Want to get back into a childhood hobby.

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J

John26

Newbies
Hello, When I was a kid I had a train model, some two tables but it was some track with a bridge, plus a bunch of my dad basement tools around it. Nothing to special. After losing that interest, I started to make them with Legos, to me it was so much easier, and with over 6000 legos, I could make any shed, house car, station, etc I wanted for my model. So then I lost interest in that, and since then it's been 6 years.

I really want get into a another hobby, other than film making, editing, and videogaming. So I was wondering what would be a good way to start out? I was thinking about putting it in a old room(About as big as a guest bedroom).

I am not talking about making trains and scenery from scratch, but just some sets I could expand on.

Thank you.
 
Lots to learn and to consider, so I hope you are willing and patient enough to spend a couple of weekends reading here and on other forums to get a sense of what issues tend to garner a lot of attention and energy.

First it would be good to narrow down your plans considerably so that you aren't spending money needlessly on stuff that will eventually be a non-starter for you. Do you like steam engines? Good ones can be had for $120 with no decoder...or thereabouts. If you would like to run several engines independently and not have to flip switches as you would in DC (direct current), then you should decide that DCC (Digital Command Control) is the way to go. Adds cost, but saves tons of time in wiring and installing switches for block control. Much more realistic, too. Or somewhat, anyway.

Are we more interested in diesels? Which railroad? When...the 50's, 70's, nowadays? Then the models will vary accordingly.

Are you just interested in an oval and watching trains go by? It will turn your blood cold the 27th time you do it. We urge newcomers to investigate having some operational capability so that your toy railroad could ostensibly earn revenue. That allows you to build consists (what gets towed behind the engine, basically, plus the engine, itself) that are realistic and that require you to switch out cars and pick up others at industries along the way. These activities don't need to command your time, but they should be evident and available to you when you want to do more than admire your nice trains sweeping past your front.

This is just a start, but I am hoping to point out that this will take some time to do well up front, to keep costs down, and to keep disappointments and self-recrimination at bay.
 
Selector said:
Do you like steam engines? Yes, but not for this

If you would like to run several engines independently and not have to flip switches as you would in DC (direct current), then you should decide that DCC (Digital Command Control) is the way to go. DCC sounds good


Are we more interested in diesels? Yes
Which railroad? Would not matter to me, and I really don't know any, but Pennsylvania would be nice.
When...the 50's, 70's, nowadays? Today

Are you just interested in an oval and watching trains go by? No, but the other thing you said sounds nice, I am guessing you mean like a train yard correct?
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Click to expand...

Answers in red.
 


Welcome to the forum John! I see that Crandell told you pretty much everything to consider about starting out with the Model Railroading (mrr) hobby, so there's nothing useful I can add. I notice you also like filmmaking/editing; that other hobby could dovetail nicely with mrr as far as staging model train movements and filming/videotaping them.
 
Thanks road.

I think the hardest part of this whole thing will be asking my mom and dad to give up turning the old room into a guest bedroom and let me have it.
 
Well I read that guide.

And I have good idea what to do.

Think I'll remake with HO scale my town of Bridgeville PA.

There is a library here that use to be a train station, a single train comes every day with about 3 to 8 freight cars, the Engine
kevin44x.jpg


Library
bridgeville.htm_txt_BPL.gif


So my setting is there, and my time is nowadays.

I know I have the room and my family won't care.

There is a cement factory near by, which would be one of the hardest things in this project.

I know the track off by heart( Walk it all the time), but I think I'll use my imagination, after I got the whole bridgeville thing down, so I can ahve more than one train. Whatca think?
 
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You said you wanted to do modern day PRR, well the problem in that is, PRR became part of Conrail, and when Conrail split up, it became part of Norfolk Southern.
So, now you must decide which part of PRR you want to model, pre-Conrail, the Conrail era, or the current Norfolk Southern era. You can also do some modern locos and rolling stock in PRR color scheme, if you think your painting skills are good enough for you. After all, its your railroad, and your the only one you have to impress.
The PRR area is now controlled by NS as are the Juniata shops and horseshoe curve.
Here, take a virtual tour of the shops and explore the history and the current status and decide what era of PRR you want to build: http://www.altoonaworks.info
 
"Tsk! And I'll bet your were thinkin' you'd have some track down by supper."

I can not reply to that without being hostile, so I won't.


"You said you wanted to do modern day PRR, well the problem in that is, PRR became part of Conrail, and when Conrail split up, it became part of Norfolk Southern.
So, now you must decide which part of PRR you want to model, pre-Conrail, the Conrail era, or the current Norfolk Southern era. You can also do some modern locos and rolling stock in PRR color scheme, if you think your painting skills are good enough for you. After all, its your railroad, and your the only one you have to impress.
The PRR area is now controlled by NS as are the Juniata shops and horseshoe curve.
Here, take a virtual tour of the shops and explore the history and the current status and decide what era of PRR you want to build:"

The current ERA, trying to keep it as up to date as possible.
 


Selector was making a joke. A lot of folks think that model railroading means getting some lumber, laying some tracks, and you're done. It was a wry comment on what we see here so frequently, not meant to be a jab at you.

In the same vein, Thoroughbred was pointing out that the Pennsy disappeared long ago after you said you wanted your era to be "today" (your own words). Some people are modeling fallen flag railroads like the Pennsy as if they never disappeared but there is no real Pennsy today.

All of us here are basically nice guys who have gone through what you are going through. We are here to help but having an attitude about getting advice is not the way to get more advice.
 
What am I doing wrong though? I just want advice.

I know a lot about trains, but just not Train companies or whatever they are called. It's not my fault, and I am sorry that my lack of knowledge there is giving you guys a fit.

I didn't mean the "Pennsylvania Railroad", but any railroad in Pennsylvania, whatever Railroad companies, and whatever they are called. For example, Northwestern is one correct? That's find for me. I just want to get started making layouts on the computer to get started.

I appreciate your advice
 
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John, I am sorry that I was unclear in my last short message to you. I had guessed that you were a little befuddled or frustrated that there was something not going as quickly as you had hoped, so my statement was meant as a joke and as a commiseration. That you did not appreciate it is my responsibility since it came from me...so I will withdraw it and offer you an apology...sorry.

I am curious about your statement that you, "...don't know what (you are) doing wrong." I don't know that any of us feel you are doing anything wrong, other than welcoming you and hoping to offer you some advice about what not to do so that you save money and enjoy your experience.

In that respect, we are urging you, and guiding you, toward fixing an era and at most two corporations on your railroad so that you don't end up with three or four engines from six or more companies, and when you finally settle on the one(s) you will ultimately model, you don't have a bunch of stuff to sell on ebay or whatever...often at a loss.

I'm sorry, but I don't think it is useful to characterize our welcome and guidance as having fits.
 
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Alright if you want to continue those 3 post up there ^ please private message me.

Anyways, back on topic. Lets get back were we where. So I chose the current ERA. Now, I don't want 6 different engines so continue. Train companies and train ERAs are not my specialty.
 
Alright people, I have sent the mod a nice PM that hopefully he will forward to all of you.

After you read the PM, you will understand what is going on.

NOW CAN we please get back to what we were discussing?

Really I mean I am a newbie here.
 
John:

Welcome to the forum. You have some very experienced and knowledgeable modelers responding to your posts. These guys have a lot of information and have always been more then willing to share what they know. They all have helped me over the last year as I was getting back into this hobby.

It often is difficult with the written word to convey the correct tone to the reader, especially on internet message boards. I have yet to see anyone on this forum ridicule, belittle, or harass another fellow modeler. Selector's joke was one that I found funny as I planned on having my layout up after dinner over a year ago. He already apologized for not sufficiently conveying the humor in his post.

Perhaps your posts are likewise being misread on my end. I read your posts and I see someone who is argumentative, hostile, and demanding. I hope that is not the case. Please note that ALL CAPS in a message denotes screaming.

I hope my understanding of your posts is in error. These gentlemen are walking you down a path of twenty questions trying to help you determine what it is that you want to model. Finding this out now will save you a lot of money in the future.

Again, welcome to the forum.
 
But, Macjet. Please PM me if you want to talk to me about that. Alright? I want to get back into this. I am not demanding anything, but help. You guys asked questions I answered. I did nothing wrong until people stopped asking me questions. It was all good, you guys asked a question I answered, I asked a questions you guys answered. It was going all good. Until you stopped asking. I know it will help me save money I read the guide and other post, but how can I save money, if everyone is going bring up this stupid joke thing. Forget about it, ok? Like it never happened. Please I just want to know more.

Like for example UP I already know about the railroads, and I said current ERA northwestern. Bridgeville, PA. HO scale, DCC, etc etc.

Still need to talk about, track, table, scenery, etc, etc.

PS: I am not demanding, and I was planning for a big "THANK YOU" post after I had all the pre- stuff done, but since you guys want it now....

Thanks for the help, and future help. Thanks for taking your time with me.
 
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Fair enough.

There are a lot of things to consider. You said that you want to model PA in modern day. The next thing is what railroad? And what part? Do you want to model long drags or switching operations. This will help you determine what locomotives you buy and what size switches you need. If you're going to model a small industrial switching location then you won't need a large fleet of six axle diesels. The other thing to consider is what industries you plan to model. This will keep you from buying one of each of every freight car at the hobby store.

By determining exactly what you want you can focus your purchasing on what you need. Read, read, and read more would be about the best advice that I can give you.
 
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