When do you achieve having “enough” locos, cars, structures, figures, or other trains “goodies?”
After I won and paid an auction on Ebay yesterday, for an auto-carrier, the thought came to me: “When will I actually run this car, and what will I consist it with?” I already have more rolling stock than I can use at one time effectively. There are five or six buildings laying in wait for some unspecified future project or replacement. When is enough, enough?
Background:
The HedgeApple Falls RioGram RR is fairly compact, peanut shaped, having two independent cross-switched loops with length 60ft. and width ranging from 12ft to 25ft. Transition Era is modeled in structures and figures with a Family Events/History theme.
As the RR has evolved, several themed consists have developed:
1] “Where’s the Beef” consist w/stock cars and reefers - steam or FA/FB, 10-15cars.
2] Mixed freight consist w/boxcars, flatcars, tankers [rule of 3’s], 10-30 cars including some of above.
3] Streamliner consist [SF] - F-ABB & 8 cars.
4] Sierra passenger consist w/ Pacific or Mikado power.
5] Railbus
6] Rogers or Porter w/ small NG wood sided cars or logging cars.
7] Whimsical trains, ie. Easter Bunny Eggliner, Santa trains x3.
8] SD-45 [I know - out of Era - I wish I had gotten an E-8 instead.] that doesn’t get used much.
Although this is a small collection compared to many of you, the operating limitations of my layout are quickly reached. At most, only three of the consists can be operated at the same time. Easily, only two can be operated concurrently.
WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH? ['cause I still want more [;)] & Wifey thinks there is already too much [:(]]
Do any of you “feel my pain” or face this “dilemma?”
JimC.
