does anyone have the layout?
guesses about the cost to build it if i buy the train stuff and scratch build everything else
thanks all
It´s a neat little layout, but somewhat limited in operations. If I remember correctly, it was built as a demonstrator by the Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club some years ago. Benchwork and track should not exceed about $ 100, but the scenery requires not only quite a bit of skill, but also some $ in materials. Total cost should stay in a reasonable area, as you plan to scratchbuild quite a lot.
This is similar to but slightly bigger than a layout done in MR a few years ago at a cost of $500. I would figure that now and with the added 18" it would be between $500 and $1000. That’s a minimum with careful buying. Otherwise, you could easily exceed $1000 with the train and a DCC system.
Good luck
Paul
There are a significant number of variables involved regarding realistically answering your question. I have to say that I am much less optimistic about the final costs than the two preceding posters if you are looking to get any true appraisal of the dollar figure for this project.
Not honestly wishing to throw cold water on your obvious plans of a minimal expenses approach to building this layout, let me point out the following. About eight, or ten, years ago there was an article in MR about building a 4x8 layout for $500. The finished layout was an absolute joke that no model railroader would take seriously. It had the appearance of a toy train layout from the 1950’s. Even as crude as that layout was, costs today would be two or three times greater to build essentially the same thing.
Correctly built benchwork (the key to any layout intended to work properly), even for simply a 4x8 layout, will definitely cost you at least $100 at today’s prices. The days of laying a sheet of thin plywood with a bit of thin bracing atop two sawhorses to make a flat, tabletop-type layout, are long past. The trackwork, wiring, etc., at current prices will likely rival the benchwork figure, depending on whether you purchase quality track and turnouts, or really cheap, potentially troublesome, stuff.
Unless you plan on purchasing a simple, entry-level, DC-powered, train set from Atlas, Athearn, Bachmann, or some such, plan on at least a couple of hundred dollars if buying the items piece by piece. DCC and sound would skyrocket that figure. Incidentally, I don’t recommend using the included track from any train set in building a layout. Replacing the cheap power pack that comes with the set is also a good idea. Roadbed will be an additional cost. Scenicking materials are becoming increasingly expensive as well and can quickly mount up to an unexpectedly high figure.
Now you suggest in your post that you intend to scratchbuild everything else. I would ha
thanks everyone.
i retired, needing a hobby, went to the oceano ca model railroad show… and you well know what happened!
CNJ831 if you could steer me to the correct brands for the cars and track etc that would be a big help.
using the dcc things of course- i just read a couple of books!
i guess nobody has the track layout. pity… enthusiasm is weak at the beginning!
thanks
Well, Anon, since you seem to be starting out cold, there are a number of decisions you need to make for yourself before much in the way of any serious recommendations can be offered.
In my opinion, before jumping into building a layout it would benefit you to purchase a selection of good hobby guide books. You say you’ve already read a couple of books. If you haven’t read it already, I would certainly recommend Kalmbach’s “Basic Model Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby”, publication #12197, as a good read. There are also many other publications from Kalmbach that address various specific aspects of the hobby to help you along.
In choosing your trains, a primary consideration is going to be just what real railroad you might favor modeling. New hobbyists often choose one that is seen in their local region and they can identify with. Some of us model our layouts after real railroads, while others create their own fictional railroads. Locomotives come is a wide variety of real road names, so while you are deciding, look around at what the various manufacturers have to offer. Something might strike your fancy.
Another early decision has to be whether your interest leans toward steam, or diesel. Appreciate that quality HO Steam locomotives are much more expensive than are similar diesels. Now Maggie’s Cove is really designed and built as a small steam era railroad. However, earlier diesels would probably fit just as well into the ope
One needs to approach this slowly and a bit at a time. I supposed it’s convenient to look at the article and see that ht eentire thing from ground up cost $500, but I think that misses more of the finer points of the hobby. While the money issue is there for pretty much any of us (unless we have a few billionaires lurking here), the total really isn’t that important. The idea is NOT to take some total, and go out and buy EVERYTHING in one big purchase and then start putting together a layout. My current total outlay in trains and layout is well north of $1000, but I didn’t go out and just dump a huge wad of cash - that’s not possible unless I didn;t want to eat or pay rent for a month - I purchased this stuff gradually over many years. If I could figure out the hours of enjoyment I’ve had, it would come out to a very low cost per hour of fun - that’s the real key. This is not and never has been an inexpensive hobby, but neither do you have to go spend megabucks to get started. After a few years if you shoudl bother to add up all you’ve spent it may be staggering, but by skipping the upsize on the lunch every day you can save enough to make a decent amount of purchases per month without breakignt he bank and build up to a nice layout with plenty of rolling stock, DCC, and signals. All from a humble start with a basic loop with a siding or two, a loco, and half a dozen cars.
–Randy
thanks all