. I've found some good deals on eastern RRs on the west coast and visa-versa.
Looking at the pictures, if I was thinking, I should have taken the pictures with the engine boxes all lined up so there wouldn't be depth of field issues.
Thanks again...
Herc,You got more locos then my closest hobby shop!
Nice collection..
I notice you have a rare MBK Maryland Midland GP38s.
I like the colors of the Maryland Midlands...I guess with all the BIG railroads out there - I like rooting for the underdogs and supporting the smaller lines. (I wish the engine actually ran a bit better than it does...but the coloring is striking and just about perfect.)
You're right...I really have too many loco's. Plus, I've got another three on order. But I like multiple lash-ups, so when I get enough decoders, I'll be able to run two or three engines at a time per train. Right now I can support running three or four moderately long trains, plus do some switching within the yard area and one siding that serves an industry. That could give me up to 12 engines running simultaneously - if the power pack will allow that much at one time that is. The real trick to running the four trains - even now with only one engine on each - is working the manual turnouts. Keeps me and the boys hopping. I need to add two more cabs to the DCC system to make things a bit easier...but that will be later.
After these last three diesels arrive (DD40AX, SD70, SD70ACe) I think that will be about it...that is until Atlas makes a high hood Southern GP30.
Hi Herc---glad to see you back on track---looking forward to some more pictures
Herc said:You're right...I really have too many loco's. Plus, I've got another three on order. But I like multiple lash-ups, so when I get enough decoders, I'll be able to run two or three engines at a time per train. Right now I can support running three or four moderately long trains, plus do some switching within the yard area and one siding that serves an industry. That could give me up to 12 engines running simultaneously - if the power pack will allow that much at one time that is. The real trick to running the four trains - even now with only one engine on each - is working the manual turnouts. Keeps me and the boys hopping. I need to add two more cabs to the DCC system to make things a bit easier...but that will be later.
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Herc,My comment was a another slam toward my poor excuse of a not so local hobby shop.
At the N Scale club we have one member that has two of every NS locomotive Atlas and Kato made...I think he has close to 250????
Oh not to worry - I didn't think that was a slam at me at all!
I completely agree...I have too many and really don't
need all the loco's I have now. But I
wanted them...and therein lies the problem.
And somewhere along the line...I think my LHS owner figured that out and purposely buys some interesting or current diesels to tempt me. I don't think he has many other Nscalers in our area so whatever he buys is either something that caught his eye or something one of us wanted - and he orders two in case someone else likes it.
I've tended to run in phases...I started with a Southern roster, then Norfolk Southern, then adding some of the western roads as my LHS got them in. Somewhere along the line I decided to pick up each type of diesel I admired for either design or historical significance. And that's where I am now...too many for my own good! If I had decoders in every one of them though...I'd run them all (or at least park them on the layout waiting assignments). I'm only adding diesels now if they're something I've been waiting on for a while (BNSF in HIII colors), or of unusual design (like the DD40AX) or special paint job (SD70ACe in UP Heritage Rio Grande colors).
I will start taking pictures of them today! I'll post as many as I have time to take.