Disaffection of our rolling stock

[ohlavache]

Hello.
The vast majority of my locomotives, coaches and wagons were bought on an Internet web site. Usually before buying, I always try to find a real picture of the item. But, even with this precaution, it happens that sometime after having received the item I realize that I either don't really like it or I don't use it at all. Then it's time to sell it. Am I the only one in this situation?

I've tried to analyse the reasons. Here is what I've found out:
a.   they were not as nice as on the picture(s) or they do not look right with my other wagons (just from an aesthetic point of view);
b.   they were bought to reproduce a real train composition but it's not as funny as expected or, in other words, it appears to be too serious and never satisfying because always too far away from reality (that's for continental and British N scale);
c.   they were bought under rule 1 but finally I don't use them (that's for US N scale).
Surprisingly, the reasons differ depending on the region modelled.

For my small US oval, I model an imaginary scenery somewhere in New England. And it appears that my rolling stock from the Southern Pacific or other distant companies remains in their box.
On the contrary, rule 1 fully applies with my first layout (a Dutch one converted to British, where I also run continental rolling stock). Each time I've tried to go for a realistic composition, it ended by selling the associated stuff.

Recently, I've bought two Stanier coaches to (partly) reproduce this picture published on railway-centre.com:

Photo by Jamie Squibbs
But I'm much more confident; I can't wait for DJM's Clayton!!!

Now I have accumulated a long list of items for sale (all the more as I've just sorted my US stuff). I don't like that and I don't have enough time to sell them properly.

[Newportnobby]

I'm guilty of buying too much stock and hate EBay so have successfully advertised some stuff on this forum. In the meantime I have more stock being taken to our meet up on Saturday in the hope it will find a good and loving home whilst replenishing my empty wallet

[railsquid]

What I kept doing is, while bidding for something I specifically wanted, adding a couple of other items from the same bidder as they were dirt cheap but looked fun. And/or end up with something that was cheap, but need something more expensive to complete it with. Also recently I purchased a job-lot from an auction site in Japan which had something in it I really wanted (and would have been a good deal even just for that item) but has left me with a miscellaneous collection of old US coaches I have no use for...

[Sprintex]

Not been troubled by this 'affliction' myself.

I tend to buy only what I want/need for my current layout's era and location, although having said that I have acquired a Blue Pullman and have a Pendolino on order because they are both iconic trains. I would also like a new Deltic at somepoint, and a Eurostar, and maybe a Thalys TGV, so for this reason the next layout will be totally freelance and era/location non-specific so I can run all these and more at the same time


Paul

[Bealman]

You've got your BP, and now you're hankering after a Deltic? Eek what's going on?

But there again, you're just coming down from a MLP fest 

George

[railsquid]

Not been troubled by this 'affliction' myself.

I tend to buy only what I want/need for my current layout's era and location, although having said that I have acquired a Blue Pullman and have a Pendolino on order because they are both iconic trains. I would also like a new Deltic at somepoint, and a Eurostar, and maybe a Thalys TGV, so for this reason the next layout will be totally freelance and era/location non-specific so I can run all these and more at the same time

Welcome to the slippery slope

[Sprintex]

I still don't buy odd bits of rolling stock though, it has to be a pre-planned complete train


Paul

[Jonner]

I still don't buy odd bits of rolling stock though, it has to be a pre-planned complete train


Paul

Me too, however I do sometimes buy second hand piece's (if cheap) with the intention of of doing some sort of conversion then I'll maybe lose interest or the R-T-R item becomes available. Also if a product I've pre-ordered doesn't live up to my expectations, it's then put to one side until a time when it,s worth using as a part exchange against a bargain priced quality used item to help limit the financial losses.

John

[Lawrence]

There are many on here who model the US scene for a variety of reasons, affordability not being least.  I bought a lot of stock I didn't need, because "it was a bargain" when I started but I did eventually sell off most of my unwanted stuff.
You could always advertise it on here and put the money towards fewer higher quality pieces

[grumbeast]

For my small US oval, I model an imaginary scenery somewhere in New England. And it appears that my rolling stock from the Southern Pacific or other distant companies remains in their box.

I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss distant boxcars, they turn up all over the place.  I've seen leased BNSF power in Halifax NS, and remember seeing an old Rock Island boxcar at the yard in Dartmouth NS the late 2000s, almost 30 years after it had ceased to exist and a good couple of thousand miles from its original stomping grounds.  So while I'm not sure I'd fill a New England train with SP boxcars, one or two is fine!

Graham

[njee20]

I tend to over analyse every purchase in advance, so there are very few things I've regretted purchasing. I find stuff retains its value so well that I'm not all that worried occasionally having a punt though, you can sell on for minimal (if any) loss.