Just wanted to say hello. I am brand new to the hobby. I am looking to build my own train table in the spring. So I’d like to get as much info and advice as I can. I am leaning toward the HO scale. The only reason being that it is the most popular and most common. Anyone have comments on that? I am still also trying to get toknow all of the lingo. All of the different types of engines are confusing. So if anyone has any tips, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help!
jayk527- Welcome to Trains.com! [tup]
Welcome to the World’s greatest hobby,
You will shortly recieve a lot of good advice.
To start I’d suggest you read as many posts as you can that apply to starting a layout.
That includes those in Layout & Layout Building and Electronics and DCC as well as those in General Discussion.
Good luck and enjoy
Bob
Hello and [#welcome].
It’s really hard to give advice to general observations like yours. What I would do, if I were you, is start reading. MR is a good source that will give you a lot of exposure. There are also several good introductory books on the topic (try your local library or hobby shop, or order from Kalmbach’s on-line store). You might also want to read a basic overview of American railroads, or a basic history of your favorite railroad.
While you are correct that HO is the most common and the most popular, you should look at the pros and cons of the various scales before you choose. Your own preferences and space available will also help determine the scale.
I have four pieces of advice for you at this stage:
-
Read everything you can get your hands on, get your hands on some more, and read that, too.
-
Except for purchasing books and subscriptions, put your wallet away for a while. Don’t run out and start buying stuff until you have a better handle on what you want your railroad to do, where and when it is set, and which railroad you will model (a real one or one of your own creation). Buying things now will most likely result in a lot of stuff that you won’t use later.
-
Consider making a “trial” layout at first. Keep it small, and experiment with different styles of operation and construction techniques. This will both hone your skills prior to the “real thing” and help you learn what you really like about model railroading. Many of us require our trains to run in a circle; others want a point-to-point operation which more closely simulates the real thing. You probably won’t know until you experiment.
-
If you can get to a club layout for a visit or attend a sizable train show, do so. Or both. The experience is well worth the time spent.
Once you get your arms around
Thanks for the advice. This really is something that I have absolutely no background in. I remember my dad having a setup in our attic when I was VERY young. I don’t remember much about it,other than that it was huge and never really fully functioning. I picked up a copy of Model RR magazine, but most of the stuff I really didn’t understand. In fact, I went through and made a list of words to look up. I am truly excited and went online yesterday to look for books. I need a complete and total trains. I didn’t even know what a Hopper car was until today. I am trying to do whatever I can to lay a foundation of knowledge, basics first. Looking forward to the challenge ahead!
Welcome to model railroading and to the forums.
As well as reading these forums, I suggest you get some books on getting started in model railroading. Our host has several listed if you go to Shop on the dark line above. Many of them are available at your local hobby shop, some may be at your library.
It is good to read and ask questions before spending much money. There are a number of things you should decide before starting your layout, that could make a difference in what type of things you buy. Era and location are two that come to mind. Location also should be concidered as you need not buy a lot of trees if you decide to model the plains states.
Read and ask. There are no stupid questions. We all have questions to ask and this is a great place to get answers. You may get several different views in the answers. No one is wrong, just what has worked out best for that person. Try the different methods and make your own decision. You will also find that some methods work better in one situation and another method in another place on your layout.
Have fun,
Richard
jayk527
Welcome to the forums!
I agree with CTValleyRR! In fact I think he couldn’t have stated it better. The need to do research is obvious but I think what was equally important part was the advice about spending money wisely. It is too easy to act like a kid in a candy shop with a fist full of money. At least for me, that has my greatest downfall (and I am still doing it[D)]). I am trying to stop myself from forever buying more rolling stock so I can put more money aside to actually build the layout.
Ok - you are allowed to get yourself a FEW favourite pieces just to give you goose bumps, but then be selective about what you are spending your hard earned dollars on. Develop your track plan first and then you will know better what you will run on it. You mention a table top layout. That means 4 x 8 or 5 x 9 or there abouts. If you have a hankering for 85’ auto cars or 2-8-8-0 steamers you might not like the way they look on the curves, but it can be done.
There are a couple of important exceptions to the ‘don’t spend money’ rule:
First, I suggest finding a CAD program for track design. I use 3rdPlanIt. The program costs money but my research into the various CAD programs suggests that it is worth the investment. CAD programs have been criticized by those who prefer pencil and paper for designing your layout, but I tested 3rdPlanIt and it does not seem to suffer the weaknesses that the critics suggest other programs might have. There are free design programs available. I will leave it to others to make recommendations in that regard. The key is to use a program that won’t allow you to design a plan where the actual track pieces won’t fit in the space available. Pencil and paper works fine too, as long as you are realistic about what you can fit into the space available. Get lots of erasers!
You need to decide on a track power system. Even before you have anything even remotely related to an operating layout you will
It might help to keep a notebook of your “Aha!” moments as you learn. When something falls into place for you, write it down. Organize them somehow so that you can find them more easily. What these bits of information do is give you a starting point off on a new direction, possibly, but they certainly point the way to more questions and learning.
However, do eventually force yourself to some decisions and commitments. You have to build something, right? So, once you know what era, if you’ll try to limit yourself to one railroad, one part of that railroad, to having a loop to just enjoy trains running, or to doing mostly switching industries, maybe both (as many of us do), whether you’ll stick with DC (direct current) power or use the more modern DCC (Digital Command Control) that offers some simplicity in wiring and somewhat more realistic train operations without resorting to automation or blocking off segments of your rails to manage the locomotives (as you must do in DC), and so on…yeah, it really is that complicated a hobby. You can uncomplicate it by keeping those notes, deciding on a direction finally, and then setting about to make that a reality with framing, roadbed, tracks down and powered, and the trains you like running on them.
Good luck!
Crandell
hi,
Track Planning For Realistic Operation by John Armstrong is the book to read, or better study.
Not only it covers how real railroads operate it also gives you insight about the pitfalls of model railroads.
The first edition of that book is published 50 years ago and is still considered the bible of model railroading. Some of the trackplans might be outdated, the trackplan database of our host is making up for it.
One warning, often newbies choose the most complicated layouts. On the web you could study the sites by Byron Henderson and Lance Mindheim.
Wish you a great 2012
Smile
Paul
Kalmbach, our host of this forum, publishes a number of “How to” - books, including a few very good beginner´s books, introducing you to the hobby. Look into the shop section in the upper bar of this page.
As others have stated, do a lot of reading before you go on a shopping spree. It is rather tempting to buy a few of those wonderful models which are marketed, but it is better to develop a good idea of what you want before spending those precious $$$ on something that won´t fit into your own plans.
A word of caution. Don´t think too big - better to start small, just to develop a feel for your skills, before attacking something big and lose interest.
HO scale certainly offers the best variety and choices, but don´t dismiss N scale. It´s been developing quite nicely over recent years and you can put a lot more railroad feeling in a given space - I don´t mean track, but also scenery. Like to watch a long train snaking through breathtaking scenery? N scale is your choice!
Have fun!
Hi
[#welcome] to the forums!!!
It’s always nice when a newbie comes in…we can shape and mold you to our will!! {not really}
I second, third, and fourth the recommendations to READ READ READ first about layout platform construction, operations, wiring, etc…BEFORE YOU EVEN PURCHASE A STICK OF TRAIN STUFF.
A few things you need to decide:
Do you want to model a prototype? Or freelance it? {that means make up your own RR}
Do you want continuous running in loops, or point-to-point operations?
Do you wnat city or mountains? what area of rthe country do you wnat to model?
DO you wnat DC control which controls locos via current to the rails, or do you wnat DCC, which controls each individual loco via computerized signals sent only to each loco? DCC wiring is less complicated than DC…Much easier than DC.
I would suggest you start with a 4x8 layout in HO to get your feet wet if you want continuous running. You can always build bigger later. A 4x8 {if you have room for it] can easily be “torn down” and thrown away or sold easily. An around-the-room-walls is another option, but would mean a massive tear out when you wnat to up grade.A 2x8 ro 2x16 is good for point-to-point.
Define your list of “givens and Druthers”. Givens are things you can not change, Druthers are things you would like to have. Go to the right side margin, scroll down to the “search our community” box and enter in “given and Druthers”…you will have abunch of threads pop up you can click on that you can read aobut “givens and druthers” to see what we mean. If you give us a list of G&D’s, we can better help you if you have troubles!!
Again, looking ONLINE or At ta LHS {Local Hobby Shop} will make you drool…but READ READ READ first!!!
Be sure to keep us psoted!
Again, [#welcome]
[8-|]
hi,
A 8x4 as a starter layout seems nice, though it will result in using tight radii like 18". This radius is not doable for longer cars or engines. Why not go for a 9x5? Where radii of about 22"or 24"are possible.
Every layout can be torn down with ease, has noting to do with being a 8x4. Sell it? When you are very lucky indeed.
When a 8x2 is able to have two terminal stations as Galaxy suggest I’ll eat my hat; though a nice switching layout is quite possible.
One of the other pitfalls of model railroading, the radius is #1, are reach-in problems. Anything wider then 30" is out of reach, if you like your layout high at armpit level like I do, anything above 18" is out of reach. This is the second problem with a 8x4 or a 9x5. You will need access at 3 sides at least. The needed room space will the huge: 11 x 9.
The above are remarks if you decide to go for HO. A Hollow Core Door, cheap and easy with a 80" x 32" size, would be a great start in N-scale. Not wide enough to encounter reach-in problems, just wide enough to accommodate most cars and engines. Two of them take the same area as one 8x4.
DCC with sound is the state of the art nowadays, only possible in HO. As long as one engine is involved you don’t need DCC, the moment you will be adding more engines you will need lots of wiring and switches when staying with DC systems. Where do you prefer to spend your money? On more expensive engines or on more extensive wiring.
Paul
Hi,
Welcome to the hobby - and the Forum.
While you are “new”, I am “old”… You have decided upon HO scale, which is a pretty good decision for a newcomer - in my opinion of course. The first thing I suggest you do is pickup a copy of Kalmbach’s “HO Primer”. It will answer a lot of questions, and get you thinking about what you may want to do layout wise and otherwise. I bought mine in the mid 1970s, and still refer to it every once in awhile.
I also suggest that you NOT go out and spend money until you figure out what you are trying to accomplish. I say this because many of us - when starting out - bought this or that because it was colorful or cheap or what have you. And then we realized later on that “cheap” meant poor quality, and that pretty new diesel enging doesn’t fit into our 1950s time period on the layout.
Hey, ENJOY !!!
Wow! I can’t believe the number of responses! Thank you everyone. If there is one thing that stands out, it is DON’T SPEND $$$!! I wasn’t planning on it right away. I wanted to do my due diligence before purchasing anything (besides books). There are 3 local train shops around that I plan on viviting and talking with the employees there as well.
I have a space available in my garage that measures 5x10. This should be the perfect space for a layout. I also just moved into this house in April. All of the doors are hollow core doors that are painted a horrid color and no longer close the right way because of the new carpets that I had put in. This may free those up for use in the layout.
As for what I was thinking as far as a “theme”. Well, I grew up in Buffalo, NY which has a pretty significant railroad history (I think). I currently live in Niagara Falls, NY. I would love to model something after one of those two places, most likely during the 1950s. Why? I’d like to stay local, and I love all of the cars and stuff from that era.
I will definitely keep updates as to where I am at because of the positive response from the forum. Thanks again!
When you are ready to spring for a train or train set. I would recommend the Atlas Trainman train set if do you go HO. You can find them on line for about $100, it has a engine, 4 cars, track to make small loop, and a DC power pack. The great thing about this starter set is that it is all good quality, the engine can be upgraded to DCC, the track (code 83) can be used with more track you buy down the road, the DC power pack can still be used even if you go DCC down the road as a way to power your turnouts and lighting for buildings and such. Every bit of my first Trainman set that my wife got me for Christmas 2 years ago is still in use.
You read like a smart man with an ability for detail. I know I’ll probably get trashed out by everyone for suggesting this, but I’m going to throw something out there just for the heck of it. Why not?
I would like to see you set your sights on modelling Niagara Falls (obviously you’d need some selective compression!). I know it’s crazy, and would qualify as advanced modelling to say the least, but, again, why not?
I’ve never seen anyone attempt this and I’d be really interested to see if someone who lives there could pull it off.
Welcome to our little MRR family here.
Hello sir
Welcome to the family of Train nuts. Excuse the slobering pennsy fans and the freelanced railroad emporers. there nice once you get to Know them. [;)]
Since you mentioned you didn’t understand half of the stuff in MR try this link. http://mrr.trains.com/How%20To/Articles/ABCs%20of%20Model%20Railroading/2010/09/Model%20Railroading%20101.aspx It should explain most of the terms, the rest you will pick up as you go along.
Also the Advice about not spending your money on everything you see in the hobby shop is a good Idea. also get a good idea about different eras, so you don’t have 30 foot stock cars behind SD90’s.
Good luck and Have fun
Gabe
LION gives different advice. LIONS always do things differently.
LION says, make a table, put some track on it and run some trains. Do this while you read (or don’t read) the books–what do I care, LIONS do not read anyway. See what you do right and what you do wrong. When you have a problem with something ASK us. You have to separate the possible from the impossible as far as your own modeling skills and tastes are. Do not be afraid to pull things up and try again. You want to build the skill of laying tracks and wiring railroads before you go after the layout of your dreams.
The LION does not bother with plans. Him can spend all year with a plan and then he lays the tracks wherever he wants or can make them fit.
Eventually you will have a theme for your railroad, a period of time that it represents, and the work that it does to earn its money.
The LION’S first layout after moving to North Dakota was the “Eastern Southwest North Dakota Central” "Serving the middle of nowhere. But LIONS like passenger trains. (Passengers are tasty)
Him’s second layout was the Eregion Railroad, set in Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
Now the LION has built his MASTERPIECE: “The Route of the Broadway LION”, a model of the New York City Subway! 
(Lots of tasty passengers)!
Do not be afraid to start over and over again until you get what you want.Even the very best modelers do this, and the LION is NOT one o f those!
ROAR
5x10 sounds ok, but is really tough. Many people use a 4x8 table, which will leave you 6" on either side of the table. LION would build the table around the outside of this space, perhaps a 12" wide x 10’ long yard on one side of the room, a 24" wide x 5’ long table at the end of the room and perhaps another leg say 16" wide by about 3’ long that blooms into a 3’x4’ blob big enough for a loop to send the train back to the yard.
Three feed is a bit tight for a blob it limits you to an 18" radius loop and leaves you with only a 1’ wide isle between to worm your way into the room. You will need to build the table high enough so that you can put your work bench under the table.
You need to be able to reach and work on everything on your table.
People say to use ballast. LION says skip the ballast! You will want to be able to pull things up and try again and you do not want to have to keep buying new track for this. Later on, you can put it in once you are perfectly happy with what you have built.
ROAR
I would also that you study some history and decide on an era. You might want to model the late 1800s , steam era , the transition era 40s to 60s or the modern era where diesals rule. Do you want to be proto typical or free lance. Consider your budget. I have seen budgets from $100 to $450 per sqaure foot. Do you want a permanent display or portable for club use ? Of course I agree with every one in read , research, before spending a bunch of money.