I know a lot of diffrent people collect a lot of diffrent trains. I'm talking things like Hudsons, cabesse, santa fe f-3's, etc. I For example i heard Mr.Muffin say he collected atlas 36' reffers. And i recently started collecting Lionel Milk cars. What do you collect?

Subways of course,and anything nycta or metronorth

i collect PFE reefers. can't get enough of them!

Well, it's a bit obvious for me. GG1s in any scale, any road name (that they were actually were painted in), and from any period. My oldest dates to 1946 (the year BEFORE Lionel built one) to models built within the last few years.

It is really what I obsess over at least according to my wife!

Used to be ore cars. (too many were ultimately released for me to keep up)

Then it was Lionel autoracks.(infrequently released so still possible)

Then it was chrome plated tankers (same as above, but some roadnames got reaaaaly 'out there' so I skipped them)

Then it was subways (Imma runnin' outta room)

Then it was MTH Premier autoracks (where am I gonna put that last order?)

Now I have enough stuff that I don't really collect anymore. But I certainly did attempt to in the past.

---PCJ

Lionel Mint Cars and (almost) anything W&ARR by any company.

The rest of my purchases are just whatever strikes my fancy.

Andy

I collect Aquarium cars, Trolleys and all NYC RR Pieces. Happy Railroading! Don Klose

Steam engines, all gauges (N,HO,O & G)



"She took the Atchinson,Topeka & the Santa FE"

Bathtub gondolas/coalporters.

I've been trying to collect pictures of dead presidents but my train purchases have killed that plan.
Oh well, as someone else on the forum said; "I'm not a collector. I'm an accumulator." And I accumulate anything that strikes my fancy. It's all about having fun, right?

Any thing Southern or Norfolk Southern.SOUTHERN RAILROAD SERVES THE SOUTH

Is accumulating the same as collecting

Somehow I have accunulated just about every Pennsy N8 cabin car that has been ever issued by MTH.
Now I just got to stop that

Postwar Lionel with some prewar and MPC-LTI mixed in.

I have collected just about everything Lionel has done PRR wise, 1946 to the present. That includes early 2025s and such with LL tenders, also the '64 NYC 773 that came with the PRR 773W.

Like GG-1 4877 I also like the G but I only have the Lionel ones, from the first black or green 2332 to the latest full scale version.

Several years ago the Lionel Greenberg Guide to Roadnames stated that the PRR roadname was the second most used in items produced. Lionel Lines was the most numerous. I'm not so sure that is the case today.

To add some color I also collect Lionel's Handcars, boys and girls sets, 1776 set, Disney set. For the kids (and the kid in me) I also have the PE, Harry Potter, Army action, and Thomas items.

Lionel F-3's.

Most anything Milwaukee Road, specializing in Hiawathas. Also the electrics, and what few authentic non-Hiawatha steamers are available.
A little bit of Standard Gauge - I got started with a Lionel Hiawatha (the giant modern one with TMCC) and then picked up a few vintage items.
A few European items, like the ETS beer train. Looking to get into Paya.
A couple of Mexican Kusan cars, to celebrate the year I lived in Monterrey (where they were made).
Atlas woodside reefers.

Any subway, anything Erie Lackawanna and any thing that says Long Island RR on it

Anything that strikes my fancy.Especially if it reminds me of something in my life I will certainly buy it.I must have some memory because I have a lot of stuff.

Oh I almost forgot Anything that says Jersey Central on it

Train-related books. Trains...

Of late I seem to be accumulating "O" passenger equipment of various roads, brands, sizes, styles, and eras. Must be planning to emulate the levels of passenger activity at Chicago during its heyday on a Podunk-size layout. Most will, I'm sure, spend most of their time on the shelf lines.

quote:

Oh I almost forgot Anything that says Jersey Central on it

I would have to say the same for me, except for anything in the later 'Red Baron'/'Coast Guard'/whatever you want to call it scheme. Never really liked that too much.

I collect anything that says 'Raritan River RailRoad' on it. Haven't spent a dime yet!

I like to collect postwar boxcars. I hope to get a few more Lionel steamers and F3's.
Rob

I never focused on one road name as so many folks do, but concentrated on one area of interest at a time, then when satisfied moved on to the next. It's gone something like this:

-ATSF streamlined diesels (FT, E7, PA, etc.) in as many scales as possible.
-Passenger trains of the UP, ATSF, E-L, B&O, Penn, and NH in O, HO and N.
-Marx 4-wheel 6-inch tinplate cars & their engines - electric or clockwork.
-The Lionel 200 series Standard Guage freight cars.
-Marx 3/16 scale tinplate. Just about finished with that & moving into:
-Prewar O-guage, 4-wheel passenger cars of any make.

Of course along the way, lots of stuff that doesn't fit those neat categories has called out to me. And, indeed, it's not that I lose interest in any category: I'm still apt to pick up anything that catches my eye.

Ideas
Kits
Grandt Line parts
Airline miles
Good intentions
Pipe dreams
Memories
Dust

The trains, though, those I just run.

Oops, forgot a few other items!

Most anything CNJ (Now limiting to true 1/4 scale)
Phase I-Phase III Amtrak (If it's cool and it's cheap)
21" passenger cars (eastern roads)
Williams brass steam
Useless junk

More useless junk ... I mean hidden treasure

Knowledge