Me too, back to the hobby after a 30 year absence.
Had a couple of false starts (moving didn’t help) and have had to change the trackplan because of it, but I now have some workable sections and a plan for the rest. I tried the planning software and it looked great, but I got frustrated trying to make it do what I wanted. Pencil and paper worked better for me.
The previous posts about adding industries are well taken; real railroads without customers don’t last very long. They’re the reason railroads exist. That being said, it’s your empire - do whatever you want with it.
I went DCC also - it really beats DC IMHO, but comes at a price. I talked myself out of the Zephyr and up to the SuperChief and have absolutely no regrets. It’ll handle anything I’ll ever be able to throw at it; for the layout you’re planning, you might want to take another look at it.
Hi: I am glad that others are getting back into model railroading. I haven’t had a layout for a long time but am building an HO one now. I will be 74 in August and sometimes I wonder who will finish first - me or the railroad. My layout, for my grandkids of course, is in an approximately 19’ x 11’ space. Basically a dogbone, with ends stacked and one used for staging. Like a lot of things that are planned, you start off with grand plans but after time reality sets in. I started out with 30" minimum radius and are now down to 24". I also realized along the route that you have to do something useful not just run in circles so I am rethinking the industries to make them more logical. i.e. no dairy facility in the middle of a shipyard type of thing. I am using Peco code 83 track and turnouts, DCC and having a lot of fun. Would add a sketch of my layout but don’t know how to do it. Good Luck!
Are you SURE you want Digitrax? Several of our members in the Division have chosen NCE with great success, and one changed from Digitrax to NCE after about a month. Visit a hobby shop that handles both (such as Tony’s Train Exchange) and try both before making your decision. There is nothing really WRONG with Digitrax, but many of feel that NCE is vastly superior in handling.
like you Im starting again after 25 years,but here comes the killer punch!The only space available to me is 6ft.x4ft!I have decided on John Allens timesaver,but if anyone can sugest a better idea Im more than willing to take help and advice(dont tell me to take up knitting)I might add that I am British living in Middlesbrough.
Willum,as another Brit,would you like to contact me offline.I belong to an NMRA affiliated group in Sussex and you can find our site at Seaboard-Southern.org.uk
Rgds, Pete
Yet another Brit getting back into the hobby… after 30 years this time. Never had a layout before but now have time and money (I hope!) and some space. Only 7’ 6" X 40" and to make things even more interesting I’m going the 0n30 route! Be asking for advice soon!
Shorts on electrofrogs happen when A: a loco approaches from the frog end and the points are set against it, or B: a metal wheel is wide enough that when it goes through the frog, it reaches to the other rail in the frog–after all, the right rail of the diverging track (as seen from point end) and the left rail of the straight track are very close together at the frog–they have to be! Either way, your current goes [xx(], and DCC doesn’t like that. I don’t think you’ll have a problem if you are either careful with noninsulated turnouts or use insulated turnouts. I’ve run an 0-4-0 over insulfrogs many times and they have never stopped it yet.
Also, I don’t have anything against NCE, but I haven’t heard of the general railroading public preferring it over Digitrax.
Hi I have just started to build my railroad the same one I built 5o years ago.I haven’t stop reading model railroad but just never had the time to build a model railroad. I bought the lumber and building the wood open benchwork. I’am thinking about using micro engineering track. What do you think? I saw this layout in a hobby shop and rebuilt it at home when I was 15. I went back to the hobby shop and they still had the plans. It is 7’ by 10’ A lot has changed I had mantua couplers then and mantua steam engines. I would like to buy brass engines but want to use DCC and sound. I don’t know if this is possible.Enjoyed reading your letters to this forum. Robert
Well welcome back to the hobby all you guys.
For those who are just starting out may I suggest a look at my website. I show you how to make a model of your model. Why? One to make sure it all fits. Two, to hone or learn skills you will need later. Three it is just fun.
Anyhow, I am not selling anything so go have a look. It is all free.
Have fun.
Good luck to you all starting back in the hobby. I am as well, after a 20+ year hiatus (last time I did this I was 12 y/o). As for DCC, I have chosen NCE… Two major reasons: good reviews by locals at my LHS and online AND my local train club uses it , so I can just plug in my throttle and go! I will post pics soon of my new layout Good luck to all us re-newbies!