Noob question about track

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


J

Jodebane

New Member
First of all, let me introduce myself.

I have never done model railroading before, but I would like to start doing it. I need some recommendations. The bachmann trains look good but I heard that bachmann track has bad switchers or whatever they're called. My railroad will be in the backyard at my house if I build it. But will non-bachmann track work with bachmann trains. It's a noob question, but I would like to know the answer.

Thanks
 
Any HO Scale track will work. You say this will be in the back yard? As in out in the sunlight and weather? HO track and equipment doesn't take the elements well. I predict that you'd be replacing all the track within a year. Now if it's in a shed in the back yard that's a horse of a different color. Bachmann turnouts (switches) can be problematic at times but they're just like anything else. There are good ones and bad ones. Almost all mine (all the track on my layout is Bachmann EZ-Track) were good out oh the package. The main trick with them is that they have to be level in relation to the track pieces joined to them. That is, if it's on a 1% grade all track sections connected to it must also be at 1%. Don't have a loco come off a grade directly onto a turnout. That's asking for trouble. Don't ask how I know this. I've only been at this for 40+ years. If the track is flat the turnout should be flat too. If the track is on a grade the turnout should be at the same % grade as the track.
 


What sacle is he running? That's something I didn't consider. If he's running G Scale that's great for outdoor use. I don't know about Bachmann's G Scale turnouts. I used Aristo-Craft track when I was in G.
 
I just wanna add, I'm doing my railroad under a tree (I think), so there will obviously be shade. I remember reading somewhere that HO track is not UV resistant or something like that, but will the shade help? I'm a total noob to this stuff :-(
 
Don't put HO scale track, buildings, trains or anything else to do w/this scale outdoors.
It won't work. I have my layout in a metal building & I have quite a few problems as it is.
 


If it's steel it won't work outside because it will rust. Most G scale layouts use stainless steel or brass or Nickel Silver. Stainless steel is the most expensive & Brass is hard to keep clean as is NS. I'm not an outdoor RR person, but I have 3 friends that are.
 
Inside a shed would be a lot better. You're going to have problems with temperature variances as it is.Temps and humidity are going to cause any wood construction to expand and contract. Foam construction won't be as bad off but it still needs a frame for support.
 
May I suggest the first thing you do is some reading? Model railroading in any hobby is an expensive hobby and plunging right in to a scale is unlikey to lead to satisfaction. Kalmbach Publishing has a large selection of planning books in various scales at http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/model-railroading.html. Some money spent upfront to decide what you want to to do will be money well spent. The National Model Railroading Association has a very good summary for beginners at http://www.nmra.com/beginner/ as well.
 
That's extremely good advice. The more you know and understand the better equipped you'll be when you step into the world unto itself, the hobby shop. It's very easy to loose sight of your basic goal when you're looking at all that's available. Don't buy on impulse! Carefully consider what you're looking at getting and ask yourself if that is what you need at this time or can it wait. If you buy a lot of stuff now you're going to find yourself looking at that big of stuff and it will suddenly seem like a very daunting task instead of something that's supposed to be fun.
 
Like the HO = house only. Here is another one, size matters. How big a shed? And how big a layout are you looking to build? And what era and type of equipment are you thinking of running? These are important questions in regards to scale. If you are limited to a small area, say 4 by 8, and want to run large steam locos, or auto racks, HO will not work very well. However, N would do OK.

I am not really that much further along than you are right now. The most important thing I did was the reading up on the hobby first, and developing a clear idea of what I wanted to do. Don't buy anything other than books until you have that idea, because more than likely, you will end up not using it, or selling it at a loss.

And don't get discouraged about the planning aspect either. It can be a fun hobby in and of itself. Particularly if you have no previous experience and little knowledge of the real thing.

Patiences is another key ingredient here. Model railroading is such and addictive hobby, because it can suck you in so completely and absorb so much time. You'll naturally want to see progress FAST, but to make it right, you have to do it right and that takes time. Don't rush, the results will only discourage you. Plan on doing things in small steps that build on each other over time. And don't go all out to start with. I would suggest a modest and relatively simple layout to start with so you can learn the basics of the hobby. Then work up from there.

Those here who know WAY more than I, can advise you about specifics, but I think what I have said is good for you as you plan to start in the hobby.
 
I ended up finding space in my house for a HO railroad, and I now have a bachmann new york central train and some track, and a controller. I also have this city trolley thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top