this is the year to get a start on the garden railroad.Can someone give me an idea what to look for as a starter set! I really want to start small and work into it.
thanks Jeff
I bought the Bachmann Denver and Rio Grande “Gold Rush Set.” It comes with a Locomotive, tender (sound, smoke and lights), two passenger coaches (a combine and and observation, with lighting), an oval of track and power pack.
The only concerns I have are as follows…
- The track provided by Bachmann is not of the outdoor varitey.
- The set comes with no frieght cars.
- The power pack could be better.
To get a better variety of train cars I would recomend Bachmann’s “Tweetsie Railroad” set…
It has a few feight cars and a coal tender.
I would like to see Trainworld, St. Aubin’s Station or any of the other retailers that have wholesale connections make startersets of their own (maybe customized to the individual order). For example, I would recommend that one of these places offer the following custom set which would have better served my needs…
1:20.3 Baldwin Industrial 2-6-0 Mogul and Tender (of any of the availble roadnames or undecorated)
Bachmann Box car and a flat car (again of any of the availble roadnames or undecorated)
Bachamann Jackson-Sharp Combine(roadnames to match the locomotive)
Aristocraft- Circle of track (12 curved) and (12 straight), (optional switch set)
An affordable powerpack suited for limited use
This would provide me with a significant set that I could use for my outdoor operations, with sturdy track and powerpack. Anything else I could save for for expanson of the line.
What do you think?
Hi saboja
More info please outline, nationality, seriouse or something more light harted.
The reason I asked is because if I was starting over I would probably start with one of the kids sets made by Lehmann toy train they are in terms of large scale inexpencive
reliable compatable with LGB they are made by the same company they have play value if you choose the set carefully as the line grows it can be relegated to the children.
so they can share the railway too I particularly liked the new disney set in that regard.
other than that it is a question of do you want European or US outline trains. but regardles reliabilaty and quality are what to look for the best you can get for the money you have.
I would sugest seeing your local dealer talking too him.and finding out what is in your area as far as garden railways go and talk to locals .
Hit this forum with questions and remember the only dumb question is the one you did not ask when you should have
regards John
I started with one of the LGB passenger starter sets, featuring a Stainz Loco and two carriages and I am really glad that i did I have added a few more carriages plus a postal van. Every piece of rolling stock is adifferent colour and I call it my little fun train, it is still just great and I have much bigger and better trains and ideas these days but I still love to run it.
A few decisions you have to make and I do not know how you are going to even do that.
a) Do I want to go digital or not?
b) Do I want to go to passenger trains or goods (freight) trains.
c) Do I want to go with LGB or not, they are more expensive and digital is more expensive again, but you only get what you pay for. (my opinion anyway)
I went for LGB digital passenger trains and have continued down this track and i’m sure i have done what is best for me, but what is good for me may not be good for you !
Regards
Ian; Kawana Etc.
I don’t know if I’ve taken the right approach or not, but, I’ve decided not to buy a starter set for my first garden railroad. I bought track and started building. I will buy trains later. I think this is a more expensive way to go, but I want specific equipment and none of the starter sets had anything to offer that I would use long term. I think I may be using the same approach to the garden railroad I’ve used for years on my HO layout. I won’t have trains running until late summer probably, but I’m enjoying the construction process. Good luck on your search,
Jim
I would only suggest that you buy a locomotive with which to test the electrical viability of your layout’s track sections. [:)]
i start with a Bachmann set and get better track i like all their trains and i have them in ho, n, and g jmozz
My first journey into our hobby was, like Ian, via the LGB Stainz + 2 coaches starter set. It has everything in there to get you outside and it doesn’t really matter whether it’s the euro or american route you go down. I model american and I still have the loco, much bashed around, with a scratchbuilt tender that’s much to big for it. One coach sits on top of an LGB mallet drive unit, don’t really know why i did that and the other coach went…well I can’t remember. I still have all the bits that got chopped out, seats, chassis etc and they will get used one day. The beauty of that starter set is the quality of build and it’s pretty cheap.
As always, have fun.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]
Jeff
Lil Critter set, you get track for out side, one car and caboose. also a power supply IT’S
made by ARISTOCRAFT, AND IF YOU GET THE GARDEN RAIL MAGZINE THEIR DEALERS WHO SELL THEM. BEN---- OF -----PENNA.[:D] [2c]
I bought about $700.00 worht of aristocraft track and a Bachman Aniversary 2-6-0 to test track and have started to build my first garden layout.
Karl
I would also say decide now what type of trains you want to run, IOW, narrow guage or standard guage. Decide now before you get too deep into it. It makes planning for future purchases much easier when you have a plan of action. I would also suggest even if you get a starter set plan on getting wider radius curves or else you will be severly hampered by what you can run on your layout. Almost everything new coming out with the exception of LGB required 6 foot diameter (3 foot radius) or larger curves or they bind up, even 8 foot diameter is getting to considered too tight.
Am I the only one who thinks this is a really stupid idea on the parts of manufacturers? Hmm, i smell a new topic to post…
Good luck.
Saboja
This is my 2 cents, I have nothing to do nor am I employed with the company.
ARISTO-CRAFT TRAINS
LIL’ CRITTER FREIGHT STARTER SET
Includes: Lil’ Critter Diesel Switcher Locomotive, 20 ft. Gondola, Bobber Caboose, 12 pieces of curve track, and Track Power Connection Wire.
With a remote! Who wants to be stuck by the power pack?
http://www.aristocraft.com/
Sabajo;
Be careful of the idea of putting down rails with nothing to run on them; this is generally a no- no from the experts. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. You do the work and then you do not have the fun, many people gtt turned off at this point and never go on with this great pasttime, so I would suggest you really look at what Kim and i have done, as we did it independantly and have both got great results
ie Dont try and re invent the wheel.
rgs
Ian kawana
I do want to get trains running in the garden soon, but if I get the itch to see a train run, I am operating my HO Pennsylvania Northern. I’m looking at Locomotives right now. How does the Aristo-Craft 2-8-2 run?
Thanks to everyone.!I have been out looking and still havent made a firm desision yet, but i AM going to get some good outdoor track and lay it out to see how much room im going to use.
i will keep you posted on the progress
Jeff
saboja
How about this?
Order a Hartland (HLW) MACK engine, its only about $35.00 from St Aubin and is THE single best starter engine out there.
Its inexepensive, looks good, and runs well. You can use it to test track, run around and if you pick up a couple of the Hartland min-series ($8 each) ore-car or flat car kits… Instant Train!