Learning curve....FAQ's

[metalhack]

Hi,

Brand new here, so go easy.

I know nothing about model railroading...really. I am a big fan of full size railroads though. I have based many past vacations on RR museums,locomotives and train bridges. What a geek huh?

Anyways...how do I learn about model railroading? I have lurked here for a bit but I just find myself going crosseyed because I dont understand what the terms are and I cant really use the search function because I dont know what to look for. pretty much the only thing I know is that I need to go woith either HO or N scale do the space requirements. I would prefer HO scale.

I'd like to know where to start? What are some names of high quality components? Is there a certain type of track to use? Controllers? Locomotives? Anything will help me.

Im not looking to have the answers given to me but just point me in the right direction please.

Thanks...

 

[SpaceMouse]

Welcome and howdy,

The answers to what you are asking vary with your interests. The best place to satrt is at your library. Picking a a copy of Model Railroader might not be a bad idea either.

It wouldn't hurt to read my beginner's guide clickable from my signature. Takes about 5 minutes.

 

[FunValleyLine]

HO is probably the way to go for beginners in my opinion. It has the most options and ease to work with. Many more manufacturers and non railroad items can be used.

As far as terms and things you dont understand just shout right here and someone will answer.

Try looking for threads in here using key words and scroll until you see one interesting. Also go to the pictures they can answer alot of questions.

Good Luck and dont be afraid to ask ?s if you are in a thread and it gets over your head ask ?s there that way we know what your looking at.

Welcome to the hobby

 

[Selector]

You are already doing marvelously!! Taking the time to ask, to read, and to think about what it all means is a super start. It'll save you untold grief and misspent money.

Chip's Beginner's Guide is excellent if it serves no other purpose than to help you to realize other questions to ask.

Start simply with a bit of track and some switches (we call them turnouts so that they aren't confused with electrical switches). Get good turnouts, though, and make them about what we call #6's so that you can use them darned near anywhere in your later full-blown layout if you decide to build one. Peco, Micro-Engineering, and Atlas all make good ones that should hold you until you decide to get better or make your own. I use a mixture of commercial and hand-built turnouts.

Same for engines. If you are a diesel fan, Atlas makes excellent ones, and so do Kato, Stewart, and Athearn (their Genesis line). For steamers, Bachmann Spectrum line are very good, and so are the Walthers Proto 2000 Heritage series of steamers. Finally, Broadway Limited Imports makes an extensive line of very nice engines, but they tend to run out quickly after making a bunch of them. Rolling stock...try Atlas again, although Walthers makes good stuff, as does Branchline and Red Caboose. Also, Accurail. I have no Athearn rolling stock, so I can't vouch for them.

As a general rule in this hobby, the more you pay the better things tend to be, but the gradient is NOT a steep one. All manufacturers have a dud now and then. They are all solidly behind what they sell, so you can return defective items.

Kalmbach Publishing sells lots of How-to booklets online. Local hobby shops selling train stuff will also be able to help you out.

Above all, have fun....with some forethought, but do have fun.

 

[NYC_George]

Hi and welcome.
When it comes time. How much space do you have to build your model railroad? When it comes to model railroading space seems to be the biggest issue.

NYC_George

 

[suprduc]

I'm still pretty new to the whole thing too so with it all being fresh in my mind here are the BEST resources that I have used so far.
1. Chip's Beginner's Guide....the best place to start and return to when you need to get refocused.
2. Model railroad magazines. Great for ideas, prices, and just good reading.
3. Local dealer if you have access to one. In my case, they have been a fantastic guide for everything from getting started with a layout to prices and even getting the chance to have some hands-on with operating switches, trains, and DCC.
4. The best resource so far is right here. Great forum full of awesome people that are very welcoming and knowledgeable.

Oh by the way, welcome to the forums.

 

[RexHea]

It seems that everyone forgets the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA). Now, I am not recruiting you to join, but it is an ideal site to learn from as a beginner and you do not have to be a member to benefit from it. They have plenty of info on modeling and links to other informative sites . http://www.nmra.org/

 

[Airslide]

hey there-

im about 6 months in myself but like you i have been railfaning for many years.

Chip's beginners guide is a good one. I used it in the beginning. as a newbie, i can only suggest you fully understand these four things:

your space-
your time-
your budget-
your commitment-

i love working on my layout knowing that it will be there one day. and when i get there, ill be looking to do another, larger one. all the while knowing that may take 20+ years. you already have a passion for trains, this just requires a little chaneling. i read a few books and read magazine articles, but the wealth of knowledge on this board is imeasurable. add it to your favorites as you begin in this hobby.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

Boy, do we love to help out a newbie!
Biggest money saver I can advise is to decide on a time and place for your layout.
I loosely model the southeast in 1957 as a freelance (fictional) railroad based on the Southern.
I purchase and build rolling stock, structures and vehicles from the 1940's to 1957. (Lots of '55 and '57 Chevys on the layout.) I can run both steam and diesel on the layout using engines from Southern, Central of Georgia, Illinois Central, GM&O and Norfolk Western, as well as my own railroad name, South East Xpress (SEX).
I don't have a western saloon sitting next to a BP gas station watching the Amtrak Genesis run past. No 50 story buildings with a Pennsy GG-1 electric or UP "Bigboy" articulated steamer running through my towns.
I do have an 0-4-0 AMERICAN woodburning stream engine for a static display in a park or excursion trip.
Sometimes, it is really hard to resist a beautiful New England lighthouse kit or a Great Northern passenger train, but I'll spent the cash on something I can use on my layout.

 

[metalhack]

Great info...I thank you all for the help.

I now have a good idea as to what I want to do. Space is no problem as my basement is quite large. Its also comfortable and dry down there since its finished.

What I am a big fan of is rail yards. In particular historic yards like UP's Bailey Yard. I dragged the family there 2 years ago. Good thing there was a lot to do in the area. I think I may make this my layout. Lots of switches and track thats for sure. Though it lacks some scenary.

Do you all thing this is a good start?

Im going to check out all the links,mags and associations you all suggested.

I'll be back asking more questions I am sure.

Thanks again!!!

 

[metalhack]

What I am a big fan of is rail yards. In particular historic yards like UP's Bailey Yard. I dragged the family there 2 years ago. Good thing there was a lot to do in the area. I think I may make this my layout. Lots of switches and track thats for sure. Though it lacks some scenary.

Do you all thing this is a good start?

I have been thinking about where I should start. I wonder if I would be better off doing my own design for a rail yard that incorporates different items you would see in a rail yard and along a rail system....rather than copying Bailey Yard. It sounds as though this way it would more fun and easier.

What do you think?

 

[SpaceMouse]

If you modeled Bailey Yard in HO, it would be 486 ft long and 120 ft wide. I think you either need to find a smaller yard or design your own.

 

[RexHea]

MetalHack, there are many that will model a prototype section of a railroad, but not usually to scale which obviously means they need to modify the size by shortening track lengths and even eliminating some of the features (all depends on size). It does require a tremendous amount of research and skill to do this. I would think that you will mostly find a combination of prototypical (in general) and freelance or just freelance as I have built. You can have prototypical operations on a freelance layout providing you design it with knowledge of a real operations.

 

[metalhack]

If you modeled Bailey Yard in HO, it would be 486 ft long and 120 ft wide. I think you either need to find a smaller yard or design your own.

Yeah I did the calculations last night and came up with about the same numbers. I think my wife would be pretty upset with a layout that big.

I am going to do what RexHea said in his post and do sections in scale then model my own. I think I would be pretty happy with that.