rail power 1370 power packs

[jfb]

I picked up a 2nd mrc power pack and now have 0 problems, thank you for the advice going through a learning curve after the work would be devastating. I am quickly running out of useable time this winter. I will have to wedge hear and make small movements first to have it super reliable. I had the 3/4 boards slightly sink or warp hence wedging and small movements. This is my permanent winter project of work and year long enjoyment after commencement of real work. I stay busy year round period and have outdoor hobbies that start very soon. I am for a few weekends finishing up my us gary Indiana steel board lights/floodlights etc and several moving parts for the area plus sound. this has been a fruitful and long project that I have dreamed of since childhood now near completion. I am glad that I ran into this forum and experienced modelers that have been through the ropes before me having that much track /6 mainlines plus many many spurs and a large yard ,coalmine,steel mill,refinery,chemical factory and get this remember 69 to 71 era before the epa 3 landfills. I have downtown Chicago and the complete l lines of blue orange green red I did not mess with northern Chicago it was just to sanitary for me I prefer reality not sugar coated bs.

 

[Bruette]

I to love this hobby but a lot of younger people seem to be looking for easier hobbies like computers etc, ....

You are absolutely correct. I have 2 grandsons, ages 5 and 6. The attraction to video games and computers is hard to beat, but they do find time to play with trains in between the electronics and playing outside (the most important play time in my mind).

My goal is to plant a seed in them. As another forum member so perfectly said "the germination period can be a long one"

I only had Christmas trains for most of my life, but now it is a full time hobby for me. I hope my boys at least do the same, but I do hope they pick up the hobby sooner then I did at 49 because I feel like I have lost so much time.

 

[jfb]

the hardest thing to do is to get them to understand personal acomplishent is a good thing,not everbody grew up thinking this way from different sources. the easy way out is not the best and usually nothing comes of laziness everbody needs a goal to work for and the rest flows and this hobby is one of the best ways to do this. I started my layout through thinking planning and going to a local train swapmeet plus of couse my earliest memories of a train gift from my family and now I have a almost enjoyable empire that is like archictectual work seriously that is how real buildings start I received this info from the state that I used to work for.

 

[Cjcrescent]

I would recommend that you also look at the NMRA, the National Model Railroad Association. They're the guys that set the standards and recommended practices for the hobby. If you live in an area that has an active division, you'll have a blast! I would at least check them out. They're on the web at; http://www.nmra.org They have mucho information on the site. From beginners guides to model contests, and even have a program, (Achievement Program), that will allow you to earn the title of Master Model Railroader.

There are everything from division meets, regional conventions, special interest groups, and the National convention. You've never seen a "swap" meet like the National Train Show.

So take a close look at it. They currently have a program called Rail Pass, where you can join for 6 months for about $10.00.

 

[chessie_system3]

I would recommend that you also look at the NMRA, the National Model Railroad Association. They're the guys that set the standards and recommended practices for the hobby. If you live in an area that has an active division, you'll have a blast! I would at least check them out. They're on the web at; http://www.nmra.org They have mucho information on the site. From beginners guides to model contests, and even have a program, (Achievement Program), that will allow you to earn the title of Master Model Railroader.

There are everything from division meets, regional conventions, special interest groups, and the National convention. You've never seen a "swap" meet like the National Train Show.

So take a close look at it. They currently have a program called Rail Pass, where you can join for 6 months for about $10.00.

That's a great link to share.

 

[jfb]

I hooked up with the above website and this is a fantastic way for all to enjoy this hobby. I would like to like next year show all of my work to entice others into this hobby but moving my work would ruin it and building a smaller one is not in the time cards / pun intended/ at this moment. I hope that a few will email and we can discuss our artwork and hobby plus discuss technics.

 

[chessie_system3]

Shoot my layout I want to build was already small. Might be moving into an apartment as the maintenance man means I'll have to go even smaller....I really don't want to rebuild an old layout. However space will dictate. Either way I know I'm going to share with everyone here and abroad what I will build. I do sure hope though I can convince my wife to let me have a little more real estate.

 

[Cjcrescent]

Shoot my layout I want to build was already small. Might be moving into an apartment as the maintenance man means I'll have to go even smaller....I really don't want to rebuild an old layout. However space will dictate. Either way I know I'm going to share with everyone here and abroad what I will build. I do sure hope though I can convince my wife to let me have a little more real estate.

Would you consider a shelf type layout? Maybe a point to point instead of a continuous run? These type layouts are made for diesels, short trains and a lot of movements. I had one in an apartment, three sides around the second bedroom.

I counted the car movements I had in an operating session with a friend once, and we had 125 movements in 4 hrs! That was a lot of action.

 

[chessie_system3]

Would you consider a shelf type layout? Maybe a point to point instead of a continuous run? These type layouts are made for diesels, short trains and a lot of movements. I had one in an apartment, three sides around the second bedroom.

I counted the car movements I had in an operating session with a friend once, and we had 125 movements in 4 hrs! That was a lot of action.

Oh I have considered it. I have pondered on it a lot here lately. I do like my continuous run though I was actually planning on found up a coal switching layout which I could do let's say on a shelf layout of course it'll most likely be a tight fit. I'm still planning on what I want to do building wise. I know what I want for operations just getting it to fit my space.

 

[jfb]

how about a spare bedroom? I have done a lot with a closed off area in my basement and it is a bedroom in essence. I used everything that needed to be in there as a way of holding up my layout and of course still having acess to everything it just takes planning and a little cost. I also used other things to level it this is just engineering with all possible things thought out. I picked up these ideas as a kid from organizations I was involved with and nobody would ever be the wiser unless they went under my layout which is highly unlikely. By the way plastic shelving is a 2 sided idea storage and a good base you can adjust the height with them plus they usually can be found at garage sales etc. I only paid 10 dollars so far for them and I am complete storage plus a good base, Good luck buddy go for it and let your imagination and will roam.

 

[chessie_system3]

If I could score an extra bedroom I'd super happy. I'm hoping that maybe I can squeeze so.e extra room out of our living room. That would be nice.