Hi guys, its been over 15 years since I operated my Lionel model trains, and now, finally, my father has decided to give them to me. That said, he set everything up back in the day, so although I am a big enthusiast, I am a newbie as well. Any advice you can give a starter like me would be greatly appreciated.
I would suggest that you go to the library and check out a few books on model railroading. Also, make a visit to the local hobby shop, and post any questions you may have here. Don’t get discouraged, keep at it even when things go wrong, and they will get better. You came to the right place for advice. There is more collective knowledge here than you’d find in a year’s search anywhere else on the web. And best of all, it’s free for the asking! There are always people willing to answer questions. Good luck! [8D][tup]
Try, also, the Classic Toy Trains Forum (jump to it below where it says ‘Forum Jump’. Those guys are mostly about three-rail stuff, and they would undoubtedly help. Later on, though, I’m sure many will add advice here because so many got started in O scale.
Good luck, and welcome to our neighborhood. [#welcome]
MOST LIONEL’S (O-27) were designed to run on 5X10 surfaces (ping pong tables).
Best to start there. Buy or build one.
O27 can run as tight as 2 loops on a 4 x 8 have done it most of my railroading is done with O/O27 trains on O gauge track . If I can help send me an email but make sure you put Lionel help in subj or I might delete it. Where are you located (ie FL , VA. ect ect. ) Because we may even be able to tell you where a local train club is and when it meets you can get a lot of help there too.
Went over to classic toy trains forum and came up with a page from it that will probally answer about 75% of your questions.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33391
Already have found the club in Cola, SC. Also, we ran it on a ping pong table, I am gonna bring the width down to 4’ but go with a lenght of 12’. Kind of thinking of doing part of the city since we are a huge train town even in today’s more modern world.
Welcome to the forum, kdawg…just remember that it is FUN to run trains, even when the wife won’t let you down in the basement for three days, or the honey-do list is two pages long, or the kids have to be taken to grandma’s for the weekend,etc. etc, etc.