yeah yeah, another new guy

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firetacoma

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Seems like there has been an influx of newbies lately eh? I'm a longtime reader and finally registered as I am moving closer to jumping into the hobby with both feet. Like most people here (as far as I can tell) I had a train table as a kid. I was 6 or 7 and my dad decided we needed a train table in the basement. He built a 4x8 table, nailed down a couple loops and we ran trains for hours. Never got around to any scenery or anything as my dad was usually too busy and I was happy just watching trains go around. It had fully automatic switches, but no separate blocks. I tried to get it going again when I was 15 or so but then girls and cars snatched up my time and attention.

My great-uncle was also a model railroad enthusiast in the the Grass Valley area of California (if anyone is near there and may have known him, please PM me). I never had a chance to see his setup but have heard it was extensive.

Now I'm 25 and living in a condo. I am not really sure what prompted me to start looking at the train thing again, but here I am! I've read a LOT and am anxious to get started on an N scale layout.

I am planning on building a door style layout based on the "N scale model railroading" book track plan. I will be making a couple of changes. It will be a BNSF railroad in a small Colorado foothills area. The main industries will be a lumber mill (looking at the N Scale Architect Long Valley Lumber Mill) and a feed mill (looking at Walther's Sunrise Feed Mill). The feed mill is still a maybe. I am not sure it fits and would welcome suggestions for a second industry.

I plan to run DCC and have read a BUNCH about it. I think I am decided on the MRC Prodigy Express mostly due to cost. I think it will be able to handle what I want to run on this small layout; 2-3 trains, automatic switches (looking at the Smail devices if they ever become available), and maybe some lights.

As far as locos and rolling stock, I have nothing so far. I want quality, but I also don't have unlimited money. What are the best locos out there? Coming DCC equipped would be a plus (atlas any good?) but definitely DCC ready. I suck at soldering. As far as cars go, I'm looking at box cars, spine lumber cars, tankers (for the feed mill; molasses, etc.) hoppers (for sawdust), and maybe some flatbeds for miscellaneous equipment delivery.

How about track? I am thinking of using Peco code 55 rail and turnouts and soldering the joints (YIKES!). Are the Peco turnouts DCC safe? I am thoroughly confused about wiring power to turnouts so if anyone can dumb the process down a bit I would be grateful!

I think that's about it. I work about 10 minutes from Caboose Hobbies in Denver and Mizell Trains is right on my drive home. I've spent quite a bit of time at both shops and I think I'm ready to dive in.

Thanks for any replies!
 
Peco should be DCC safe, as long as the package says so. As far as I've seen in the recent past, they had a huge fluorescent green sticker that said DCC compatible, or something like that.

I'm not much of an N guy, maybe someone else can help in that department.

Anyways, welcome to the forum!
 


Welcome aboard. Being 10 minutes from Caboose Hobbies, your layout is going to cost more than your original plan! :) Every time you go in, you'll see something you JUST have to get. I'm not an N scaler so I can't answer some of your question but I can answer a few.

The Sunrise feed mill is appropriate to any small town that has farming or cattle raising as a focus. It's a good looking model and the built-up version in N scale will save you a lot of time putting the kit together. I've seen pictures of the Long Valley Lumber Mill and it looks like a nice model although it doesn't look like the easiest to build. Still, it should be a nice challenge.

I'd think about hand throws for turnouts unless you have ones that you just can't reach. They are cheap, easy to install and it makes you operate like the prototype - stop,throw the switch, and proceed. Automatic switches actually get kind of boring after a while, not to mention the cost and complexity of installation.

I don't think you want to waste DCC power on lights. Pick up an MRC DC transformer on e-bay. I got an almost new model 501 Throttlepack that puts out a total of 8 amps for $6! Wire the lights to the variable DC output and you can vary the brightness without complicated wiring. I'm running about 75 lights off it now and, while it gets war, it handle the load fine.

I don't know much about N scale rolling stock but Atlas makes some nice locomotives and it's hard to beat the Micro Lines freight cars for detail and running qualities.

Go to http://www.awrr.com/PECO.html for more information abut Peco tracks and switches. There's no doubt that code 55 track will make your layout look better and track in N scale really stands out. Bad track REALLY stands out. :)

Good luck with the layout and let us now how it's going.
 
Thanks for taking the plunge. A few thousand dollars later, and many hours of enjoyment, and I doubt that you will rue the decision. :) Anyway, nice to see you here.

Virtually any of Walthers P2k, BLI, Stewart Hobbies, Kato, Atlas, Bachmann and Athearn engines in their higher end models are going to bring you reliability and entertainment. You will undoubtedly get some duds now and then, but a quick message to the manufacturer will reassure you and get a replacement or the repaired item in your hands before long. They area all good that way.

If I were pressed to lean, I would say Atlas, Kato, or Walthers Proto 2000 are good bets, with Atlas getting perhaps the nod for reliability and details.

For steamers, Bachmann Spectrum, BLI, Proto 2000 Heritage steam are all very good. BLI includes PCM, by the way...Precision Craft Models, higher end, many of them heavier metal engines.

You really should consider limiting yourself to one, at most two, railroad companies to model to keep a lid on things. Also, trust the folks at Caboose to steer you right. Think of an era, or a somewhat shorter time-frame, say from 1960-1980, or maybe you want stuff used since 1990...whatever strikes your fancy, stick with it to keep from buying impulsively. Otherwise, you'll end up like me with mostly NYC and PRR steam, now getting into N&W somewhat, but with a lonely greyhound Challenger running around the layout looking for a home.

Code 55 track is very light in HO scale and would be found on light industrial spurs, or on tracks back in the pre-WW I days...earlier, even.

Edit- oops, I missed the part about N scale. Much of my message still applies, but your choices of providers in engines will change...out of my area of expertise...sorry for misleading you.
 
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Wow! Great replies and QUICK!

This whole thing is a learning process for me so I appreciate any and all information I can get! After reading some more, I may go with Atlas track as I can buy sectional pieces and not just flex-track. One additional question, in the track plan I'm looking at it says "standard left-hand turnout". What would be "standard" #5?

Thanks again for the replies and the warm welcome!
 
If you can post the plan with your modifications here. We might be able to tell you some of the pros and cons for you to consider.
 
Welcome to the greatest forum for trains! Don't know a whole lot about "n" except it is way to small for my fat fingers and aging eyesight... Have fun! And BTW, how cool to be that close to Caboose Hobbies!
 
I am attempting to put my track plan onto the atlas track planner software. That's where I ran into a problem. Seems the track listed doesn't quite work as advertised. DOH! The problem is trying to put a turnout on a curve. One side uses 11" radius and the other side was supposed to use one 11", one straight switch, and the rest (five) 9 3/4" radius curves. Seems that doesn't quite work out. What's the best way to figure out how to actually make this work?

And yeah, being close to caboose is awesome! Unfortunately I go in there during my lunch break and time disappears!
 


Welcome to the forum! Isn't it amazing how people return to the hobby after a while of dormancy. Teach a child to model, feed there hobbies for a lifetime!
 
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