A Very Expensive Hobby

[dclyde]

Recently, while setting up for the Great American Train Show at the Timonium Fairgrounds in Timonium Maryland, I had the unfortunate fate of having my wife's van stolen.  In it was our train tool box, a heavy duty dolly that belonged to the company I work for, misc. tools and all the documentation I had for the show (I was the show coordinator).

As I went through the process of retrieving the stolen van and inventorying everything that was in the tool box, I came to realize that we had more than $1,000.00 just in the tool box alone.

With all things considered, I always felt that purchasing an engine for $300.00 was not that big of an issue.  But, I also came to realize that when you take a step back and look closer at the overall, the cost really adds up fast and large.

The epiphany is that it's a great hobby and both my wife and I love it dearly but it is one huge investment.

Thank the train gods for insurance.

Dave

[wm3798]

That's just how we say "Welcome to Baltimore"...  You got off lucky.  Usually we shoot you first, then steal your car...

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's a really good point Dave, you never really think about the "soft" costs of modeling, but this is very true, and a great observation.

[up1950s]

Some wolves hide in wait for the sheep to arrive in what they think are all friends in Pleasant Valley . I have to assume the vehicle was left less secure than it could have been , ie , no club , alarm , locked doors , and visibly parked . I do however feel for you and your loss , and hope your insurance gives you more that you expect .

[dclyde]

In reality, the van was parked in front of my house in it's usual place, locked with the alarm activated.  None of this seemed to deter the theft.  It was found 8 days later in downtown Baltimore near the city prison which is not a very safe part of town.

Anyway, our insurance company was very fair and resonable so now we are in the buying phase which has made MBK very, very happy.

Dave

[jmlaboda - RIP]

"With all things considered, I always felt that purchasing an engine for $300.00 was not that big of an issue."

Boy, I'd like to have your income.

[Walkercolt]

I need a decent cordless drill to take to N-TRAK shows for some of our storage pieces we put on with bolts. Lowe's and Home Depot go from cheapo junk right to $200 DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Porter-Cable, Boshe stuff. Have a perfectly good Ryobi, but the batteries went bad, and of course, Ryobi doesn't offer replacements anymore. Yeah, it's over 10 years old, but all the "big boys" named above still offer batt.packs from year one. When you count the power tools most of us use and like the cost of a 110 car unit coal train, or grain train etc., and changing everything out to MT's, and decoders and such, you can add up a bunch of bucks, especially over 20-25 years like me. You sit down and inventory everything at current prices, and lots of us are halfway to a new car. I figure my tool box full of locomotives is worth about $3 grand alone(it's a big tool box and lots of Kato's and Atlas' stuff).

[bobcat]

I figure I could easily buy another Harley(and I'm not talking Sportster here).

The trick for me is not let the wife unit know.

[DKS]

The trick for me is not let the wife unit know.

What, that you'd spend the money on trains, or on another hog?

[lock4244]

One other big expense... the house bought to keep everything dry  ;D

[bobcat]

The trick for me is not let the wife unit know.

What, that you'd spend the money on trains, or on another hog?

That my train collection could be worth that much. She already knows I'd spend money on both if given the chance. :

It's easy to hide new trains. You shoulda seen the look when she realized I put a new exhaust on this year. >

_{Just wait and see what happens when the new wheels show up.}