Hi, I am just starting out in US Railroading and I am as green as grass about pratices of running a layout.
Things like wagon types are a complete mystery, but I am willing to learn.
Can anyone offer advice for a complete novice, oh, and being a foreigner.
Looking forward to a very steep learning curve
Hi, and welcome to the forum - and US railroading.
Sounds like you are from Europe (using the term wagons), and if you are familiar with local railroading, then you really don’t have far to go.
But first, are you looking to learn about model railroads, or the real thing. If model railroading, you are at the right place. If “real railroading”, then I suggest you post your note under the “Trains” portion of this forum.
Depending on how “new” of a newbie you are, I would highly recommend you pick up some of the Kalmbach model railroading books. The have an HO primer, which you can surely find on Ebay or the like.
Really, you should do some reading to get a good background, which will allow you to ask more specific questions here - which will get you plenty of answers and help.
Hi there and welcome [#welcome]!
As has already been mentioned, if it’s model railroading that you are interested in then you have come to the right place. Folks around here are full of knowledge and experience and I would say pretty much any question that you have regarding model railroading can find an answer from somebody who frequents this site.
A few questions that might help you garner a few pointers in the right direction…Do you have a favorite era in North American railroading history? A favorite railroad or region of North America? What scale were you thinking? Answers to these questions will open up the flood gates for information or specific places to find information for yourself.
Again, welcome and happy modeling!
Don.
Europeans, and from what I have seen, Asians like their model trains to run in a big oval two tracks, four tracks, whatever, American modelers prefer a big bowl of spaghetti with tracks going every which way.
This of course makes no difference in the types of equipment being run. For equipment, you first must decide on what era you want to model, most seem to like the 50s and 60s where there is a chance of mixing diesels with steam. Others (young whippersnappers is what they are) want to run nothing but modern diesels them having never seen a big steamy engine in action. Then you would need to decide on a region of the country, woods of the north east, plains, deserts, mountains of the west, sea ports, or cities.
LION models subway trains in New York City on 14 scale miles of spaghetti inspired tracks, which if you straighten it all out, is simply one big loop.
LION will NOT tell you to do research, that is for kids in high school. (Well ok, do it if you must) But you do want to get intimately involved with your passion, and then simply build off of that.
It is also possible to build a railroad on complete fantasy, so that you do not have to weld yourself to a particular time and place, and type of equipment. LION previously built a layout themed on Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
Do not forget to add LIONS to your layout. Every layout should have a LION on it.
This one is named ASLAN and comes with a tip of the hat to C.S. Lewis.
ROAR
North American railroads are primarily freight railroads. they were built to haul freight, the infrastructure was to support freight, the operating rules support freight, organization supports freight, the scheduling supports freight. In the grander scheme of things, passenger service was (outside of a few areas) secondary to the purpose of NA railroads.
If you are just learning, the best way is to ask questions. Be prepared for some conflicting answers because in a continent this big, lots of different things were done and things changed dramatically over the years.
rmweb.co.uk has a forum for US and Canadian modelers also.
Hi and [#welcome]
There are a variety of things to consider.
You could just buy any onld US train set and set up any old oval of track and call it a day, but I gather you are looking for more than that.
There are ultimately some things to consider:
1} do you want: Prototypical {copying real life}; Protlance {copying real life with some “fantasy” added}; Freelance {total fantasy} RRing? {by fantasy meaning made up name, locals etc, NOt " faries and Peter pan" type, lol}
2} Do you want to prototypical a particular US RR livery {name}? It WILL make it easier for you to buy ready-made locos and rr cars{you called them wagons} if you choose a large popular US RR
3} should a put this as #2, but do you want Steam; diesel; or both?
4} what era {time frame} do you want? Steam is older; steam/diesels {most popular} transition era is the 40/50s; or Modern diesels? {modern then has many eras in it, too.
5} what space do you have for your RR? Space may dictate what you want…for instance small and medium steamers can run on tight curves {18-22"}, Modern large long diesels require big broad curves {24" R{adius} ++ up to about a 30" R or more. also, olde tyme pasenger cars {SHorties or less than 60footers} can run on tight curves, as will smaller freight cars {40-50 footers}. Larger passnger cars the heavier weight longer ones up to 85 footers will need those BIG broad curves to.
6} what type of layout do you want? an around-the-walls? a modular {“module” sets up and folds down and moves easily- also easy to change out modules}}? a standard 4x8 foot? a 5x 10 foot? You will need access hatches in anything bigger than a 4x8, as arm reach is a consideration.
7} do you want standard DC operatiosn, or the new modern DCC operation? DC operatest the track current to control the locos. Requires more wiring. DCC {digital command control} controls the LOCOMOTIVE ONLY on any track for any direction and uses an
Where is the OP ???
This was his first post, so he is being moderated.
Or, he has already posted 10,000 times, but due to a one year old software glitch, his post count is still holding at 1.
Rich
He’s probably trying to find his way around,or being moderated,seeing as how it’s his first post…
Cheers, [D]
Frank
Or his 10,000th, suffering from a software glitch on the Post Count feature.
Rich,
Ain’t that the truth,I read your reply,right after mine…[8D]
Cheers, [D]
Frank
Frank, I read your reply right after mine, but only after you had read my reply right after yours, which was right after mine, at least that is how I read it. [(-D]
Rich
Soooo, where is the OP?
never said what scale he was either.
Welcome to model railroading. I happen to have a fairly large HO scale around the room 24’x24’ model fantasy railroad, but this is after many years at the hobby. Below is a photo and diagram of an N scale Marklin model layout that may give you some ideas. Personally, I like to use Code 83 flex rail. This allows one to make curves of any radius, unlike fixed rail sets that restrict the form of the layout. I model the transition era of the 1950s, with steam and early diesel. Mountains allow for hiding parts of the layout, and allow tunnels. 
Bob Hahn