Too much stock.

[David Asquith]

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

[Bealman]

That's a problem? I think it's great!

Add the storage roads. 

[ntpntpntp]

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.

[austinbob]

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 

[Newportnobby]

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

[ChrisWV10]

How about double heading some trains or top n tailing then you get 2 locos for 1 train
🚂🚂🚋🚋🚋🚂

C

[austinbob]

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.


C

[Intercity]

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

[dannyboy]

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  And I am going to TINGS  .

[port perran]

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.

[njee20]

I don't have too much stock, I've got too little fiddle yard. I'm just making it bigger. Problem solved.

[austinbob]

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....   

[paulprice]

I NEED MORE MORE MORE MORE I TELL YOU 

[njee20]

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!

[paulprice]

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