I know I'm not alone in this but I've got carried away and bought more than I can fit on the layout. I didn't want a fiddle yard as I wanted to have the stock on display - in sheds, fuelling point, industrial sidings, terminus station, cleaning line etc. I do have 3 storage lines and with these I can just about manage to keep things moving. My layout is DCC and a few days ago I had two trains on each of two loops going opposite ways. Its only taken ten years!
At the moment when running trains I have to move at least one to move another. At least it's helping me work out my version of block signalling.
I've based my layout around a small two line container yard in which I can fit a class 66 and 5 pairs of container flats on each. Other than that I want to run fairly short trains but yesterday I got out my GNER class 43 6 car and to follow is a Regional Railways class 37 6 (or 8 whichever was prototypical) coaches. My first thought was to have a thin out and these two might be the first to go. Then I thought just have less coaches. I now think I might be able to fit a set of about three scenic storage roads on the front of one of my side boards so I'll have a think about that.
Not totally sure why I've posted this but sometimes bouncing ideas of others helps clear the muddy waters of my mind. Feel free to comment, criticise or advise.
Dave
That's a problem? I think it's great!
Add the storage roads. :thumbsup:
No such thing as "too much stock"! Just don't put it all out on the layout at the same time, have different sets of stock to ring the changes. Perhaps a different time period or different region?
Over time I've bought more and more modern image stock as it suits my layout better, but occasionally I run older period stuff as I love it too. My "official" database of European N is up to around item number 990 but there are plenty more "uncatalogued items", not to mention my British N collection etc.
I've put all my stock in stock boxes so its easy to get to the items and to put them back. (JB models boxes - wonderful things)
There is absolutely no way I could get all my stock on my layout even if I doubled its size (its already the equivalent of 2ft x 16ft with plenty of station roads and sidings.
My layout represents a preserved layout so I can run what I want. That means I have all the regions, steam and diesel, mostly late steam early diesel and a few oddities.
My plan is to run 'themes'. For example - Great Western running day, Eastern running day etc. etc., with some special days for freight etc.
I'll just get out the stock that I need for the particular theme.
This means that I can carry on turning myself into a pauper by buying more locos, coaches, wagons :drool: :drool:
:beers:
I would hazard a guess those who don't have too much stock are in the minority, David. I have waaaayyyy too much but I do cater for 2 slightly different era and 4 regions of British Railways in the transition era.
That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :nerner: :D
How about double heading some trains or top n tailing then you get 2 locos for 1 train
🚂🚂🚋🚋🚋🚂
C :)
Quote from: ChrisWV10 on August 31, 2017, 06:28:14 PM
How about double heading some trains or top n tailing then you get 2 locos for 1 train
🚂🚂🚋🚋🚋🚂
Good idea. I'll add that to my list of themes. Although, as I'm a DC man, I'll have to check locos to be double headed run at pretty much the same speed.
:thankyousign: :beers:
C :)
I think we all end up suffering from the overstock issue, it's not easy to keep in moderation when so much good stuff is out there, for me it's going to be serveral rakes of Mk3s, a rake or two of Mk2s if they get retooled, then add in a pendolino, some voyagers, a few 321s and it gets cluttered really quickly, my other problem is "rule one" so a green CEP will be seen alongside a Saltire 156!!!
eBay is also evil, it's hard to resist that good deal even though you don't need it, I end up with more locos than needed for my rolling stock levels (you should see the US outline locos I have, about 80 engines and not even close to enough boxcars and tank cars.
Pick out what you want to run and have fun, when you want to change the scene swap out the consists
What is "too much stock"? ???. Never heard of that before. When I, (eventually), get the layout in a position where I can run 'proper', instead of just testing parts, I will be like austinbob and run 'theme' days. I have some Japanese, some American, UK diesels and steam era engines and rolling stock, so it will be a case of what ever takes my fancy at the time. The only problem I have, is where to store it all! I have two 10 drawer Bisley cabinets, some JB boxes and have started some cassette storage but still find the odd engine or piece of rolling stock somewhere it should not be :doh: And I am going to TINGS :helpneededsign:.
I'm sure that many of us have too much stock and as others have said, I try to run reasonably typical trains for my area and era. Lots of stock can be stored in my fiddle yard but plenty stays off layout in boxes till I need it.
I don't have too much stock, I've got too little fiddle yard. I'm just making it bigger. Problem solved.
Quote from: njee20 on September 01, 2017, 04:19:21 AM
I don't have too much stock, I've got too little fiddle yard. I'm just making it bigger. Problem solved.
Until you buy loads more stock - and don't say you won't.... :) :) ;)
I NEED MORE MORE MORE MORE I TELL YOU :heart2: :heart2:
:help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help:
Quote from: austinbob on September 01, 2017, 08:22:15 AM
Quote from: njee20 on September 01, 2017, 04:19:21 AM
I don't have too much stock, I've got too little fiddle yard. I'm just making it bigger. Problem solved.
Until you buy loads more stock - and don't say you won't.... :) :) ;)
Oh I'm under no illusion, I would happily double the size of my fiddle yard before extending my scenic area!
Even my pre-orders from Revolution will fill up any remaining space!
if you were a proper modeller you would already have the 4th fiddle yard expansion planned.
In fact how about a layout that is just a fiddle yard
Very guilty. I have far more than I "need" to run both Portpatrick Town and the emerging Allanbrae. And that is in terms of number of locos, number of rakes and length of rakes. For steam/green diesel Portpatrick a total of c 130 wagons when I only take around 20 to a show. A total of around 80 locos when I normally take around 15 to provide spares for issues on the day. But on the club layout at shows, I tend to use near full length trains and more of the bigger locos. So everything gets a run sometimes. I probably need to buy yet another of John Burman's boxes to store things in as I am nearly out of space.
Quote from: Portpatrick on September 01, 2017, 09:53:51 AM
Very guilty. I have far more than I "need" to run both Portpatrick Town and the emerging Allanbrae. And that is in terms of number of locos, number of rakes and length of rakes. For steam/green diesel Portpatrick a total of c 130 wagons when I only take around 20 to a show. A total of around 80 locos when I normally take around 15 to provide spares for issues on the day. But on the club layout at shows, I tend to use near full length trains and more of the bigger locos. So everything gets a run sometimes. I probably need to buy yet another of John Burman's boxes to store things in as I am nearly out of space.
John Burman's boxes? Tell me more
JB sells boxes + matching foam inserts. He attends many MRS (near london) and is cheaper there. He is well spoken of on this forum.
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=4164.msg398350#msg398350 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=4164.msg398350#msg398350)
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/JBs-Model-World (http://stores.ebay.co.uk/JBs-Model-World)
A very satisfied customer!
Quote from: paulprice on September 01, 2017, 10:04:30 AM
Quote from: Portpatrick on September 01, 2017, 09:53:51 AM
Very guilty. I have far more than I "need" to run both Portpatrick Town and the emerging Allanbrae. And that is in terms of number of locos, number of rakes and length of rakes. For steam/green diesel Portpatrick a total of c 130 wagons when I only take around 20 to a show. A total of around 80 locos when I normally take around 15 to provide spares for issues on the day. But on the club layout at shows, I tend to use near full length trains and more of the bigger locos. So everything gets a run sometimes. I probably need to buy yet another of John Burman's boxes to store things in as I am nearly out of space.
John Burman's boxes? Tell me more
JB Models - he has an ebay shop which sells blue boxes, foam lined, with slots for N gauge stock. He is also a frequent visitor to shows where he also sells bigger plastic 'attache case' style boxes with two layers of storage.
:beers:
Quote from: austinbob on September 01, 2017, 10:11:30 AM
Quote from: paulprice on September 01, 2017, 10:04:30 AM
Quote from: Portpatrick on September 01, 2017, 09:53:51 AM
Very guilty. I have far more than I "need" to run both Portpatrick Town and the emerging Allanbrae. And that is in terms of number of locos, number of rakes and length of rakes. For steam/green diesel Portpatrick a total of c 130 wagons when I only take around 20 to a show. A total of around 80 locos when I normally take around 15 to provide spares for issues on the day. But on the club layout at shows, I tend to use near full length trains and more of the bigger locos. So everything gets a run sometimes. I probably need to buy yet another of John Burman's boxes to store things in as I am nearly out of space.
John Burman's boxes? Tell me more
JB Models - he has an ebay shop which sells blue boxes, foam lined, with slots for N gauge stock. He is also a frequent visitor to shows where he also sells bigger plastic 'attache case' style boxes with two layers of storage.
:beers:
Crossed post with RailwayGun - SORRY...
Quote from: Railwaygun on September 01, 2017, 10:09:43 AM
JB sells boxes + matching foam inserts. He attends many MRS (near london) and is cheaper there. He is well spoken of on this forum.
He will be at TINGS ( stand 15)
JB'S MODEL WORLD
16 Highlea Avenue, Flackwell Heath, Bucks, HP10 9AD
T: 01628 526727
E: jb2mmworld@aol.com
W: www.jbsmodelworld.co.uk (http://www.jbsmodelworld.co.uk)
Adaptable rolling stock storage solutions.
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=4164.msg398350#msg398350 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=4164.msg398350#msg398350)
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/JBs-Model-World (http://stores.ebay.co.uk/JBs-Model-World)
A very satisfied customer!
there's a teriffic echo in here!!
Echo
Echo
Echo etc
Quote from: Railwaygun on September 01, 2017, 10:18:57 AM
there's a teriffic echo in here!!
Echo
Echo
Echo etc
Just goes to show how well known he is and how good his boxes are. :) :beers:
Gosh. My related but throw away comment seems to be causing a drift from the subject heading!! But yes I strongly commend JB's boxes. Especially if you are having to pack way (surplus!) stock and get it out on a regular basis. Such as, but not exclusively, for exhibitions. It is so much quicker and easier than taking each item individually out of its original box - and putting away again. So less likely to cause damage to our ever more delicate models in the process as well. Incidentally for some years I have stashed the original boxes away in the loft.
On at least one occasion I emailed John ahead of a show and he put some boxes aside for me.
Well I'd love to have a whole farm of Nelevators but don't think the finances would support it :'(
Seriously, I might consider one for when my layout takes up its permanent retirement position at home. I want to rethink the fiddleyard arrangement so it's not quite so deep, but still want to have plenty of capacity.
I could never have too much stock, but will always have too little money to buy more - as long as I want to stay happily married, that is. :)
Currently on the 'reserved' list with various suppliers I have a good £600 worth of new stock to swell the sidings, and the list in my head keeps getting longer. The problem as I see it is these darned manufacturers: they should show more restraint and not announce/release so much 'essential' new stuff. ;)
And I must learn not to go into 'new' retailers emporiums when I'm on holiday as it inevitably leads to trouble.
The problem I have is that most of my rakes are now complete, and starting a new rake is the hardest bit, you either buy a complete one second hand, drop vast amounts of money and buy new or pick up one or two and then spend years building a decent train.
Would like some of the NGS KSA log carriers, but would just have 15 unbuilt kits for the next 20 years!
Quote from: paulprice on September 01, 2017, 09:32:05 AM
if you were a proper modeller you would already have the 4th fiddle yard expansion planned.
In fact how about a layout that is just a fiddle yard
I've cunningly designed my layout, which spans three countries, so that there's no fiddle yard per-se, but each national section acts as a sort of fiddle yard for the other countries. If you see what I mean.
Anyway, I understand the words "too", "much" and "stock", but placed together they make no sense ???
Nice one Railsquid!
As for building up a rake over time, njee20, this depends on the items being available over time. With smaller and not necessarily frequent batches, this can be a risky strategy. Hence when i decided to "upgrade" my Mk1 fleet to latest "blue riband" releases I bought the necessaries over a period of 3 months or so, with a large number in one hit from Arcadia. Most of the earlier versions sold at our club show last May. The rest will be on sale next May, along with the results of some further thinning out of the stock boxes.
Yes, certainly a risk. I found that with the Dapol 'silver bullets' and FEAs, which were discontinued when I decided to start obtaining some! Now have a full rake of silver bullets, but never got there with FEAs!
For passenger trains I have more than enough stock for a rake (say 10 or so coaches) each of:-
Plum & Custard MK1s
Choc & Cream MK1s
Maroon MK1s
BR Green MK1s
Blue & Grey MK1s
Gresleys
Colletts
TPO
Parcels
Freight comprises full rakes (20-30 wagons short wheelbase) and 8-10 bogie wagons of:-
Box vans
Butterley coal wagons
Dogfish
21T Hoppers
Presflo Cement
Freightliners (original grey/red/white)
+ other diverse wagons
As rolling stock is becoming more and more expensive I am looking more at shorter specialist trains hauled by smaller locos e.g. small diesel/steamer with half a dozen Mermaids + Shark or 2-3 suburban coaches. My fiddle yard has 2 of the 4 main loops in each direction split into 3 sections to accommodate such trains/1-2-3 car DMUs when required.
Such a short train will comprise my ½ dozen class B tanks when they come through, and I already have the Dapol boxed set of class 22 + 6 weathered milk tanks.
I really can't think of anything else I need unless a manufacturer comes up with something very special which may need help getting over the line.
A definite advantage of steam era modelling, shorter trains look more 'normal'. Aside from multiple units most modern trains are much longer.
Quote from: njee20 on September 01, 2017, 05:58:15 PM
A definite advantage of steam era modelling, shorter trains look more 'normal'. Aside from multiple units most modern trains are much longer.
But it's nice to see a Castle pulling a rake of 10 chocolate and cream coaches or a Schools with 12 Green coaches.
:drool: :). :beers:
Definitely, but there are more prototypes of shorter trains.
You're right for some layouts, depends what your preference is.
Truth is, for me anyways, is I just love to add to my collection of N gauge stock.
Just means I have to keep looking for cheaper sources of baked beans, bread and potatoes!!!
:) :beers:
Quote from: austinbob on September 01, 2017, 06:20:06 PM
Just means I have to keep looking for cheaper sources of baked beans, bread and potatoes!!!
@austinbob (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=2403)
Your nickname isn't by any chance 'Windy', is it Bob :uneasy:
Quote from: newportnobby on September 01, 2017, 08:07:27 PM
Quote from: austinbob on September 01, 2017, 06:20:06 PM
Just means I have to keep looking for cheaper sources of baked beans, bread and potatoes!!!
@austinbob (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=2403)
Your nickname isn't by any chance 'Windy', is it Bob :uneasy:
Hee hee...
Well it just so happens I've got ten tins of special offer baked beans in the cupboard for emergency provisions.
You'd have to ask SWMBO about the windy bit but she does keep getting
blown nudged out of bed occasionally.
Purely coincidental....
:) :beers:
Quote from: austinbob on September 01, 2017, 08:17:28 PM
Quote from: newportnobby on September 01, 2017, 08:07:27 PM
Quote from: austinbob on September 01, 2017, 06:20:06 PM
Just means I have to keep looking for cheaper sources of baked beans, bread and potatoes!!!
@austinbob (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=2403)
Your nickname isn't by any chance 'Windy', is it Bob :uneasy:
Hee hee...
Well it just so happens I've got ten tins of special offer baked beans in the cupboard for emergency provisions.
In your opinion is that a) too little, b) just enough or c) too much stock?
:laughabovepost:
Only measured by a flatulence meter. :D
Getting back on topic, I have some strange fascination with fish vans. Got quite a few of em.
However, I read somewhere that in the 60s, overnight fish trains could be hauled by A4s!
How cool is that for a reason to have heaps of fish vans!
Quote from: Bealman on September 02, 2017, 08:40:02 AM
Only measured by a flatulence meter. :D
Or maybe an anemometer ;D
Anyway - back to stock, methinks..............
Already modified, Mick :thumbsup:
Too much stock is a euphemism for not enough levels on your layout. Them 'Mericans know how to do it! ;)
Quote from: newportnobby on September 01, 2017, 04:59:27 PM
I really can't think of anything else I need unless a manufacturer comes up with something very special which may need help getting over the line.
:doh:
And then today I picked up this bad boy for £22 cash (Hattons want £22.91 + postage costs)
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/54/264-020917151408-5472350.jpeg)
I picked up the NGS version of that for £24 a little while ago. Nice model stored in a JB box for now.
:beers:
Bealman;
'Getting back on topic, I have some strange fascination with fish vans. Got quite a few of em.
However, I read somewhere that in the 60s, overnight fish trains could be hauled by A4s!'
Even better-in the book 'British Rail Fleet Survey pt 1-early prototype and pilot scheme locos' by Haresnape, there is a photo of North British Loco type 1 D6116 piloting A4 60004 on an up Aberdeen fish train at Perth-dated 6/7/64. The consist looks to be about 30 wagons, including at least a couple of 6-wheelers.
How about that for 'that never happened'/prototype for everything?
Martyn
If joining one club isn't enough for you excess stock try joining two of them. I have a current problem that I have acquired a couple of kettles which don't go with my corporate blue stock or the club's mainly american stuff. I think a second layout is the only solution !
I have asked the local model shop to get me a Farish 4F and now need a train and crew and and and...... Help please......
One answer to the too much stock problem is to have loads of cassettes with trains loaded which can be cycled through; have 2 cassette connections on the layout, run a train from a cassette, let it run while you get the next cassette lined up and the empty cassette at the other connection when the first train has done whatever you want, send it to the empty cassette and bring on the next train, if you have a double track layout you could have 4 cassette connections.
I have a long plastic box, with 2 boards each holding 6 cassettes which take 5 bogies plus a van or a freight of the same length, above the boards is a layer of trays holding 30 locos. Some of the coach cassettes hold more than 1 train, example a 3 coach set and a 2 coach push pull set, or 2 short freights.
I put a loco on a cassette connection track, then put one or two cassettes of coaches behind the loco, I can easily "ring the changes" to have anything from 3 coaches to 10 coaches with or without van(s), mixed freight, "pick up" goods, a complete van train or light engine.
I also have a couple of rerailers modified to fit the end of a cassette so I can load to/from track in the the fiddle yard on the area group layout
Quote from: Dorsetmike on September 02, 2017, 05:02:38 PM
One answer to the too much stock problem is to have loads of cassettes with trains loaded which can be cycled through;
I'd say "Oi! Chris Froome! You may be 4 times winner of the Tour de France and current leader of the Vuelta, but get orff my trains! :telloff:
Quote from: newportnobby on September 02, 2017, 08:31:23 PM
Quote from: Dorsetmike on September 02, 2017, 05:02:38 PM
One answer to the too much stock problem is to have loads of cassettes with trains loaded which can be cycled through;
I'd say "Oi! Chris Froome! You may be 4 times winner of the Tour de France and current leader of the Vuelta, but get orff my trains! :telloff:
On yer bike!