Couple updates...and questions (several for St. Louis members)

[yallaen]

I've been very busy with work (at the railroad..around the house..geesh), but I wanted to give a couple updates and ask some general questions:

TRACK:
I've been accumulating trackage and some rolling stock off ebay. I have enough to go around the outer perimeter of my game room. I'll need to double it as I want double track. I may just bite the bullet and buy some nice tie-type newer track.

I'm going to use the shelving units that were mentioned in my other forum post Tom Schmidt(?) posted about getting from Home Depot. But, can I just use the pink foam for the roadbed base? Or do I need to put plywood down first, THEN the pink foam (the housing insulation stuff)

I have numerous pieces of track that have a lot of surface rust. Any good way to get that off? I've got scotchbrite pads...any easier way to save my hands?

PARTS:
My Lionel steam engine's pickup rollers have large grooves in them. These can be replaced I'm sure..but where's a good source for those type parts? Also, the rear truck wheels have a spring under them..I'm guessing to help force those wheels down onto the track? My spring must be shot..the rear truck sags and barely keeps on the track..causing sparks and derails.

HOBBY STORE (ST LOUIS)
I went to a local hobby store near Troy, IL. To say I was unimpressed was a understatement! HUGE HO layout..some O gauge stuff..but when I was asking questions about stuff..the owner just blew me off! I told him what I was wanting to do..and he said that I'd need bridges or something for door crossings,etc. I told him how one guy on the internet rigged up a hinged section with dowels as guides, etc. The owner said "eh..wont' work". He said "do what you want, but I'm telling you you'll have problems". Sigh..

ANY MEMBERS IN ST LOUIS? Where is a good hobby store catering to O gauge stuff?

[Jumijo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by yallaen

I've been very busy with work (at the railroad..around the house..geesh), but I wanted to give a couple updates and ask some general questions:

TRACK:
I've been accumulating trackage and some rolling stock off ebay. I have enough to go around the outer perimeter of my game room. I'll need to double it as I want double track. I may just bite the bullet and buy some nice tie-type newer track.

I'm going to use the shelving units that were mentioned in my other forum post Tom Schmidt(?) posted about getting from Home Depot. But, can I just use the pink foam for the roadbed base? Or do I need to put plywood down first, THEN the pink foam (the housing insulation stuff)

I have numerous pieces of track that have a lot of surface rust. Any good way to get that off? I've got scotchbrite pads...any easier way to save my hands?

PARTS:
My Lionel steam engine's pickup rollers have large grooves in them. These can be replaced I'm sure..but where's a good source for those type parts? Also, the rear truck wheels have a spring under them..I'm guessing to help force those wheels down onto the track? My spring must be shot..the rear truck sags and barely keeps on the track..causing sparks and derails.

HOBBY STORE (ST LOUIS)
I went to a local hobby store near Troy, IL. To say I was unimpressed was a understatement! HUGE HO layout..some O gauge stuff..but when I was asking questions about stuff..the owner just blew me off! I told him what I was wanting to do..and he said that I'd need bridges or something for door crossings,etc. I told him how one guy on the internet rigged up a hinged section with dowels as guides, etc. The owner said "eh..wont' work". He said "do what you want, but I'm telling you you'll have problems". Sigh..

ANY MEMBERS IN ST LOUIS? Where is a good hobby store catering to O gauge stuff?

Rusty track
ScotchBrite pads do work well, as does fine sandpaper. Course sandpaper will scratch and gouge the rails, which will create arcing when you run trains over them.

Since you have a lot of track to remove rust from, try this - assemble a bunch of it either outside or in your basment on the floor, and again, using a fine finish sandpaper, use a palm sander to go over the rails. Don't use a lot of pressure. Just enough to remove the oxidation. When you're finished, leave the track where it is and vacuum it good. THe sides can remain rusty and even look more realistic that way.

Parts
Olsen's Toy Train Parts has the rollers and other parts you need to repair most any Lionel. Their customer service is excellent. You won't be disappointed by them.

Jim

[Dave Farquhar]

Hey, long ago, I used to date a girl who lived in Troy... I had no idea they had any hobby shops there at all.

There are several shops in St. Louis that cater to O gauge. Reynolds Railways in Dupo, IL has a little bit, but not a lot. Marty's Model Railroads is in Affton, and he'll have all the parts you need. They sell new stuff, used stuff, parts, and they do repairs if you need them. They also sell clean used track for 50 cents a section. I know the owners there pretty well, and they're great guys. The Switch Stand in Maplewood also sells new, used, and parts and does service. Two more places you can go that only sell new stuff are Schaeffer's in Affton, and Checkered Flag Hobby Country in Mehlville.

St. Louis doesn't have the selection of shops that Chicago does, but you can get what you need here.

[palallin]

There's also Hobby Station in Kirkwood (just north of Schaeffer's on Lindberg/Kirkwood). Then there's the guy up in Alton. I can 't remember the name of his shop, but he does some custom painting, too.

[Dave Farquhar]

How'd I forget that? Kirkwood actually makes a pretty nice excursion for an evening or a Saturday afternoon. Park somewhere, hit Hobby Station, watch trains at the train station, walk up the street to Racanelli's for pizza, check out a few more specialty shops, and then there are one or two good ice cream shops too. All within walking distance. You can take your SO and both of you can have a pretty good time. Just double check and make sure Hobby Station will be open when you plan to go, if you're going to make an evening of it.

[Brutus]

Yeah, I go to Schaeffers and The Hobby Station in Kirkwood. My folks live in Kirkwood. Also, on Lindbergh just south of that store there is a craft store that has a little bit of train stuff, but not enough to warrant any kind of special trip - Hobby Lobby. They do have tons of craft supplies which may be useful -- more than Michaels, I think.

The Hobby Station has a pretty good selection of O gauge stuff and the store is very cool.

If you go to The Hobby Station, there is a little store right behind them (on the side street) that sells wine with a few parking places, so you don't have to park on the street or on Lindbergh, and it's free. A couple of the spaces I think are painted stating they are for the Hobby Station customers.

BTW, I think I work with a lady from Troy, IL - Cindy Johnson (?)

[yallaen]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dave Farquhar

How'd I forget that? Kirkwood actually makes a pretty nice excursion for an evening or a Saturday afternoon. Park somewhere, hit Hobby Station, watch trains at the train station, walk up the street to Racanelli's for pizza, check out a few more specialty shops, and then there are one or two good ice cream shops too. All within walking distance. You can take your SO and both of you can have a pretty good time. Just double check and make sure Hobby Station will be open when you plan to go, if you're going to make an evening of it.

OK, I'll pass on watching the trains as I just got off one from Dexter to Dupo, IL..I was on it for 12 hours, went dead on it..then sat on it for another 5 hours waiting for my ride to take me in to the terminal :(

I'll try some of those shops around...I was hoping to just pick up the rollers locally...

K-10 Trains in Maryville,IL...mostly HO, some O gauge..not very user friendly though

[Anonymous]

If you are planing a trip to St. Louis you should try to visit the St. Louis Lionel Train Club, No membership necessary. They have an operating layout of about 20' X 30'. They are located at the corner of Tesson and Minnesota streets in extream south St. Louis City just a couple of blocks off Broadway. Take I55 south and get off at the Germania exit. Go East about 6 blocks to Broadway then North to Tesson which is just as you cross the railroad tracks. Turn west on Tesson for 2 blocks and look for the cars. Mondays are running nights and Fridays are work nights. There is usually somebody there on these nights from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. They love to talk trains and will be more than willing to tell you of the best places in St. Louis to get parts, trains, and help. Don't be shy, step right up and say HELLO.

[Brutus]

Just found this guy on the Lionel website dealer search:

MARTY'S MODEL RAILROAD
9620 GRAVOIS ROAD
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63123
[phone]
Authorized Dealer

Anybody been there - any good?

[Dave Farquhar]

I've been there enough that I'm on a first-name basis with both of the owners. I highly recommend Marty's. That's the shop I use most of the time. He should have all the parts you'll need, and he prices everything fairly.

[Brutus]

SOrry - just reread the thread and realized you already posted about this place - I blame it on a brain fart.