The Hobby of Model Trains

I am going to give you a few facts and tips to help you get started in the fascinating hobby of model trains!

Think of your set as a real railroad line or business! To run your railroad you need locomotives, cars, tracks and fuel (in this case…a transformer) just to get started! Then you need a vast array of accessories to really have a decent layout. Like any hobby, you can spend a great deal of money! Locomotives can cost over $2000 each! Some enthusiasts of trains simply buy them for their static collection of train memorabilia! On the other hand, if you are enjoy watching them “run”. The scenario changes dramatically! For starters…you will need space! You will quickly tire of watching of watching your train going in a continuous loop! You need a layout! You need all the “bells & whistles” to keep an interest in railroading! Operational crossing gates, operating track switches, railroad sounds, animals, cars, people, realistic buildings (depot, fire station, church. Store), bridges, lakes, mountains…did I loose you…. You get the idea!!

Where do you start? You can start with a set, and build from there. Just start with a set you will be comfortable with. There are a lot of different scales of trains available. They get large enough for you to ride them! We will be concentrating on scales O, HO and N only. A Scale model is a small “clone” of the original. Makers of scale models do their best to produce a unit that is as close to the original as possible! You can write “scale” as a ratio. The ratio, 1:72, means that the model is 72 times smaller than the original! The smaller the second number become, the bigger the model gets in reference to the original. When the scale reaches 1:1, they are the same size! I have no idea where O, HO and N came from! Models trains are a certain size in reference to the original…just like all the other models we sell! The ratios for “train scales” are, O=48, HO=87 and N=160. Therefore, any of the 1:48 kits we sell are the same scale as “O” scale trains. We carry “scale” accessories for all three sizes. O scale has the fewest accessories available. The O scale group can use all the “extra” help available!

O scale, Lionel mostly, is the most expensive scale. Don't forget how much an engine can cost! This scale thrives mostly because of their “close to reality look” and the very realistic sounds the trains make. If you closed your eyes you would think that a real train was near! However, the haven enjoyed by Lionel for so long is about to come under fire. A new train line, Broadway Limited, is about to release a new line with all the "bells and whistles" that you can currently only get from Lionel.I love Lionel's trains but I welcome the competition! Lionel needs a nudge! HO is the most popular scale, N scale, the fastest growing, is a close second. Why? The larger the scale… the more space you need to setup a decent layout! A great N scale layout, with all the trimmings, can be setup on a 4’ X 8” piece of plywood… with plenty space to spare! HO scale would need almost twice the space for the same layout. Unless you have a large basement or similar space to dedicate to a layout, I suggest you steer clear of O scale. Take a look at the examples I have provided by clicking here. Alll three of these layouts are great and can be used for N or HO plans. Layout N-17 requires the most expertise to setup, but it is well worth the effort! With this layout you can operate two trains at once and “park” at least nine trains on the tracks… ready for the order to “roll”! We sell everything you need to setup these systems, tracks, connectors, nails, and transformers…. I suggest you use only one type of track. Track from Atlas, comes in different “codes”, stick with one code (You are suppose to be able to mix the codes…I haven’t tried it). I suggest you use the Atlas tracking system; it doesn’t need to be permanently mounted to a substrate. We sell all the booklets and manuals you will need. Instructions also come with the track.

One last bit of advice, this advice pertains mostly to the Atlas system. Other than sell their products, I have no affiliation with Atlas. I also sell other systems…

Before you start spending your money on trains. I suggest you buy the Atlasmaster DCC (Digital Command Control) System. The old system controlled the tracks. With this system you don’t use the tracks to control individuals trains. You control the trains, with a system similar to the systems used to control radio controlled aircraft, boats and land vehicles (We sell them too!!). You can control up to eight trains on the same tracks and communicate with the trains individually! This is the reason why the number on the locomotives is so important. The decoders in the trains are programmed to match the last two digits of the locomotive’s road number. If you have two trains on the same track, programmed to the same numbers you will have problems Another benefit of this system, the wiring to the tracks is easier because you only have to make the tracks “hot”, all the operational info to the trains comes from the Atlas Commander or the hand held commander! TAKE NOTICE!!!! Your decision to use or not use this system is a major consideration you should not take lightly with your layout plans! Furthermore, these considerations only apply to HO & N scales! Lionel has its own systems.

Finally….

Don’t forget my other suggestion… if you are inexperienced or perhaps a Dodo! Buy a train set! Starting at about $150, you can get a complete set with everything you need to run right out of the box! (Train, cars, tracks, transformer…everything). As your gain experience and know how, you and perhaps your son (I know you bought this for yourself…you old 60 yr. geezer!) can add parts and accessories to your original set

James Lewis (Boogaloo)

. NOTICE The suggestions related here are simply the suggestions of a novice. I do not consider myself to be an expert of the hobby of railroading. The text contained therein in the results of two weeks of reading articles and flyers. These suggestions are simply my opinions. Any and all comment you may wish to send me will be read and evaluated. Reply to Boogaloo@theworldwide.org