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.
Hello,
I'm mostly new to trains. I've had them for years and ran them a bit but have never set up anything as detailed as what you guys do. I am interested in doing a CSX type thing. The city I work in here in Florida has a CSX depot which also used to double as an Amtrak station that is still intact but no longer has Amtrak. I have lots of pictures of the rail areas and there is always a CSX locomotive parked on an access track right outside the back door of the building I work in. Since this is all basically new to me, I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.
Thanks
Some people are detail freaks and their layouts look really really nice. Then, there are others who just wan't to run their trains, then there are people in between.
Whichever way you choose, it's your money, and your layout so you can do whatever you want with it. You determine how it looks.
There are many types of layouts. There are point to point (operations from one area to another), continuous (if you leave a train running, it will loop around and around), and switching, to name a few.
I don't have much experience building, planning, or designing layouts, so I'll let the other people here introduce you to that
I'd suggest you first read the Beginners Guide at http://www.nmra.com/beginner/. That will answer a lot of question about how to plan a layout, wiring, DCC and a bunch of things that confuse necomers. It's well worth the time to go through it. And welcome to the forum as well.
Welcome to the forum. You will enjoy talking w/all the train nuts here on the best place to be on earth when you need questions answered. Where do you live in Fla? I'm over here in Arcadia where the CSX stops & a shortline starts.
Thanks for all the quick responses. Chris, I'm just up the road from you in Inverness and actually lived in Spring Hill for some time. But I work in Wildwood where the rail yard is.
I'd also suggest hooking up with a club. Many times reading a book will never make you an expert. It's the hands on stuff that gives you confidence and knowledge. Andhaving someone to tutor you is also a great plus, they can explain things to you as yo go along and answer any question much better than a book.
Thanks for all the quick responses. Chris, I'm just up the road from you in Inverness and actually lived in Spring Hill for some time. But I work in Wildwood where the rail yard is.
Yeah there are a few county roads I can go sit on to check things out. I pretty much can go anywhere on the yard I like and I usually take a few pics here and there.
I find out that any information is helpful. Pick an era and stay around it. I try to do that on my layout but I like a lot of era's. Mainly between the 30's and 70's. I have kind of nicknamed my layout " ANYERA" Railroad. I love detail but to be honest it is my railroad , I am not entering competitions with it so I pretty much do what i like to do. I am a fan of mainly midwest Roads but I don't hesitate to but other road names that appeal to me.
Remember that anything you do and don't like you can always tear down and redo. That is what I am doing now and that makes me happy.
I do this hobby because it relaxes me and I enjoy watching other people admiring it. When this hobby starts to frustrate me I would quit it. I don't think it will come to that point ever.
So final word is it is your mind and money , let it go free and do what makes you happy and to be able to enjoy it for a long time.
Since I will finally have some time this weekend my reconstruction will continue this weekend. Finally
Eric, that's the reason I model the era(s) I do. The transition era allows me to run steam next to diesel power. The layout is totally modular. I can change for the 1920's-30's to modern in less than 2 hours by switching out modules. pull one, insert another. It's all "plug and play" by design. Fantastic.
My favorite is the 1940's to the early 1960's. Allows a lot of different power on the track at one time.
But, my house was broken into a few weeks ago, and the layout was severely damaged. Now I can fix the problems of the original, though there weren't many. The yard lead needed fixing and the will be done. Thankfully the yard just had some structures damaged and teh track didn't take a hit. Actually the layout fared rather well, just a bit of damage to the structures and scenery. And most of the frames look to be OK. I'd have probably gotten out of the hobby if my last 12 years had been destroyed.
Man that stinks about someone breaking in. Not only invading privacy but damaging your hard work. I can't stand a thief
Your layout sounds cool, would like to see pictures. I love running the diesel and steam so That is why I really don't declare a certain time frame but My heart stays a lot in the 50' 60's.
Just got back from lunch and I just received my new Broadway Limited Paragon 2 Hudson ( My second one) . Dang shame I don't have the layout done, I have to bust my butt this weekend so I can get some more track down to see it run.
