Getting back on the train after 20 years

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hey fellas,

I am looking to venture back into this wonderful hobby. The issue I am having is how I should begin. I have an old 4X8 platform with a few scale structures on it, some smashed from years of storage, some in half decent shape, but nothing looking mint. The track is brass, it’s nailed down. I wouldn’t mind using the same layout but I was wondering if I should pull up the brass and go with nickel? No train has run on this track in at least 20 years. I know I have to clean and polish up the track. I have also been reading about DCC. Should I ditch the old trains? Is it an easy modification to bring them into the DCC world? Or should I just stay with DC?

I guess I’m just wondering how any of the experienced guys would do things again if given the opportunity. Again, I’m only looking to start with an easy 4X8 HO set up for now. I’m in a townhouse and it’s going in my basement. When I move and get some room I would like to expand. For now, I would just like any advice to get the most for my dollar with a small set, i.e., is it cheaper to just buy a starter set with a DCC power pack and add the nickel track to what I have? Clean my brass track and use the DC stuff I have? Convert what I have to DCC?

I’m probably only going to be running 2 locomotives at once to begin.

Thanks fellas,

Tommy

2

I don’t usually advocate the use of brass track, because it is hard to keep clean, but since you already have a layout I see no reason not to at least give it a try.

Get a Bright Boy or other track-cleaning eraser. First, use a vacuum cleaner to get as much loose stuff off as possible, then go over the track with the Bright Boy until you see a bright, even shine. Vacuum it again and finish up with a rag moistened with rubbing alcohol.

How is your rolling stock? Do you still have a few cars? What kind of couplers do they have? If you’ve got knuckle couplers, you’re OK for now. If not, take a couple of the cars to a shop and pick up Kadee replacements. If you’ve only got a few cars with old horn-hooks, you’d might as well replace them all. If you have a lot, pick a few cars and put Kadees on one end, to connect to the engine, and leave the horn-hooks on the other end to connect to the rest. You can do the rest gradually.

Decide what you like to run. Since you have a 4x8, I’m going to guess that you have mostly 18-inch radius curves, so modern-era stuff isn’t going to run very well on your turns. If modern era is your thing, and that’s what you really want to model, then you’ve answered your question about tearing up what you have and starting from scratch. On the other hand, if you like the Transition Era, you can be very happy with short, 4-axle diesels and 40-foot boxcars that will run just fine on those 18-inch curves.

Since you know what you want, buy a locomotive. Get a nice one, with DCC and sound. Buy a Digitrax Zephyr DCC system. For bang for the buck, you can’t beat it, and it’s expandable. Wire the Zephyr into your layout. (Surprise! It’s easy.) and you’re ready to run that new locomotive. Put your half-converted car with a knuckle coupler behind it, and build a train.

Turn on the headlight. (Yes, you control that with DCC, too.) Sound the

3

I have to agree with Mr. Beasly. It seems a waste to just take up track and replace without a good reason to do so. See if you can’t get what you have running and then “start over” after you move and get some room.

The conversion of locomotives to DCC totally depends on the exact brand and model of the locomotive. After doing it a few times one can convert a BB Athearn in about 30 minutes. The hardest part is isolating the motor from the frame. 20 years ago isn’t that long ago and DCC under the Lenz brand name already existed.

The only sets I know of that come with DCC are Bachmann. There are a couple sets on sale at Caboose Hobbies right now for $116. But the DCC controller is not the greatest and it is Bachmann equipment. I didn’t see the word “Spectrum” (which is Bachmann’s good stuff) on the box anywhere. I would think you could do better looking separately for an entry level DCC system and DCC equipped locomotive.

Nothing says you could not keep the old layout and still experiment with DCC.

I would be more concerned about the couplers on your existing equipment. I am guessing they are mostly horn-hooks. These days it is almost hard to find equiment that do not have some sort of Kadee compatible knock off.

4

If it was me I would completly dismantle what you have and start fresh with Nickel Silver track. Maybe even just throw the whole thing into the garbage and start fresh. Lets be honest, 20 years is a long time for stuff like loco’s to be sitting. It will probably lead to instant frustration because of poor running loco’s and rolling stock.

5

I have to say that if I were in your position I would be spending this weekend having a shot at getting the existing layout operational. I have derived a great deal of pleasure from resurrecting rolling stock from my childhood, things that have some emotional attachment, perhaps you will as well? In all likelihood you will have issues with corrosion and electrical conductivity problems as rail joiners. But I would still give it a shot to get if cleaned up and presentable. I take it you have some old locos and rolling stock and possibly a transformer? Well I would try them out as well.

While you are playing and having fun getting this old stuff running, start to ruminate on what you like and what you think might hold your interest. See if there are any train shows coming up in your area and plan to visit. Expect to be blown away by the latest sound equipped DCC locomotives, not only for their detail and quality, but also for their price!! Things have changed a lot in 20 years.

6

Welcome back to the hobby.

I’ll go on the side of cleaning up your old layout and see if you can get it running. A few hours of cleaning and repairing could get you hours of enjoyment. Since you seem to anticipate a move at some point, that might be the time to do a new layout with more updated equipment.

Would suggest you also do some reading on new materials and techiniques for scenery and benchwork. Though many of the old tried and true methods still work fine, sometimes a newer method will fit better into your new situation. There are a number of good books from our host available through SHOP above and at many hobby shops. Your library may also have some material you can borrow. Following these forums is another way to keep up with new ideas. You will find that some people love them, others have little luck. Each of us seems to have a favored method which works best for us. On many layouts you will find several different techiniques, each the “best” for that builder in that particular spot. For example some areas may be built up using foam insulation (where you may want to plant trees), while another area of the layout may use cardboard strips and plaster cloth for more distant hills that will be covered with puff balll trees.

As I said, see what you can do with the old, see if you still enjoy it. Tthere is a near limitless range of things you can do to enjoy this hobby. Yes, sometimes well have a frustrating day, week, …, but we keep going and in the end very much enjoy the fruits of our work.

Have fun,

Richard

7

the LION is now building his third layout in 25+ years. The first was in a basement room which was eventually refinished and so the railroad had to move.

Since the LION lives in a monastery which closed its schools almost 40 years ago, I took over a third floor classroom for my layout. The second layout was just a little bit too complicated for this poor LION to maintain, and so him tore it down and built a new and bigger layout. It looks far more complicated, but that is only because I am a complicated LION, it is actually much easier to run. The LION sits up in the control tower and the trains do all of the rest. It looks complicated but it is not. Anyway I like it and that is that.

Do not be afraid to start over (and over and over) again, but I do agree that you should clean up and run what you have while you get your feet wet again and form in your mind and in you heart what it is you really want to build, where you will build it and how complicated you want to make it.

A boat is a wooden hole in the water into which a would be sailor throws his money.

A train is like that, but it is in you living room (or there abouts) Figure out how much money you want to throw at it. As big as the LION’S layout is, it was very cheap to build what with having barns full of used lumber and a fine wood working shop in the power house building. It doe not have to eat you bank account, but it surely will if you let it.

Enjoy the thing, and let us know how it goes. Since it is brass track, I can assume that the curves are 18" radius… so it is clear to the LION that you will change things soon enough.

ROAR

8

Thanks guys for your insight. I think I am going to try and run with what I have for now and upgrade as time goes on. You know, a loco for my birthday or Christmas and maybe some track. I dragged my old platform down to the basement today. Tomorrow and this coming weekend will begin the transformation of the old platform. We’ll see if any of it works. If it doesn’t then this whole conversation is moot. If it’s shot then I’ll start fresh and slowly build my miniature empire. Should be a great time and I’m looking forward to the adventure.

Thanks again fellas. Any insight in the future is always welcome.

9

When reserecting your old equipment, don’t forget to give the loco wheels a good cleaning and the motor and gears a lube job. Could help them get back in shape with fewer problems.

Have fun,

Richard

10

So I found my way to a local hobby shop. I took some of my old stuff over to let them look at it. Long story short, I’ve bought some cork, 3’ sections of flex track, a couple switches, and it looks like I’m starting from scratch. The stuff was really boogered up.

We tried to test my old trains out and they were pretty frozen. He started explaining to me how to clean the track and it sounds like I was going to have to take it apart anyway. So for a small donation I am now on my way to the future of the hobby.

I’m looking to buy a Digitrax Zephyr starter for now. I see the basic model runs around $200. Is there a cheaper way to go?

11

Boy! The original posting posed a lot of loaded questions, the answer to which are as many and varied as those responding. Lets face it, your stuff is old and much of it is outdated by today’s rather fabulous capabilities and standards. This is not to denigrate or berate your old setup.

You have a golden opportuity here should you wish to take it up. I too have started up again after over 15 years within only the last year. My suggestion is save what good structures and interesting rolling stock you have and ditch all the rest. Take a lot of time to decide what period you wish to model in and get a brand new 4X8 sheet of plywood and nickel silver track to make your modern system much more in tune with some of the newer, higher scale HO rolling stock and locos you may decide to purchase.

Definitely go with DCC, even if you are running only 1 loco. You will not regret it.

Starting over always beats dusting off and fighting 20 year old stuff. Fill your head with what you want it to be now, but take a good look around before leaping as the MR world has changed a lot.

All the very best, regardless of what you decide and welcome back.

Richard

12

Make sure it is the XTRA version of the Zephyr. It is a better version then the oroiginal Zephyr which I’m sure are still kicking around the odd hobby shop. Cheaper is not better and the Zephyr is truly the best bang for the buck when it comes to DCC.

13

I second the DIgitrax Zephyr Xtra, it is the one I will upgrade my Bachmann EZ Command DCC system to.

It can be had here for $169:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Digitrax-ZEPHYR-XTRA-Complete-DCC-Starter-System-w-p/dig-zepx.htm

That is about the lowest price I think you will find.

M.B.Kline {modeltrainstuff.com} is a decent company to do business with and they have it in stock.

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