I am looking to do a train layout in a room approx. 16’ x 30’ preferrably a horseshoe shape. I have 3 grandson’s and 2 sons that would like to do a layout with the old woodfired steam engine train in HO.
We were thinking of having some of the following items in and around the layout- Indian village with Tee-Pees and plenty of Indian activities , old town (like Dodge City) with train depot- a ranch something like the Ponderosa - Mountains maybe depicting a gold mining area - Plains area depicting conestoga wagon train.
You probably get the picture . The train I am looking to put together 2 or 3 flat cars, 2 or 3 passenger cars and a caboose and of course the engine and tender.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’ve looked at most of the usual manufactures like Kato,Marklin,Bachmann,Atlas.
Eventually I would like to run multiple trains, is DCC a must, and if so which is the best way to go?
Well MDC/Roundhouse (now owned by Athearn) has a good selection of “old time” freight and passenger cars, and locomotives. IHC makes some 4-4-0’s that should fit your era too. If you like the “Bonanza” feel, you might want to look for things lettered for the Virginia and Truckee - MDC makes some nice V&T passenger cars for example. That was the RR that served the area where Bonanza was set - and the RR used it’s 19th c. equipment well into the 20th century!!
As far as DCC…no you don’t need DCC to run two trains at once, it just makes running two trains (and wiring your layout to run two or more trains) a LOT easier. [:D]
If you are going to run old time steam, Bachman & Roundhouse have DCC ready steam engines dated about 1900. I woyld suggest joining this Yahoo group. It is free. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EarlyRail/
Anything ealier you will have to modify the engine to run DCC. I have done DCC with small old time 4-4-0s that are tender drive (motor in the tender with drive shaft into the engine but you need soldering skills. HO can be trouble unless you have good track. Frustrating for small people. Some of the cheaper old time steam engines cam be troublesome.
As a suggestion, do a search for on30. There is some nice old time stuff and it runs on HO track. The stuff is a little larger and easier to handle especially with small hands. Yahoo also has a on30 group
I’m a rookie to this hobby as well and I’m also modeling the old west. I have a Rivarossi 4-4-0 tender drive and Virginia Truckee passenger cars. Marty
As mentioned above, take a long hard look at On30. Given your space, and desires, I think that you will be happier with it than HO. On30 runs on HO track.
Airfix makes/made a “Fort Apache” set #06703. It included 1 “F Troop” style fort, 18 horses & 42 assorted figures. It even includes an American flag, but being made in England it has 50 stars!! Revell Germany also makes a number of cowboy/soldier/and indian figures. Both of these are plastic & need to be painted. The Revell is /72 scale & the Airfix is 1/76, but will pass as long as they’re not placed next to 1/87 HO figs or trains. Try the military models section of a large hobby shop for these. IHC engines run pretty well, but the Bachmann - well they’re Bachmann!! Good luck![:D]