p14shooter
Member
Well. This is another newbie tale. So read, or skip. But I am half excited. We have been cleaning dad's basement and my brother and I got talking and I said I would take the old n scale train set. It has been 40 years since we ran it(I'm 55). So we were just kids last time it was run so there is nothing fancy about it, but I do remember having fun. So the last 2 weeks I have been reading about all the things I don't know, and thinking about what I can do.
I finally got some of it home this weekend. It's smaller than I remember. I have been thinking about the scenery I want to do, and build it around that. It will be an imaginary track, incorporating aspects of my life. At least that is what I am thinking today. That could change 100 times.
I also do not have unrealistic notions of doing this in a year or 2 or 3. More of a pre retirement project to ramp up in 53 months. I'm sure everyone's layout is constantly evolving anyway so I'm not concerned about getting it right first time out. I am all thumbs, I'm handsome, not handy, so I know I have alot to learn.
So i plan to just start learing how to actually run them again in various configurations before even beginning to plan a layout. But as you can see from the pictures, a bit of cleaning to do first. And I guess my fingers are crossed that the 40 year old controller will actually power the tracks.
Like my other hobby, I know this is the opening of the rabbit hole, and upgrades and advancements will happen over time. But we have to start somewhere.
I hope my enthusiasm carries on like a freight train.
Any specific thoughts on how to carefully make sure the power supply works before plugging it in? I see there is a thread on track cleaning and will read that as well. And should I be doing anything to the engines after sitting for so long before trying to run them?
I finally got some of it home this weekend. It's smaller than I remember. I have been thinking about the scenery I want to do, and build it around that. It will be an imaginary track, incorporating aspects of my life. At least that is what I am thinking today. That could change 100 times.
I also do not have unrealistic notions of doing this in a year or 2 or 3. More of a pre retirement project to ramp up in 53 months. I'm sure everyone's layout is constantly evolving anyway so I'm not concerned about getting it right first time out. I am all thumbs, I'm handsome, not handy, so I know I have alot to learn.
So i plan to just start learing how to actually run them again in various configurations before even beginning to plan a layout. But as you can see from the pictures, a bit of cleaning to do first. And I guess my fingers are crossed that the 40 year old controller will actually power the tracks.
Like my other hobby, I know this is the opening of the rabbit hole, and upgrades and advancements will happen over time. But we have to start somewhere.
I hope my enthusiasm carries on like a freight train.
Any specific thoughts on how to carefully make sure the power supply works before plugging it in? I see there is a thread on track cleaning and will read that as well. And should I be doing anything to the engines after sitting for so long before trying to run them?
