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Another Newbie

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  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: N. Calif.
  • 119 posts
Another Newbie
Posted by Boonter on Thursday, April 8, 2004 8:22 PM
I'm also new to this forum, and to toy trains ! As a newcomer, with no experience in this field, what books , magazines ( Beside 'Toy Train '! ) etc. should I look into. I need VERY basic info and training......

Input appreciated !!!
Cheers & Talleyho !
  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 8, 2004 8:30 PM
Boonter [#welcome][#welcome]
Classic Toy Train mag has plenty of info for getting started with trains
at any level. Look for the Kalmbach ads for the books they have for sale.
See you on the forum!!
Keith
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Rolesville, NC
  • 15,416 posts
Posted by ChiefEagles on Thursday, April 8, 2004 8:40 PM
Welcome. There is a lot of very good information on this board. There are great pictures on here too. Enjoy, post and post pictures too.
Chief [love those train pictures] Eagles

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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  • From: Columbus, Ohio
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Posted by nitroboy on Thursday, April 8, 2004 9:05 PM
Welcome to the forum! One of the first books I bought was "How To Build Your First Lionel Layout" put out by Greenburg books. It covers the basics of getting your trains running. Depending on what your interests are, rest assured, you can always get good help here on the forum. Just post away and have fun!!!!!

Dave
Dave Check out my web page www.dmmrailroad.com TCA # 03-55763 & OTTS Member Donate to the Mid-Ohio Marine Foundation at www.momf.org Factory Trained Lionel Service Technician
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  • From: The ROMAN Empire State
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Posted by brianel027 on Thursday, April 8, 2004 10:59 PM
A lot of us will recommend this website for basic info: www.thortrains.net

Also check Lionel's web site: www.lionel.com
Go to Central Station and there's some links with basic info.

I don't know if you have some trains already, but here's a thread I posted here over the holiday's that might be of interest:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9988
(cut and paste into your address box)

You can use the search box here to look for topics on beginners, newbies, track, train sets, etc. I'm sure there lot's of info here buried under different threads.

Good luck, welcome and happy future trains.

brianel, Agent 027

"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."

  • Member since
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  • From: Over the Rainbow!
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Posted by eZAK on Friday, April 9, 2004 6:37 AM
[#welcome] Boonter!

Well you have already taken the first step by posting here.

Find a good local hobby shop with people you can talk to and trust.

Check out CTT home page for links.

Join a local or national club.

Save your money. [;)][^]

Pat Zak
Relax, Don't Worry, Have a Home Brew!</font id="size2"> Pat Zak</font id="size3">
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Posted by FJ and G on Friday, April 9, 2004 7:24 AM
Hi Boonter & welcome,

In addition to asking question on this forum for fairly immediate feedback, you can visit your local library and find many books on model trains. Some of these books will be about trains in other scales but the techniques are all similar except for some of the electrical. A library near my house has about a dozen books on toy trains, several dealing with electronics.

I do not recommend going to the hobby shop to look for books, unless the dealer unwraps the plastic cover. That's just my feeling and I boycott all boooks that are hidden. I went to the bookstore the other day and practically the only books in the store that were shrink wrapped were the train books.

Also, if you let us know where you live, we can recommend some train clubs. Also, you can hang around hobby shops and talk with customers and the dealer.

The two toy train mags are CTT and OGR. I subscribe to both but my real favorite is Model Railroader because I'm more into the scratchbuilding and do-it-yourself aspects.

dave v
  • Member since
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  • From: Willoughby, Ohio
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Posted by spankybird on Friday, April 9, 2004 7:55 AM
HI Boonter,

Welcome to the forum



I noticed that you are of the older generation, which means all that you remember of toy – model trains is Lionel. Well what a surprise you have in store for you. There are 6 major O gauge manufactures out there now which is great for us, the consumer. Be sure to check them all out. Not only is there Lionel, but also MTH (Mikes Train House) at www.mth-railking.com and K-line at www.k-linetrains.com and Williams, Weaver, 3rd Rail, just to name a few. You can check the link to manufactures at www.trains.com

If you see a web icon at the bottom of someone’s posting, like mine, then that person has a web page. Just click on it and take a look.

Have fun and don’t be afraid to ask questions.



tom

I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. OTTS Founder www.spankybird.shutterfly.com 

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 9, 2004 9:06 AM
hi boonter,
dave v. is correct, your local libraries will have lots of stuff i bet. my local libraries do! and the more i check out, the more they seem to buy in that topic/category.
have fun and good luck.
  • Member since
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  • From: Jelloway Creek, OH - Elv. 1100
  • 7,578 posts
Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Friday, April 9, 2004 1:08 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by woodsytc

hi boonter,
dave v. is correct, your local libraries will have lots of stuff i bet. my local libraries do! and the more i check out, the more they seem to buy in that topic/category.
have fun and good luck.

I completely agree with both Dave and Woody, but would like to add one more idea. I live near a very large public library that not only stocks back issues of magazines and model railroad books, but they have video to show you how to build your layout. I really benefited from actually seeing someone build scenery. I thought you really had to have a great deal of artistic talent to accomplish much, but found out that I needed more talent to paint the outside of my house than to build good looking scenery.

And oh by the way:

[#welcome][#welcome][#welcome][#welcome][#welcome]

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

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