New Too This!!! Please Help!

Garden Railroading
1

Hello everyone i am new too garden railroading and i was wondering whats the best stuff i want too make it outdoor and i want silver track. also i want too run diesel locomotives. just wondering whats the best stuff lol thnx

2

Keith,

Check out the discussions on the “general discussions” forum, specifically the one concerning track.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=46917

That’ll get you started. Also check out the Track and Trestles forum at MyLargeScale.com
http://www.mylargescale.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=13

Between this GR site and MyLargeScale.com, there’s nary a question you won’t be able to find an answer for just by poking around a little bit.

Later,

K

3

Kieth:

Like “K” said “read”! There is more information available on the two sites he listed than any one person can absorb in a year. I spent my first year doing nothing but reading before I did any posting.

4

Rules for starting out;

  1. Don’t panic

  2. Don’t worry about what is best, just learn what not to do.

  3. Read a lot.

  4. Buy something you like and can afford and put it outside. The rest kind of takes care of itself as you go along.

  5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as you go along. One hint though, the more specific you can ask the question, the better will be the answers you get. Also, both of the forums mentioned have search functions. Many of the question you will have will have been asked and answered in the past.

There are alot of starter sets out there that can get you started. First “what not to do”; while I own and really like some of the Bachmann stuff, the track in their starter kits won’t work outside. If you pick a Bachmann set, plan on buying some track such as Aristo or LGB that is suitable for outside. If you want silver looking track, Aristo makes a stainless steel track. But be prepared to spend more than on brass track.

5

Just signed on, hope by now you’ve gotten started with you railroad. I just relocated from Pa to Sout Carolina so had to dismantle mine. Just get started. I put it off for one reason or another for far to long, but really enjoyed building and learning during the process. Good luck. jsimpson

6

Short answer on the track, Aristo stainless steel.

You need to decide on track power, battery power, remote control, DCC, Train Engineer, etc.

Read, read, read.

I have some stuff on my web site that might help, basically the analysis of how I made these decisions, also layout design.

Regards, Greg
www.elmassian.com

7

Get a starter set and put it out side so you can envision how it looks!
This will help in desighn!
Try to get to Charles Ro’s in Malden Mas. long walk from Leominster.
They have a great selection and sue will answer any Questions!
Fri and Sat there diplay is running!
Good luck and tell us how you make out!