I don't think there is a caboose yet, but you know Micro-Trains.......
Now Dot,
If you want to collect the entire set and never run them that is your prerogative. I just have never been into collecting anything. BTW, Caboose Hobbies in Denver, CO will set you up with an automatic shipment of the state cars. I am signed up with them just to receive the ones I want. You can sign up for the whole set too. At least you could a while back. They discount a little too; about 10% usually. Check it out. Ask for Chip in mail-order and tell him I said "hi".
Now generally I have to ask this question. Why collect?
I mean, stamps, coins, cars, models, whatever. Who besides you will ever look at your efforts to acquire the "entire set"? I know that you have the fun of the collecting experience, but with train cars, wouldn't you really rather see them going around your layout, rather that sitting in dusty old boxes on a shelf somewhere, totally untouched by human hands? Please don't get me wrong. Collecting is a hobby too. I just want someone to explain why you collect?
Is there a mentality out there that says, if I hold on to this item long enough, I'll be able to sell it and retire on the profit? I have bid against "collectors" before. You can't win if the collector decides he wants the item. I lost a $59 model of a coal tower that I was really going to build to an obvious collector. The final bid was in the hundreds. I emailed the winner and begged that he sell it to me. Nope. He was collecting this manufacturer's kits. What a waste in my opinion. And why is it that MT cars, which have a limited run yes, but in the thousands, sell for so much once out of production? The N Scale Collectors Society which I briefly belonged to and quit, jacks up the prices so high it is ridiculous.
Please Dot and Ed, don't quit collecting on my account. Just, if you can, explain the collector fever that abounds in this hobby. I run everything I have and when I sell the extra cars, I still get top prices. I just have to clean the wheels, put the item back in the original box, and there you have a mint item. Meanwhile, I have had my fun running it for a while. I sometimes put new wheels on used cars.....oops, trade secret. The difference between "used" and "mint" is always the wheels. As long as the car has not been weathered or damaged......mint.
I went on way too long here. Sorry if I offended any one, but I really do not understand the collector mentality. I would like to learn the attraction.
Pete
