i mainly want to use locomotives that were used in the 1950's, but i want to buy engines  from different eras as i am not a prototypical kind of guy, i want to make a layout that could represent different time periods therefore i could use everything from tiny 4-4-0s to ES44ACs. some people might not agree with that but one guy in my hobby shop said no one should tell me how to use my layout. i agree with that, i am not saying anyone is trying to do that but it would be slightly annoying. of course i won't run 4-4-0s with gevos. but i will still collect them both. at the end of the day i just enjoy my hobby and that's all that matters.

I wonder if any of the engines on my wish list are likely to be discontinued before I can get my hands on them, I will probably get 3 new locomotives this year, maybe 4 if I'm lucky. I will get the 2-10-0, then the 2-6-0 with my own money. Then I will try to get the 2-8-0 for Xmas and with my Christmas money buy the 2-8-4. Do you think any of these engines be discontinued by then?

I do plan on upgrading this engine, Is there any way I can make a number plate? My engine is numbered 2121. As for the running gear I want to buy a new cylinder assembly with the more detailed gear and then swap it with the old one, What tools would it require? I also want to add a builders plate. I saw a picture of the new haven 0-6-0 and it had a builders plate instead of a blank imprint where the plate would be. Or is it just gold paint?

I have the desert flyer train set and the locomotive has been reliable ever since I got it, but I noticed on the box the locomotive has a red number plate, my locomotive does not, instead it is just black in place of the number plate. Did it fall off? Also the engine does not have full valve gear like it shows on the box. Is this normal?

Whenever I see all these nice discontinued engines it makes me wish I had started the hobby earlier! I have decided I want the 2-10-0 but I just hope I will still have time to buy the 2-8-4, 2-8-0, 2-6-0, and the 0-6-0 porter with side tanks. After that my voracious appetite for
steam locomotives will be temporarily satisfied. Not literally though or I would probably choke!

also how long does anyone think the 2-8-0 and 2-6-0 will last? I WANT THEM ALL! so many lovely locomotives but so little money! another gorgeous locomotive i would love to own is the 4-6-0, i don't think i ever will though. also i started a previous topic about the 2-10-0 and if it could be brought back, i got a reply from yardmaster, here it is: "There are no plans to bring it back at the moment. Perhaps sometime in the future..." do the periods at the end imply something? the way it is written makes it seem that way!

we are going a bit off topic here, i want to know what's better, the 2-8-0 or 2-10-0! in terms of detail and performance! also, what do you think are the chances of the 2-10-0 coming back?

What is better in terms of detail and performance? There is a 2-10-0 still my local hobby shop for 270 dollars including tax, should I buy the 2-10-0 or 2-8-0? I cannot make up my mind!  I want them both! I currently am making money by mowing lawns for 17 bucks a week (I can't get a job yet) which one would better fit my budget? also the 2-10-0 is discontinued so should I get that one first? Also I heard the 2-10-0 has a bell that is made of actual brass, is this the same case on the 2-8-0? I also want to make enough money over the summer to buy an alco 2-6-0, which is on modeltrainstuff for 130ish dollars. Please help!!!!!!!!!!

how long will my locomotives last? i have a spectrum 4-4-0, a usra 0-6-0 from the desert flyer set, an f9 from the red rock express, and a 4-8-4 from the overland limited set. they all run fine except for the f9 sometimes. it loses power at random parts of the track. this locomotive is very picky about dust and hairs. if i get it cleaned out it works fine. i saw a picture of a overland 4-8-4 from 2007, and it was falling apart, it's valve gear was a twisted wreck and the wheels were falling out. is my beloved 4-8-4 due for the same fate in 7 years? should i get extra locomotives as spare parts sources in case this happens? can someone tell me how i can prevent locos from falling apart?

there are several locomotives i want, but i am worried about how much time i have to buy them. how many years after a product is introduced does it get discontinued? i want the alco 2-6-0, 2-8-0, 2-8-4, RS-3, and the DT&I gp40, and the CNJ heritage unit. do you think these engines will be discontinued in a few years? or does it depend on popularity?

How exactly do you use turntables and turnouts in dc?

I plan on building a layout, I want it to have a turntable and a yard next to it and a track from the yard to a mainline. But I mainly use dc and I have only one dcc loco. In order to have a layout like this do I need to spend a fortune on dcc decoders to convert to dcc? Keep in mind I am too young to get a job, and most dcc decoders I see are over a hundred bucks. What should I do?

I really want the 2-10-0 and there is one at my hobby shop but it may be bought before I have enough to buy it, the guy there said that bachmann after a while brings back certain products, they must spend a fortune on molds and keep can't see why they would just completely discontinue it, if it can't be brought back does anyone know of any sites that still have it?

1. i know that bachmann is coming out with more heritage paint schemes but will they eventually do them all?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2. will there ever be regular non heritage sd70ace and es44ac paint schemes? like a regular black and white ns sd70ace or maybe a cn es44ac?

I am really curious about the new 4-4-0 and what it will look like in terms of detail. If for some reason anyone has a picture of it can you post it? Or is it still being developed, what are the differences between the new one and old one? (yes I know I ask a lot of questions)