I just got started! I bought my train at a flea mall and i need to know where to get parts like(traction tires, and what type of track does every one recommend). I would be greatful for any advice from those who know more than me. Thanks. Brandon
Brandon, Are You close to a hobby shop? Most hobby shops that offer model trains can either repair or find the parts You need. Or order them if they are not in stock.Also the question You have about track really depends on the type of railroad You plan on,plus how much You plan to spend on it.The cheapest way to go would be something like atlas snap track.Again a hobby shop owner could point You too the type of track to use.I hope this helps
AHM has been out of business for many years. Today the company is known as IHC.
In its day, AHM sold trains imported from Europe that were made primarily by Rivarossi or Pocher. Both of these companies went bankrupt and are now owned by Hornby of England, and manufacturing has been moved to China. Today’s IHC products are made by Mehano in Slovenia.
Parts for the old AHM are most likely not going to be available because they are too old to be worth the time, effort, and cost of repair. You’re better off investing in newer products from companies that are still in business.
I have a lot of the old AHM rolling stock with truck-mounted horn hook couplers and plastic wheels, which I don’t consider worth the time and effort of trying to upgrade. I also have one of those AHM Spirit of '76 locomotives that sits in a junkyard scene on the club layout because it doesn’t run well enough to fool with.
Im afraid you wont have any fun with that antiquated set. It will run poorly and unreliably.
Good luck.
David B
I concur with Dave.
You will want to start off by reading any number of postings geared with beginners in mind.
As for track, HO is HO. N is N etc. Stay away from brass track, stick with Nickel Silver. And buy a brite boy pad to clean it with.
Get a Tech 4 power pack. It is a little pricey but much better (And safer) than those tiny trainset boxes. Eventually you will learn enough to play with the DCC.
Dump the horn and hook. You cannot operate with them. There will be some who hue and cry and tell me it aint so and proceed to switch a town with them. Fine. But for me Kadee couplers are KING and long live Kadee.
Start looking to metal wheels for your rolling stock. You will enjoy them more, track stays cleaner longer and they will be a little more money than the plastic ones.
AHM was the company to remember and they did produce some good items. But that is going back 40 years. To 1960.
It’s time to start in the 2007.
I wont address the engine. I had one a little teakettle I think it was a 0-4-0 and I ended up sending it to the scrap box.
I probably will not buy another 0-4-0 until Proto makes one with QSI and Sound.
Sir, one more item. Dont let my posting rain on your parade… You are dealing with a train that is simply just too obselete to really give you the joy that you may be looking for. Sure it will run around the loop bumping over the joints and maybe derail a few times. But when your first blush of love wears off and you start to want more… it’s time to move on up.
For me that happened when my first switch (With a plastic frog) stalled a engine at 10 mph. I wasnt satisfied with it and that was a long time ago.
What does the engine in your set look like?
Is it close to this: http://tycotrain.tripod.com/ahmhoscaletrainscollectorsresource/id13.html
or this?: http://tycotrain.tripod.com/ahmhoscaletrainscollectorsresource/id12.html
If it’s the first one, it may not be a good reliable runner, like others have said so far. If it’s the second one, you shouldn’t have to worry.[:D]
The best track to use is definately nickel-silver rail, since any tarnish that might build up is conductive, while steel and brass track get a tarnish that won’t conduct electricity.
If you need new traction tires, Calumet makes excellent tires with enough grip to make a little 1oz 2-wheel-drive diesel strong enough to pull a wall down! They may seem a little expensive, but when you need new tires, they’re worth it.[:D] If you’re looking for them in your local hobby shop, they may also have the name “Stewart Products” on them, since they were formerly made by Stewart.
Also like others have said, the best couplers you can get are made by Kadee. Kadee makes a “talgo” style coupler box so their couplers will fit on AHM products. The standard “horn-hook” type couplers, which you probably have right now, do work fine for starters, but they don’t couple to Kadees (not naturally, anyway).
http://24.38.215.215/tyco/forum/default.asp
Here’s a link to a place where they run a lot of older locos like that. I’m sure they can answer any questions you have.