IronBeltKen
Lazy Daydreamer
...I might even have to change my username, too!
After much reflection, I've concluded that switching to CSX 3 years ago was a bad decision. During this time I haven't met a single 'nother CSX modeler within a 45-minute drive of where I live, and besides that, I dread the thought of having to install operating ditch lights on all of my contemporary motive power fleet .
I still have a healthy number of Stewart F-units in B&O garb that only need decoders and some additional details [grabirons, etc.], a few P2K and Atlas geeps - and a large quantity of freightcars that would be right at home on a late-sixties era pike. I did the math, and found I will only need to buy ~half the number of new engines as what I currently have in CSX.
Obviously I'll try to sell my CSX engines to recover some of my investment in them. On the 'down' side: They are not 'virgin' models, so that knocks a hefty chunk off of their resale value. But on the 'up' side: (1) All except one of these engines did not have decoders when I first bought them, but now they do; (2) the ones that were factory-painted have been renumbered to avoid duplication; (3) some of them have been custom-painted (not an easy task with the CSX "bright future" scheme!); and (4) several of them have been lightly weathered based on prototype photos, i.e. not haphazardly. I'm hoping I can recover at least 50% of what I originally paid for the base models. I'm NOT going to list them on That Auction Site - I'll setup a table at a train show so potential buyers can see what they're getting, and test-run them.
I've already confirmed sources for the new engines/freight cars I want to buy, so I know they're available. [And YES I've fore-warned the CFO <LOL>] I hope none of you talks me out of going thru with this plan, but OTOH, if it's half-baked I don't want to get myself in trouble either!
After much reflection, I've concluded that switching to CSX 3 years ago was a bad decision. During this time I haven't met a single 'nother CSX modeler within a 45-minute drive of where I live, and besides that, I dread the thought of having to install operating ditch lights on all of my contemporary motive power fleet .
I still have a healthy number of Stewart F-units in B&O garb that only need decoders and some additional details [grabirons, etc.], a few P2K and Atlas geeps - and a large quantity of freightcars that would be right at home on a late-sixties era pike. I did the math, and found I will only need to buy ~half the number of new engines as what I currently have in CSX.
Obviously I'll try to sell my CSX engines to recover some of my investment in them. On the 'down' side: They are not 'virgin' models, so that knocks a hefty chunk off of their resale value. But on the 'up' side: (1) All except one of these engines did not have decoders when I first bought them, but now they do; (2) the ones that were factory-painted have been renumbered to avoid duplication; (3) some of them have been custom-painted (not an easy task with the CSX "bright future" scheme!); and (4) several of them have been lightly weathered based on prototype photos, i.e. not haphazardly. I'm hoping I can recover at least 50% of what I originally paid for the base models. I'm NOT going to list them on That Auction Site - I'll setup a table at a train show so potential buyers can see what they're getting, and test-run them.
I've already confirmed sources for the new engines/freight cars I want to buy, so I know they're available. [And YES I've fore-warned the CFO <LOL>] I hope none of you talks me out of going thru with this plan, but OTOH, if it's half-baked I don't want to get myself in trouble either!