Collecting Models can it be a Addiction?

[Beasty101]

I do not get on these forums much these day as I Collect Model Trains HO, Rail-fan and the fact of no support that I am aware of for Steam version. My question is does anyone else think they have a real addiction to collecting Model Trains? In the past year I have spent over 5 grand alone. I have upwards of over 200 units and well over 1200 rolling stock. Does anyone else here have this what I call a train crack addiction?

 

[Euphod]

I did have a year in which I spent nearly three thousand on forty foot boxcars alone!

 

[ShadyCadence]

Does nine locos and sixty-plus cars count if you have no functioning layout?

 

[SantaFebuff]

Hey, I'm in the same boat Brad.

Cheers,
Joshua

 

[Euphod]

Uh-oh; I just noticed we're all from the Midwest. Maybe it's something in the water...

 

[cascaderailroad]

Collecting items and obsessive collecting & organization is a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Persons with ADHD, Asbergers Syndrome ... etc ... etc ... very often can not accept change, and can not understand fiction, and instead dwell on history and real life non-fiction interests.

Not that these so called disorders are bad things ... almost 99.9% of all people have some degree of these so-called syndromes ... the rest of us are just un-diagnosed ... like me ! :hehe:

Many important and successful people have had these so-called disorders, including Presidents ... etc ... etc ...

So if you have some modern named so-called disorder, you are just normal ... like me ! :hehe:

Many people that are classified with the above named are exceptionaly smart, and in fact have superior IQ's.

The most dangerous people in the world are: Those who refuse to admit that they too have a problem, and profess that they have no faults, and claim they are perfect.

 

[JackieG]

Yea me and my dad have caught the route building fever! We are started our Sheandoah Valley Lines (see my blog to find out more). We are trying to increse our steam and coal car fleet. (going for over 150!)

 

[Beasty101]

Well I won't go in to my Units Trains but at least I know I'm not alone. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.357017670983244.91012.100000250422129&type=3 These are a sample of what I got... and Euphod it very could be the water.

 

[whitepass]

I started model railroading in 1958 so I have a lot of HO and some Lionel and a large number of LGB(over $10k).

 

[masterowner]

Look at those units, wow! NYC, Pennsy, Virginian and Conrail + More Wow!

 

[simulatortrain]

I don't have an addiction... I can stop buying freight cars any time I want to...

 

[Thad09]

I seem to have lost track on how much I spend on parts for my LEGO engines. So far I'm not in debt. I remember that I spent at least $350 on one engine, and maybe another $50 or so to go...

 

[cascaderailroad]

I seem to have my addiction under control ... When I go to the Goodwill store (in Antarctica) and I see 3 used waffle irons for $5 each, I resist my inner beast, and just let them go ... But man ... do I just luvz' waffles !

But if I went to a train convention/flea market and saw 4 N scale Con-Cor PRR U50C's (there actually are those roadnames, although PRR had none) I just would have to buy them all

 

[backyard]

Asperger's Syndrome...hmmm...

Addiction is not confined to substance use.

The very same dopamine that is produced by brain cells and replaced by any stimulant, is produced during any type of activity you find enjoyable.

Substance abuse occurs when stimulation is desired by substances...anything that makes one feel well can become an addiction(sugar in candy or Pepsi,etc).

The "thrill" of obtaining and watching model trains, even downloading the latest free or payware releases, is the same stimulation to brain cells to produce dopamine/serotonin. This chemical re-uptakes into the cells to produce pleasure.

That is how we work...it's not rocket science...moderation is the key...