The reason I'm becoming a model railroader is...................

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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Hello,

Im new here and to model railroading. Sure, I had the 3-track Lionel electric train back in the 60s for Christmas. But it just went in an oval over and over and finally the transformer conked out and it got tossed.

But recently my wife’s son and his son came to visit. I took my grandson (age 6) to the outlet mall in Crossville, TN. There is a giant sized model railroad display in an empty store. His eyes were as big as saucers the whole time we were there. He still talks about it!

So being the soft touch that I am, I decided to get some trains and start into model railroading. Both of my grandfathers and my wife’s grandfather worked for railroads, so it’s not such a random indulgence. Also,periodically I unload coal cars at a coal-burning power plant, so there’s a personal connection. I can teach him all those things when he visits along with playing with the trains.

I am a veteran of the cold war in Germany in Alpha Troop, 1/11 ACR, Fulda Germany guarding the Fulda Gap. I ran across some great items for my setup, which I couldn’t resist. I had to get some flatcars, M551 Sheridans, M60 tanks, 113s, 114s, gamma goats, and M578 and M88 recovery vehicles. There’s even a M48 style bridge. I know my grandson isn’t old enough to appreciate it, but I will appreciate it. And my step-son spent a year in Iraq and he will appreciate it.

So there, I thought I’d introduce myself. So far I have a hundred cars or so and a few engines. I don’t have any track or transformers yet. From what I’ve read, the transformers have really changed,

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[#welcome]

Welcome to the Forum! Your first few post are moderated so don’t expect to be able to reply quickly.

You didn’t mention the scale you are modeling. I am an Southern Pacific HO nut for over 68 years (early to mid 50s era) and Lionel 027 three rail for 6 years before I cutover to HO.

Mel

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

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Slowmodem, first in order, THANK YOU and your step son for your Service. Military vehicals on flats chocked and chained are exciting to watch go down the rail. I model the Penn Central Transportation Co. in HO, so looks like we ship the same payloads. Welcome here.

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Hi Slowmodem!

Welcome to the hobby and to the forums! [#welcome]

I will also thank you and your step son for your service.[tup]

You have lots to learn. Feel free to ask your questions here, and if anybody whines about the questions having been asked before, ignore them!

Just briefly, if you want sound then you will be using Digital Command Control (DCC) as opposed to “transformers” which are used in Direct Current (DC) layouts. There is nothing wrong with either system, but with DCC you get to run your trains, and with DC you tend to spend a fair bit of time flipping switches to control the layout (unless you get into highly complicated systems like our friend Sheldon uses).

I like your choice of loads so far. A few years ago I scored six HO scale Sherman tanks for peanuts so at least I have a start for a decent military train. The Shermans are now above my pay grade so unless I get lucky again it will be a short train![swg][(-D][(-D]

Cheers!!

Dave

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[#welcome] to the Model Railroader Forums, Slowmodem!

…or the very simple DC system that I use. Pick a train to run, throw a turnout or two along the way and maybe flip a switch to energise the track you wish to use. You’d be running only one train at a time, so nothing too complicated at all.
If your layout is interesting enough, and you’re the sole operator, one train running at a time will provide plenty of interest and as much activity as you wish to create.

Wayne

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Oops, you’re right. I am going HO scale. I have mainly L&N for me and DT&I where my wife’s grandfather worked. I also have some Southern and Norfolk Southern. Although, I noticed a “Central Of Georgia” locomotive pushing on a coal train at work the other day, so I’m looking at getting one of those locomotives. Thanks for the welcome! [:)]

[quote user=“RR_Mel”]

Welcome to the Forum! Your first few post are moderated so don’t expect to be able to reply quickly.

You didn’t mention the scale you are modeling. I am an Southern Pacific HO nut for over 68 years (early to mid 50s era) and Lionel 027 three rail for 6 years before I cutover to HO.

Mel

My Model Railroad

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Thank you for your reply and your welcome. I did quite a bit of rail loading with tanks when I was in Germany. We had to go from Fulda to either Wildflecken or Graf to qualify on our vehicles.

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Thanks for the reply and welcome. I have discovered DCC and some of my locomotives that I have came with it. I don’t have any track or controllers yet. I think I’ll be able to figure out the DCC. They’ve really came a long way with trains since the 1960s!

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Thank you for your reply and your welcome. I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet. I may have cars hooked up and sitting on a shelf for now. Eventually I will get some plywood or something and make a layout. I’m going to get my grandson to help when he visits (They live in Indianapolis).

I have bought several dummy engines which, I guess, is the cheap way out to make a long train.

There are some great scenery items nowadays. Since I work at a power plant, it was hard to resist the Walthers Cornerstone HO Scale Northern Light Power Plant. I was really surprised at the detail. I can already see my money going down a hole! [:)]

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post deleted

Edit: I deleted my comments because I didn’t want to seem to be condescending about DC railroads. That wasn’t my intention, but I couldn’t find the right words to express my thoughts without seeming to be so.

Dave

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I’ve not been able to find the right way to post. Is there a way to upload a photo from my hard drive into a message here? I clicked insert image, but it seem to be for adding photos that are already on the internet. Thanks! :slight_smile:

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I was infected by a lionel postwar 6110 set that was my grandfathers. A way back when i was 4. I recently got into postwar. Ontop of the Ho layout. And largescale

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Firstly [#welcome] to the MR forums! Hope you stick around!

You have a lot of good reasons to be in model railroading! And a couple of good ideas of the things you’d like to run!

The very first thing you’ll need to decide when you get into the hobby is what scale you are going to model in. You haven’t told us what your scale is, but your using a lot of 3rail O scale terminology (i.e. Transformer, which in HO and smaller is generally called a powerpack, though we still get your meaning!) so am I correct in assuming your in 3 rail O?

Also era and location are important, they are what really define what kind of trains you will run and make your railroad seem like a realistic railroad system and not a random mix of trains. Of course if you do want a varied mix of trains from all different era/location, that is fine. I suspect if you stick around you will often hear (read?) it your railroad or something similar. This is VERY applicable here.

If you need help deciding these things please give us some more about you model railrailroading specific interest, I’m sure we’ll be happy to help!

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Dave, I thought you comment was just fine. Here is the thing, we tend to view this issue of control systems based on our own goals, and our own previous experiences.

Unfortunately, a lot of guys never had a chance to operate on a well designed DC system for multi train operation, so they tend to have “toggle flipping syndrome” regarding DC.

But take Dr Wayne for instance, he has no interest in sound, no interest even in lighting effects, he only runs one train at a time. Good DC throttles provide speed control just as good as DCC.

What possible advantage would he gain with DCC?

You on the other hand are managing a club, DCC is a no brainer, you NEED it.

My goals focus around CTC and signaling, you need blocks for that anyway, you will have a lot of wiring with DCC or DC, so, considering my dis interest in sound, and the availability of wireless DC throttles, combined with my electronics skill set, that made advanced DC cab control the right choice for me.

Not to mention I already had 100 newer, but not DCC equipped locos…

People who had poor experiences with DC multi train operations will naturally see DCC as the solution, and that is fine.

My point has always been simply that “one size does not fit all”.

DCC is also good for those who are at some “intermediate” point in the hobby, but not yet sure of their long term goals, it is flexible.

A system like mine requires you to understand in advance what you want, and what you don’t want or need, and to design the control system details based on that.

Take care,

Sheldon

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Slowmodem,

Welcome to the the hobby and the forum. Ask all the questions you can, you will get lots of opinions and good advice here.

Sheldon

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[#welcome]

.

I hope to see you around and joining in our discussions.

.

-Kevin

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Slowmodem

Check out Steven Otte’s How to Post a Photo to the Forums

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/249194.aspx

Mel

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

18

A few years ago Norfolk Southern created some “heritage units”, modern diesels decorated in paint schemes saluting the various railroads that make up today’s Norfolk Southern. Central of Georgia was one of the units, as were engines decorated for the Southern, Norfolk & Western, the old (original) Norfolk Southern, and others.

One thing I would do first is pause. Read as much as you can, learn about the hobby and railroading before diving headfirst into buying a lot of stuff. It can be hard to do, but taking time to decide what you want to do (location, era, railroad(s) to model, etc.) will pay off in the long run.

BTW sorry to hear that 1960’s Lionel train got “tossed” when the transformer failed. “Pre-MPC” trains (Lionel trains made before about 1970) can be worth more money than you might think.

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If I had to guess, I’d say HO, reason being Slowmodem mentioned what Military vehicals he intended to haul. Those may be ROCO/ MINITANKS. I haul those same type of vehicals over the __PC’__s rails. Just my guess.

Edit: I just went back up and see Slowmodem said he is HO. Oh well my post here will stay.

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Welcome to the Forum and a great hobby!

As a new comer I will suggest a subscription to Model Railroader and suggest the following book from Kalmbach.

1.4x8 Track Plans Vol.2

The reason I suggest a 4x8 foot layout is to gain experience in track laying and scenery.

There is no rules stating you can’t buy the locomotives of you choice but, as a pondering thought the majority of us choose a railroad to model and buy locomotives for that road name.

Again you are cerntainly free to buy whatever fancies your eye after all its your hobby to enjoy in the manner that pleases you.