I know this is going to be somewhat of a weird question but what is the best way to get started if you know that you want? Want a HO setup and already have a idea for a layout. Originally figured i’d buy everything seperately as far as the engine’s, rolling stock, track, and transformers, ect. After pricing it all and also looked at what it’d cost to buy a starter set the results were there were more then a little difference in price and i get the transformer and enough track to start plus a full train for a set. The problem with the sets for me is i want a steam engine and most of the sets aren’t steam and i live on the east coast and almost every set has Santa Fe or Union Pacific trains. I want a New York Central train but the only ones made in set are the high end $400+ sets and that much all at once that’s not a option. Would be happy at this point if i could find a steam set with Penn even though it’s not what i really want but i could make it work. I know most on here prob started when they were younger with a basic set and expanded as they got older so they already had the essentials like track and power units so they didn’t run into problems like this but for the ones that didn’t start that way what’s the best course of action on starting. I plan on adding and upgrading as i go but while keeping the older stuff in use on the layout. Really don’t want to get a train that’s only getting used because it came with the set and won’t be used again after i get what i want and start building the layout also would rather put the money into the table and layout rather then getting the main essentials for the set all together and then have to buy and complete the train afterwards. All i can usually find are the newer sets in stores and online anyone know if Atlas or Bachman has older sets (within the last 5-10 years) that has NYC or even Penn steams?
Have you tried popular auction sites on line? You can often do very well there, and the selection is usually pretty good…if you really do know what you are looking for.
Also, M. B. Klein’s is really good (www.modeltrainstuff.com) and www.trainworld.com and even take a look at the Refurbished Store section at Broadway Limited Imports. There should be several engines at these places that won’t set you back $300, and if you are interested in DCC and sound, you can still get them under that price, often for much less.
-Crandell
Fox,
Crandell has given you two terrific links to vendors who have some great deals on locomotives. I’ve found that M.B. Klein is a bit easier to work with because they have a real-time inventory that you can look at. You can find some good deals at Trainworld but it’s a little more work as they don’t list the specific road names on their site and you have to call to find that out.
If you are comfortable with eBay, you can sometimes find some real steals there. I found a non-sound, DC, NYC Proto 2000 0-8-0 switcher a couple of years ago for $90. (MSRP: $250) If you do search on eBay, make sure you do a search for both “NYC” and “New York Central”. You can get completely different lists depending which term you do the search on.
One more to add to the list would be Factory Direct Trains. They are a sister company to Broadway Limited and recently ran some very good deals. Because of that, however, their inventory is substantially down now. It’s always worth keeping an eye out for deals there.
For New York Central steam: Broadway Limited (BLI), Proto 2000, and Bachmann will be the companies that you want to look at. (In that order.) Athearn has their 2-8-2 Light Mike in the Genesis series that would be a good first locomotive for you. It’s not a real strong puller but it is smooth at low speed. IHC are very good runners but their detailing is more generic from road to road. The discontinued Trix 2-8-2 Mikes are real beauties but they’re going for a premium price these days.
Anyhow, Fox, hope that helps. Let us know if we can answer anymore questions you might have.
Tom
MB Klien has a NYC set with the Bachmann Spectrum engine on sale as we speak.
Cool thanks for the help, To this point all i checked was the manufactures sites like Atlas,Bachman, ect figured if it’d be the easiest way to see complete catalogs of what was out there. I’ve only got about $150 to play with initally so need to make that go far. I know that’s not much to start with but that’s why i was looking into the sets. If i have to set it up on a table till i can afford to build a layout table that’s fine too just material to build the table would be next on the list. Thanks for the sites guys i looked through a few but wasn’t sure if they were good sites to do business with especially when you’re talking spending money like this (not one that usually does internet shopping). Yeah looked at Ebay also been about 10 years since i did anything on Ebay again didn’t see much in sets there once i’m up and running with what i need and looking to expand then places like Ebay will help in saving money but at this point with a limited budget $60+ on just an engine and tender is hard to do also don’t know how much it’s going to cost to scratch build some of the buildings i need to make also. Again thanks for the info it’s been alot of help.
P.S Tstage looked at your site looks like it’s about the same time period only i’m looking to focus on Buffalo NY mid 40’s to eairly 50’s. Yeah those engines would be nice to have got a list of what ran through the Central Terminal at that time really surprised as popular as some were no models of them were made.
I hear ya’, Fox. Manufacturers - not surprisingly - are pretty conservative about what they produce. For a while, NYC Mikes and Hudsons were the mainstay, as far as what was available in plastic. BLI finally released their 4-8-2 Mohawk this past May and re-released their Hudson with the new Paragon2 decoder in it. Their Dreyfuss Hudson (pictured unpainted) is scheduled for release in December. Personally, I don’t think we’ll see it before the beginning of the year.
Bachmann has a 4-6-0 “Ten-Wheeler” that’s nice looking but I don’t know how accurate it is to the prototype. If money is an issue, again - the Athearn 2-8-2 would make a very nice first locomotive for you. At discount, you can probably find one for $100-$125 or so.
Fox, I would encourage you to take your $150, buy the best locomotive you can with it, and spend the rest on track. Most train sets are okay but they tend to cut corners on quality to keep the price down. Even if you can’t run your locomotive yet, at least it can sit on a section of track and “inspire” you. For me, a poor running locomotive really detracts from the joy of this hobby.
Tom
Did you check out K-Val Hobbies locally? They’re located on Hinman Ave between Military and Elmwood. Been awhile since I’ve been in their shop but I do remember they stocked alot of the roads that ran in Buffalo.
Chris
That’s a sweet deal ($129) on one of the best starter sets you can get (I 'm no NYC expert, so I can’t speak as to the historical accuracy of the equipment)
The locomotive (Spectrum 2-8-0) is an absolute gem that is easy to convert to DCC (if not decoder-equipped already); the cars are pretty good and a real value, and the power pack is great by set standards (I still use one from a set I purchased on clearance over 10 years ago); track is only OK, but more than good enough to get started running trains.
Just my 2 cents’ worth.
Best of luck
Juan